Kingdom (album)

Information

Kingdom is Kumi Koda's sixth studio album and tenth album overall. It was released on January 30, 2008, a little over a year after her previous studio album Black Cherry. The album was her fourth consecutive album to claim the #1 spot on the Oricon charts, continuing her streak, which began in early 2005 with her Best ~first things~ album. It contained new material and was her first album to have music videos for every song - including the introduction. She would later do this again for her 2012 album Japonesque.

The album was available in four versions: CD, CD+DVD, CD+2DVD and a limited edition CD+2DVD+Poster. The first DVD featured sixteen music videos for each song on the album, including the music video for the non-album song Run For Your Life. The second DVD was of her Premium Live In Hall In Yokohama Arena concert, which was performed at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama on June 20, 2007. The CD+2DVD edition contained a slip cover, three stickers of the different album covers and a booklet, which contained photos of the concert. The album's artwork was to symbolize Kumi's popularity in the Japanese music industry at the time, with Kumi donning a crown and sitting on a throne.

Packaging

Kingdom was available in four editions:

The limited editions of all versions contained the bonus track Black Cherry on the CD, which was the full version of the introduction from her last studio album, Black Cherry.

Controversy & Cancelled Promotions

On January 31, an inflammatory statement by Kumi made on the talk show All Night Nippon created controversy, causing Avex Entertainment (via Koda Kumi's request) to cancel all promotions for Kingdom on February 2. Her website was shut down with a letter from Kumi posted on the page, apologizing for her remark.

During the radio show, Kumi was asked what she thought about her manager recently getting married, to which she responded lightheartedly, "When women turn 35, their amniotic fluid goes rotten, so I hope they have a child before then." The statement caused backlash due to Japan's low birth rates and the sensitivity of the subject. Due to the statement, she lost promotions for GemCerey, the KOSÉ "Visée" line and Coca-Cola.

Kumi made an appearance on FNN Supernews to apologize for the remark, saying how she deeply regretted hurting thousands of Japanese women and mothers. She also made several public apologies and apologized during her tour for Kingdom.

Despite the backlash, the album still reached #1 on Oricon.

KODA REKI

"I must not pretend like it never happened . . . The moment I thought, “My dream has finally come true," I destroyed everything with my own words . . . I realized how immature and unprofessional I was. I stand and speak in front of so many people. I hadn’t thought about the responsibility and power that came with my position."

In KODA REKI, Kumi's published biography, she said how she still cries when she thinks about the comment and hurting "many Japanese women." She goes on to say how it was that moment in her career when she realized how immature and unprofessional she was, not realizing how many people listened to her words due to her fame. She admitted how she had cancelled several rehearsals for Kingdom's corresponding tour, Live Tour 2008 ~Kingdom~, due to the severe anxiety she would get when she believed that she would walk out onto the stage to perform, only to have an empty arena.

Music Videos

The album contained music videos for every song on the CD, including the introduction. It also featured the "live version" of Black Cherry, which was performed during her Live Tour 2007 ~Black Cherry~ Special Final in Tokyo Dome. It also featured the non-album music video for Run For Your Life, which was originally released on her single Freaky in 2007.

Several of the music videos lined up to perform one coherent story line - much as was done during her 12 Singles Collection from her Best ~second session~ era with five of the music videos. Those that lined up where Koi no Mahou, Himitsu, Amai Wana and Anata ga shite kurete koto. All four videos contain the same piece of jewelry to signify their connection and story.

It also featured the "album versions" of Ai no Uta and anytime, both with different scenes not released in their single counterparts.

Reception

Kingdom has garnered positive reviews by fans, with some calling it a "perfect set of musical tracks that flow with one another." Fans have praised the album for Koda Kumi's vocal style and her transition from genre-to-genre. Other reviews had less positive remarks, calling the music videos "boring" and "cheap," but still praising the musical styles on the CD.

Track list

(Official Track list)

Charts

Oricon Sales Chart (Japan)