Moriagaro

Writing and production

The album was written by Ai, collaborating with American and Japanese producers. Ai collaborated with four singers: American R&B singers Jeremih, Lloyd and Bridget Kelly, as well as Malaysian Australian R&B singer Che'Nelle, who has based her career in Japan since 2011. Five of the songs are sung in Japanese, and three entirely in English. "Moriagaro," "Don't Turn Me Off" and "Gotta Get Mine" are sung in a mix of English and Japanese.

Album recording took place mostly in Tokyo, as well as in West Hollywood, Atlanta and New York City.

Ai worked mostly with Japanese producer Uta (who she has worked with since Viva Ai (2009)) on the songs "Hanabi," "My Place," "Sogood" and "Voice." This is the first time that Ai only worked with a single Japanese producer on an album. Ai worked with five American producers on the remaining songs. Fifty 1 Fifty produced three songs, "For You," "Top of the World" and "After the Storm." De-Capo Music Group worked on "Moriagaro," C3prod on "Mama e" and Wonda Music on "Gotta Get Mine." Ai worked together with producer D.Clax and The Exclusives on the song "My Baby."

Promotion and release

The first single released from the album was "Voice" in February 2013. The song was used as the theme song for the drama Yakō Kanransha, starring Kyōka Suzuki and Yuriko Ishida. The single became a big hit, being certified by the RIAJ as a gold single a month after release. It is currently her fourth most sold physical single since her debut. It is also her last release under the then-independent EMI Music Japan.

Ai followed up the single with two digital singles. The first was "Mama e," used in a Lotte chocolate commercial campaign for Mother's Day, and "After the Storm," used as the theme for the Japanese release of the Hong Kong martial arts film The Grandmaster. Three other songs were used for TV commercials. "Sogood" was used for KFC Japan commercials, "For You" for Kubota commercials, and "My Place" for Japan Rail in promotion of the Kyushu Shinkansen. "Gotta Get Mine" was also used as the July opening theme for the TV Tokyo R&B/dance program Chōryūha. "Top of the World" was later used as the opening theme for the TBS drama Higanjima in October 2013.

Music videos were produced for the album songs "Gotta Get Mine," "Hanabi," "My Place," and "Sogood."

The album was re-released on November 20, 2013, as Motto Moriagaro, featuring five additional tracks and a DJ mix CD by DJ Hirakatsu. Two of the five tracks are unpublished songs that received TV commercial tie-ups. "Get Your Hands Up" was used as the Ya-man Dancing EMS CM song and "Run Free" was used as a song promoting Reebok Reebok Classic.

Tours

Ai's Moriagaro Tour began in October in Kanagawa, Japan, and included 33 dates. The final concert will be held on December 18, 2013, at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.

Track listing

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Moriagaro.

Personnel

Personnel details were sourced from Moriagaro's liner notes booklet.

Managerial

Performance credits

Visuals and imagery

Technical and production