Dear, You

"Dear, You"
Single by Ai Otsuka
from the album Ai Am Best, Too
Language	Japanese
Released	October 4, 2018 (2018-10-04)
Genre	J-pop
Length	5:29
Label	Avex Trax
Songwriter(s)	Aio
Producer(s)	Seiji Kameda
Ai Otsuka singles chronology
"Dracaena" (2018) "Dear, You" (2018) "Chime" (2021)

"Dear, You" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Ai Otsuka, released as a digital single on October 4, 2018, through Avex Trax. ^[1]

Background and release

"Dear, You" was released as the theme song for the stage play Kare Phone, a romantic fantasy drama written and directed by Osamu Suzuki which premiered on October 4, 2018. ^[2] This marked Otsuka's first venture into composing a theme song for a stage play.

The song was written and composed and Otsuka, while it was arranged and produced by Seiji Kameda. ^[3] It originated from a melody Otsuka composed at the age of fifteen, which she described as her first-ever musical creation. ^[2] Reflecting on the song's origins, Otsuka noted that its youthful composition carries a dreamy and idealistic tone, characteristic of her early songwriting. The lyrics draw from personal and relatable experiences, evoking memories of her teenage years. ^[4] Upon receiving the offer to compose the theme song, Otsuka expressed initial apprehension, stating, "Honestly, I wondered if I was up to the task, but I wanted to embrace this new challenge and create something special." ^[2] Encouraged by Suzuki's request to capture the poignant emotions of a young woman's love story, Otsuka crafted a track that complements the play's bittersweet narrative. ^[2]

The song was broadcast in full for the first time on a Line Live streaming on July 21, 2018, as part of a special program dedicated to Kare Phone. ^[5]

The single was released on digital platforms on October 4, 2018, coinciding with the premiere of Kare Phone. The digital single includes a piano instrumental version of the song which was used in the production. ^[2]

"Dear, You" was ultimately included as the only new song featured on Otsuka's 2019 greatest hits album Ai Am Best, Too . ^[6]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Aio.

Dear, You - Digital release

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Dear, You"	5:29
2.	"Dear, You" (Piano Instrumental)	5:10
3.	"Dear, You" (Instrumental)	5:29
Total length:		16:07

References

1. "Ai Otsuka - Dear, You". Avex Portal (in Japanese). Avex Entertainment. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
2. "大塚 愛、舞台『カレフォン』主題歌の新曲は15歳の時の処女作". Barks (in Japanese). October 4, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
3. 亀の恩返し 公式アカウント [@kameon_official] (October 4, 2018). "【info】大塚 愛「Dear, you」先行配信スタート！" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
4. "大塚愛さんが歌詞集を刊行　夢見がちな若さも、自分より大切なものへの感情も、一生懸命生きていれば歌詞になる". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). The Asahi Shimbun Company. February 27, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
5. "舞台「カレフォン」主題歌「Dear, you」初解禁！！". Ai Otsuka Official Website (in Japanese). Avex. July 6, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
6. "大塚 愛、オールタイムベスト「愛 am BEST, too」のジャケットアートワークとアルバムの全貌を解禁！本人登壇の発売を記念したシアターツアーの開催も！". Avex Portal (in Japanese). Avex Management Web. November 16, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2025.