Prema (album)

Last updated

Prema
Fujii Kaze - Prema.png
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 5, 2025
StudioABS (Atlanta)
Length39:46
Language
  • English
  • Japanese
Label
Producer
Fujii Kaze chronology
Fujii Kaze Stadium Live "Feelin' Good"
(2024)
Prema
(2025)
Singles from Prema
  1. "Hachikō"
    Released: June 13, 2025
  2. "Love Like This"
    Released: August 1, 2025
  3. "Prema"
    Released: September 5, 2025 [1]

Prema is the third studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze and his first English-language album. It was released on September 5, 2025, through Republic Records, Universal Sigma, and Hehn Records, three years after its predecessor Love All Serve All (2022). The album was preceded by the two singles "Hachikō" and "Love Like This".

Contents

Background

Japanese singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze released his first two albums Help Ever Hurt Never (2020) and Love All Serve All (2022) to critical acclaim. [2] Since 2022, his songs went viral on social media internationally, including "Shinunoga E-wa" by a Thai TikTok user using the song to post a scene of the character Toge Inumaki from the anime series Jujutsu Kaisen , [3] as well as "Matsuri" for a dance challenge. [4] "Shinunoga E-wa" received a platinum certification for streaming from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ), [5] and a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), [6] the latter becoming the second Japanese-language song to do so following Kenshi Yonezu's "Kick Back". [7]

On July 26, 2024, alongside the release of his single "Feelin' Good", it was announced that Fujii had signed to Republic Records. [8] Almost a year later, on May 2, 2025, Fujii revealed on video via Instagram that he completed his third studio album "a few weeks ago", but due to multiple reasons, its release would take longer than expected. [9]

Release and promotion

On June 13, 2025, Fujii announced the third studio album, titled Prema, set to be released on September 5, 2025, alongside its cover artwork and track list; it is his first album fully recorded in English. [10] The physical album will come in three versions: the standard and limited editions on CD and vinyl edition. The limited edition includes bonus tracks on a second disc called Pre: Prema, consisting of six previous Japanese-language singles—"Grace", "Workin' Hard", "Hana", "Michi Teyu Ku (Overflowing)", "Feelin' Good", and "Masshiro (Pure White)"—as well as an unreleased song "It's Alright". [11]

Fujii appeared on the cover the July 2025 issue of the magazine Musica, as well as giving an interview, [12] and the poster "No Music, No Life", displaying at all Tower Records Japan stores. [13] He was a guest for Super Eight's music variety show Eight-Jam on August 31, [14] and appeared on the talk show Tetsuko's Room on September 8. [15] His podcast with Spotify Liner Voice+ Fujii Kaze, discussing his album, was launched for three episode via Spotify from September 5 to 9 and also aired via FM North Wave, J-Wave, Zip-FM, FM802, and Cross FM. [16]

Singles and music videos

On June 8, 10, and 12, 2025, Fujii uploaded a series of video teasing a new song on his social media, featuring the message "You've been patiently waiting for me", and depicting Fujii in Shibuya, Tokyo walking towards the statue of the dog Hachikō. [17] The song, titled after Hachikō, was released on June 13, 2025, a day before the singer's 28th birthday. Its accompanying music video, directed by Mess, also premiered the same day. [18] It shows two versions of Fujii in otherworldly set, one are wearing white like god and one wearing as black dog. [19] The song peaked at number nine on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. [20]

The second single from the album "Love Like This" was released on August 1, 2025. [21] Its music video depicts love story set in modern-day Europe between Fujii and his love interest with an unexpected turn in the second half. [22] An accompanying music video of the title track, shot at various places in Chiang Dao district, Chiang Mai province, Thailand, [23] premiered in conjunction with the album release on September 5. [24]

Live performances

On June 13, Fujii held a surprise event at the Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand to debut "Hachikō". [25] The event caused crowds to gather at the nearby Siam BTS station, resulting in the station entrances and exits to be blocked off, which was met with criticism. [26] He embarked on his European and North American concert tours from July to August and October 2025, including appearances in Roskilde Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, and Austin City Limits Music Festival. [27] [28] [29] In the European tour, he performed "Love Like This" live for the first time. [30] Fujii gave a debut performances at Music Station on September 5 with "Hachikō" and "Prema". [31] He is scheduled to participate Lollapalooza India in January 2026. [32]

Track listing

All music is composed by Fujii Kaze.

Prema track listing
No.TitleLyricsProducer(s)Length
1."Casket Girl"4:05
2."I Need U Back"
  • Fujii
  • Carter
2503:06
3."Hachikō"4:30
4."Love Like This"
  • Fujii
  • Carter
2504:20
5."Prema"Fujii2504:22
6."It Ain't Over"Fujii2504:59
7."You"
  • Fujii
  • Carter
4:41
8."Okay, Goodbye"
  • Fujii
  • Carter
2503:50
9."Forever Young"Fujii2505:53
Total length:39:46
Pre: Prema bonus tracks
No.TitleLyricsProducer(s)Length
1."Grace"Fujii Yaffle 4:49
2."Feelin' Good"Fujii A. G. Cook 4:19
3."Workin' Hard"Fujii Dahi 3:59
4."It's Alright"Fujii 3:22
5."Hana" ()FujiiA. G. Cook4:06
6."Michi Teyu Ku (Overflowing)" (満ちてゆく)Fujii Yaffle 5:09
7."Masshiro (Pure White)" (真っ白)Fujii 4:57
Total length:70:27

Notes

Release history

Release dates and formats for Prema
RegionDateFormatVersionLabelRef.
VariousSeptember 5, 2025Standard [33]
CDLimited
Vinyl Vinyl
United KingdomCDStandard Polydor [34]
Limited
VinylVinyl

References

  1. "藤井 風、新曲「Prema」MVプレミア公開". Billboard Japan . September 3, 2025. Retrieved September 6, 2025.
  2. Imdkm (March 27, 2022). "藤井風『LOVE ALL SERVE ALL』に見る、"言葉の人"としての姿 ソングライティングのセンスが根をはった一作に". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  3. "藤井風「死ぬのがいいわ」武道館ライブ映像に海外からの反響続々「ピアノのイントロが神々しい」「ライティングもすごくいい」「美しいパフォーマンス」". Iza (in Japanese). August 23, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  4. Komatsu, Kaori (February 2, 2023). "藤井 風、MFS、なとり...日本発バイラルヒットから広がるグローバル進出の可能性". Rolling Stone Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  5. Recording Industry Association of Japan (August 23, 2023). "2023年7月度ストリーミング認定~YOASOBI「群青」がダイヤモンド認定! 川崎 鷹也「魔法の絨毯」、Da-iCE「CITRUS」がトリプル・プラチナ認定に". PR Times (in Japanese). Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  6. Peacock, Tim (June 19, 2024). "Fujii Kaze Presented With First U.S. Gold Plaque In New York". uDiscover Music . Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  7. Tokuriki, Motohiko (June 24, 2024). "藤井風「死ぬのがいいわ」の米ゴールドディスク認定の快挙で考える、日本語楽曲の可能性". Yahoo! News Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  8. Lynch, Jessica (July 26, 2024). "Japanese Sensation Fujii Kaze Signs With Republic Records". Billboard . Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  9. "藤井風、ファン待望の3rdアルバムに言及「もう完成している」". Natalie (in Japanese). May 3, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  10. Go, Mayks (June 13, 2025). "Fujii Kaze Releases New Single "Hachikō," Announces 3rd Album 'Prema'". Billboard Philippines . Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  11. "藤井 ⾵、3年ぶりのスタジオアルバム『Prema』(全英語詞)を9⽉にリリース リード曲「Hachikō」の配信が開始&MV公開". Spice (in Japanese). June 13, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  12. "2025年7月号 Vol.219". Musica (in Japanese). Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  13. "藤井風、「NO MUSIC, NO LIFE.」ポスター初登場 「カッコイイ」「メッセージも最高」と販売希望が殺到". Encount (in Japanese). August 27, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  14. "「EIGHT-JAM」で藤井風特集 川谷絵音、Vaundyらの質問にも答えるロングインタビュー". Natalie (in Japanese). August 31, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  15. "藤井 風 9 月 8 日(月)放送の「徹子の部屋」に初出演が決定!". Encore (in Japanese). September 4, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  16. "藤井風、3rdアルバム『Prema』のリリースを記念してSpotifyビデオポッドキャストを公開! ラジオ特番も決定". The First Times (in Japanese). August 29, 2025. Retrieved August 30, 2025.
  17. "藤井風がハチ公前へ、3rdアルバムからの1stシングルリリースを告知". Otomo (in Japanese). June 10, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  18. "藤井風3年ぶりのスタジオアルバム『Prema』9月5日リリース、全曲英語詞で初回盤に未発表曲も". Bezzy (in Japanese). June 13, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  19. Kanazawa, Mayu (June 24, 2025). "藤井 風、Mrs. GREEN APPLE、ずっと真夜中でいいのに。、back number......趣向を凝らした個性溢れるこだわりMV". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  20. "【ビルボード】Mrs. GREEN APPLE「breakfast」が総合首位 Aぇ! group「Chameleon」が続く". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  21. "藤井 風、新アルバムから"ラヴ・ソング"「Love Like This」8・1配信 アルバムの商品写真も公開". Oricon (in Japanese). July 25, 2025. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  22. Kanazawa, Mayu (August 12, 2025). "藤井 風、大森元貴、米津玄師、Official髭男dism......MVで発揮された"名演技"に集まる注目". Real Sound (in Japanese). Retrieved August 13, 2025.
  23. Anantao, Pataranagun (September 5, 2025). "Fujii Kaze ปล่อยอัลบั้มสุดอบอุ่นหัวใจ Prema พร้อมเผย MV ที่ถ่ายทำ ณ เชียงใหม่". The Standard (in Thai). Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  24. "Fujii Kaze、3年ぶりスタジオ・アルバムより表題曲「Prema」MVをリリース日9/5 13時プレミア公開決定". Skream! (in Japanese). September 5, 2025. Retrieved September 3, 2025.
  25. ""ฟูจิอิ คาเสะ" สร้างปรากฏการณ์รักล้นพารากอน กับเซอร์ไพรส์พิเศษให้แฟนๆ ชาวไทย". Thaitabloid (in Thai). June 13, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  26. "Overcrowding hits BTS station following surprise concert by Fujii Kaze". Bangkok Post . June 16, 2025. Retrieved June 16, 2025.
  27. Hagen, Francisca (April 26, 2025). "Fujii Kaze announces European tour – with performances at Roskilde, Montreux Jazz Festival and North Sea Jazz Festival". AVO Magazine. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  28. "藤井風が8月に北米ツアーを開催「神の助けで乗り切れるといいな」。話題の"いなり寿司"ビジュアルにも反応". The First Times (in Japanese). April 9, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  29. Kurp, Josh (May 6, 2025). "ACL Fest 2025 Lineup Features Sabrina Carpenter, Hozier, And Doja Cat". Uproxx . Retrieved June 13, 2025.
  30. "藤井 風、3年ぶり3rdアルバム『Prema』より先行シングル"Love Like This"配信決定". Spincoaster (in Japanese). July 25, 2025. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  31. "藤井風『Mステ』初出演で圧巻サプライズ連発 渋谷生中継→3つ目サングラス、まさかの2曲目歌唱中に"記者会見"". Oricon (in Japanese). September 5, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  32. Tagat, Anurag (August 29, 2025). "Linkin Park, Playboi Carti, Kehlani, Yungblud and More Set for Lollapalooza India 2026". Rolling Stone India . Retrieved August 29, 2025.
  33. Citations for Prema physical editions:
  34. Citations for Prema physical editions released in the United Kingdom: