Sotsugyō (Yuki Saito song)

"Sotsugyō 卒業"
Cover of EP release of Sotsugyō.
Single by Yuki Saito
from the album Axia
A-side	Sotsugyō
B-side	Seishun
Released	February 12, 1985
Format	7-inch single
Genre	J-pop
Length	4:46
Label	Canyon Records
Yuki Saito singles chronology
Sotsugyō (1985) Shiroi Honō (1985)

"Sotsugyō" (卒業, lit. "Graduation") is the debut single of Japanese singer Yuki Saito. The single was released by Canyon Records on February 12, 1985, and was used as an image song for Myojo Foods' "A Ramen Named Youth" (青春という名のラーメン Seishun to Iu Na no Rāmen) line of instant ramen.^{[notes 1]} The song continues to be popular over 20 years after its debut, having been covered by multiple artists.^[1]

History

"Sotsugyō" was released on February 12, 1985 by Canyon Records, and debuted at #10 on the Oricon charts where it remained for 3 weeks before climbing as high as #6 and selling a total of 247,140 copies.^[1][2] It also reached #6 on The Best Ten chart. The EP single included a full-body pinup of Saito in a white dress and white sweater.

The title song was composed by Kyōhei Tsutsumi, arranged by Satoshi Takebe, with lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto. The B-side, "Seishun" (青春, lit. Youth), was composed by Tsutsumi, arranged by Masataka Matsutoya, with lyrics by Matsumoto.^{[notes 2]}

Chart history

Chart (1985)	Release	Peak position
Oricon	"Sotsugyō/Seishun"	6
The Best Ten	"Sotsugyō/Seishun"	6

Track listing

EP (catalog #7A0464) CD single (catalog #S10A0031, released April 29, 1988)
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Sotsugyō" (卒業)	Takashi Matsumoto	Kyōhei Tsutsumi (composer) Satoshi Takebe (arranger)	4:46
2.	"Seishun" (青春)	Takashi Matsumoto	Kyōhei Tsutsumi (composer) Masataka Matsutoya (arranger)	3:51
Total length:				8:37

Covers

Japanese singer and actress Moeko Matsushita released a single cover version on February 14, 2002. Matsushita's single reached as high as 43 on the Oricon charts and remained on the list for 2 weeks.^[3] Later that year, tarento and gravure idol Otoha released a cover on her "OtohaCD Volume 1" album on May 22, which reached #50 on the Oricon charts and remained on the list for 1 week.^[4]

Actress and gravure idol Mizuho Hata released a single cover on February 20, 2008. It reached #179 on the Oricon charts, staying on the chart for 1 week.^[5] Donna Fiore released a cover on her album "Fiore" on September 3 that same year, though it didn't make it to the Oricon top sales chart.^[6] Manami Kurose released a cover as a B-side on her "Love Is...Shine" single on March 11, 2009.^[7] A collaboration between Rie Yamaguchi and Manzo produced a cover released on their single Notice Me, Mr. Zombie, I Am Your Classmate (気づいてゾンビさま、私はクラスメイトです Kizuite Zonbi-sama, Watashi wa Kurasumeito Desu) on February 9, 2011, where it remained on the list for four weeks and reached #44.^[8]

Notes

1. The cover of the single gives the following information just to the right of the title: 明星食品「青春という名のラーメン」イメージソング, which translates to "Myojo Foods 'Seishun to Iu Na no Rāmen' Image Song.
2. These individuals are all listed on the album cover as well as the label on the vinyl EP itself.

References

1. "“卒業”ソング、売上No.1シングルは？" ["Graduation" song, selling as a No. 1 single?]. Oricon Style. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
2. ホントの年間ＣＤランキング 1985（昭和60）年 [The Real Annual CD Ranking for 1985] (in Japanese). KSK Project. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
3. "卒業 松下萌子のプロフィール・ヒストリーならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" [Graduation - Moeko Matsushita Profile and History from the Oricon Entertainment Encyclopedia Oricon Style] (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
4. "ＯｔｏｈａＣＤ　Ｖｏｌｕｍｅ１ 乙葉のプロフィール・ヒストリーならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" [OtohaCD Volume 1 - Otoha Profile and History from the Oricon Entertainment Encyclopedia Oricon Style] (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
5. "卒業 秦みずほのプロフィール・ヒストリーならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" [Graduation - Mizuho Hata Profile and History from the Oricon Entertainment Encyclopedia Oricon Style] (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
6. "ｆｉｏｒｅ Ｄｏｎｎａ　Ｆｌｏｒｅのプロフィール・ヒストリーならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" [Fiore - Donna Fiore Profile and History from the Oricon Entertainment Encyclopedia Oricon Style] (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
7. 東宝シンデレラ・黒瀬真奈美、純恋三部作の完結編となる新曲3/11発売 [Toho Cinderella's Manami Kurose, Sumire Sanbusaku final new song on sale on 3/11] (in Japanese). Oricon Style. January 8, 2009. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
8. "気づいてゾンビさま、私はクラスメイトです 山口理恵のプロフィール・ヒストリーならオリコン芸能人事典-ORICON STYLE" [Notice Me, Mr. Zombie, I Am Your Classmate - Rie Yamaguchi Profile and History from the Oricon Entertainment Encyclopedia Oricon Style] (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Retrieved January 14, 2013.