Real Face

"Real Face"
Single by KAT-TUN
from the album Best of KAT-TUN
A-side"Real Face"
B-side
  • GLORIA
  • Will Be All Right
ReleasedMarch 22, 2006 (Japan)
Recorded2006
Genre
Length5:07
LabelJ-One Records
JACA-5030~5035 (Limited Edition)
JACA-5036 (Normal Edition)
Songwriter(s)Shikao Suga, Joker, Tak Matsumoto
KAT-TUN singles chronology
"Real Face"
(2006) 		"SIGNAL"
(2006)

"Real Face" is a song written by Shikao Suga, Joker, Tak Matsumoto and Chokkaku for the debut single and debut album of the Japanese boy band, KAT-TUN. It was released on March 22, 2006, and debuted on the Oricon daily and weekly singles charts at number 1[1] where it stayed on the latter for 3 weeks.[2][3] The song would eventually sell over a million copies by the end of 2006 and was named Japan's best-selling single of the year.[4]

Song information

There are three different versions of the song in KAT-TUN's discography:

  • the single (debut, 2006) version, which was arranged by Chokkaku[5][6][7]
  • the version named "Real Face #1", included in Best of KAT-TUN, released simultaneously with the debut single, arranged by Matsumoto. It was used as the theme song for Taguchi's two-part drama movie, Happy!, aired by TBS on April 7, 2006, and December 26, 2006, respectively.[5]
  • Real Face #2", released in 2018, of which the lyrics were re-written by Suga, coinciding with the reduction of the group to 3 people. The song was included on the "Ask Yourself" single[6][8]

Other versions

Suga recorded the song, including it on his albums "Sugarless II" and "Sugarless III".[9][5][10]

Matsumoto used the music for his song "Guitar Hero", included in Tak Matsumoto Group's album TMG II[11]

Release and promotion

The single was released in two pressings - a normal edition containing the instrumental versions of all the songs released in this single and six limited editions containing the three songs with a music video of the single focusing on each respective member. As such, there are seven different covers. It was part of a tripartite release by the group and became available in stores on the same day as KAT-TUN's debut album, Best of KAT-TUN, and the tie-in DVD for the single, Real Face Film. All three releases were also available as a box set which has since gone out of print.[12]

KAT-TUN performed the song on television for the first time on Music Station on March 10, 2006, and sang on variety show Utawara two days later where they were already regular guests with Jun Matsumoto of Arashi. They followed up with their first appearance on Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ on March 13 and performed live at the Tokyo Dome on March 17 which was simulcast on Music Station. The group were invited to Utaban for the first time on March 23 and performed on Music Fighter the day after. KAT-TUN rounded off the month by performing on Music Station for the third time in less than a month for the show's spring special episode on March 31.

Other subsequent promotional performances for the single were on CDTV (April 1), Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ (April 3), Shounen Club (April 9 and 16), Utawara (April 16, May 14, July 30, September 17 and November 5), Music Station (April 28 and December 22) and NTV's Minna Terebi 24 Hours TV charity fundraiser special (August 26). KAT-TUN also acted as hosts of the latter event. The group also collaborated with the song's lyricist, Shikao Suga, for a one-off live performance on Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ on May 12, 2008. On Shounen Club Premium in March 2011, KAT-TUN member Kamenashi performed a rock version of Real Face with Suga.[13]

Chart performance and reception

The single displaced NEWS' double A-side single "Sayaendou/Hadashi no Cinderella Boy" from the top spot and stayed at number 1 for 3 weeks on the Oricon weekly singles chart, a feat rarely achieved in the Japanese music industry, selling over 754,234 copies in its first week which broke fellow JE boy band, Arashi's record for their debut single, "Arashi." By the end of the year, the single had sold over a million copies and was certified as the best-selling single of 2006 by Oricon. Real Face was reported in 2010 by the Oricon's magazine, OriStar, for having sold over 1,046,125 copies and was later certified Million by RIAJ denoting over 1,000,000 shipments.

The single was honored at the 21st Japan Gold Disc Awards when it was named "Single of the Year (Domestic)" and placed on the "Best 10 Singles (Domestic)" list along with "SIGNAL" and "Bokura no Machi de".[14][15][16] .

Track listings

  • Normal Edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Real Face"Shikao Suga (lyrics), Joker (rap), Tak Matsumoto (music), Chokkaku (arrangement)5:07
2."Gloria"Yoji Kubota (lyrics), Kouji Makaino (music), Seikou Nagaoka (arrangement)4:30
3."Will Be All Right"KAT-TUN (lyrics), Joker (rap), Kazuhiro Hara (music & arrangement)4:40
4."Real Face (Instrumental)"  
5."Gloria (Instrumental)"  
6."Will Be All Right (Instrumental)"  
  • Limited Edition
No.TitleLength
1."Real Face" 
2."Gloria" 
3."Will Be All Right" 
4."Real Face (music video) (six different versions with each respective one focusing on one member)" 

Sales and certifications

Country Provider Sales Certification
Japan RIAJ 1,046,125 Million

References

  1. ^ "3/22発売の注目シングル、ついにCDデビューを果すKAT-TUN!". Oricon (in Japanese). 19 March 2006. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  2. ^ "KAT-TUN、2週連続首位!デビューシングル3年1ヵ月ぶりの快挙!". Oricon (in Japanese). 3 April 2006. Archived from the original on 5 April 2006. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  3. ^ "KAT-TUN、3冠達成!シングル、アルバム、DVD、同時制覇!". Oricon (in Japanese). 27 March 2006. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  4. ^ "KAT-TUN「Real Face」が100万枚を突破!5年ぶりの快挙!". Oricon (in Japanese). 22 May 2006. Archived from the original on 13 September 2024. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Real Face(楽曲)". B'z Spirit (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  6. ^ a b "KAT-TUN、グループ解散へ――「ギリギリでいつも生きていたいから」の呪縛と、受け継がれてきたDNA". Cyzo Woman (in Japanese). 31 March 2025. Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  7. ^ "KAT-TUN2006年最大の注目アーティストついにデビュー！". Oricon (in Japanese). 22 March 2006. Archived from the original on 5 April 2006. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  8. ^ "ＫＡＴ―ＴＵＮ再始動の東京Ｄへ向け、亀梨「笑顔で次に進めるライブにしたい」". Sponichi (in Japanese). 23 March 2018. Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  9. ^ "CD Album Sugarless 2 Suga Shikao". CD Japan. Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  10. ^ "スガ シカオ×松本孝弘、新アルバムに収録された「Real Face」の制作秘話を語る！ 12/12（日）21時～『 Mercedes-Benz THE EXPERIENCE』". PR Times (in Japanese). 10 December 2021. Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  11. ^ "B'zのTAK MATSUMOTOらによるTMGの新曲、GUITAR HERO、ETERNAL FLAMES (feat. BABYMETAL)が公開！". Metal is Forever (in Japanese). 11 September 2024. Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  12. ^ Box Set: "Real Face" + "Best of KAT-TUN" + "Real Face Film" (Single + Album + DVD) (Limited Release), CD Japan; retrieved on July 28, 2008.
  13. ^ "Kazuya Kamenashi & Suga Shikao's Rock Version Of "Real Face"". jpopasia.com. March 27, 2011. Archived from the original on May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  14. ^ "Million hit singles in 10 years (2000-2010)". OriStar: 14–15. September 9, 2010.
  15. ^ 2006 Million-seller lists by year
  16. ^ Recording Industry Association of Japan - 21st Japan Gold Disc Awards Archived 2008-02-20 at the Wayback Machine; retrieved on July 29, 2008.
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