Manatsu no Kousen (真夏の光線; A Ray of Light in Midsummer) is the fifth single by the J-pop idol group Morning Musume, released on May 12, 1999 as an 8 cm CD. It sold a total of 235,010 copies, and reached number three on the Oricon Charts.
In 2004, It was re-released as part of the Morning Musume Early Single Box and again in 2005, as a 12 cm CD. The lead vocalist of this single was Abe Natsumi. "Manatsu no Kousen" ranked as the #93 single for 1999.
Tracklist
Manatsu no Kousen (MV)
Original Edition
- Manatsu no Kousen
- Koi no Shihatsu Ressha (恋の始発列車; Love's First Train)
- Manatsu no Kousen (Instrumental)
Re-release Edition
- Manatsu no Kousen
- Koi no Shihatsu Ressha
- Manatsu no Kousen (Instrumental)
- Manatsu no Kousen (Early Version)
Featured Members
- 1st Gen: Nakazawa Yuko, Ishiguro Aya, Iida Kaori, Abe Natsumi
- 2nd Gen: Yasuda Kei, Yaguchi Mari, Ichii Sayaka
TV Performances
- 1999-05-07 Music Station
- 1999-05-09 ASAYAN
- 1999-05-21 Music Station
- 1999-05-27 Utaban
- 2000-07-16 Hello! Morning Episode 015 (10-person Version)
Concert Performances
- Manatsu no Kousen
- Morning Musume Summer Event '99
- Hello! Project '99
- Hello! Project Happy New Year 2000
- Morning Musume First Live at Budokan ~Dancing Love Site 2000 Haru~
- Morning Musume Live Revolution 21 Haru ~Osaka Jou Hall Saishuu Bi~
- Hello! Project 2005 Natsu no Kayou Show -'05 Selection! Collection!
- Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai Concert Tour 2007 Natsu ~Thank You My Dearest~
- Morning Musume Concert Tour 2008 Haru ~Single Daizenshuu!!~
- Hello! Project 2008 Summer Wonderful Hearts Kouen ~Hishochi de Date Itashima SHOW~
- Hello! Project 2009 Winter Elder Club Kouen ~Thank you for your LOVE!~ - Nakazawa Yuko, Iida Kaori, Abe Natsumi, Yasuda Kei, Yaguchi Mari
- Hello! Project 2010 Summer ~Fankora!~
- Abe Natsumi Birthday Live 2012 ~thanks all~ - Abe Natsumi
- Birthday Live2013 +♪The Beating♪+ - Abe Natsumi
- Hello! Project 2016 SUMMER ~Sunshine Parade~ - Sato Masaki, Oda Sakura, Ogata Haruna, Nonaka Miki, Aikawa Maho, Hirose Ayaka, Fujii Rio, Tanimoto Ami
- Koi no Shihatsu Ressha
- Morning Musume Concert Tour 2005 Natsu Aki "Baribari Kyoushitsu ~Koharu-chan Irasshai!~"
- Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai Concert Tour 2007 Natsu ~Thank You My Dearest~
Single Information
Lyrics & Composition: Tsunku
- Manatsu no Kousen
- Arrangement: Kono Shin
- Dance Choreographer: Natsu Mayumi
- Koi no Shihatsu Ressha
- Arrangement: Konishi Takao
Cover Versions
- Niigaki Risa, Tanaka Reina, Kamei Eri, and Okai Chisato have recorded their own versions of the single for the Hello Cover Series.
- An English cover was recorded by Tara McDonald as "Endless Summer" for the album Cover Morning Musume!
Trivia
- This is the first official single by Morning Musume to have a full Japanese title.
- 1st Generation member Nakazawa Yuko gives a comment about the single on YouTube.
Oricon Chart Positions
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | Week Rank | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3 | 122,610 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 | 33,800 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 19 | 29,100 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 20 | 15,500 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 27 | 10,170 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 28 | 9,060 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 37 | 6,840 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 56 | 4,690 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 65 | 3,240 |
Total Reported Sales: 235,010
External Links
- Discography: Hello! Project, UP-FRONT WORKS, Tsunku.net
- Wikipedia: Japanese, English
- Lyrics: Manatsu no Kousen, Koi no Shihatsu Ressha