Big things are expected for the latest album from smooth balladeer Hirai Ken. “SentimentaLovers,” his first original album in two years, is set to go on sale on November 24. It includes the biggest hit single of this year, “Me wo Tojite” (Close Your Eyes), which sold over 900,000 copies. All of Hirai’s previous three albums (“The Changing Same” – 2000; “Gaining Through Losing” – ’01; and “Life Is…” – “02) have been million sellers and the new title is expected to achieve at least the same level of sales.
• Natsukawa Rimi’s hit single “Namida SouSou” has become the fourth-longest chart entry of all time. Currently at No.78 in the Oricon charts, it has stayed in the Top 100 for 123 weeks, ranking second among female solo artists. It first went on sale in April 2001. The No. 1 long-seller is Nakajima Miyuki’s “Chijo no Hoshi,” which charted for 181 weeks.