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Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai

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"Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai"
The single's cover. It features Aya Kamiki in front of a blurred city environment and behind an alphabetic sentence case spelling of her name. In the top left corner is the Japanese title, with the catalogue number, location of manufacturing (Japan), and sound reproduction method (stereo) below.
Single by Aya Kamiki
LanguageJapanese
B-side"Ever So Sweet"
ReleasedDecember 3, 2008 (2008-12-03)
GenreRock[1]
Length5:43
LabelGiza Studio
Composer(s)Aika Ōno
Aya Kamiki singles chronology
"Summer Memories"
(2008) 		"Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai"
(2008) 		"W-B-X (W-Boiled Extreme)"
(2009)

"Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai" (Japanese: 世界はそれでも変わりはしない, lit. "Even So The World Doesn't Change") is a song by Japanese singer Aya Kamiki. It was released on December 3, 2008, as Kamiki's 10th single. Written by Kamiki and composed by Aika Ōno, the song appears in the soundtrack to the visual novel video game 428: Shibuya Scramble, used as the opening, ending, and insert theme. Musically, the song opens with a calm strings intro and transitions into rock, and it lyrically emphasizes hope and positivity even in a mostly unchanging world.

The song peaked at No. 42 on Oricon's Japanese Singles Chart and charted for three consecutive weeks. Alongside 428, it received promotion through a Jack event in Shibuya, Tokyo, a "takeover" of the city. The promotion included billboards, usage as background music in public areas, and two live performances. A music video featuring Kamiki and characters from 428 was released, shot in a similar style to the game.

Theme and background

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"Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai"
A sample of the song. This begins with the strings intro, and cuts to the rock chorus at 0:12.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai" opens with a slower-paced, calm strings intro, before transitioning into Aya Kamiki's usual rock style. The lyrics begin with Kamiki describing an unchanging and occasionally low-spirited world, but develop to prioritize a positive tone as Kamiki emphasizes hope towards the tomorrow with courage and cooperation.[1] Lyrics were written by Kamiki; she said after a performance of the song that while a single person's strength may be small, it can become far greater with unity, continuing that the lyrics had been based on such a perspective.[2] Composition was handled by Aika Ōno, who had helped Kamiki as composer since Kamiki's fourth single "Nemutteita Kimochi Nemutteita Kokoro [ja]" (2007), whilst Takeshi Hayama was in charge of arrangement.[3] The song's title, translating to "Even So The World Doesn't Change", was conceived by Kamiki while she was watching the news.[1][4]

The song was selected over others to be used as the theme to Chunsoft's visual novel game 428: Shibuya Scramble. Kamiki received the offer of potentially performing the theme to the game in February 2007, to which she presented "Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai" as she believed it to have the most fitting theme. 428 executive producer and co-writer Jiro Ishii wanted to use whatever song they picked also as the game's ending theme, and explained that "Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai" gave him the best feeling of all alternatives, as it holds a positive message, rather than a strictly emotional one. Ishii said that there was disagreement among the staff members on what genre the game's theme should have, but affirmed they were all satisfied with "Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai".[5][6] When Ishii explained this at a promotional event, Kamiki responded saying it is reassuring, as she "always" feels uncertain during the production of her music.[7]

In addition to its use in the soundtrack, "Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai" appears within the fictional universe of 428 alongside Kamiki.[8] The filming of Kamiki's scenes began before the game's scenario had been rewritten for her appearance. Ishii commented that the scenes were hard to shoot due to difficulty in capturing Kamiki's image, but recalled that discussion was made easier by himself, Kamiki, and the photography director communicating in their native Kansai dialect.[7]

Release and reception

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The single was released by Giza Studio with the catalogue number GZCA-7131 on December 3, 2008,[9] about four months after Kamiki's previous single "Summer Memories",[10] and a day before the release of 428: Shibuya Scramble.[7] It is Kamiki's 10th single and her final release of 2008.[1] The release features the title track, its instrumental version, and the B-side "Ever So Sweet".[9]

Bob Richardson reviewed the single for RPGFan, writing that "Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai" and its B-side made the original soundtrack of 428: Shibuya Scramble one of "hottest [...] to date." He wrote that, while the song sounds like "conventional" J-pop, its energic guitar and drums will keep "heads bobbing," recommending the song to fans of "well-performed" singles and the genre.[9] Comercially, the single sold 3,117 units around its week of release and placed at No. 46 on Billboard Japan's single sales ranking.[11][12] It debuted and peaked at No. 42 on Oricon's Singles Chart during the week of December 15. It charted for two more consecutive weeks, reaching 4,378 total sales, before leaving the chart's 200 spots with the first week of 2009.[11] Oricon ranked it as Kamiki's ninth best selling single out of eleven.[13]

Promotion

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A 2018 photo of Shibuya's famous Scramble, showing blurred pedestrians crossing the street.
Promotion of "Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai" was centered in Shibuya, Tokyo

In most aspects of its marketing, the song was branded alongside 428: Shibuya Scramble. A disc featuring a video showcasing Kamiki's discography was released in the same case as a 428 demo disc.[8] The song's primary marketing campaign was named "428 × Aya Kamiki" Shibuya Jack, a "takeover" of the eponymous city.[14] Posters illustrating the song and 428 were shown on nine billboards in seven different areas of Shibuya and on wrap advertising.[15][6] The song was played as background music in public areas, spanning outside of Shibuya and into Shinjuku, Roppongi, and Akihabara.[14]

A music video for the song was released on November 29, exclusively on the web page for Kamiki and Chunsoft's collaboration. The video is shot in a style similar to 428: Shibuya Scramble and alternates between Kamiki, who is singing the song in an environment imitating a live performance, and the 428 characters Achi Endo and Shinya Kano (respectively played by Yūto Nakamura [ja] and Kousei Amano) as they roam a nighttime Shibuya.[16][1]

At 4PM, December 4, Kamiki performed the song in a surprise performance outside the Shibuya department store 109 during a release event for 428. Kamiki performed alone, without her usual band, for an audience of around one hundred.[a][2][7] After the performance, Kamiki shortly appeared at a 428 signing meet and greet alongside Jiro Ishii.[7] Later that day, Kamiki also performed the song as a guest on the late-night NHK General TV program Music Japan  [ja].[18]

Personnel

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Credits adapted from Kamiki's official discography profile.[3]

Track listing

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All lyrics are written by Aya Kamiki

CD single
No.TitleMusicJapanese titleLength
1."Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai"Aika Ōno世界はそれでも変わりはしない5:43
2."Ever So Sweet"Hitoshi OkamotoEVER SO SWEET5:15
3."Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai" (Instrumental)Ōno世界はそれでも変わりはしない5:42
Total length:16:40
Digital download
No.TitleMusicJapanese titleLength
1."Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai"Ōno世界はそれでも変わりはしない5:44
2."Ever So Sweet"OkamotoEVER SO SWEET5:16
Total length:11:00

Charts

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Chart performance for "Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai"
Chart (2008) Peak
position
Japan (Oricon)[19] 42
Japan Top Single Sales (Billboard Japan)[12] 46

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai"
Region Date Format Label Catalogue code Ref(s).
Japan December 3, 2008 CD single Giza Studio GZCA-7131 [20]
Digital download — [21]

Notes

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  1. ^ Natalie.mu reported attendance as a "crowd of 1000", whereas Dengeki Online and Famitsu approximated attendance to "close to" or "above" one hundred.[17][5][6]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "上木彩矢、ポジティブナンバー引っさげて渋谷をジャック" [Aya Kamiki hijacks Shibuya with positive track]. Barks [ja] (in Japanese). Japan Music Network. December 4, 2008. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "ライブレポート：上木彩矢、"428"サプライズライブに千人が殺到" [Live report: Aya Kamiki gathers a thousand people with surprise 428 performance] (in Japanese). Livedoor. December 4, 2008. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Discography" (in Japanese). Box Corporation [ja]. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  4. ^ "本日16時頃, 上木彩矢が渋谷を占拠! キーワードは"428"" [At around 4PM, Aya Kamiki will take over Shibuya! "428" is the key word] (in Japanese). Livedoor. December 4, 2008. Archived from the original on August 3, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "上木彩矢のライブにイシイ総監督のサイン会など、『428 ～封鎖された渋谷で～』が発売記念イベントで渋谷をジャック!?" [428: In a Blockaded Shibuya launch event hijacks Shibuya with performance from Aya Kamiki and signing by the director!?]. Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. December 4, 2008. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c "渋谷の街を『428 ～封鎖された渋谷で～』がジャック！ 発売イベントを109で実施" [428: In a Blockaded Shibuya hijacks the city of Shibuya! Release event held at 109]. Dengeki Online (in Japanese). December 4, 2008. Archived from the original on February 5, 2019. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e Kajita, Ryūki (December 4, 2008). "上木彩矢さんのミニライブも行われた，Wii「428 ～封鎖された渋谷で～」発売記念イベントレポート" [The 428: In a Blockaded Shibuya release event also featured a mini live from Aya Kamiki. Event report]. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Ginger, ed. (December 4, 2008). "「428 ～封鎖された渋谷で～」，GAME TSUTAYA限定でスペシャルプレビューディスクの無料レンタル実施" [Game Tsutaya will release a special review disc of 428: In a Blockaded Shibuya for free rental]. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas. Archived from the original on December 30, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Richardson, Bob (February 20, 2011). "The world doesn't change even so / Aya Kamiki". RPGFan. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  10. ^ "上木彩矢、本人出演ゲームで主題歌を担当" [Aya Kamiki in charge of the theme to the game that she is also starring in]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). November 14, 2008. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  11. ^ a b "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service "You Taiju"] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Top Singles Sales". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). December 10, 2008. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  13. ^ "上木彩矢のシングル売上TOP11作品" [Aya Kamiki's Top 11 Singles by Sales] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 25, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  14. ^ a b "上木彩矢がゲームとコラボ！師走の渋谷をジャック" [Aya Kamiki collaborates with a video game and hijacks December's Shibuya!]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). December 3, 2008. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  15. ^ "セガの『428』が渋谷をジャック！ 発売記念イベントも開催決定" [Sega's 428 hijacks Shibuya! A commemorative launch event has also decided]. Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. November 25, 2008. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  16. ^ "上木彩矢が重大告知!「世界はそれでも変わりはしない」PV映像フル視聴" [PV of "Sekai wa Sore demo Kawari wa Shinai" released in huge announcement by Aya Kamiki!] (in Japanese). Livedoor. December 4, 2008. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  17. ^ "上木彩矢、本人出演ゲームの舞台でサプライズライブ" [Aya Kamiki appears at surprise performance on the stage for the game she appears in]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). December 6, 2008. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  18. ^ "capsuleがNHK「MUSIC JAPAN」でmore more連呼" [Capsule sing "More! More!" on NHK's Music Japan]. Natalie.mu (in Japanese). November 28, 2008. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  19. ^ "世界はそれでも変わりはしない" [Even So The World Doesn't Change] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  20. ^ "世界はそれでも変わりはしない" [Even So The World Doesn't Change] (in Japanese). Amazon. Archived from the original on May 7, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  21. ^ "世界はそれでも変わりはしない - Single" [Even So The World Doesn't Change - Single] (in Japanese). Apple Music. Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
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