Hikaru Utada Releases New Single “Intentions” on November 25 with Cover Art by Paris-Based Artist Yukiko Noritake
Pre-Order and Pre-Save Campaign Launches Today with Exclusive Fan Giveaways
Tokyo, Japan — Hikaru Utada has announced that their new single “Intentions” will be released digitally on November 25. The song has already attracted attention as the theme song for JR Central's “GOOD DAY EXPRESS” campaign, promoting the new premium “Supreme Class” cabins on the Tokaido Shinkansen bullet train, which connects Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka.
Alongside the release date, Utada has unveiled the single's cover art, created by Paris-based Japanese illustrator and artist YUKIKO NORITAKE.
To celebrate the upcoming release, a pre-order and pre-save campaign has launched today, offering fans the chance to receive exclusive merchandise featuring the single's artwork.
Fans who pre-order “Intentions” on iTunes will be entered into a prize draw, with 100 winners receiving an exclusive handkerchief featuring the single's cover art. All participants who complete an eligible pre-order or pre-save through iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify or Amazon Music will also receive an exclusive digital wallpaper.
Full campaign details and participation instructions are available here:
https://cp.digle.tokyo/
Fans in Japan will have the opportunity to hear “Intentions” in full ahead of its digital release, starting November 6 at five Sony Store locations across the country: Ginza, Sapporo, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka Tenjin.
In addition to the full-length listening experience, the stores will host special audio comparison sessions and promotional activities offering exclusive giveaways.
The campaign will run through December 30, 2026, giving visitors an opportunity to experience the song in a dedicated listening environment.
For further details, visit the official campaign page:
https://www.sony.jp/store/
Release Information
Artist: Hikaru Utada
Title: “Intentions”
Release Date: November 25, 2026
Format: Digital Single
Tie-in: JR Central “GOOD DAY EXPRESS” Theme Song
Cover Art: YUKIKO NORITAKE
Pre-Order / Pre-Save Campaign:
https://cp.digle.tokyo/
About Hikaru Utada
Since their debut on 9 December 1998, Hikaru Utada has achieved numerous remarkable milestones in their career. Their debut single “Automatic/time will tell” sold over two million copies, propelling them to become one of Japan's top artists at the young age of 15. Just a few months later, their first album “First Love” shattered Japanese CD sales records that still stand unbroken today.
In 2022, their eighth album “BAD MODE”, which includes collaboration songs with artists such as Skrillex, A.G. Cook, and Floating Points, garnered high praise both domestically and internationally, and was crowned as the best album of the year by the internationally renowned music media, Pitchfork. In the same year, they made their festival debut at the globally recognized Coachella Festival in California, joining celebrated label 88rising as part of their exhilarating showcase.
The Netflix series “First Love,” inspired by Utada's eponymous single, achieved tremendous success in Japan and across Asia. On December 9, 2023, Utada celebrated the 25th anniversary of their major label debut in fantastical style, announcing the much-anticipated release of their inaugural greatest hits album SCIENCE FICTION, which was released in April 2024 and followed by their first tour in six years, the nationwide HIKARU UTADA SCIENCE FICTION TOUR 2024, which included stops in both Hong Kong and Taipei.
In 2025, Utada continued their collaboration with the Ayataka green tea brand for a second consecutive year, releasing the single “Mine or Yours” on May 2. Around the same time, they appeared on the YouTube channel THE FIRST TAKE, where performances of both “Mine or Yours” and their iconic track “First Love” generated significant buzz online and beyond. In April, they took the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival with experimental electronic artist Arca, and later appeared as a surprise act at SONIC MANIA in August alongside British DJ Floating Points. In September, their collaboration with Kenshi Yonezu, “JANE DOE,” became a major hit both in Japan and internationally.
In 2026, Utada's new song “PAPPAPARADISE” was selected as the new ending theme for the anime Chibi Maruko-chan. The track was also featured in a new commercial for Ayataka. In June, two works originally released under the “UTADA” name were released on vinyl for the first time. A 7-inch vinyl edition of “PAPPAPARADISE” was also released on the same day, featuring a new version with Hiroto Kōmoto, “PAPPAPARADISE feat. Hiroto Kohmoto.”
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