# Softly (Tatsuro Yamashita album)

Professional ratings :
| Review scores ||
| Source | Rating |
| Pitchfork | 7.4/10 |
Softly is the fourteenth studio album by Japanese singer-songwriter Tatsuro Yamashita, released on June 22, 2022. It has been certified platinum by RIAJ in July 2022, for sales of over 250,000 copies.

## Overview

Softly was Yamashita's first new studio album in 11 years since Ray of Hope in August 2011. In addition to single songs such as "Hikari to Kimi e no Requiem", "Cheer Up! The Summer", "Reborn", "Mirai no Theme", and "Recipe", the album contains 15 songs including "Lehua, My Love" and "Shining from the Inside", which were previously used as CM songs. All the songs that have already been released will have new mixes. The title "Softly" expresses Tatsuro Yamashita's earnest desire to gently and softly wrap up this turbulent era with music.
On April 1, 2022, a special site and an announcement trailer video was made on YouTube.

## Artwork

The jacket uses a portrait of Yamashita drawn by Mari Yamazaki, a manga artist known for Thermae Romae. Yamazaki had studied painting in Italy, majoring in oil painting and art history, and had always dreamt of painting a portrait.

## Track listing
### Standard edition

All lyrics are written by Tatsuro Yamashita, except where noted; all music is composed by Tatsuro Yamashita
Limited edition bonus disc
All lyrics are written by Tatsuro Yamashita, except where noted; all music is composed by Tatsuro Yamashita, except where noted

### LP edition
## Personnel

According to Discogs' vinyl listing of the album:
Phoenix (フェニックス)
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Percussion, Backing Vocals
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
Love's On Fire
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Drum Programming, Computer Programming, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Synthesizer, Synthesizer Programming
Mirai no Theme (ミライのテーマ)
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion & Background Vocals
* Takumi Ogasawara - Drums
* Koki Ito - Electric Bass
* Hiroyuki Namba - Acoustic Piano
* Yota Miyazato - Alto Sax Solo
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
Recipe (レシピ)
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
Cheer Up! The Summer
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Drum Programming, Electric Guitar, Ukulele, Bouzouki, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals
* Taro Makido - String Arrangement
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
* Hitoshi Kono - Strings Concert Master
Jinriki Hikoki" (人力飛行機; Human Powered Aircraft)
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals
* Yutaka Uehara - Drums
* Koki Ito - Electric Bass
* Yoshiyuki Sahashi - Electric Guitar
* Hiroyuki Namba - Acoustic Piano
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
Uta no Kisha (うたのきしゃ)
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Drum Programming, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion & Background Vocals
* Koki Ito - Electric Bass
* Hiroyuki Namba - Acoustic Piano, Electric Piano
* Youichi Murata - Trombone
* Koji Nishimura - Trumpet
* Takuo Yamamoto - Tenor Sax & Baritone Sax
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
Shining From The Inside
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
Lehua, My Love
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Drum Programming, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Percussion, Backing Vocals
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
Oppression Blues (弾圧のブルース)
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals
* Yutaka Uehara - Drums
* Koki Ito - Electric Bass
* Hiroyuki Namba - Acoustic Piano, Electric Piano
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
Composition (コンポジション)
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar, Computer Programming, Drum Programming, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
You (= ユー)
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Percussion, Backing Vocals
* Koki Ito - Electric Bass
* Yoshiyuki Sahashi - Electric Guitar
* Hiroyuki Namba - Acoustic Piano, Electric Piano
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
Angel Of The Light
* Yoshiyuki Sahashi - Electric Guitar
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
Hikari to Kimi e no Requiem (光と君へのレクイエム)
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Drum Programming, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation
Reborn (リボーン)
* Tatsuro Yamashita - Lead Vocals, Computer Programming, Drum Programming, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Bouzouki, Keyboards, Percussion, Backing Vocals
* Suginami Junior Chorus - Backing Vocals
* Masanori Kusakabe - Electric Guitar
* Shigeaki Hashimoto - Computer Programming & Synthesizer Operation

## Release history

Release history and formats for Softly :
| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalog number |
| Japan | June 22, 2022 | Warner/Moon | CD | WPCL-13361 |
| Japan | June 22, 2022 | Warner/Moon | 2×CD | WPCL-13359/60 [Limited edition] |
| Japan | June 22, 2022 | Warner/Moon | 2×LP | WPJL-10155/6 |
| Japan | June 22, 2022 | Warner/Moon | CT | WPTL-10004 |