"Actually..." is a song recorded by Japanese idol girl group Nogizaka46. It is scheduled for release as the group's twenty-ninth single on March 23, 2022, through N46Div. and Sony Music Records. The song was written by Yasushi Akimoto and Namito. Aruno Nakanishi serves as the center position of the single, becoming the first fifth generation member to be in the center position and appear on the single.
Background and release
On January 31, 2022, end of the group's television show Nogizaka Under Construction, Nogizaka46 announced their twenty-ninth single, which would be released on March 23, six months after its predecessor, twenty-eighth single "Kimi ni Shikarareta", and three months after the greatest hit album, Time Flies.[1] Pre-orders for the CD single began on the same day in five editions: four limited (A, B, C, D), and a regular.[2] It also was announced that Hinako Kitano, a second generation member, would be graduate from the group in late April and do not participate as both senbatsu and under member.[3] On February 1, Nogizaka46 announced eleven members joined the group as the fifth generation from the audition of 87,852 applicants began in July 2021. Eight members were introduced in February, while the other three after March due to academic reasons.[4]
The participating members (senbatsu) was announced in the group's television show on February 20.[5] On February 23, the single's title and the center position were announced at their special livestream program Nogizaka46 Hours TV, to be the fifth generation member Aruno Nakanishi.[6] The complete track listing was revealed on the next day.[7] On March 3, the center Nakanishi would be temporarily hiatus from group activities for three weeks due to accusations about her past behavior on social media.[8]Asuka Saitō and Mizuki Yamashita serve the center position instead.[9]
Cover artworks
The cover artworks for all editions of "Actually..." were revealed on February 28. Ofby for Tokyo's Yukari handles the art direction, while the photographs are taken by Hayato Takahashi. Described by the group as a "unique world view", "mysterious feeling", and "hope for the future", the covers depict the Nogizaka46 stand dignifiedly in the world that the nature has been transformed into metal, to express two contradictory worlds of "transience" and "strength" at the same time.[10][11]
The eighteen members were selected to be participating members (senbatsu) for "Actually...", and ten members for fukujin (first and second-row members). Yuna Shibata and Aruno Nakanishi were selected to participate for the first time. Nakanishi also serves as the center position.[5][6] The twenty-ninth single senbatsu also performed "Fuyokami", and "Suki ni Nattemita".[13][7]
Third row: Mayu Tamura, Sayaka Kakehashi, Rei Seimiya, Ayane Suzuki, Higuchi Hina, Renka Iwamoto, Yuna Shibata, Hayakawa Seira
For other tracks, "Kachi Aru Mono" is performed by members who reach their legal age in 2022 (Shiori Kubo, Tamami Sakaguchi, Reno Nakamura, Sakura Endō, Haruka Kaki, Saya Kanagawa, Yuri Kitakawa, Rika Satō). "Wasurenaito Ii na" is sung by Hinako Kitano, as her solo graduation song. "Todokanakutatte..." is recorded by the under members, while "Zetsubō no Ichi-byō Mae" by the fifth generation members.[13][7]
