Aitakatta

"Aitakatta"
Single by AKB48
from the album Set List: Greatest Songs 2006–2007
B-side	"Dakedo..."
Released	October 25, 2006
Format	CD Single
Genre	Pop
Length	3:48
Label	DefSTAR
Writer(s)	Yasushi Akimoto, BOUNCEBACK, Michihiko Ōta
Producer(s)	Yasushi Akimoto
AKB48 singles chronology
"Skirt, Hirari" (2006) "Aitakatta" (2006) "Seifuku ga Jama o Suru" (2007)

"Aitakatta" (会いたかった, lit. I wanted to meet you) is Japanese idol group AKB48's third single, and the first major single released through DefSTAR Records, on October 25, 2006.^[1] The song is regarded as the signature song of AKB48, remains as AKB48′s most recognizable tune among the public,^[2] and is the theme song for their own TV show AKBingo!.

Promotion

With support from DefStar Records, public began to take notice of AKB48, as the song has been frequently used as an introductory song when AKB48 appears on TV programs as guests, including the 58th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, as well as the theme song of their own TV late night show, AKBingo!, which is broadcast since 2008.^[2]

The girls took a trip down to Tateyama, Chiba to film the video clip, with the main dance scenes set at the cliff of the Sunosaki Lighthouse.^[2]

Each first pressing CD also includes a DVD, which consists of Aitakatta's video clip and "AKB48 History: Major Debut e no Kiseki" (AKB48 History 〜メジャーデビューへの軌跡〜 AKB48 History ~Path to their Major Debut~), as well as following premiums.^[3]

• Original Trading Cards (one of 3 different designs)
• Limited-time online-only video ConnecteD CD edition (recorded special private video originally distributed as online-only)
• The ultimate right of application (any one of followings:Application must be received by November 22, 2006))
  • Award A: Invitation to "Special Christmas Party 2006" raging with AKB48 Members!" (AKB48メンバーと盛り上がる!「スペシャル・クリスマスパーティー2006」ご招待) 100 pairs (200 persons)
  • Award K: Invitation to AKB48 year-end routine "General clean-up of AKB48 Theater 2006" (AKB48年末恒例 「AKB48劇場大掃除大会2006」ご招待) 50 pairs (100 persons)
  • Award B: Private movies of 20 Senbatsu members of "Aitakatta" recorded on a DVD (「会いたかった」選抜メンバー20名によるプライベート映像(DVD)) 300 persons

Reception

The single charted for six weeks in the top 200 with the highest rank at #12 in 2006, and came back in the top 200 in 2010 and being charted since second week of September 2010.^[4] "Aitakatta" sold 25,544 copies, during the first 6 weeks charted on Oricon.^[2]

Personnel

The title track involved 20 members selected from Team A and Team K.^[2]

Center: Atsuko Maeda^[5]

• Team A - Tomomi Itano, Haruna Kojima, Atsuko Maeda, Minami Minegishi, Rina Nakanishi, Risa Narita, Tomomi Ōe, Mai Oshima, Mariko Shinoda, Minami Takahashi, Hana Tojima
• Team K - Sayaka Akimoto, Tomomi Kasai, Kana Kobayashi, Natsumi Matsubara, Sae Miyazawa, Kayo Noro, Erena Ono, Yuko Oshima, Ayaka Umeda

Usage in media

This song was featured on Season 2 E01 of James May's Cars of the People, as James May was driving a 1980 Mazda 323 around Hiroshima.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Arranger	Length
1.	"Aitakatta" (会いたかった)	Yasushi Akimoto, BOUNCEBACK	Tomonori Taguchi, Haruo Inatome	3:48
2.	"Dakedo..." (だけど…)	Akimoto, Michihiko Ōta	Tetsuya Fujita	4:37
3.	"Aitakatta (Instrumental)"	Akimoto, BOUNCEBACK	Taguchi, Inatome	3:48
4.	"Dakedo...(Instrumental)"	Akimoto, Ōta	Fujita	4:37
Total length:				17:00

Charts

Chart	Peak position
Aitakatta
Oricon Weekly Chart[4]	12

Sales and certifications

Chart	Amount
Oricon physical sales	53,934
RIAJ full-length cellphone downloads	Triple Platinum (750,000+)

References

1. "AKB48公式サイト｜ディスコグラフィー" (in Japanese). AKS. Archived from the original on 22 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-24.
2. "AITAKATTA AKB48's own anthem". supermerlion. Retrieved 2011-04-24.
3. "会いたかった(初回生産限定盤)(DVD付) [Single, CD+DVD, Limited Edition]" (in Japanese). amazon.co.jp. Retrieved 2011-04-24.
4. アーティスト&楽曲検索 会いたかった (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2011-04-24.
5. "歴代AKB48 シングル曲/選抜メンバー/センター 【PRiVATE LiFE】データベース". Entamedata.web.fc2.com. Retrieved 2014-01-10.