Release Date: January 14, 2026
Track Listing
Disc 1
- Actually…
- Suki to Iu no wa Rock daze! (好きというのはロックだぜ！)
- Koko ni wa Nai Mono (ここにはないもの)
- Hito wa Yume wo Nido Miru (人は夢を二度見る)
- Ohitorisama Tengoku (おひとりさま天国)
- Monopoly
- Chance wa Byoudou (チャンスは平等)
- Cheat Day (チートデイ)
- Hodoukyou (歩道橋)
- Navel Orange (ネーブルオレンジ)
- Same numbers
- Biryani (ビリヤニ)
- My respect
- Zenryoku Lap Time (全力ラップタイム)
Disc 2
- Sanbanme no Kaze (三番目の風)
- Omoide First (思い出ファースト)
- Mirai no Kotae (未来の答え)
- Boku no shoudou (僕の衝動)
- Tokitokimekimeki (トキトキメキメキ)
- Jibun janai Kanji (自分じゃない感じ)
- Mainichi ga Brand new day (毎日がBrand new day)
- Otonatachi ni wa Shijisarenai (大人たちには指示されない)
- Boku ga Te wo Tataku Kata e (僕が手を叩く方へ)
- Sekai wa Koko ni Aru (世界はここにある)
Disc 3
- Kiss no Shuriken (三番目の風)
- Yonbanme no Hikari (4番目の光)
- Toshoshitsu no Kimi e (図書室の君へ)
- I see…
- Out of the blue
- Toshoshitsu no Kimi e (図書室の君へ)
- Nekojita Chamomile Tea (猫舌カモミールティー)
- Fake Doctor
Disc 4
- Zetsubou no Ichibyou Mae (絶望の一秒前)
- Band-Aid Hagasu Youna Watarekata (バンドエイド剥がすような別れ方)
- 17-funkan (17分間)
- Kokoro ni mo Nai Koto (心にもないこと)
- Kangaenai You ni Suru (考えないようにする)
- Itsu no Hi ka, Ano Uta wo… (いつの日か、あの歌を…)
- “Jaane” ga Setsunai (「じゃあね」が切ない)
- Nekkyou no Hakeguchi (熱狂の捌け口)
- Soutaiseiriron ni Igi wo Tonaeru (相対性理論に異議を唱える)
- Just a sec.
Review
It’s no secret that most of my attention in recent years has gone to K-pop idols, with little to no coverage of their Japanese counterparts. With the Japanese idol bubble bursting many moons ago, my interest in the scene has waned significantly. However, I still keep tabs on the groups I once invested heavily in. One of those holdovers is Nogizaka46.
For complete transparency, I was a hardcore first and second-generation stan of Nogizaka46. Once those generations graduated, I wasn’t as invested as I had been before. As mentioned in the introduction, I still made an effort to keep up with the group, at least musically. That brings us to their first original studio album in seven years, covering the three-year span from their 29th single, Actually…, through to 2025’s Biryani.
When you look at the track listing for this album, it can feel a bit daunting. Nogizaka46 have amassed a sizable collection of songs over the past three years. Given the typical Japanese idol release model with multiple versions of a single, each including exclusive tracks this isn’t particularly surprising. Thankfully, the material is organized logically. The first disc contains all the title tracks/A-sides, while discs two through four compile coupling tracks and album cuts, sorted by generation from the third through the fifth.
Given the nature of this release, a traditional front-to-back track review doesn’t really apply. This is less about cohesion and more about capturing a snapshot of Nogizaka46 over time. With that in mind, it makes more sense to evaluate how effectively this collection represents the group’s evolution across these three years, rather than how well it flows as a complete listen.
Compared to their counterparts in the AKB48-affiliated groups, Nogizaka46 tend to lean toward a more elegant, melodic sound, with moods that are often more reflective and melancholic. Their songs are generally not as aggressive or direct, though there are a few exceptions. This core identity remains consistent throughout the album.
The album opens with Nogizaka46’s three singles from 2022. The opener, Actually…, is atypical of the group’s usual sound, drawing more from the playbook of their sister group Keyakizaka46/Sakurazaka46, who tend to favour more intense instrumentals. It’s an effective attention-grabber and shows that the group can step outside their comfort zone when needed. This is about as “outside the box” as it gets here, as the remaining two tracks return to a more familiar Nogizaka46 sound.
That sense of familiarity carries over into the 2023 releases, with Monopoly standing out. The track recalls the group’s early output from around 2013 to 2015, bringing back the brighter, more carefree tone that defined that era.
Moving into 2024, we again have a slight musical detour in the form of Chance wa Byoudou, which offers a disco-influenced-influenced party track. This is a pool that Nogizaka46 has dipped their toes into before, but this time it’s more dancefloor goodness than 70s adult contemporary radio.
Closing out the album are Nogizaka46’s 2025 singles, along with the two new tracks, My respect and Zenryoku Lap Time. This group of songs leans heavily into the group’s established sound, with fewer moments that stand out compared to earlier in the album. If there is one track that caught my ear, it would be Navel Orange.
For a lapsed fan such as myself, My respect serves as a strong recap of Nogizaka46’s most recent releases. To my ear, they have refined their brand of idol music to the point where it feels effortless within their niche, while still showing a willingness to experiment enough to keep things fresh.
While the main album is solid, the stronger material arguably lies within the three B-side compilations. To keep this review from running too long, I would recommend digging into those discs, as there are quite a few gems to be found.
Ultimately, My respect lies more in a snapshot than in a traditional album. It effectively captures where Nogizaka46 stand today, refined, consistent, and comfortable within their identity, while offering just enough variation to show they are not entirely standing still.
