After the chaotic sugar-rush energy of 『ブラザービート』, Snow Man took a step back to something softer, warmer, and undeniably more romantic with for eighth single ｢オレンジkiss｣ (English: Orange Kiss).

Released on 13 July 2022, ｢オレンジkiss｣ trades cartoonish slapstick for glowing summer emotion, pairing shimmering pop production with some of Snow Man’s sweetest vocal work to date. The track was featured as the theme song for the feature film 『モエカレはオレンジ色』 (My Boyfriend in Orange), starring group leader Hikaru Iwamoto as firefighter Kyosuke Ebihara, whose gruff exterior hides a deeply compassionate heart.

The story follows the shy and withdrawn Moe Sasaki (Meru Nukumi), whose life takes an unexpectedly chaotic turn when Ebihara mistakes her for someone attempting to jump during a routine school fire drill and dramatically “rescues” her in front of an audience of stunned students. What begins as a deeply embarrassing encounter slowly blossoms into something heartfelt, as the rough-around-the-edges but deeply compassionate Ebihara helps Moe discover the confidence to step beyond her fears and embrace the person she truly wants to become. The film also stars Hidaka Ukisho of the Jr. unit ACEes as another firefighter in Ebihara’s unit.

While I enjoy ｢オレンジkiss｣ as a song, and its dance video remains one of my favorite performance clips from the group, the real power of this release, in my humble opinion, lies in the coupling tracks. Every one of them complements the title song so naturally that it’s honestly a little tragic they haven’t received more attention. There’s especially so much charm packed into ｢Wonderful! × Surprise!｣. Exclusive to the disc release, the track radiates an infectious sense of celebration and playful chaos, perfectly showcasing just how fun Snow Man can be when they fully lean into their chemistry and larger-than-life energy.

Sliding back into a smoother, more romantic groove, there’s something very Michael Jackson inspired behind ｢Feel the light, Lovely｣.

The original physical release of『オレンジkiss』came in three different formats: 

Edition A (with DVD)
💿｢オレンジkiss｣
💿 ｢Wonderful! × Surprise!｣
📼 ｢オレンジkiss｣ (Music Video)
📼 ｢Wonderful! × Surprise!｣ (Lip Sync Video)
📼 ｢Behind the Scenes｣

The First-Press limited edition also came with a sticker set (A4) and a serial number for exclusive video A.

Edition B (with DVD)
💿｢オレンジkiss｣
💿 ｢Feel the light, Lovely｣
📼 ｢オレンジkiss)｣ (Multi-Angle Video)
📼 ｢Feel the light, Lovely｣ (Dance Video)
📼 Mission wo Clear shi Line wo Tsukure! Lucky7BINGO!!

The First-Press limited edition also came with a set of 9 polaroid cards and a serial number for exclusive video B.

Regular (CD Only) Edition
💿｢オレンジkiss｣ (English: Orange Kiss)
💿 ｢Wonderful! × Surprise!｣
💿 ｢Feel the light, Lovely｣
💿 ｢僕に大切にされてね。｣ (English: I hope you’ll be cherished by me)
💿 ｢オレンジkiss｣ (Original Karaoke)
💿 ｢Wonderful! × Surprise!｣ (Original Karaoke)
💿 ｢Feel the light, Lovely｣ (Original Karaoke)
💿 ｢僕に大切にされてね。｣ (Original Karaoke)

The first-press limited edition included a sleeve, photo book, clear folder (A5), and a serial number for exclusive video C.

Debuting at number one on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, the release sold more than 830,000 physical copies in its first week alone, becoming one of the biggest Japanese single releases of 2022. At the time of its release it was the highest first-week single sales of the fiscal year, topping Billboard Japan’s 2022 year-end Top Singles Sales chart and earning Triple Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).

Critically, the single was praised for revealing a softer and more emotionally sincere side of the group following the explosive chaos of 『ブラザービート』. Reviewers highlighted the song’s colorful imagery, romantic atmosphere, and polished vocal performances, while many fans embraced its warm summer energy and heartfelt message. Paired with an exceptionally strong collection of coupling tracks, 『オレンジkiss』 demonstrated Snow Man’s growing versatility, proving they could deliver blockbuster spectacle and genuine emotional tenderness with equal confidence.

There will be more Snow Man soon so…

Stay Tuned!