''Love'' (stylized as ''LOVE'') is the third

mini-album A mini-LP or mini-album is a short vinyl record album or LP, usually retailing at a lower price than an album that would be considered full-length. It is distinct from an EP due to containing more tracks and a slightly longer running length. A ...

by Japanese recording artist

Ayumi Hamasaki is a Japanese singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, model, spokesperson, and entrepreneur. By 2002, Hamasaki had earned the nickname "Empress of J-pop" due to her popularity in Japan and throughout Asia. Due to her success and relevanc ...

. It was released on 8 November 2012 in three editions: CD+DVD, CD-Only and a limited ''

Tales of Xillia 2 is an action role-playing game for the PlayStation 3 released on November 1, 2012, in Japan. It is the fourteenth core product in the ''Tales'' series and was developed and published by Bandai Namco Games. The game was localized for North Americ ...

Edition''. The EP's track list is formatted similarly to Hamasaki's singles, including remixes and instrumentals, which was different on how she present her mini-albums in the past. ''Love'' reached #4 on the

Oricon charts , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in Nove ...

, selling 64,841 copies in its first week. It ended up selling 94,347 copies, receiving a gold certification by the

Recording Industry Association of Japan The is an industry trade group composed of Japanese corporations involved in the music industry. It was founded in 1942 as the Japan Phonogram Record Cultural Association, and adopted its current name in 1969. The RIAJ's activities include pr ...

for shipments of 100,000 copies.

Information

''Love'' is the first from five consecutive monthly releases from Hamasaki to celebrate her 15th anniversary in the music industry. It has three new songs: "Song 4 U", "Missing" and "Melody" as well as remixes of them and remixes of " You & Me", which was released digitally few months earlier. The first track on the album, "Song 4 U", was used as the theme song for the 2012 video game ''Tales of Xillia 2''. At first, Hamasaki included a music video for "Melody" for the track list in the DVD was eventually replaced by a music video for "Missing". "Melody"'s music video will then be included on her 14th studio album, '' Love Again''. ''Love'' is Hamasaki first mini-album not to top the oricon charts, debuting at number 4 with sales of just 64,841. It sold a total of 88,435 in 2012, ending up as the 76th best selling album of the year. Hamasaki had stated that these five releases, including ''Love'', are meant for her fans and not about sales and ranking. ''Love'' also charted at 7 at Japan Billboard Top Albums. In Taiwan, it charted at #2 at its debut week and rise to #1 in the following week. Her last number one album in Taiwan was ''

Rock 'n' Roll Circus ''Rock 'n' Roll Circus'' is the eleventh studio album by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on April 14, 2010, by Avex Trax. It was also released just a little over a year after her 2009 album, '' Next Level''. ''Rock 'n ...

'' in 2010.http://www.generasia.com/wiki/Love_%28Hamasaki_Ayumi%29#Oricon_Chart_Positions

Track listing

Charts and Certifications

Oricon Chart G-Music Chart (Taiwan)

Certifications

References

{{Authority control Ayumi Hamasaki EPs 2012 EPs Avex Group EPs Japanese-language EPs