Akina Nakaomri’s Anniversary, released on 1 May 1984 under the Warner Pioneer label, marks her fifth studio album, coinciding with her second debut anniversary. The album features notable singles “Kita Wing” and her first self-written song, “Yume wo Misasete.”
Notably, the production team behind the album consists of long-term collaborators from Nakamori’s debut era, including Mitsuo Hagita, siblings Etsuko and Takao Kisugi, Amii Ozaki, Kōji Tamaki (a future member of Anzen Chitai), Keiko Miura, and Haruomi Hosono.
In contrast to her previous album, New Akina Etranger, which showcased influences from Momoe Yamaguchi’s production team and a European-oriented style, Anniversary exhibits a more vibrant and tropical sound, as mentioned in an interview with The Television magazine.
“Kita Wing,” the first single of 1984 released on 1 January, achieved considerable success, debuting at number two on the Oricon Single Weekly Chart and becoming the ninth best-selling single of the year. It received prestigious awards, including the special composition award in the 4th Japan Composition Award, Best Hit Award in the 13th FNS Music Festival, and Best Singing Award in the 26th Japan Record Awards. On 15 December 1984, a special edition Kita Wing/Refrain was released.
The popularity of “Kita Wing” is evident from Akina Nakamori’s five performances of the song on the TBS television program The Best Ten. Furthermore, many songs from the album, such as “Easy,” “Asylum,” “Shut Out,” “100 Celsius Vacation,” “Natsu Basama,” “Yume wo Misasete,” and “Melancholy Fiesta,” were featured in the live tour Ongaku Kanshō-kai: Aitaina Aerukana.
Over the years, some tracks have been performed on various occasions, such as “Kita Wing” in Bitter and Sweet (1985), Akina Index: The 8th Anniversary (1989), Akina Yume Special Live (1991), Symphonic Concert (1998), and AKINA NAKAMORI A-1 tour (2004). “Mabushii Futari” was performed during Akina’s first dinner show Xmas An evening with Miss Akina Nakamori in 1996, and “Asylum” made appearances in Akina Yume Special Live (1991) and the special cover live Empress at CLUB EX in 2005.
