Kind of Love (song)

"Kind of Love"
"Kind of Love" digital edition cover
Digital edition cover, featuring a collage of all physical release covers
Single by Hinatazaka46
ReleasedMay 20, 2026 (2026-05-20)
GenreJ-pop
LabelSony Music Entertainment Japan
LyricistYasushi Akimoto
ProducerYasushi Akimoto
Hinatazaka46 singles chronology
"Cliffhanger"
(2026)		 "Kind of Love"
(2026)		 "Ichaicha Mushi"
(2026)
Music video
"Kind of Love" on YouTube
"Empty" on YouTube
"Enshuritsu" on YouTube

"Kind of Love" is the seventeenth single by Japanese girl group Hinatazaka46, released on May 20, 2026 by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. It features Kaho Fujishima in her first role as title song lead performer. The single debuted atop both the weekly Oricon Singles Chart and Billboard Japan Hot 100.

Production and release

"Kind of Love" marks Hinatazaka46's second single of 2026, following the release of "Cliffhanger" in January. The single continues the group's use of the selection (選抜, senbatsu) system, featuring a 14-member lineup for the title track with fourth-generation member Kaho Fujishima serving as the center (lead performer) for the first time. It is the first single after the departure of Konoka Matsuda in March. It was announced and first performed live during the encore of the Hinatansai anniversary concert on April 5, 2026, at the Yokohama Stadium.[1]

The single's common B-side track, "Empty", features members who were not selected for the title track lineup, known as Hiragana Hinatazaka46 (ひなた坂46). It is performed by a 13-member team centered by Mitsuki Hiraoka. The single also introduces several sub-unit tracks across its various editions: "Kokoro no Buranko" by Yōko Shōgenji and Haruka Yamashita; "Shuwa Shuwa" by Suekkomarin (末っ子まりん; lit. 'Youngest Children Marines', as all three members are associated with sea animals), a unit of the three youngest fifth-generation members;[2] and "Saraba Saraba", performed by the group's third-generation members.

The single was released on physical media on May 20, 2026 in multiple editions, consisting of special editions (Types A to D) packaged with Blu-ray discs, and a regular CD-only edition.

Reception

"Kind of Love" display at the HMV music store in Shibuya
"Kind of Love" display at the HMV music store in Shibuya

"Kind of Love" debuted at number one on both the weekly Oricon Singles Chart and Billboard Japan Hot 100, selling over 449 thousand physical copies according to Oricon[3] and 520 thousand copies according to Billboard Japan in its first week.[4] The digital release also topped the Oricon Weekly Digital Album Chart.[5]

Track listing

  1. Kind of Love
  2. "Empty"
  3. Different tracks on each type:
    • Type A: "Enshuritsu" (円周率; lit. 'Pi')
    • Type B: "Kokoro no Buranko" (心のブランコ; lit. 'Swing of the Heart')
    • Type C: "Shuwa Shuwa" (onomatopoeia for bubbliness)
    • Type D: "Saraba Saraba" (さらば さらば; lit. 'Farewell, Farewell')
    • Regular: "Kimi ni Yarareta!" (君にやられた!; lit. 'You Got Me!')
  4. Kind of Love (off-vocal)
  5. Empty (off-vocal)
  6. Off-vocal versions of track 3

Blu-ray

Type A: Hinatazaka46 5th Generation "Shinzanmono 2025 LIVE at Theater Milano-Za" (Part 1)

  1. Sora Tobu Kuruma
  2. Azatokawaii
  3. One Choice
  4. Do Re Mi So La Si Do
  5. Konna ni Suki ni Nacchatte Ii no?
  6. Kodokutachi yo
  7. Seishun no Uma
  8. Zettaiteki Dairokkan
  9. See Through

Type B: Hinatazaka46 5th Generation "Shinzanmono 2025 LIVE at Theater Milano-Za" (Part 2)

  1. Yoake no Speed
  2. What You Like!
  3. Ano Ko ni Guigui
  4. Sotsugyō Shashin Dake ga Shitteru
  5. Ai wa Kocchi no Mono da 2025
  6. Boku ni Tsuzuke
  7. Hey! Ohisama!
  8. German Iris
  9. Joyful Love

Type C: 5th Generation Individual Promotional Video

  1. Mizuki Ōta
  2. Manami Ōno
  3. Saki Katayama
  4. Hinano Kuramori
  5. Nina Sakai

Type D: 5th Generation Individual Promotional Video

  1. Yū Satō
  2. Izuki Shimoda
  3. Rika Takai
  4. Niko Tsurusaki
  5. Sakura Matsuo

Personnel

Lineups obtained from official website.

"Kind of Love"

Center: Kaho Fujishima

"Empty"

Center: Mitsuki Hiraoka

  • 1st row: Rika Takai, Mitsuki Hiraoka, Haruka Yamashita
  • 2nd row: Niko Tsurusaki, Honoka Hirao, Tamaki Ishizuka, Nanami Konishi, Yū Satō
  • 3rd row: Hinano Kuramori, Mizuki Ōta, Kirari Takeuchi, Nina Sakai, Izuki Shimoda

"Enshuritsu"

Center: Yū Satō

  • 1st row: Rika Takai, Mizuki Ōta, Yū Satō, Niko Tsurusaki, Hinano Kuramori
  • 2nd row: Saki Katayama, Izuki Shimoda, Nina Sakai, Manami Ōno, Sakura Matsuo

"Kokoro no Buranko"

Yōko Shōgenji, Haruka Yamashita

"Shuwa Shuwa"

Manami Ōno, Nina Sakai, Rika Takai

"Saraba Saraba"

Hinano Kamimura, Mikuni Takahashi, Marie Morimoto, Haruyo Yamaguchi

"Kimi ni Yarareta!"

Same as "Kind of Love"

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for "Kind of Love"
Chart (2026) Peak
position
Japan (Japan Hot 100)[6] 1
Japan Top Singles Sales (Billboard Japan)[7] 1
Japan (Oricon)[8]1
Japan Combined Singles (Oricon)[9] 1
Japanese Digital Albums (Oricon)[10] 1

References

  1. ↑ "日向坂46ニューシングル「Kind of love」はセンター藤嶌果歩 横スタ「ひな誕祭」で選抜メンバー発表、ステージで即披露：中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ". 中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-06-06.
  2. ↑ "日向坂46五期生『SHUWA SHUWA』が受け継ぐもの━━小坂菜緒や正源司陽子らが名を連ねる年下組トリオの系譜に、大野愛実ら「末っ子まりん」が仲間入り｜BUBKA Web（ブブカ ウェブ）". BUBKA Web（ブブカ ウェブ） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-05-28.
  3. ↑ "日向坂46「Kind of love」、週間シングル1位 歴代記録を自己更新【オリコンランキング】". オリコンニュース（ORICON NEWS）. 2026-05-26. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
  4. ↑ "【ビルボード】日向坂46『Kind of love』52万枚でシングル・セールス首位獲得 デビュー以来17作連続の快挙". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese). 2026-05-25. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
  5. ↑ "日向坂46『Kind of love（Special Edition）』、「デジタルアルバム」初登場1位【オリコンランキング】". オリコンニュース（ORICON NEWS）. 2026-05-27. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
  6. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot 100 – Week of June 1, 2026". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Billboard Japan Top Singles Sales – Week of June 1, 2026". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Oricon Weekly Single Ranking – 2026-06-01". Oricon News. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
  9. ↑ "2026年05月18日～2026年05月24日 オリコン週間 合算シングルランキング". オリコンニュース（ORICON NEWS） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-05-28.
  10. ↑ "Oricon Weekly Digital Album Ranking: 2026-06-01" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
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