Mariya Takeuchi -- Yakei (夜景）

Came across another one of Mariya Takeuchi's（竹内まりや） soothing adult contemporary ballads on YouTube last night. It was the first time to have heard "Yakei"(Nightscape) in all my years of being a fan of hers, and that is because, according to J-Wiki, it is a true rarity. Although it had been released as the B-side or coupling song to her 13th single, "Koi no Arashi"（恋の嵐....Love Storm） in March 1986, it was never put onto any album, even her BEST compilations. Then, when Takeuchi released her 10th album, "Denim", in 2007, the first issue of the album included a mini-album titled "Vintage Denim" which included 6 of those rare B-sides with "Yakei" in there.

(karaoke version)

Listening to "Yakei" twice, it really does fit the evening scene with that martini, and the homemade video of Tokyo at night is a nice complement. The song had been created a few years back before the release of "Koi no Arashi" and was supposed to have been a track in Takeuchi's 6th album, "Variety"(1984), but didn't quite make the cut. A pity, since I think it would've been a fine addition to her comeback album since she was going for a variety (hence the title) of genres beyond her original penchant for 50s-type standards.

https://music.apple.com/jp/album/turntable/1476245539

(excerpt only)

Daimon skyscrapers

Took a long walk through downtown Tokyo
one Friday night. This is the commercial Daimon
neighbourhood with Tokyo Tower off in
the distance.