Manatsu no Kousen

Manatsu_no_KousenFront.jpg from album Second Morning'''

Released May 12, 1999

Genre J-Pop

Format CD Single

Recorded 1999

Label zetima

Producer Tsunku

Morning Musume Singles Chronology

Previous: Memory Seishun no Hikari 4th Single (1999)

Next: Furusato 6th Single (1999)]] Manatsu no Kousen (真夏の光線; A Ray of Light in Midsummer) is the fifth single by the J-pop idol group Morning Musume, released on May 12, 1999 as an 8 cm CD. It sold a total of 235,010 copies, and reached number three on the Oricon Charts.

In 2004, It was re-released as part of the Early Single Box and again in 2005, as a 12 cm CD. The lead vocalist of this single was Abe Natsumi. "Manatsu no Kousen" ranked as the #93 single for 1999.

Tracklist
thumb|right|220px|Manatsu no Kousen (MV)

Original Edition

 * 1) Manatsu no Kousen
 * 2) Koi no Shihatsu Ressha (恋の始発列車; Love's First Train)
 * 3) Manatsu no Kousen (Instrumental)

Re-release Edition

 * 1) Manatsu no Kousen
 * 2) Koi no Shihatsu Ressha
 * 3) Manatsu no Kousen (Instrumental)
 * 4) Manatsu no Kousen (Early Version)

Featured Members

 * 1st Gen: Nakazawa Yuko, Ishiguro Aya, Iida Kaori, Abe Natsumi
 * 2nd Gen: Yasuda Kei, Yaguchi Mari, Ichii Sayaka

TV Performances

 * 1999-05-07 Music Station


 * 1999-05-09 ASAYAN
 * 1999-05-21 Music Station
 * 1999-05-27 Utaban
 * 2000-07-16 Hello! Morning Episode 015 (10-person Version)

Concert Performances

 * 1) Manatsu no Kousen
 * 2) *Hello! Project '99
 * 3) *Hello! Project Happy New Year 2000
 * 4) *Morning Musume First Live at Budokan ~Dancing Love Site 2000 Haru~
 * 5) *Morning Musume Live Revolution 21 Haru ~Osaka Jou Hall Saishuu Bi~
 * 6) *Hello! Project 2002 ~One Happy Summer Day~ (Hawaiian version by Coconuts Musume)
 * 7) *Hello! Project 2005 Natsu no Kayou Show -'05 Selection! Collection!
 * 8) *Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai Concert Tour 2007 Natsu ~Thank You My Dearest~
 * 9) *Morning Musume Concert Tour 2008 Haru ~Single Daizenshuu!!~
 * 10) *Hello! Project 2008 Summer Wonderful Hearts Kouen ~Hishochi de Date Itashima SHOW~
 * 11) *Hello! Project 2009 Winter Wonderful Hearts Kouen ~Kakumei Gannen~ / Elder Club Kouen ~Thank You for Your Love!~
 * 12) *Hello! Project 2010 Summer ~Fankora!~
 * 13) *Abe Natsumi Birthday Live 2012 ~thanks all~  (Abe Natsumi solo )
 * 14) *Birthday Live2013 +♪The Beating♪+ - Abe Natsumi solo
 * 15) Koi no Shihatsu Ressha
 * 16) *Morning Musume Concert Tour 2005 Natsu Aki "Baribari Kyoushitsu ~Koharu-chan Irasshai!~"
 * 17) *Morning Musume Tanjou 10nen Kinentai Concert Tour 2007 Natsu ~Thank You My Dearest~

Song Information

 * Manatsu no Kousen
 * Lyrics & Music: Tsunku
 * Arrangement: Kouno Shin
 * Main Vocals: Abe Natsumi
 * Koi no Shihatsu Ressha
 * Lyrics & Music: Tsunku
 * Arrangement: Konishi Takao
 * Main Vocals: Abe Natsumi, Yasuda Kei
 * Minor Vocals: Nakazawa Yuko, Iida Kaori, Ichii Sayaka

Trivia

 * This is the first official single by Morning Musume to have a full Japanese title.
 * 1st Generation member Nakazawa Yuko gives a comment about the single on Youtube.
 * This is the fifth single where Nakazawa Yuko was leader of Morning Musume.
 * Niigaki Risa, Tanaka Reina, Kamei Eri, and Okai Chisato have recorded their own version of the single for the Hello Cover Series.
 * An English cover was recorded by Tara McDonald as "Endless Summer" for the album Cover Morning Musume!

Oricon Chart Positions
Total Reported Sales: 235,010