On August 20, Natsuko Kondo released her new mini-album, KCP-first. 

The title of the work, KCP, is the name of Natsuko Kondo’s city pop project and commemorates the 15th anniversary of her debut. Inspired by classic city pop songs from the 70s and 80s, Kondo interpreted and created a new song each month on YouTube throughout 2025.

This mini-album is a compilation of songs from January to June and is filled with unique tracks. Shooting Star is inspired by a sparkling snowy winter landscape; I’m in Love depicts an adult love story; Dear Days tells the story of a breakup; Magic Highway features the rich sounds of a saxophone; Love That Shelters Me From the Rain is perfect for the raining season, and Dancing all night puts listeners in a city pop mood.

All songs on the album were written by Natsuko Kondo and arranged by Kentaro Takagi. Kondo, who appears on several regular radio programs mainly in the Kansai region and is known as a “talking monster,” once again expresses her artistic side in this new work.

■Comment from Natsuko Kondo
“At first, I was groping my way through the world of city pop, wondering how it would sound in the modern era.
On the 15th anniversary of my debut, I wanted to depict myself as a Natsuko Kondo that people have never seen before. The time I spent creating a new piece of music each month made me realize how fascinated I still am with music. It’s a project that conjures all kinds of emotions. These are sounds you’ll want to repeat over and over again. I hope you’ll enjoy the new Natsuko Kondo!”