KARA 20th

Hara | Solo Music & Acting | KARA

After joining KARA in 2008, Hara also appeared in the rural variety show Invincible Youth and the drama City Hunter. Her individual singing work included solo tracks within KARA, a television theme-song project and drama soundtracks. She released the

Hara (supplied photograph)
Hara (supplied photograph)

MEMBER 04 / INDIVIDUAL STORY

Hara

After joining KARA in 2008, Hara also appeared in the rural variety show Invincible Youth and the drama City Hunter. Her individual singing work included solo tracks within KARA, a television theme-song project and drama soundtracks.

She released the Korean solo mini album ALOHARA in 2015 and the Japanese single Midnight Queen in 2019.

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TV & media

Rural life on Invincible Youth

Hara joined G7, drawn from different girl groups, on KBS 2TV’s Invincible Youth. Beginning in October 2009, the show followed rural work, chicken care, cooking and other tasks in Yuchi-ri, Hongcheon, Gangwon Province.

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Product image of the Invincible Youth official photo essay, published by YES24.Image source
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Season one ended on December 24, 2010. KBS reported that current and former members jointly raised support for a former village head who had lost his home in a fire. The regular programme involved sustained contact with local residents beyond stage performances.

Record highlights

  • Broadcaster: KBS 2TV / season one: 2009–2010
  • Location: Yuchi-ri, Hongcheon, Gangwon
Official material & related visualView programme or release material
Film & television

Choi Da-hye in City Hunter

In SBS’s City Hunter, Hara played the president’s daughter Choi Da-hye, a character connected to Lee Yoon-sung, played by Lee Min-ho, and Kim Na-na, played by Park Min-young. SBS’s cast page identifies her photograph and role, documenting this acting work alongside singing.

Official SBS character portrait of Hara as Choi Da-hye
Character photograph explicitly matched to Hara / Choi Da-hye by SBS’s official cast data; its upload year is distinct from the broadcast year.Image source
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At the production press conference on 17 May 2011, Hara described Da-hye as lively and mischievous and said being able to draw on her own cheerful side was reassuring. She acknowledged the pressure of acting and hoped to improve through criticism. Alongside the screen role, she also sang an acoustic track for the drama’s soundtrack in July.

Record highlights

  • Role: Choi Da-hye / broadcaster: SBS
  • Co-stars: Lee Min-ho, Park Min-young
  • Production press conference: 17 May 2011, SBS in Mok-dong, Seoul.
Official material & related visualView programme or release material
Solo music

A solo vocal on the City Hunter soundtrack

The City Hunter Special soundtrack included I Love U, I Want U, I Need U (Sweet Acoustic ver.). The licensed catalogue credits Goo Hara individually rather than KARA. It added her own singing voice to a drama in which she also acted.

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City Hunter soundtrack artwork accompanying Hara’s song on Bugs.Image source
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The audio runs 3:47 and Bugs also lists a related video. Identified as the Sweet Acoustic version, it documents solo singing before the first solo EP ALOHARA in 2015. The soundtrack’s July 27 release is distinct from the month the drama began airing.

Record highlights

  • Special soundtrack release: July 27, 2011
  • Audio: 3:47 / Sweet Acoustic ver.
Official material & related visualView programme or release material
Solo music

Solo track Secret Love

The Japanese KARA Collection placed Hara’s solo Secret Love third on its CD and also included its instrumental. The album gathered individual songs from all five members, giving each singer a full track to lead.

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Cover of KARA Collection, limited edition A, containing the solo track.Image source
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Limited A added Hara’s Secret Love video, a DVD with behind-the-scenes material for the videos, and a photo book. This Japanese-language solo project remains part of KARA’s catalogue, preceding her later Korean solo EP ALOHARA.

Record highlights

  • Japanese release: September 5, 2012
  • CD track 3 / her MV on limited A
  • Before the Japanese CD, original coverage of Seoul KARASIA in February 2012 described Hara’s new solo stage as a sweet love song.
  • DSP said every member contributed to lyrics and planning her own video for the Korean-language project.
Official material & related visualView official release material
Film & television

Galileo: guest appearance in episode 10

Hara guest-starred in the first part of “Salvation of a Saint,” episode 10 of Fuji TV’s Galileo, broadcast on 17 June 2013. She played an employee at Yoshiyuki Mashiba’s company, appearing in an online meeting and in scenes involving detective Misa Kishitani’s inquiries. All of her filming was conducted in Japanese.

Hara and Yuriko Yoshitaka during Galileo filming
Fuji TV photograph published with the report on this guest appearance.Image source© Fuji Television / WEBザテレビジョン publication
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In her published filming comments, Hara said finding the right tone in Japanese was difficult even with short lines, and expressed a wish to act in another Japanese drama. She also exchanged Korean greetings with co-star Yuriko Yoshitaka. Under the name HARA+, she sang the theme for the Korean broadcast of the same series, contributing through both acting and music.

Record highlights

  • Broadcast: 17 June 2013, Fuji TV, episode 10.
  • Story: “Salvation of a Saint,” part one.
  • Role: a female employee at Yoshiyuki Mashiba’s company.
  • Language: filming entirely in Japanese; Hara discussed the challenge of intonation.
Official material & related visualHara and Yuriko Yoshitaka during Galileo filming
Solo music

The Korean Magic of Love as HARA⁺

As HARA⁺, she joined Masaharu Fukuyama’s Galileo music project, singing 사랑의마법, the Korean version of Magic of Love, on Galileo⁺, released June 26. Her contribution accompanied overseas broadcasting, separate from KOH⁺’s Japanese original.

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Limited-edition Galileo⁺ cover; the album includes HARA⁺’s Korean version of Koi no Maryoku.Image source
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The 15-track album also included Korean tracks by GYURI⁺ and Chinese tracks by A-Lin⁺. The limited DVD contained HARA⁺’s video. This was an individual contribution within Fukuyama’s multilingual, multi-singer collection rather than a theme performed by all of KARA.

Record highlights

  • Album: Galileo⁺ / release: June 26, 2013
  • Credit: HARA⁺ / Korean version
Official material & related visualView official release material
Appearance / KAMILIA event

Watching Hara ON & OFF with KAMILIA at a special screening

Hara watched her first solo reality show with KAMILIA at CGV in Yeouido IFC Mall. Same-day reporting describes her welcoming them with sandwiches and gifts.

2014-12-29 / Watching Hara ON & OFF with KAMILIA at a special screening. Event photograph from Em2T’s original post.
2014-12-29 / Watching Hara ON & OFF with KAMILIA at a special screening. Event photograph from Em2T’s original post.Image sourceEm2T original post / embedded credits retained
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Contemporary announcements or post-event articles are listed alongside participant Em2T’s record. For video posts, the written caption was consulted; this is not a record of watching the full video.

Record highlights

  • Event date: 2014-12-29
  • Event / venue: CGV Yeouido, Seoul
Film & television

Hyun-jung in Her Bucket List

Hara played 23-year-old Hyun-jung opposite Kim Young-kwang in Her Bucket List, part of Secret Love. Unable to confess a long-held crush, the character begins listing things she wants to accomplish after receiving a terminal diagnosis.

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Shared Japanese broadcast visual for the Secret Love anthology on BS TV Tokyo.Image source
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BS Japan scheduled the episode with Japanese subtitles from 9:25 a.m. on January 2, 2015; the date here records that broadcast. The anthology gave each of five KARA members her own story, with Hara leading this particular episode.

Record highlights

  • Role: Hyun-jung / co-star: Kim Young-kwang
  • Japanese broadcast: January 2, 2015, 9:25 a.m.
  • Korean transmission: DramaCube episode2, The Thirteenth Bucket List, on 20 June 2014; Japanese transmission: 2 January 2015.
  • Written by Kim Kyung-hee and directed by Kim Kyu-tae and Hong Jong-chan. She plays Lee Hyun-jung, whose mistaken diagnosis leads to a Jeju trip and a meeting with Yoon Joon-moon, played by Kim Young-kwang.
Official material & related visualView official release material
Appearance / KAMILIA event

Tommy Hilfiger Denim signing in Jamsil

As Tommy Hilfiger Denim’s muse, Hara joined a signing at Lotte Department Store Jamsil. The contemporary announcement gives April 9 at 3 p.m.

NAIL HARA Korean original cover
Cover from YES24’s Korean original listing, distinguished from the Japanese translation cover.Image sourcetrend N / YES24
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Contemporary announcements or post-event articles are listed alongside participant Em2T’s record. For video posts, the written caption was consulted; this is not a record of watching the full video.

Record highlights

  • Event date: 2015-04-09
  • Event / venue: Lotte Department Store Jamsil, Seoul
Appearance / KAMILIA event

A Style For You flea market in Yeouido

Hara joined Kim Hee-chul, Bora and Hani at a flea market in the plaza outside KBS Hall. Same-day reporting documents the June 8 event and internet livestream.

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Hara’s ALOHARA album cover, published by Bugs.Image source
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Contemporary announcements or post-event articles are listed alongside participant Em2T’s record. For video posts, the written caption was consulted; this is not a record of watching the full video.

The event and live stream were on June 8; the KBS television broadcast was announced for June 21.

Record highlights

  • Event date: 2015-06-08
  • Event / venue: Plaza outside KBS Hall, Yeouido, Seoul
TV & media

Nail and photo-essay book NAIL HARA

A collaboration between Hara and nail artist Kim Su-jeong. Photographs and personal essays sit alongside approximately 200 nail designs and self-care techniques, sharing the pleasures of nail art as well as a personal side of Hara.

NAIL HARA Korean original cover
Cover from YES24’s Korean original listing, distinguished from the Japanese translation cover.Image sourcetrend N / YES24
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The CAT and LIP sections run in opposite directions, and the cover incorporates nail stickers made with Shogo Sekine. Takarajimasha released a Japanese translation preserving the original design on 10 December 2015; a commemorative signing was announced for 9 January 2016 at Yaesu Book Center, Tokyo.

Record highlights

  • Korean original: trend N; retailer publication date 15 June 2015; ISBN 9791195540105.
  • Korean edition: 132 pages, 150 × 195 mm. The agency’s advance announcement had given 12 June as publication day.
  • Co-authors: Goo Hara and Kim Su-jeong of trend N.
  • Japanese edition: NAIL HARA HARA’S NAIL TALK; Takarajimasha, 10 December 2015; ISBN 9784800244642.
  • Japanese edition: modified A5, 132 pages; a translation of the Korean original.
  • Japanese release event announced for 9 January 2016 at 13:00, Yaesu Book Center main store, 8F Gallery.
Official material & related visualNAIL HARA Korean original cover
Solo music

Participating in the creation of ALOHARA

Her first Korean solo EP, ALOHARA (Can You Feel It?), was released with Choco Chip Cookies featuring Giriboy as its title track. DSP’s release notes state that Hara worked with staff on the concept, choreography and music video.

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Hara’s ALOHARA album cover, published by Bugs.Image source
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Youngji featured on 어때? and Matthew on La La La; 하라구 and Rainy Day completed the songs. The title track’s instrumental brought the total to six. Park Woo-sang, e.one and EJ Show were among the participating writers, joining several guests around Hara’s lead performances.

Record highlights

  • Korean release: July 14, 2015 / six tracks
  • Guests: Giriboy, Youngji, Matthew
Official material & related visualView release artwork or related video
Appearance / KAMILIA event

A mini fan meeting during ALOHARA promotions

After releasing her solo debut ALOHARA, Hara met KAMILIA at a mini fan meeting, with photographs showing her holding a cake during photo time.

2015-07-19 / A mini fan meeting during ALOHARA promotions. Event photograph from Em2T’s original post.
2015-07-19 / A mini fan meeting during ALOHARA promotions. Event photograph from Em2T’s original post.Image sourceEm2T original post / embedded credits retained
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Photos and a concert report by attendee Em2T.

Record highlights

  • Event date: 2015-07-19
  • Event / venue: Mini fan meeting
Appearance / KAMILIA event

NAIL HARA launch event at Yaesu Book Center

Hara joined the Japanese NAIL HARA launch at Yaesu Book Center. The organizer specifies a book handover and autograph on a photo card.

NAIL HARA Korean original cover
Cover from YES24’s Korean original listing, distinguished from the Japanese translation cover.Image sourcetrend N / YES24
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Contemporary announcements or post-event articles are listed alongside participant Em2T’s record. For video posts, the written caption was consulted; this is not a record of watching the full video.

Record highlights

  • Event date: 2016-01-09
  • Event / venue: Yaesu Book Center main store, 8F, Tokyo
Film & television

Footsteps: Yoon-jae in the web film

Hara played Yoon-jae, a café worker in her twenties who dreams of becoming a fantasy writer, in the web film Footsteps. Streaming began at 6 p.m. on 3 August 2017 on NAVER TV, Kakao TV and YouTube. Ji Il-joo played Sun-woo, who works in the same café.

Hara in scenes from Footsteps
Images from the web film published in coverage following its first release.Image sourceFootsteps production imagery / Sports Chosun publication
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Coverage after the first release highlighted her understated makeup, relaxed character and calm narration, distinct from her glamorous singer image. Yoon-jae observes the world through characters in her own writing and notices small details about the café’s customers. The Lee Hyun-ha-directed project slowly develops the production team’s intended story of young people understanding one another’s secrets and wounds.

Record highlights

  • Streaming launch: 3 August 2017, 18:00 KST.
  • Role: Yoon-jae, a café worker and aspiring writer in her twenties.
  • Director: Lee Hyun-ha. Co-star: Ji Il-joo as Sun-woo.
  • Post-release coverage described her everyday acting and calm narration.
Official material & related visualHara in scenes from Footsteps
Stage & live eventsFanmeeting

First solo Japan fanmeeting Winter Party

Hara held KOO HARA Japan First Fanmeeting 2017 Winter Party at Toyosu PIT in Tokyo. Digital Adventure promoted, planned and produced her first solo Japan fanmeeting, combining singing, talk and personal-interest segments.

Show-day photograph of the 2017 Toyosu fanmeeting
Photograph of this event published by Xportsnews and credited to CONTENT Y, showing Hara with a microphone on stage.Image sourceCONTENT Y / Xportsnews
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The agency-supplied report records cupcake decoration, audience questions, “Yuki no Hana” and a letter written in Japanese. Hara also personally handed chocolates to departing KAMILIA.

Record highlights

  • Country: Japan
  • City/venue: Tokyo / Team Smile Toyosu PIT
  • December 14, 2017: doors 18:00, show 19:00
  • Sessions: one announced show on the date
  • Promoter/planning/production: Digital Adventure
  • Production cooperation: Hands On Entertainment, Kyodo Producers
Official material & related visualShow-day photograph of the 2017 Toyosu fanmeeting
Songs performed
Solo music

좋은 날에 for the Jugglers soundtrack

Hara sang 좋은 날에 for part eight of KBS 2TV’s Jugglers soundtrack, released on January 23, 2018. The release announcement described a mid-tempo pop song with an acoustic sound and a bright melody.

Jugglers OST Part.8 cover featuring Hara’s song
Digital cover of the same soundtrack containing Hara’s On a Good Day.Image source
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The production team Cadence created the song around her vocal contribution to the drama. The licensed catalogue dates part eight to January 23 and the multi-artist soundtrack collection to January 30, distinguishing her track’s earlier release from the collected edition.

Record highlights

  • OST Part.8: January 23, 2018
  • Production: Cadence / KBS 2TV drama
Official material & related visualView release artwork or related video
Film & television

Suncheon animal film festival ambassador at the opening

Hara served as ambassador for the 6th Animal Film Festival in Suncheonman and attended its opening on August 17, 2018. The post-opening report lists her among the blue-carpet guests at a festival promoting respect for life and coexistence with animals.

Opening-report images from the 6th Suncheon animal film festival
Event images in Seoul Economic Daily’s post-opening report, not stills from a film featuring Hara.Image sourceソウル経済掲載・映画祭開幕報告資料(撮影者表記なし)
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A press conference and ambassador appointment took place at the Seoul Press Center on July 24. She also attended the festival’s opening ceremony in August.

Record highlights

  • Appointment: July 24, 2018 / Seoul Press Center.
  • Opening: August 17, 2018 / Suncheon Culture and Arts Center.
Official material & related visualOpening-report images from the 6th Suncheon animal film festival
Stage & live eventsFanmeeting

Koo HaRa Japan Fanmeeting 2018—Yakusoku in Yokohama

Hara held the solo fanmeeting Yakusoku on Christmas Eve at Kanagawa Kenmin Hall’s Main Hall. Digital Adventure promoted and planned the reunion following her first solo fanmeeting the previous year.

Show-day photograph of the 2018 Yakusoku fanmeeting
Show-day photograph credited to Digital Adventure by ORICON, showing Hara waving to the audience with a microphone.Image source© Digital Adventure / ORICON
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The show report records a personal update, a photo with Nicole and Jiyoung, a KARA medley, audience activities and a Santa outfit. The official announcement also offered a gift handover, handshake send-off and fanclub photo opportunity.

Record highlights

  • Country: Japan
  • City/venue: Yokohama / Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, Main Hall
  • December 24, 2018: doors 16:30, show 17:00
  • Promoter/planning: Digital Adventure
  • Production cooperation: Hands On Entertainment / support: tvk
  • Official notice: November 13 / general sale: December 8 / show: December 24
Official material & related visualShow-day photograph of the 2018 Yakusoku fanmeeting
Solo music

Japanese single Midnight Queen and Hello

Her Japanese single Midnight Queen was released by LOG-IN. Its dance title track reunited producers associated with Mister, while the B-side was the ballad Hello. The standard edition contained both songs and both instrumentals, four tracks in total.

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Cover artwork or official visual for this workImage source
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This Hello was Hara’s Japanese solo recording released in 2019. KARA’s 2024 group version combined her earlier Korean recording with the other five singers, connecting to the same song but using a different vocal lineup. She also toured Japan’s Zepp venues with the new release in November 2019.

Record highlights

  • Japanese CD: November 13, 2019 / standard LGIN-8
  • Zepp tour: November 14–19 / six shows in four cities
Official material & related visualView release artwork or related video
TV & media

HARA photobook

Published in April 2020, the photobook features an Okinawa shoot from October 2019 by Kazutaka Nakamura. Hara said she proposed returning to a place associated with KARA’s early Japanese activities to reconnect with that fresh beginning.

HARA photobook cover
Takarajimasha’s official cover for the book produced in 2019 and published in 2020.Image source撮影/中村和孝; 宝島社
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In an interview conducted in November 2019, she discussed taking part from planning to choosing clothes and showing a less embellished self. The book also includes her Seoul guide, personal style, makeup and a long interview. Published posthumously, it preserves photographs and an interview made during her lifetime.

Record highlights

  • Released 6 April 2020; Takarajimasha; ISBN 9784299000569.
  • B5 format, photobook plus making-of DVD. The publisher’s online entry does not specify a page count.
  • Photography: Kazutaka Nakamura; styling: Mayumi Ando; hair and makeup: Azusa Ooue.
  • Okinawa shoot: October 2019. She singled out the sea photographs and recalled learning sanshin at the location.
  • Interview conducted in November 2019; an excerpt was published by FASHION BOX on 9 May 2020.
Official material & related visualHARA photobook cover
Video & media

KARA characters arrive in FreeStyle

KARA characters joined online basketball game FreeStyle. The first release on November 27 featured Hara, Gyuri and Seungyeon, alongside black-cat-themed “KARA CAT” promotion.

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The previous day’s announcement was checked against release-day coverage; the entry does not imply that all five characters launched together. This documents a game collaboration and modelling campaign, not a TV-airing history.

November 26 was the announcement; November 27 released the first three characters. The image is Hara’s KARA CAT promotional portrait.

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Video & media

Hara becomes an A’PIEU model

Hara became a model for cosmetics brand A’PIEU. The announcement describes skincare, BB cream and smoky-makeup shoots for print and online promotion.

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ABLE C&C’s release describes looks ranging from fresh styling to more mature makeup. A’PIEU is a separate brand within the same company as MISSHA; this is not recorded as a MISSHA endorsement.

The advertiser released Hara’s campaign photographs on July 21.

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Video & media

NATURE REPUBLIC: three members in Jeju’s forests

Gyuri, Hara and Jiyoung appeared in the Multi Perfection Cream campaign. Filmed at Jeju’s Eco Land, “You are the Nature” moved through forests, flower fields and waterside settings.

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Directed by Park Myung-chun, the film followed a journey through nature and the members observing one another. The sources explicitly identify three participating members, rather than the full quintet.

November 30 is the preview publication date. TV airing was scheduled for December, not asserted to have begun November 30.

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Video & media

Hara and Seungyeon’s SNICKERS web shorts

Twenty-four short online films featured Hara and Seungyeon. Comic surprises included Hara emerging from a television in a horror-style scene and Seungyeon moving beyond a laptop screen.

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The brand’s hunger theme was presented through screen-breaking effects and performance. This was a two-member campaign; “24” refers to the online shorts, not twenty-four TV airings or separate endorsement deals.

Contemporary December 17 coverage specifies the December 15 online release. No first-TV-airing claim is made.

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Video & media

Hara in ALFACE+ sheet-mask commercials

Hara appeared in Japanese sheet-mask brand ALFACE+’s “Futari” and “Hitori” 15-second films, using white and black masks. Nationwide TV spots were announced from May 8.

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Nao Furuhata performed the commercial song. Announced on September 8, the second series began nationwide broadcasts on September 15 with four versions: Chance, Pinch, Mayowaseru and Omoi.

Nationwide commercial spots began May 8; broadcasts within selected programmes were announced from April 24.

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Appearances and advertising in the timeline 6