Hana o Pūn / Futari wa NS


"Hana o Pūn" / "Futari wa NS" (はなをぷーん/ふたりはNS, lit. "Thumb Your Nose" / "We are North and South") is a double A-side single featuring the opening and ending theme songs from the Japanese anime series Kirarin Revolution. The single was released on August 1, 2007 and is performed by Kira Pika (きら☆ぴか), consisting of Koharu Kusumi from Morning Musume and Mai Hagiwara from Cute acting as their characters, Kirari Tsukishima and Hikaru Mizuki.

Morning Musume member Koharu Kusumi starred in Kirarin Revolution as the main character, Kirari Tsukishima.[1] Cute member Mai Hagiwara had a guest role on the show from June 2007 to September 2007 as Hikaru Mizuki, an original character made for the show.[2] In the story, Kirari becomes Hikaru's mentor by being in an idol subgroup together as Kira Pika (きら☆ぴか).[3][4][5]

In addition to "Hana o Pūn" and "Futari wa NS" being released as the characters' duets in the show,[6] "Hana o Pūn" is the fourth opening and sixth ending theme song to Kirarin Revolution.[7] "Futari wa NS", the seventh ending theme song to Kirarin Revolution, was included as the second A-side and is also performed by Kira Pika.[4] The song is a ballad.[6] To promote the single, Oha Suta aired live-action episodic segments titled "Kira Pika Story" from July 4, 2007 to July 18, 2007, with the actresses reprising their roles from the show.[8]

The single was released on August 1, 2007 under the Zetima label.[9]A video single, referred as a "Single V", was released on August 8, 2007.[10]

Music videos for both songs were released with the video single.[10] The music video for "Hana o Pūn" shows Kusumi and Hagiwara dressed up as their characters, Kirari Tsukishima and Hikaru Mizuki.[11] The back-up dancers wore pig noses to emphasize the "nose" theme.[11] The dance's choreography focuses on thumbing the nose in triumph during the chorus.[12]

A promotional concert event titled "Kira Pika: Hana o Pūn Summer Live" was held on July 26, 2007.[5] Both songs were performed during Kirarin Revolution's final concert event on May 4, 2009, where Hagiwara appeared as a special guest.[13]