Ultra Blue

In 2002, around the time of the release of her third album Deep River, Utada signed an exclusive contract with the record label Island Def Jam.{{Cite web|url=https://www.utadahikaru.jp/from-staff/index_12.html|title= 突然ですが・・・・・|date= 2002-02-21|work= MESSAGE from HIKKI|accessdate=2020-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906071444/https://www.utadahikaru.jp/from-staff/index_12.html|archive-date=September 6, 2023}} Soon after the release of her single "Colors" in 2003, she began working on and recording an English language album under the Utada name.{{Cite web|url=https://www.utadahikaru.jp/from-staff/index_9.html|title=ありがとうございました|date=2003-03-13|work=MESSAGE from HIKKI|accessdate=2024-01-27|archive-date=2021-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018111233/https://www.utadahikaru.jp/from-staff/index_9.html|url-status=bot: unknown}} In the meantime, Utada held her Budokan tour Hikaru no 5,{{cite web|url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=52336081|title=宇多田ヒカル、涙と感激でMCができないほど歌に全精神を注ぎ込んだ日本武道館公演|publisher=Bark News|date=February 13, 2004|access-date=June 29, 2024|language=ja}} and also released the hit single "Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro," the theme song for the movie Casshern,{{cite web|url=https://www.hmv.co.jp/news/article/403120023/|title=宇多田ヒカルのテーマ曲が話題!『CASSHERN』オフィシャルアルバム発売!|publisher=HMV Japan|date=March 12, 2004|access-date=June 29, 2024|language=ja}} and her first greatest hits album called Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 1.{{cite AV media notes |title=Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol. 1|others=Hikaru Utada|first=Hikaru|last=Utada|year=2004|type=CD Album; Liner notes|publisher=Eastworld|id=TOCT-25300|location=Japan}} In autumn 2004, she released her first English album Exodus under the name Utada, and in 2005 she restarted her activities in Japan, releasing the three singles "Be My Last," "Passion," and "Keep Tryin'" in autumn 2005, winter 2005 and winter 2006.

Utada said that during the experimental process of arranging and experimenting with her own arrangements for Exodus, she was able to "try out what she wanted to do with the 'sound,'" and that after the album's production, she came to prefer "simple" sounds and arrangements. In an interview at the time of the release of "Be My Last," she said the following;{{cite book |last=Utada |first=Hikaru |date=2009 |title=点―ten― |location=Japan |publisher=u3music |page=146-169 |isbn=9784930774224}}

{{cquote|In these two or three songs, there is a lot of my character and my own direct experiences, but I also feel like they are a very big world system that swirls around me. I feel like it's a big setting, like the way the world is. If I draw a diagram, it becomes very simple, but there's me in the center, and there's a big circle around me, and all the various things spinning, stagnating, blinking, and colliding with each other are like asteroids, and the reincarnation of the world, the past, the future, and various things like that are swirling around me. It's like an asteroid with all these things going round and round, stagnating, blinking, bumping into each other.}}

"Be My Last" and "Passion," which were produced in succession, are also placed consecutively on the album, with the interludes between the two songs representing the wild feelings of "anger" that were in the middle of the two songs. The title of the interlude is "Eclipse," which means "God's wrath," and when the eclipse is over, the song is followed by "Passion," which is positioned as a "blue sky" for Utada.{{cite book |last=Utada |first=Hikaru |date=2009 |title=点―ten― |location=Japan |publisher=u3music |page=170-185 |isbn=9784930774224}} The song is not only "blue sky" but also "light of hope" and "joy of understanding." Utada explained the reason for choosing this song as the final song;

{{cquote|"I brought this song with the intention of expressing the joy of understanding and being understood at the end. With such an image of accepting both kindness and sadness with a broad heart, I ended up in this position."{{Cite news |date=June 6, 2006 |title=次なるステージへ･･･新たな世界観を築いた大作『ULTRA BLUE』を語る |url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000023791&page=3 |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=barks.jp |language=ja}}}}

{{Listen|filename=HikaruUtadaBlue.ogg|pos=left|title="Blue"|description=The melody of this album's title tune clearly highlights the blue (melancholy) that is deeply engraved in everyone born into this world..|format=Ogg|filename2=NichiyonoAsa.ogg|title2="Nichiyo no Asa"|description2="Nichiyo no Asa" is based on Utada's own image of Sunday mornings as "a time for everyone to escape from society."|format2=Ogg|filename3=HikaruUtadaMakingLove.ogg|title3="Making Love"|description3="Making Love" is a song that depicts a situation where a special person who you can show everything to without needing flattery moves to a faraway city.|format3=Ogg}}

Compared to its predecessor Deep River (2002), Ultra Blue features many songs with arrangements that emphasize the synth sounds that Utada herself programmed, with a variety of tones. Japanese culture website Real Sound said; "There are two patterns, one where the sounds are long in the background, and the other where the sounds are moving in the background, changing the taste of the songs."

The album begins with "This Is Love," which incorporates techno/electro elements in its track production.{{cite web|url=https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/ultra-blue/4106040164|title=Hikaru Utada - Ultra Blue|magazine=CDJournal|language=Japanese|accessdate=February 1, 2024}} Utada explained that she was able to incorporate her own worldview and sense of values in the song, and deliberately take the lyrics out of the song in a way that she could not express herself before, and that she feels she has developed her own ability to express herself.{{Cite news |date=June 6, 2006 |title=次なるステージへ･･･新たな世界観を築いた大作『ULTRA BLUE』を語る |url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000023791&page=3 |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=barks.jp |language=ja}} Musically, "Keep Tryin'" is a pop song.{{cite news|author=CD Journal Staff|url=http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/keep-tryin/4106010387|title=Utada Hikaru – Keep Tryin' (single review)|work=CD Journal|date=February 22, 2006|access-date=May 23, 2016|language=ja}} Lyrically, the song discusses the theme of self empowerment, and talks about people doing the best they can at their passions.{{cite news|author=Stern, Bradley|url=http://www.muumuse.com/2014/12/various-artists-utada-hikaru-no-uta-album-review.html/|title=Various Artists – Utada Hikaru no Uta (album review)|work=MuuMuse|date=December 9, 2014|access-date=May 23, 2016}} During the song's bridge section, a child's toy piano is playing; Utada reflected that its inclusion reminded her of a child's "admiration" and their questionable "future's."{{cite news|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/interview/060222_04.html|title=Utada Hikaru Special Interview|work=Oricon Style|date=February 22, 2006|access-date=May 23, 2016|language=ja}} She stated that the "old" and "falling apart" piano playing was live instrumentation, which she bought from a random clerk at a toy department store. She labelled the composition as "gentle."

"Blue" is the title track of the album that also serves as the centerpiece of the album, with a melody that quickly rises to a key of almost an octave in the chorus.{{cite web|url=https://realsound.jp/2018/11/post-283077_2.html|title=宇多田ヒカル楽曲の変遷　3つの音楽的ポイントから探る|language=Japanese|accessdate=February 1, 2024}} The song "Nichiyō no Asa" is organically composed of several loops, and the lyrics are based on Utada's own image of Sunday mornings as "a time for everyone to escape from society." According to Utada, the song is the one that most expresses her own outlook on life, and she often cites it as one of her favorite songs of all time.{{Cite web|url= https://sp.universal-music.co.jp/utadahikaru/paisen/|title= #ヒカルパイセンに聞け|work= Hikaru Utada Official Website}}{{Cite web|url= https://music.apple.com/jp/playlist/22-by-hikaru-utada/pl.636aa2ba2bfe4ec9a8cf260fc9ae9cc0|title= 22 by Hikaru Utada|date= 2020|work=Apple Music}} Crafted as an up-tempo electro-pop number, the song "Making Love" is about Utada's friendship with her best friend who suddenly had to move to Osaka, and it is a tune that reveals her own distorted side.{{Cite news |date=June 6, 2006 |title=次なるステージへ･･･新たな世界観を築いた大作『ULTRA BLUE』を語る |url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000023791&page=3 |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=barks.jp |language=ja}} "Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro" was released before her U.S. debut, and its quiet composition, which incorporates mainly an acoustic piano and very few [[String instrument|

strings]], allows the lyrics to stand more prominently.{{Cite web|url= https://realsound.jp/2018/11/post-283077_2.html|title= 宇多田ヒカル楽曲の変遷　3つの音楽的ポイントから探る 2/3|work=Real Sound}}

"Colors" is the oldest song on the album, and has a song-like sentimentalism throughout over a track that also includes a two-step beat,{{Cite web|url= http://www.utadahikaru.jp/sc/review.htm|title= ROCKIN'ON JAPAN 編集部 鹿野編集長と宇野氏による"Utada Hikaru SINGLE COLLECTION VOL.1"収録楽曲全曲レビュー|work= ROCKIN'ON.COM|access-date= 2024-02-01|archive-date= 2016-01-16|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160116050220/http://www.utadahikaru.jp/sc/review.htm|url-status= dead}} with a melancholic first half that picks up quickly in the chorus.{{cite web|url=https://artist.cdjournal.com/d/colors/3202110700|title=Hikaru Utada - Colors|magazine=CDJournal|language=Japanese|accessdate=February 1, 2024}} Commenting on including the song in the album, Utada stated; "I decided to include it from the beginning because I didn't want to have all the singles on the album in case someone wants to listen to my song half a century from now or something." "One Night Magic" features Masashi Yamada of The Back Horn, and features Utada's vocals with an elegantly melancholic quality and Yamada's voice with a hint of primitive madness over a samba rhythm.{{Cite web|url= https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000023791&page=3|title= 次なるステージへ･･･新たな世界観を築いた大作『ULTRA BLUE』を語る page.3}} The ballad number "Kairo" combines strings that bring poignant and wistful imagery with an abstract rhythmic arrangement. "Wings" is a song with an arrangement that combines a sophisticated rhythm, a piano with a classical air, and a flute. According to Utada, the song is a "22-year-old 'Time Will Tell,'" and was inspired by a quarrel with her then-husband, Kazuaki Kiriya.

The melancholic sound of the acoustic guitar and Utada's emotional vocals stand out in the song "Be My Last," and the elimination of the bass and use of a mixolydian mode creates a melody reminiscent of Celtic music.{{Cite web |date=October 5, 2005 |title=第1回 ─ 宇多田ヒカル"Be My Last"をチアー＆ジャッジ！(2) |url=https://tower.jp/article/series/2005/10/06/100046489/100046490 |access-date=February 1, 2024 |website=tower.jp |language=ja}} According to Utada, the song expresses the thought of "rebirth, repetition, something starts, and when it grows up, you have to destroy it again, and life is a repetition of that," as well as the pain of such a repetition. "Eclipse (Interlude)" is an instrumental piece and has been described as "the most advanced electro music of the 2000s." It has been described as expressing a "convulsive rage" and "the feeling of opening doors one after another."{{Cite web|url= https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000023791&page=2|title= 次なるステージへ･･･新たな世界観を築いた大作『ULTRA BLUE』を語る page.2|accessdate=2020-02-24}} "Passion" is the album's closing number and contains elements of genres such as alternative rock and ambient, with a backing track of looping tom drums and whistles.{{Cite web|url= http://www.muumuse.com/2008/11/utada-hikaru-passion.html/|title= Utada Hikaru: Passion|date= 2008-11-08|work= MuuMuse|accessdate= 2020-12-26|archive-date= 2016-11-26|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161126041802/http://www.muumuse.com/2008/11/utada-hikaru-passion.html/|url-status= bot: unknown}}{{Cite web|url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-the-one-mw0000811193|title= "Passion" - AllMusic Review by David Jeffries|work= Allmusic|accessdate= 2020-12-26|archive-date= 2016-11-26|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161126042009/http://www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-the-one-mw0000811193|url-status= bot: unknown}}{{Cite web|url= http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/simon/kingdomhearts2single.shtml|title= Kingdom Hearts II: Passion - Utada Hikaru :: Review by Simon|work= SQUARE ENIX MUSIC ONLINE|accessdate= 2020-12-26|archive-date= 2016-11-26|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161126042203/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/reviews/simon/kingdomhearts2single.shtml|url-status= bot: unknown}} The lyrics focus on the thought, "A person in the middle of the flow of time, facing either direction in that sphere, and it is the passion and zest for life within you that connects the past, present, and future all together."

Six singles were released in Japan to promote Ultra Blue. "Colors" was released as a standalone single on January 29, 2003, through Toshiba-EMI.{{cite AV media notes |title=COLORS|others=Hikaru Utada|first=Hikaru|last=Utada|year=2003|type=CD Single; Liner notes|publisher=Eastworld|id=TOCT-4455|location=Japan}} The song peaked at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart, and was certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for exceeding one million unit shipments.{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/193854/products/497351/1/|title=Colors - Hikaru Utada|publisher=Oricon|language=Japanese|accessdate=February 1, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200312.html|title=ゴールド等認定作品認定　2003年12月|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)|language=Japanese|accessdate=June 11, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040121025259/https://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200312.html|archivedate=January 21, 2004}} Another standalone single, "Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro," was released on April 21, 2004.{{cite AV media notes |title=誰かの願いが叶うころ|others=Hikaru Utada|first=Hikaru|last=Utada|year=2004|type=CD Single; Liner notes|publisher=Eastworld|id=TOCT-4700|location=Japan}} It also peaked at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart, and was certified double platinum in Japan.{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/193854/products/536482/1/|title=Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro - Hikaru Utada|publisher=Oricon|language=Japanese|accessdate=February 1, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200404.html|title=ゴールド等認定作品認定　2004年4月|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)|language=Japanese|accessdate=June 11, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812101047/https://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200404.html|archivedate=August 12, 2004}}

"Be My Last" was released as the album's third single on September 28, 2005.{{cite AV media notes |title=Be My Last|others=Hikaru Utada|first=Hikaru|last=Utada|year=2005|type=CD Single; Liner notes|publisher=Eastworld|id=TOCT-5001|location=Japan}} The song peaked at number one on the Oricon Singles Chart, and was certified double platinum just like its predecessor.{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/193854/products/613489/1/|title=Be My Last - Hikaru Utada|publisher=Oricon|language=Japanese|accessdate=February 1, 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200509.html|title=ゴールド等認定作品認定　2005年9月|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)|language=Japanese|accessdate=June 11, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051215001407/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200509.html|archivedate=December 15, 2005}} "Passion" was released as the album's fourth single on December 14, 2005,{{cite AV media notes |title=Passion|others=Hikaru Utada|first=Hikaru|last=Utada|year=2005|type=CD Single; Liner notes|publisher=Eastworld|id=TOCT-5003|location=Japan}} and peaked at number four on the Oricon Singles Chart, while achieving a gold certification in the country.{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/193854/products/627538/1/|title=Passion - Hikaru Utada|publisher=Oricon|language=Japanese|accessdate=February 1, 2024}}{{cite web|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200602.html|title=ゴールド等認定作品認定　2006年2月|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)|language=Japanese|accessdate=June 11, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060914232436/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200602.html|archivedate=September 14, 2006}} The album's fifth single, "Keep Tryin'," was released on February 22, 2006.{{cite AV media notes |title=Keep Tryin'|others=Hikaru Utada|first=Hikaru|last=Utada|year=2006|type=CD Single; Liner notes|publisher=Eastworld|id=TOCT-5005|location=Japan}} It peaked at number two in the country, and was certified platinum.{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/193854/products/639640/1/|title=Keep Tryin' - Hikaru Utada|publisher=Oricon|language=Japanese|accessdate=February 1, 2024}}

"This Is Love" was released as the album's lead single digitally on May 31, 2006; the song was also used as a jingle for a Nissin Cup Noodle TV commercial.{{cite web|url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000022937|title=宇多田ヒカル、新曲のデジタル先行配信が決定|publisher=Bark News|date=May 12, 2006|access-date=June 24, 2024|language=ja}} "This Is Love" was never retailed as a CD single and received a digital only release. Therefore, it was ineligible to chart on Oricon because of them not counting digital sales at the time.{{cite news |author=Mittal, Sushubh|url=https://techwhack.co/oricon-exits/|title=Oricon exits from Japanese PC music download market|work=Techwhack|date=November 1, 2006|access-date=June 24, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625074843/https://techwhack.co/oricon-exits/|archivedate=June 25, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://biz.oricon.co.jp/info/information_20150128.pdf |title=弊社発表の音楽ランキングにおいて、従来、ミュージックカードを一定の条件の下に合 算集計して参りましたが、以下理由によって、合算集計しない方針に変更致します。|website=Oricon|format=PDF|date=January 28, 2015|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317150749/biz.oricon.co.jp/info/information_20150128.pdf|archive-date=2015-03-17}} Despite this, the track was certified double platinum for ringtone downloads,{{cite web|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w070420_3.html|title=レコード協会調べ　3月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：3月度認定＞|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)|language=Japanese|accessdate=June 11, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225159/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w070420_3.html|archivedate=September 26, 2007}} platinum for full-length cellphone downloads,{{cite web|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w100120.html|title=レコード協会調べ　12月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：12月度認定＞|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)|language=Japanese|accessdate=June 11, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326191406/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w100120.html|archivedate=March 26, 2010}} and Gold for full-length PC downloads.{{cite web|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w060920_3.html|title=レコード協会調べ　8月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：8月度認定＞|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)|language=Japanese|accessdate=June 11, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011105752/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w060920_3.html|archivedate=October 11, 2007}} "This is Love" was the 9th most downloaded song on iTunes Japan during the year 2006.[http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/0612/20/news069.html ITmedia News：iTunes年間ランキング、トップは宇多田とモーツァルト]

{{Main|Utada United 2006}}

File:Utada United 2006 Outfits (cropped) (1).jpg tour during Summer 2006]]

Utada embarked on nationwide concert tour called Utada United 2006 to promote Ultra Blue. It was Utada's second concert tour of Japan following her Bohemian Summer 2000 tour.{{Cite web |date=2014-07-07 |title=8月15日、宇多田ヒカルLIVE 5作品を一挙放送 |trans-title=On August 15th, 5 of Hikaru Utada live works will be broadcast all at once |url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000105389 |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=Barks |language=ja}}{{cite web | url=https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000161537 | title=【ライブレポート】宇多田ヒカル、国内ツアー開幕「待っててくれてありがとう」 |work=Barks | language=ja | date=November 7, 2018 | access-date=August 5, 2024}} The Utada United 2006 tour ran from July 1, 2006, to September 10, 2006. A live DVD of the tour was released on December 20, 2006.{{Cite web |date=2006-12-20 |title=Utada United 2006 |url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/257840 |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=Billboard Japan |language=ja}} The home release captures her performance at the Saitama Super Arena.{{cite web |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/utada-hikaru/products/tobf-5506/ |title=UTADA UNITED 2006 |publisher=Hikaru Utada's website |language=Japanese |access-date=August 5, 2024}} The film was directed by filmmaker and Utada's then-husband Kazuaki Kiriya, and recorded using 60 high-definition cameras.{{Cite web |date=October 12, 2006 |title=宇多田ヒカルがライヴDVD「UTADA UNITED 2006」をリリース |url=https://tower.jp/article/news/2006/10/12/100008338 |access-date=August 5, 2024 |website=tower.jp |language=ja}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = Hot Express

| rev1Score = (favorable)

| rev2 = The Japan Times

| rev2Score = (favorable)

| rev3 = CDJournal

| rev3Score = (neutral)

| rev4 = MTVChinese.com

| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}

}}

Ultra Blue received generally positive reviews from music critics. The album received a glowing review by Hiraga Tetsuo of Hot Express; he stated that everything about the album is new and stimulating and that she can take on both the task of seriously polishing music as an artistic thing and making it catchy so that the listener's ears and hearts naturally enjoy it.{{cite web |url=http://hotexpress.co.jp/review/907/ |script-title=ja:ULTRA BLUE 宇多田ヒカル |author=Tetsuo Hiraga |publisher=Hot Express |language=ja |access-date=June 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013103209/http://hotexpress.co.jp/review/907/ |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |url-status=dead }} Daniel Robson from The Japan Times was generally positive in his review, calling it a "top-notch pop record."{{cite news|author=Robson, Daniel|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2006/06/23/music/cd-reviews/utada-hikaru-ultra-blue/#.V0Kh-ZF97IV|title=Utada Hikaru – Ultra Blue (album review)|work=The Japan Times|date=June 23, 2006|access-date=June 19, 2024}}

CDJournal stated that the album is a cut above the rest of J-Pop, but the lyrics and vocals have lost some of the vibrancy of her debut album, which they considered to be a concern. Pinjun of MTVChinese.com gave the album four out of five stars, saying that it shows a more mature Utada.{{Cite web |title=Utada Hikaru（宇多田) / ULTRA BLUE (青出宇藍) |url=http://www.mtvchinese.com/Music/Review/Regional/200607/24/696.html |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=MTV |archive-date=2006-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821224903/http://www.mtvchinese.com/Music/Review/Regional/200607/24/696.html |url-status=dead}}

Ultra Blue sold 500,317 copies in its first week of release and debuted atop the Oricon Albums Chart.{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060626a.html|title=Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week June 26, 2006|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=June 26, 2006|access-date=April 3, 2016|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014953/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060626a.html|archive-date=November 6, 2018|url-status=dead}} This marks Utada's fifth consecutive studio album to debut at the top spot since her first album First Love in March 1999.{{cite web |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/25390/full/ |script-title=ja:宇多田ヒカル、2年1ヶ月ぶりのアルバム首位獲得で史上初の快挙!|date=June 20, 2006 |access-date=January 27, 2024 |work=Oricon News |publisher=Oricon |language=ja }} By the end of June, the album had topped the monthly chart, selling nearly double the 220,000 copies of the runner-up album Horizon by Remioromen.{{Cite news|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/27170/full/|title=【月間アルバム】宇多田、史上初の記録達成!|work = Oricon News|access-date=June 22, 2024|language=ja}} Ultra Blue continued to sell 156,978 copies on its second week of availability, ranking first on the Oricon chart for two consecutive weeks.{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060703a.html|title=Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week July 3, 2006|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=July 3, 2006|access-date=April 3, 2016|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014952/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060703a.html|archive-date=November 6, 2018|url-status=dead}} Ultra Blue dropped to number two on the Oricon Albums Chart on its third week of availability by selling 80,351 copies, being knocked off the top spot by B'z's Monster.{{cite web|author=Oricon Style Staff|url=http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060710a.html|title=Oricon Albums Chart – Chart Week July 7, 2006|work=Oricon; published through Yahoo! GeoCities|date=July 7, 2006|access-date=April 3, 2016|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106014952/http://www.geocities.jp/object_ori/060710a.html|archive-date=November 6, 2018|url-status=dead}}

In total, Ultra Blue lasted six weeks in the top ten, and stayed in the top 300 chart for 53 weeks.{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/193854/products/652007/1/|title=ULTRA BLUE – 宇多田ヒカル|publisher=Oricon news|access-date=February 1, 2024|language=ja}} Cumulative sales for Ultra Blue reached 909,113 copies, making it Utada's first album to sell less than a million copies. Despite that, it still ranked seventh in the Oricon Yearly Albums Chart with 882,343 copies sold throughout 2006, making it the best-selling original album by a female artist that year. In the digital market, the album was a smash hit, with over 4 million digital downloads of the album's songs,{{Cite web |date=July 13, 2006 |title=Chairman Nicoli Addresses WMG Merger And EMI's Future |url=http://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/2006/07/chairman_nicoli.html |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=hypebot |archive-date=February 14, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214053136/http://hypebot.typepad.com/hypebot/2006/07/chairman_nicoli.html |url-status=bot: unknown }} and it was ranked number four in the annual iTunes ranking in the album category, which began in 2006. In addition, the song "Keep Tryin'" topped the singles category of the same chart for the year.{{Cite web |date=December 20, 2006 |title=iTunes年間ランキング、トップは宇多田とモーツァルト|url=https://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/0612/20/news069.html |access-date=January 27, 2024 |website=ITmedia NEWS}} The album has also been certified as a million-seller by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).{{cite web|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200607.html|title=ゴールド等認定作品認定　2006年7月|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)|language=Japanese|accessdate=June 11, 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225553/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200607.html|archivedate=September 26, 2007}} By July 2008, the album sold about 1,150,000 copies globally.{{cite web|url=https://rockinon.com/news/detail/4151 |script-title=ja:宇多田ヒカル　最新アルバムの出荷枚数が前作超え！|publisher=Rockin'On Japan|access-date=June 22, 2024|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003112934/https://rockinon.com/news/detail/4151|archive-date=October 3, 2021}}

All songs are written, composed and arranged by Hikaru Utada, except "Colors" (arranged by Hikaru Utada & Kei Kawano).{{cite AV media notes |title=Ultra Blue|others=Hikaru Utada|first=Hikaru|last=Utada|year=2006|type=CD Album; Liner notes|publisher=Eastworld|id=TOCT-26067|location=Japan}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Ultra Blue track listing

| title1 = This Is Love

| length1 = 4:58

| title2 = Keep Tryin{{'-}}

| length2 = 4:53

| title3 = Blue

| length3 = 5:15

| title4 = Nichiyō no Asa

| note4 = {{nihongo2|日曜の朝; Sunday Morning}}

| length4 = 4:44

| title5 = Making Love

| length5 = 4:25

| title6 = Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro

| note6 = {{nihongo2|誰かの願いが叶うころ; When Someone's Wish Comes True}}

| length6 = 4:27

| title7 = Colors

| length7 = 3:59

| title8 = One Night Magic

| note8 = featuring Masashi Yamada of The Back Horn

| length8 = 4:39

| title9 = Kairo

| note9 = {{nihongo2|海路; Sea Route}}

| length9 = 3:34

| title10 = Wings

| length10 = 4:52

| title11 = Be My Last

| length11 = 4:30

| title12 = Eclipse (Interlude)

| length12 = 1:32

| title13 = Passion

| length13 = 4:42

}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• Hikaru Utada – vocals, songwriting, production, keyboards, arranging {{small|(all tracks)}}, programming {{small|(tracks 1–6, 8–13)}}, acoustic piano {{small|(track 6)}}, basic programming {{small|(track 7)}}
• Yamada Masashi – featured vocals, chorus {{small|(track 8)}}
• Teruzane Skingg Utada – production
• Miyake Akira – production, executive producer
• Doyama Shoji – executive producer
• Kawano Kei – arranging, keyboards, programming {{small|(track 7)}}
• Tomita Yuzuru – programming {{small|(tracks 1, 3–5, 8)}}
• Alexis Smith – programming {{small|(tracks 1–5, 8–10, 12–13)}}
• Matt Rohde – keyboards, programming {{small|(tracks 2, 13)}}, acoustic piano {{small|(track 13)}}
• David Carpenter – bass {{small|(track 2)}}
• Kon Tsuyoshi – acoustic guitar {{small|(tracks 6, 11)}}
• Tsunemi Kazuhide – synthesizer programming {{small|(track 7)}}
• Great Eida Group – violin section {{small|(track 7)}}
• Abe Masashi Group – cello section {{small|(track 7)}}
• Takakuwa Hideyo – flute {{small|(track 10)}}
• Brio Taliaferro – programming {{small|(track 11)}}
• Forrest Robinson – drums {{small|(tracks 11, 13)}}
• Ben Mauro – guitar {{small|(track 13)}}
• Glenn Erwin – pro-tools operation {{small|(track 13)}}
• Goetz B. – mixing
• Goh Hotoda – mixing {{small|(tracks 6, 7)}}, recording {{small|(track 6)}}
• Matsui Atsushi – recording {{small|(all tracks)}}
• Daniel Burns – recording {{small|(track 2)}}
• Pat Woodward – recording {{small|(track 13)}}
• Komori Masahito – assistant engineering
• Saito Yuta – assistant engineering
• Yamamoto Yasutaka – assistant engineering
• Nakauchi Taketoshi – assistant engineering
• Dave Emery – assistant engineering
• Flancesco Perlangeli – assistant engineering
• Matt Snedecor – assistant engineering
• Heath Aiken – assistant engineering
• Kazuaki Kiriya – art direction and photography
• Cho Kenji – art direction and design
• Ogawa Kyohei – styling
• Inagaki Ryoji – hair and make-up

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

|-

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry |region=Japan|artist=Hikaru Utada|title=Ultra Blue|type=album|award=Million|refname="RIAJ1"|relyear=2006|certyear=2006|certmonth=7|salesamount=909,113|salesref={{cite web|title=オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」|url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp|publisher=Oricon|url-access=subscription|accessdate=January 29, 2024|language=Japanese}}|access-date=January 31, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=Worldwide|artist=Utada Hikaru|title=Ultra Blue|nocert=true|salesamount=1,150,000|salesref=|access-date=June 22, 2024}}

{{Table end}}

{{reflist}}

{{Hikaru Utada}}

{{Hikaru Utada songs}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Hikaru Utada albums

Category:2006 albums

Category:2000s Japanese-language albums

Category:Eastworld albums