Toshishita no Otokonoko

"Toshishita no Otokonoko"
Single by Candies
from the album Toshishita no Otokonoko
Language Japanese
English title A Younger Boy
B-side "Watashi Dake no Kanashimi"
Released February 21, 1975
Recorded 1974
Genre
Length 3:34
Label CBS Sony
Songwriter(s) Yūsuke Hoguchi
Lyricist(s) Kazuya Senke
Producer(s)
  • Sumio Matsuzaki
  • Masatoshi Sakai
Candies singles chronology
"Namida no Kisetsu"
(1974) 		"Toshishita no Otokonoko"
(1975) 		"Uchiki na Aitsu"
(1975)

"Toshishita no Otokonoko" (年下の男の子, "A Younger Boy") is the fifth single by Japanese music trio Candies. Written by Kazuya Senke and Yūsuke Hoguchi, the single was released on September 1, 1973. It was the first single to feature Ran Itō as the main vocalist.

The song peaked at No. 9 on Oricon's singles chart and sold over 260,000 copies, making it the trio's first top-10 hit. The group made their Kōhaku Uta Gassen debut with this song, at the 26th event.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Kazuya Senke; all music is written and arranged by Yūsuke Hoguchi.

No. Title Length
1. "Toshishita no Otokonoko" ((年下の男の子, "A Younger Boy")) 3:34
2. "Watashi Dake no Kanashimi" ((私だけの悲しみ, "Only My Sorrow")) 3:42

Chart positions

Charts (1975) Peak
position
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart 9

Star Flower version

"Toshishita no Otokonoko"
Single by Star Flower
Language Japanese
English title A Younger Boy
B-side "Fight!!!"
Released August 1, 2012
Genre J-pop
Length 3:33
Label Victor
Songwriter(s) Yūsuke Hoguchi
Lyricist(s) Kazuya Senke
Star Flower singles chronology
"Toshishita no Otokonoko"
(2012) 		"White Love"
(2012)

The duo Star Flower (すたーふらわー, Sutā Furawā), made up of child actresses Kanon Tani and Seiran Kobayashi, covered the song in August 2012. It peaked at No. 62 on Oricon's singled chart.

Track listing

No. Title Lyrics Music Arrangement Length
1. "Toshishita no Otokonoko" ((年下の男の子, "A Younger Boy")) Kazuya Senke Yūsuke Hoguchi   3:33
2. "Fight!!!" (Faito'!!! (ファイトっ!!!)) MEG.ME MEG.ME MEG.ME 3:44
3. "Toshishita no Otokonoko" (Karaoke)       3:33
4. "Fight!!!" (Karaoke)       3:40

Chart positions

Charts (2012) Peak
position
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart 62

Super Girls version

"Toshishita no Otokonoko"
Single by Super Girls
Language Japanese
English title Younger Boy
B-side "Survival"
Released December 4, 2013
Genre J-pop
Label Idol Street
Songwriter(s) Yūsuke Hoguchi
Lyricist(s) Kazuya Senke
Super Girls singles chronology
"Tokonatsu High Touch"
(2013) 		"Toshishita no Otokonoko"
(2013) 		"Sorairo no Kiseki"
(2014)

Japanese idol group Super Girls (credited as "Candy Macchiato from Super Girls" (キャンディーマキアート from SUPER☆GiRLS)) released their version of "Toshishita no Otokonoko" on December 4, 2013. The single peaked at No. 11 on Oricon's singles chart.

Track listing

No. Title Lyrics Music Arrangement Length
1. "Toshishita no Otokonoko" ((年下の男の子, "A Younger Boy")) Kazuya Senke Yūsuke Hoguchi    
2. "Survival" Kyasu Morizuki Katsumi Ohnishi The Rog  
Type B bonus tracks
No. Title Length
3. "Toshishita no Otokonoko" (Instrumental)  
4. "Survival" (Instrumental)  
Type C bonus track
No. Title Length
3. "Team Candy Macchiato Between Ourselves!!!" (Chīmu Kyandī Makiāto Koko dake no Hanashi!!! (Teamキャンディーマキアート ここだけの話!!!))  
DVD
No. Title Length
1. "Toshishita no Otokonoko" (Music Video)  
2. "Toshishita no Otokonoko" (Music Video Making)  

Chart positions

Charts (2013) Peak
position
Japanese Oricon Singles Chart 11

Other cover versions

  • The Nolans covered the song in English as "Toy Boy" on their 1991 cover album Tidal Wave (Samishii Nettaigyo).
  • Speena covered the song as a B-side of her 2005 single "Material Girl".
  • Janet Kay covered the song in English on her 2012 cover album Idol Kay.
  • C@n-dols covered the song in 2013.
  • J-pop group Goose House covered this song in 2014 on their YouTube channel.
  • Mone Kamishiraishi covered the song on her 2021 cover album Ano Uta.