What makes Smiles by Hitomi Shimatani notable?

'Smiles' marked a significant moment in Hitomi's career as it solidified her presence in the J-Pop scene post-2000s. The title track 'SMILES' received considerable radio play, contributing to its commercial success and further cementing her status in Japanese pop music. By the time 'Smiles' was released in 2009, Hitomi Shimatani had established herself as a pop artist with several successful albums. This album followed her previous release, showcasing her growth and return to a lighter, more optimistic sound after exploring diverse musical styles in earlier works.