Launching of "Skirt, Hirari" was held at the off-theater live promoting event at Akihabara UDX with some 1,500 attendees on June 4, 2006, 3 days prior the release date. During this event, all AKB48 members, 20 members of Team A and 17 members of Team K, performed on the stage together first time,[3] although "Skirt, Hirari" itself was recorded with Team A members only.
They made their first appearances on TV music programs to perform as a group of singers, such as "Music Station", "Music Fighter", etc. on June 9, two days after the release of CD.[2]
The song was used as the theme song of the "Odaiba Gakuen 2006 (Bunkasai)" (お台場学園2006〜文化祭〜, Odaiba School 2006 (School Festival)), series of summer event held by Fuji Television. The B-side "Aozora no soba ni ite" was used as the ending theme song for the variety show Mitake Uranai.
Each "Shokai Genteiban" (初回限定版, The first edition) CD included a postcard, which was for a lucky draw with following awards.[4]
Award A - Participation right for "AKB48 member to iku Hanayashiki Tour (AKB48メンバーと行く「花やしき」ツアー, Tour to Hanayashiki Theme Park with AKB48 members)[3]
Award K - Participation right for watching a rehearsal of "3rd Stage" with AKB48 staffs
Award B - AKB48 Team A "1st stage" DVD
Sticker with all AKB48 members
Sticker with self-portrait of members (1 out of 20 members)
'Because of some chance mischief, I happened to pass you
My heart nearly stopped
And I purposely pretended to ignore you as I walked by
How stupid am I?
When I like you so much
I fall into a pit of self-hate
Alone in the crowd at the station'[5]
Reception
The single charted 6 weeks in the top 200 with the highest rank at #13,[6] but sold 20,609 copies, which was about a half of their debut single, "Sakura no Hanabiratachi".[2]
The Thai idol group BNK48, an international sister group of AKB48, covered the song and named it "Phlio" (Thai: พลิ้ว; IPA:[pʰlíw]; "Wavering"). It was released as a B-side track of the group's second single, "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie – Khukki Siangthai", in 2017.[7]
The Filipino idol group MNL48, an international sister group of AKB48, covered the song with the tagalized title "Umiindak Na Saya". It was released as a B-side track for the group’s debut single “Aitakatta-Gustong Makita”, in 2018.
JKT48 also have an indonesian version of the song named "Rok Bergoyang"