Young singer Aoyama Teruma (21) has recorded the theme song for the Japanese release of the movie "Hachiko: A Dog's Story." "Wasurenai yo" will be heard at theaters across the country from June 13. Directed by the renowned Lasse Hallstrom and starring Richard Gere and Joan Allen, the movie is a Hollywood adaptation of one of the most famous stories in contemporary Japan. It tells of a professor who brings his Akita dog with him when he moves to prewar Tokyo. The strong bond between the two continues even after death, with the faithful dog waiting for the return of his master outside Shibuya station every evening for ten years. Today a famous statue stands in that same spot and it has become a popular meeting place. The story has been adapted several times for both the big and small screen in Japan, and the new movie will be released here as "Hachi, Yakusoku no Inu."
Dienstag, 9. Juni 2009
Management for Tomizawa Takeshi (35) yesterday announced that the comedian got hitched back in April. They described his new bride as a 30-year old ippanjin native of Tokyo. Tomizawa is the boke half of manzai duo Sandwichman, who made their big breakthrough when they won a comedy Grand Prix event in 2007. His comic partner Date Mikio (34) recently announced that he is engaged to marry freelance TV announcer Kumagai Maiko (38) in July.
Katori Shingo Off to Broadway
SMAP member Katori Shingo (32, photo left) is to make his return to the stage - on Broadway no less. Well, actually off Broadway, but the local media has been reporting it as the first time for an original Japanese stage production to play New York's famous theater district. Katori will star in the musical comedy "Talk Like Singing," written and produced by the prolific Mitani Koki (47, photo right). The supporting cast includes Kabira Jay (46), whose mother is American, and Horiuchi Keiko (38), a veteran of such musicals as "Cats" and "West Side Story." The musical director is Konishi Yasuharu (50), a former member of the J-pop pioneers Pizzicato Five, who wrote and produced Katori's million-selling single "Shingo Mama no Oha Rock" in 2000. The production is scheduled for 13 shows, November 12-22 at the 850-seat Skirball Center, New York University. Japanese audiences will have to wait until next year to see the show at home. Katori last acted on stage 12 years ago, but in the meantime he has appeared in a slew of big-budget movies and TV dramas as the five members of SMAP have ascended into the ranks of Japan's most marketable celebrities. He has worked with Mitani several times before, including the NHK taiga drama "Shinsengumi."
Glay Rock the Boat
J-rock band Glay performed a last-minute free concert for thousands of fans in Yokohama yesterday. With the temperature rising to a balmy 27 degrees, 15,000 fans gathered at Nipponmaru Memorial Park and enjoyed the strange juxtaposition of a rock band and an old sailing ship. The port of Yokohama is currently celebrating the 150th anniversary of its opening, and it's 15 years since Glay debuted. Those numbers probably have as much to do with the reported head count as accuracy. Glay are also scheduled to play two shows at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama in mid-August, with a combined audience of 150,000. Yesterday's show, the band's first free live concert in five years, was only announced at 8am. They performed five songs, including "I Am XXX" from their new album, "The Great Vacation Vol.1" to be released on Wednesday. The Nipponmaru, launched in 1930, was used as a training vessel until its retirement in 1984.
Fuji TV announcer Shimada Ayaka (35) is engaged to marry a publishing entrepreneur this summer. The couple are said to have met in 2007 and are planning a wedding in July. Shimada majored in Russian at Jochi (Sophia) University and joined the Fuji network in 1998. She is a presenter on the "FNN Speak" afternoon news show. Kondo Masazumi Robert (44) was born in San Francisco and raised in the U.K. and Japan. He obtained an MBA from Cornell University and worked briefly for the The Industrial Bank of Japan before forming his own company, Resonance, in 1998. The company published the car & bike magazine "ahead."
B'z Dive Back into Action
Japan's rock supergroup B'z (profile) have been named to the lineup for this year's 10th SummerSonic festival. The 3-day event is scheduled for August 7-9, with over 100 local and international artists performing at two venues in Tokyo (actually Chiba) and Osaka Prefectures. The lineup had until this week included a "special guest from Japan" and that turns out to be B'z. The duo will take the stage before headliners Linkin Park in Tokyo on August 8 and Osaka on August 9. B'z performed at the event for the first time in 2007, but the festival will be their first, and probably only, live appearance this year after they toured last year to celebrate their 20th anniversary. They usually sell out their shows very quickly, so the there will undoubtedly be increased demand for the remaining SummerSonic tickets. B'z are scheduled to release the new single "Dive" on August 5, though it's already airing in the current TV commercial for the Suzuki Swift car. Other major acts in the SummerSonic lineup include: My Chemical Romance, Nine Inch Nails, Hoobastank, Beyonce and Ne-Yo; local names like Dragon Ash and Boom Boom Satellites; blasts from the past include Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Specials and Sonic Youth.
Nezumi Sempai Bows Out
Singer Nezumi Sempai (36) has decided that one year in the limelight is about all he can take. He held a press conference yesterday and told reporters that he plans to retire from showbiz by the end of the year. "Show business is tough, a lot tougher than I imagined," he said. "And I really haven't made that much money from it." With his distinctive punch perm hair and sunglasses that make him look like a typical yakuza, he had a breakthrough last year when his debut single "Roppongi, Giroppon" topped the enka carts and sold over 100,000 copies. But he has failed to follow up on that success and has become the epitome of the "ippatsuya" or one-hit wonder. Before last year's success he went through about a dozen career changes, including acting in and directing porn movies. But now that he has a young daughter, he said "I won't be going back to that. From tomorrow, I'm going to go to Hello Work," referring to the nationwide employment service centers. Before he bows out, he does have one more single on the way. "Okane" (Money) is scheduled for release on June 16 and he will perform a one-night-only concert in Tokyo on June 21.
Stay Away From the Gun!
Just how strict is Japan when it comes to firearms? Talento Harada Noburo (57) recently found out, and he and TV producers are currently the subject of a police investigation. Their crime? Allowing Harada to simply hold a hunting rifle during a live broadcast on a local TV network show without having first obtained official permission. Harada was visiting a hunting club in the town of Yogocho for the January 17 edition of the "Tokimeki Saga's" show when one of the members handed him the rifle. Harada is not a registered gun owner and the law states that permission must first be obtained from the prefectural public safety commission. In accordance with the Swords and Firearms Control Law, Saga prefectural police are investigating he incident, produced by the local Biwako Housou. Police have questioned Harada and carried out a search of the company's premises and are thought likely to file charges. Biwako spokesman Ito Akihiko said, "We were unaware that we were breaking the law. We are cooperating fully with the investigation." Harada, on his second marriage to a former Nikkatsu porn actress, is a former member of the folk duo Anonenone. Top J-pop producer Komuro Tetsuya, who himself recently endured a serious run in with the criminal justice system, was once a backing musician for the duo.
Arashi Storm Oricon Charts Yet Again
The success of Arashi's latest single shows that they are the hottest Johnny's Jimusho act these days. It's no surprise that their 26th single, "Ashita no Kioku/Crazy Moon-Kimi Wa Muteki," entered the Oricon chart at No.1, the group's 15th consecutive chart topper since February 2004. But it has also sold over half a million copies in its first week, as did their previous release "Believe/Kumori Nochi Kaisei" in March. The last artist to manage those numbers twice in a row was the hugely popular Southern All Stars vocalist Kuwata Keisuke in 2001. Arashi debuted in 1999 and their popularity has been broadened by their appearances on variety shows, dramas and major movies.
It was announced yesterday that SMAP's Katori Shingo (32) is to take on an iconic manga role. He has been named to play the lead in the first ever TV drama adaptation of the manga "Kochira Katsushikaku Kamearikoenmae Hasshutsujo," commonly known as KochiKame. The manga has sold over 130 million copies since it first appeared in the Shuukan Shonen Jump magazine in 1976. Set in a downtown police station, it revolves around the bumbling adventures of chief patrol officer Ryotsu Kankichi, a man strong enough to survive falls from Tokyo Tower and a speeding shinkansen (bullet train)! The drama will air on TBS on Saturday nights from August, taking over the same time slot currently occupied by fellow SMAP member Kimura Takuya in "Mr. Brain."
X Japan, Koda Kumi In Concert
What do J-pop and J-rock have in common? The answer seems to be wedding dresses...Rock band X Japan finally gave their Taiwanese fans what they'd been waiting for on Saturday night, playing their long overdue first concert on the island. The Taipei show was rescheduled twice, last August and again in February due to the health problems of drummer and band leader Yoshiki. He showed his appreciation to the legions of faithful X fans by wearing a wedding dress on stage, something he hasn't done since 1991. The band then launched into their anthem "X," with the 20,000 fans joining them in the X Jump that has been said to cause a mini earth tremor. The ¥350-million show also featured a drum performance from Yoshiki on a moving platform 20m high, and a 12m-high YoshiKitty, an inflatable collaboration with the iconic Hello Kitty character. Once again, the late guitarist Hide appeared throughout the show on the 1200-inch wide screen. Newly added guitarist Sugizo performed overseas with the band for the first time.
Yesterday, Yoshiki announced that the band have received an offer to perform on the opening night of next year's World Expo in Shanghai. The expo will be the biggest ever, with 230 countries and regions expected to participate and the target for the number of visitors set at 70 million (the current record is the 64 million who attended the 1970 Osaka World Expo). Plans are also progressing for a show at the 80,000-seat Olympic "Bird's Nest" stadium in Beijing, which is said to be awaiting the final stamp of approval. Yoshiki also said that he expects shows in France and the U.S. to be finalized this month.
J-pop diva Koda Kumi (26) pulled out all the stops for 15,000 fans at her concert last night at the National Yoyogi Gymnasium in Tokyo. She went through nine costume changes that had a combined cost of ¥80 million. As well as her usual sexy outfits, she wore a white wedding dress and a towering "illumination dress." In homage to enka singer Kobayashi Sachiko, who wears a hugely extravagant dress every New Year's Eve for the "Kohaku Uta Gassen" show, it was 12 meters high and featured 10,000 lights. Amongst the 24-song set, Koda performed songs from her upcoming maxi single "3 Splash," due for release on July 8. She was joined on stage for one night only by U.S. hip hop group the Black Eyed Peas. Koda and vocalist Fergie collaborated last summer on the single "That Aint Cool."
ELT Ichirô Itô has found his singer!
A few weeks ago, guitarist Ichirô Itô (Every Little Thing) announced his first solo project, along with the organisation of a big audition to find a singer to sing his new songs. The winner has been revealed as well as several guests who will take part in the album.
On August 5, Ichirô Itô's first "solo" mini-album will be out. It has no title yet. Among the guests who will sing on the album's songs, there will be AYUSE KOZUE and Kyougo Kawaguchi.The album will also mark the debut of a young female singer, HEIDI (21), who won the audition's final. She sang Time goes by ELT and won the contest ahead of the 5 other finalists and around 900 contestants.
Joe Inoue gets to the next level
That is what the Japanese American singer's website announced when describing his new single.
Even if he is not one of the most popular singers in Japan, Joe Inoue has managed to get noticed when, at the end of 2008, he released CLOSER, which was the theme song of the anime Naruto at that moment.Two months after the release of his debut album, a new single apparently in a new music style has been announced. The singer has been singing pop/rock songs so far, but he should release an electro track for the first time. Entitled GO★ and available on July 22, the single was produced by Mine-Chang, who works on BENNIE K, DOUBLE and SEAMO's songs, among others.
Montag, 8. Juni 2009
m.o.v.e cover... KOKIA and sing Evangelion!
With t-kimura not being part of the group's public activities anymore, m.o.v.e have started a new era. But the path they seem to take is unfortunately not very flattering....
Probably too old to succeed in another new project, Yuri and motsu are both indulging all of avex's whims to keep m.o.v.e alive...Thus one of the most creative groups ever in Japan is going to release an album made up of... covers of anime theme songs.
There will be Tamashii no Rufuran (Yoko Takahashi for Evangelion), Tatta hitotsu no omoi (KOKIA for GUNSLINGER GIRL), Sousei no Aquarion (AKINO for Sousei no AQUARION), the legendary Ai, oboeteimasu ka of Macross, and a self-cover of Gravity, among other songs.
The album will be out on August 19 2009 in two editions, CD-only and CD+DVD with the video of the Live TRANSFORM 2009 concert which was recorded on April 4, and is the last live with t-kimura.
ikimono-gakari reenlist and SEAMO enlists for Naruto
It is the first time that SEAMO sings for Naruto, whereas ikimono-gakari are regular partners of the licence.
SEAMO will release his first single of 2009 on August 5. It is a double A-side entitled MY ANWER / Fukeiki nante buttobase!!. MY ANSWER will be used as the ending song of the anime Naruto and is said to be a message song, while Fukeiki nante buttobase!! will be used to promote the Xbox. The single will also contain a B-side entitled Go!! which is the theme song of a baseball TV programme on CBC. It is available in two editions, CD-only and CD+DVD with the music video of MY ANSWER.As for ikimono-gakari, they will sing the new opening song of Naruto Shippuden. The song is entitled Hotaru no hikari and will be out as a single on July 15.
Donnerstag, 4. Juni 2009
Hitomi Yaida is pregnant!
Yaiko will soon become a mother! She already announced it will not change anything in her career.
DOUBLE releases her first single of the year
After getting out while the going was good with her best albums for her 10th anniversary in 2008, DOUBLE returns with previously unreleased songs.
DOUBLE's new single, entitled Let it go, will be out on July 22nd.The A-side is said to be an RnB song with meaningful lyrics. It will be used as the opening song for the TV programme Ryuha-R (which is specialized on hip-hop and RnB) from July on.
Motohiro Hata's sports single
After releasing singles after singles, Motohiro Hata finally gave himself a rest. But it did not last long, since his official site has announced the release of his 8th single.
Motohiro Hata will release a still-untitled new single on August 12. He wrote the song especially for the 2009-ABC Natsu no Koukou Yakyuu (the inter high school baseball summer tournament): it is the first time Motohiro has ever written a song on request, even if he already got involved in the same event last year when he sang on the theme song performed by Fukumimi of which he is part.CIRCLES, a previously unreleased song, will be the B-side. It was already presented a few weeks ago as the theme song of the Space Shower TV's 20th anniversary. The CD will also include live songs from his acoustic tour GREEN MIND 2009. The DVD of the CD+DVD version will contain videos from the Motohiro Hata in Kouchi CAMP.
Finally, the singer's very first live DVD will be out in September. It was recorded at the Budoukan on March 6 2009.
hitomi poses naked and pregnant on her new album cover
It has been almost six months since hitomi gave birth to her baby, but as her new album was postponed, it is an "old" photo taken when she was pregnant which will be the cover. .
Meisa Kuroki's debut single
The young actress is about to release her very first single and is determined to brighten up your summer!
Today Meisa Kuroki, an actress who gets more and more popular in Japan lately, announced the release of her debut single, barely a few weeks after her debut album hellcat.SHOCK-unmei- is slated for a July 22 release, and is said to be an up-tempo pop and sexy summer single. The limited edition of the single will contain a DVD with the music video of the A-side.
YUKI gave birth to her 3rd child
The former JUDY AND MARY singer is already the mother of a boy born in 2006, while her first child born in 2003 died aged 2. YUKI has been married to YO-KING (Magokoro Brothers) for 9 years now.
A message published on YUKI's official site announced her 3rd child was born. It is a boy. Both the mother and her son are well.YUKI wants to devote herself to her family in the months to come, but she added she also intends to continue her music career at a quiet rate on the long run.
Sowelu signs with avex
The singer was among the artists whose contract with Sony was not renewed.
Masato "Max" Matsuura, the president of avex trax, confirmed Sowelu signed a contract with avex in an entry on his blog a few hours ago.The contract takes effect on June 1st.
Dienstag, 2. Juni 2009
Yui Aragaki's second album: Hug
A year and a half after her first album, actress and singer Yui Aragaki is finally about to release her second one.
Hug will be Yui Aragaki's second album, but the first to include single songs. Make My Day, the first of them, was released last summer and was quite successful.Three editions will be available, two of which are limited editions coming with a different photobook. The first limited edition will come with an extra CD containing a cappella versions of about 10 songs (also called "naked voice"), while the second limited edition will come with a DVD containing all Gakky's music videos and a documentary video about the making of the album.
There will be 13 tracks in all, among which there are Maky My Day, Akai Ito, piece and Utsushi E, that is to say there are 9 previously unreleased songs, the titles of which are still unknown. The album will be out on June 17th.
RYTHEM's new single featuring Tokita from Sukima Switch
This summer, the duo will release their 16th single which is a prominent collaboration, like their previous single..
After Love Call feat. Kimaguren, RYTHEM's new single is entitled Gyutto shite feat. Shintarou Tokita (from Sukima Switch) and will be out on July 29th. The A-side was written and composed by the three artists, and its theme is a love with no turning back. Gyutto shite's B-side is entitled TOMATO, and is precisely used as the theme song for a tomato sauce CM.Sonntag, 31. Mai 2009
STAY, Kobukuro's new single
The duo releases songs more quickly and has already announced its next single..
Kobukuro, the A-side will come with two B-sides entitled FREEDOM TRAIN and Kimi to Itai no ni. Nothing has been revealed as for a possible tie-in, but the duo will surely have an interesting one, as usual.Order STAY on CDJapan: Regular Edition: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=WPCL-10717 or Limited edition: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=WPZL-30140.
MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2009: the results!
The annual MTV ceremony awarding prizes to the best music videos of the year was held on Saturday May 30 at the Saitama Super Arena. Namie Amuro and Coldplay, who were both nominee three times, were the center of attention. But what are the results?.
Here is the list of the winners for the MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2009 (the winner's name is in bold):
■ Best Male Video
o Motohiro Hata - FOREVER SONG
o KANYE WEST - HEARTLESS
+ KREVA - Akasatanahamayarawawon
o Ne-Yo - Closer
o USHER - Love in This Club feat. YOUNG JEEZY
■ Best Female Video
+ Namie Amuro - NEW LOOK
o Thelma Aoyama - Nando mo
o BEYONCE - If I Were a Boy
o Britney Spears - WOMANIZER
o Hikaru Utada - Prisoner Of Love
■ Best Group Video
+ EXILE - Ti Amo (Chapter2)
o FRANZ FERDINAND - Ulysses
o THE KILLERS - Human
o Shounannokaze - Koi Shigure
o Touhoushinki - MIROTIC
■ Best New Artist Video
o Duffy - Mercy
o Miho Fukuhara - CHANGE
o KATY PERRY - I Kissed a Girl
o GIRL NEXT DOOR - Guuzen no Kakuritsu
+ KIMAGUREN - LIFE
■ Best Video Of The Year
o Namie Amuro - NEW LOOK
o Britney Spears - Womanizer
o COLDPLAY - Viva La Vida
+ EXILE - Ti Amo (Chapter2)
o SOUTHERN ALL STARS - I AM YOUR SINGER
■ Best Rock Video
o 9mm Parabellum Bullet - Living Dying Message
o ACIDMAN - I STAND FREE
o FALL OUT BOY - I don't care
o FRANZ FERDINAND - Ulysses
+ MAXIMUM THE HORMONE - Tsume Tsume Tsume
■ Best Pop Video
o Ikimono-gakari - Kimagure ROMANTIC
+ KATY PERRY - I Kissed a Girl
o LILY ALLEN - The Fear
o Perfume - Dream Fighter
o RIP SLYME - Taiyou to Bikini
■ Best R&B Video
o AKON - Right Now (NaNaNa)
+ Namie Amuro - Sexy Girl
o JUJU feat. Spontania - Sunao ni Naretara
o Miliyah Katou - 19 Memories
o Ne-Yo - Miss Independent
■ Best Hip Hop Video
o KANYE WEST - Heartless
o KREVA - Akasatanahamayarawawon
o LIL WAYNE - Lollipop feat.STATIC
+ TERIYAKI BOYZ® - ZOCK ON! feat.Pharrell & Busta Rhymes
o TI - Live Your Life feat. RIHANNA
■ Best Reggae Video
+ HAN-KUN - HOTTER THAN HOT
o KARDINAL OFFISHALL - Dangerous feat. AKON
o MIGHTY JAM ROCK - U.P.STAR
o NATTY - Cold Town
o RYO the SKYWALKER - EVER GREEN
■ Best Dance Video
o THE BPA - Toe Jam feat. DAVID BYRNE & DIZZEE RASCAL
o DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP - Thou Shalt Always Kill
o KRAAK & SMAAK - Squeeze Me feat. BEN WESTBEECH
+ TOWA TEI - Mind Wall feat. Miho Hatori
o UKAWANIMATION! - Wakusei no Portrait 5 Oku Man Gaso
■ Best Video from a Film
o AI - Okuribito
o JACK WHITE & ALICIA KEYS - Another Way to Die
o MADONNA - 4 Minutes feat. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE & TIMBALAND
o monobright - Ano Toumeikan to Shounen
+ REMIOROMEN - Yume no Tsubomi
■ Best Collaboration Video
o MADONNA - 4 Minutes feat. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE & TIMBALAND
+ NELLY and FERGIE - Party People
o Kaela Kimura + Scha Dara Parr - Hey! Hey! Alright
o TI - Live Your Life feat. RIHANNA
o Anna Tsuchiya feat.AI - Crazy World
■ Best album of the year
o ayaka - Okaeri / SING TO THE SKY
o COLDPLAY - Viva La Vida / VIVA LA VIDA OR DEATH AND ALL HIS FRIENDS
+ Mr.Children - ESORA / SUPERMARKET FANTASY
o Ne-Yo - Closer / YEAR OF THE GENTLEMAN
o Hikaru Utada - HEART STATION / HEART STATION
■ Best Karaoke! Song
o Aqua Timez - Niji
o COLDPLAY - Viva La Vida
o FUNKY MONKEY BABYS - Kibou no Uta
+ KIMAGUREN - LIFE
o MARIAH CAREY - TOUCH MY BODY
You can watch each music video which was nominated on this MTV page: http://www.mtvjapan.com/vmaj/nominee/
Oricon Album Charts for 2009 week 22
Oricon Single Charts for 2009 week 22
 | Artist: Fukuyama Masaharu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ayaka's 10th single: Minna Sora no Shita
Even if we already knew it, the singer's official site only announced it on May 29th..
Since the beginning of March, Minna Sora no Shita has been used in the commercial videos of Kao's ASIENCE: the song will finally be released as a single on July 8th. For those who like beautiful things, Kao put the CM online.In August, ayaka will do two symphonic concerts, accompanied by the Tôkyô City Philharmonic Orchestra.
On CDJapan: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=WPCL-10719
Melon Kinenbi x BEAT CRUSADERS collaboration !
Now, this is an unexpected collaboration!
SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS back in France
The death jazz group has planned two concerts in France as part of their European tour..
SOIL & "PIMP" SESSIONS is a jazz group and live attraction. As part of their Tour in Europe 2009 Summer, SOIL will do two concerts in France:- Friday, July 3rd at the Worldwide Festival'09 -Le Theatre de la Mer, in Sète;
- Wednesday, July 8th at La Bellevilloise, in Paris.
As part of their tour, they will also go to Denmark, England, The Netherlands, Croatia, Serbia and especially Germany, with not less than 7 dates!
Samstag, 30. Mai 2009
Love, and possibly marriage, is in the air for popular model and talento Ebihara Yuri (29), according to today's issue of weekly magazine "Friday." The magazine published photos of her on a date with Ilmari (33) of the hip hop group Rip Slyme. Not only were they visiting the famous Aoshima Jinja shrine in her home prefecture of Miyazaki, known for its powers of bringing people together, but they were accompanied by Ebihara's family.
Kusanagi Back to Work
SMAP member Kusanagi Tsuyoshi (34) yesterday returned to work for the first time since his arrest for public indecency last month. He and the other four group members recorded an episode of the Fuji TV variety show "SMAPxSMAP," which will be aired June 1, and Kusanagi recorded a narration for today's edition of the music show "Bokura no Ongaku." This afternoon he returned to his regular slot on the live variety show "Waratte Iitomo." Wearing a somber black suit, he apologized to the host, comedian Tamori, the other regulars and the studio audience. After the show he gave a brief press conference where he again repeated his apologies and expressed thanks to everyone who supported him over the last few weeks. The speed of Kusanagi's return to work after such a big scandal is an indication of his commercial value, and he will appearing in his various commercial roles once again from next month.
Freitag, 29. Mai 2009
DOUBLE's double release
We can say it like that, even if one of the songs will be out under the name DJ Lilly..
On July 22nd, DOUBLE will release a new single entitled Let it go, her first one since Nokoribi -eternal BED- in December 2007. There is no further information as for now, but Let it go is said to be "DOUBLE's first message song".On july 22nd too, DJ Lilly a.k.a.DOUBLE will release a second mix CD, two years after her first one, virgin mix. There is no further information, not even the title of the CD.
Many artists collaborate with Aira Mitsuki
Aira Mitsuki's return with a second album had already been announced not long ago on the Internet, and it has just been confirmed her album will be out on July 22nd. The limited edition of a remix album will come with it..
Aira Mitsuki's new album will be linked to featurings and remixes according to her producers. Oonishi Terukado once again helped Aira to compose her new songs, but there are also many artists whose music styles are completely different. Thus AYUSE KOZUE, 80kidz, kuchiroro, and Shige of the group THE SAMOS (that we could hear on immi's album) will collaborate with Aira as singers or mixers. But it is not over since other artists will be announced later.Aira's label, d-topia, already put 4 previews of her new album online, among which there is her collaboration with kuchiroro, which is actually a remix of Fantasy Candy.
Donnerstag, 28. Mai 2009
I Come With the Rain Premieres
Local heartthrob Kimura Takuya (36) joined Hollywood counterpart Josh Hartnett (30) and Korean star Lee Byung Hun (38) last night for the world premiere of "I Come With the Rain" in Tokyo. The actors were in Roppongi at the Tokyo Midtown complex for the event, also enjoyed by an invited audience of about 1,000. The movie is directed by Vietnamese-born French director Tran Anh Hung, who is currently working on the eagerly awaited movie version of Murakami Haruki's cult novel "Noruwei no Mori" (Norwegian Wood). It is scheduled to open in theaters on June 6. SMAP's Kimura talked about the tensions of filming in one of the more unsavory areas of the Philippines under the watchful eye of the local military. The movie was also filmed on location in Los Angeles and Hong Kong.
Official Website (japanese): http://icome.gyao.jp/
Mittwoch, 27. Mai 2009
Yagira Yuya Back on Big Screen
One of Japan's most promising young actors is to make his comeback, after a drug overdose threatened to derail his blossoming career. Yagira Yuya (19, photo) is to co-star with Sato Eriko in the "human drama" movie "Subete wa Umi ni Naru." Yagira plays a high school bookworm and the victim of bullying, who develops a relationship with a bookstore clerk (Sato). The movie is the directorial debut for Yamada Akane and is scheduled for release next spring. Yagira was an unknown when he grabbed international headlines by becoming the youngest ever Best Actor award winner at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival at the age of 14 (photo, left). His standout performance in Koreeda Hirokazu's "Daremo Shiranai" (Nobody Knows) put him firmly in the spotlight and he made several films over the next few years. But his last big-screen performance in "Houtai Club" in 2007 was followed by health problems and he was off the radar for a year. When he did make the news again, in September 2008, it was after an overdose of tranquilisers landed him in the hospital. Though he's been away from acting for two and a half years, he's been busy. He writes a blog and last November published his first novel, "Yamanai Ame."
Miliyah Kato's new album: Ring
Miliyah Kato will release her fourth original album on July 8th..
Entitled Ring, Miliyah's new album will include her latest singles: 20-CRY-, SAYONARA BABY and Love Forever, her duet with Shouta Shimizu. There will be 15 tracks overall.Two versions will be available, CD-only and CD+DVD with the music videos of her three singles.
You can pre-order the album on http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/list_from_code_banner.html?key=343371.
Tracklist:
01- SAYONARA BABY
02- Aitai
03- Love Forever
04- Breathe Again
05- Love for you
06- Arigatou,
07- Kono machi no dokoka de
08- Dance tonight
09- 20-CRY-
10- Time is Money
11- Anata ga hoshii
12- Love me, hold me
13- Happy Celebration
14- This is Love
15- People
Montag, 25. Mai 2009
Ovation, No Prize for Kikuchi at Cannes
Japanese contenders have come away empty handed from this year's Cannes Film Festival. Koreeda Hirokazu's "Kuki Ningyo" (Air Doll), about a video store clerk falling for an inflatable female doll, was shown in the Un Certain Regard category but failed to take the prize. There were no Japanese entries this year in the main competition category. But "Map of the Sounds of Tokyo," a Spanish film directed by Isabel Coixet and starring Sergi Lopez (photo left) and Kikuchi Rinko (photo right), got a rapturous response from the audience when it was shown at the main theater on Saturday. Kikuchi, at Cannes for the first time since the release of "Babel" in 2006, was in tears as the film got a 5-minute standing ovation. "I was cool watching it part way through, but memories of the filming started coming back to me. It was a tough movie for me." Set in Tokyo, the movie features both English and Japanese dialog. Kikuchi plays a fish market worker who's an assassin on the side.
school food punishment's second single
Group school food punishment, who will perform live at Japan Expo, announced their second single before they even released the first one!
school food punishment's first major single entitled futuristic imagination, will be out on May 27th and be used as the ending song for the anime Higashi no Eden.On July 22nd, a second single will be out. It is entitled butterfly swimmer, and is the theme song of a CM for Kaou Healthya Sparkling. The song has been available for download since May 20th.
Official MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/schoolfoodpunishment
CDJapan: http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/list_from_code_banner.html?key=404339
Japan is back within the Billboard Top 100, 23 years later!
Of course, we owe the end of this long absence to Utada.
In the American Billboard 200 charts of May 30, This Is The One, Utada's album, which was released on May 12th in the United States, ranked 69th. It has been 23 years since a Japanese artist last ranked within the top 100 of the Billboard 200! LOUDNESS precisely ranked 64th with their album Lightning Strikes in 1986. Utada is the 7th Japanese artist of all time to enter the Billboard TOP100. Besides LOUDNESS, she comes after Kyuu Sakamoto, Isao Tomita, Tsutomu Yamashita, Yellow Magic Orchestra and Yôko Ono.Maria bets on quantity to make herself known
New singer Maria, signed under Universal, is preparing the release of her second single which was announced barely two days after the release of her debut single..
Maria, a Jpop newcomer, that we introduced at the beginning of the month, has just announced the release of her new single.It seems the young singer wants to get noticed with quick and numerous releases for Getaway, her debut single, has been available only since Wednesday. By the way, it did not have unanimous support, because it only ranked 35th when it was released and dropped out of the top 50 on the following day.
Goin' My Way is slated for a July 15 release and will be out in two editions (CD and CD+DVD) including two original songs, just like her first single. There will be Goin' My Way and a B-side titled Ichiban Hoshikatta Mono, as well as their instrumental versions.
Now let's hope Marai will succeed in being successful. Anyway, it seems the media are beginning to get interested in her. Indeed, she has a rather close relationship with Shoko Nakagawa that she calls sensei. The latter decided to take Maria under her wing for her future releases. This "sponsorship" is quite surprising, since Shokotan does not operate in the same musical universe as YUI and ayaka with whom Maria is always compared. Could Maria surprise everybody by releasing songs more varied than expected?
Pre-orders are available on http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/list_from_code_banner.html?key=476936.
SPEED's re-arranged best album
After two new singles, the fans of SPEED could hope for the group to stop living through their old hits in order to work on a new album. But it seems they will have to be patient a bit longer.
SPEED will release a best album entitled The Best ~Premium Re Tracks~ on August 5th 2009. It will contain their biggest hits (with the ones they released under Toys Factory even if they are now under avex). There will be two CDs.The songs will all be re-arranged for the occasion (RAM RIDER got involved in the making of this best album), and some sources even announced that the songs will be re-sung.
The best album will include the single Ashita no sora which had marked SPEED's come back into the spotlight. Nothing shows if S.P.D. will be included or not.
Pre-orders will be available soon on CDJapan in two editions, CD-only and CD+DVD with Ashita no sora's music video and other videos.
Freitag, 22. Mai 2009
Hamasaki Ayumi face investigation by Tokyo Police Department
Singer Ayumi Hamasaki (30) 7. April last month used the streets outside Shibuya '109' without permission for her book-release event, surrounding the Shibuya Station area in Tokyo.
At this event, the book "Ayu Diary of DEJIDEJI 2000-2009A" (Kodansha) was promoted. To commemorate the launch of the book in front of the "109" building, without notice, Hamasaki appeared in front of nearly 8,000 people and fans making a huge fuss.
Also, shortly before the book lanch event, Hamasaki visited TSUTAYA, HMV, Tower Records and other large CD stores in the area. In a surprise of this event, crazy energized fans were going to chase Hamasaki from shop to shop, which led to wild conditions in the streets.
According to Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, Hamasaki did not get permission to use the roads in the area, and is now being investigated for violating the Road Traffic Law in the metropol. According to Japanese law, the penalty for this type of offenses are fines, and prison sentence.
Passages of buses and other modes of transport had to stop for a time. Fans tear down the stage, the stage and the sidewalk into the fence have been knocked down, and the scene was very chaotic and frightening for random bypassers, including several children.
As a result of this, Hamasaki was asked by reporters of the magazine "FRIDAY" in connection with the accusation. Sunday, she attended a event held in Tokyo, but was surprised by the prosecution against her. "I thought this issue was cleared in advance, while she smiles watching her staff. "In Shibuya? Heehaw. I should be allowed to move where I want, without having to submit an application specifically for this," she said, smiling.
Songwriter Gets Suspended Drug Sentence
In the latest celebrity drug trial, songwriter Sonoda Ryoji (33) was handed a suspended 18-month prison sentence today at the Tokyo District Court. It was Sonoda's first courtroom appearance and as he had admitted to the charges and shown suitable remorse, the judge wasted no time in handing down a sentence. Sonoda, who has written such hits as SMAP's "Kimi wo Suki ni Natte" and BoA's "No.1," was arrested in late April for use of "kakuseizai," or stimulant drugs. In the arrest report, the Azabu department of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police said that they had found him using a small amount of the drug at a hotel in the Shinjuku district of the capital on April 22. Sonoda said he had bought the drugs for ¥38,000 from a man he contacted via the Internet, and that he had been a user for about a year and a half.
Spontania x Sotte Bosse collaboration
It seems Spontania has definitely bet on colaborations to make headlines with their singles... After JUJU, Yuna Ito and Seiko Hashimoto, they will duet with Sotte Bosse.
Spontania will release their new single, which is still untitled, on July 29th 2009.The A-side is said to be a fresh uptempo summer song, co-produced by Hiroshi Nakamura of Sotte Bosse. We can suppose Cana, the other member, will also get involved in the duet and sing. By the way, a new Sotte Bosse album will be out on May 27th.
Pre-orders are available on http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=UMCF-5040.
Donnerstag, 21. Mai 2009
Sony does spring cleaning: goodbye the brilliant green, Sowelu, Mai Hoshimura and KCB !
The first three all released a best album not long ago, while the fourth ones have not even released their debut album!
In a press release published on their own websites, the brilliant green and singers Sowelu and Mai Hoshimura announced their contract with their management agency Ken-on ended.the brilliant green will also leave DefStar records (a Sony sub-label) at the same time, along with every solo project of its singer, Tomoko Kawase (Tommy february6 and tommy heavenly6). Sowelu also announced she was leaving DefStar, while Mai Hoshimura will not work with SME Records anymore. Nothing was announced as for these artists' future. Even if the brilliant green's comments suggest the group will be back quickly, Sowelu just thanks her fans, and this is not necessarily a good omen. Mai expressed her wish to devote herself to the music she likes.
As for KCB[b], the group formed with former ORANGE RANGE drummer [b]KATCHAN, we indirectly deduced that Sony also decided to give up on them since the group's official site redirects visitors on an official blog, while KCB's MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/kcb5sound) announces they are an indies band. KCB had released three singles under Sony in 2008, but they were not as successful as expected.
EXILE's new summer single
Three months after their union with J-Soul Brothers, the most trendy group in Japan will release a new single..
EXILE, who have been a 14-member group since their union with J-Soul Brothers and the release of THE MONSTER ~Someday~ in April, announced their 31st single would be out on July 22nd.However, there is little information about it as for now. The single will be their first summer song since SUMMER TIME LOVE which was released in May 2007. As usual, there will be two versions, a CD-only version and a limited CD+DVD version.
You can already pre-order the single on http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=RZCD-46314.
Details about Kumi Koda's new single: 3 SPLASH
Kumi Koda's 44th single will be out in three versions on July 8th 2009..
Entitled 3 SPLASH, her new single will contain three previously unreleased songs: Lick me (an uptempo track used as the theme song for SANYO "KODA KUMI FEVER LIVE IN HALL II"), ECTSASY (a dance song) and Hashire! (a song with a "rock" sound).Three versions will be available: a limited CD+DVD with a special packaging, CD+DVD and CD-only. The CD+DVD editions will contain the music videos of the three songs, and the normal CD+DVD version will contain one or several extra remixes.
You can pre-order the single on http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/list_from_code_banner.html?key=259698
Original "Idol Announcer" Dies
Former TV announcer Yorichika Mitsuko died yesterday of cancer-related heart failure at a Chiba Prefecture hospital. She was 53. She is regarded as the first announcer to become an "idol" in her own right, establishing a trend that still continues today. Yorichika joined NHK in 1978 and within two years was hosting the "Terebi FaSoLaTiDo" variety show with popular talentos such as Tamori. Real name Shikanai Kasareen Mitsuko, she was born in Hiroshima and learned piano and cello from an early age. Her father was a Japanese-American and she attended the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. With her exotic looks, fluent English and professional level musical skills she was regarded as Miss NHK and was the first female announcer to host a variety show on the network. In 1981 she left NHK for Fuji TV, a rare move at the time, and appeared as an assistant presenter on the "Ogawa Hiroshi Show." She later became a newscaster on the late-night "FNN News Report 11:30." She quit TV in 1984 after marrying Fuji TV vice president Shikanai Haruo, with whom she had two children. But her husband died in 1988 and she returned to TV in 1993. She made her acting debut in the 1996 NHK taiga historical drama "Hideyoshi." She was regularly involved in the classical music scene, as a concert planner, emcee and magazine writer. She was diagnosed with esophageal cancer two years ago, but chemotherapy treatment allowed her to continue working until as recently as last month. She was hospitalized a week ago and developed pneumonia last Friday.
Megadeth Guitarist Goes Pop!
Former Megadeth "charisma guitarist" Marty Friedman (46) has been unashamedly gushing about his love of the J-pop scene for a few years now. And today he's cashing in on the mismatch of heavy metal axeman and sugar sweet pop music with the release of "Tokyo Jukebox," an instrumental album of J-pop covers. Friedman performed a few guitar licks for reporters at the Tokyo Tower observation deck yesterday, including his take on Mr. Children's "Gift" and a little enka in the form of Ishikawa Sayuri's "Amagigoe." Friedman performed as a member of Megadeth during their most successful decade from 1990-2000. After moving to Japan, he joined X Japan guitarist Pata and Luna Sea drummer Shinya as a backing musician to rock singer Aikawa Nanase in 2005. A more unlikely pairing was with J-pop star Suzuki Ami on NHK's "Kohaku Uta Gassen" that New Year's Eve. He also performed last year on a mini-album of covers by African American enka singer Jero. In March, he performed Bach's Brandenburg Concerto with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. A famous Friedman anecdote is that he auditioned for legendary rockers Kiss, but was turned down because he was under six feet tall.
Celebrity Marriage News
Some happy marriage news. Management for comedian Ishii Masanori (36, photo left) announced yesterday that he just got married. The diminutive funny man, who is just 158cm (5'2"), married a fellow Yokohama native (31) who is even smaller, at 147cm (4'10"). They chose yesterday, which was an auspicious taian day in the traditional Japanese calendar, to tie the knot. Ishii had the day off and went by himself to the local municipal office to register their marriage. The couple first met through a mutual friend in June 2005 and started dating the following November. Ishii rose to fame as the short half of comedy duo Ari to Kirigirisu, though these days he works more as an actor or solo talento. His comic partner Ishizuka Yoshiyuki (33) said, "It's his second marriage so I won't be giving him any congratulatory money!" Ishii was married to comedienne Kamemura Ai from 1998-2005.
Meanwhile, freelance announcer Yamada Rena (31, photo right) is engaged to a fellow Keio University graduate, it was revealed yesterday. Yamada was chosen as Miss Keio 1997 and later joined the TBS network, where she was the weather announcer on the "News23" show. She plans to continue working after her wedding, which the couple plan to hold at a Tokyo hotel in the near future.
Chihiro Onitsuka's new ballad
No sooner had the artist released the double A-side single X/Last Melody than she announced the next one!.
The A-side is said to be a dramatic ballad. The arrangement will be done by Masayuki Sakamoto (Ayaka Hirahara's JUPITER).
Pre-orders will be available soon on http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/list_from_code_banner.html?key=199687.
Chara's single and DVD
The artist has not released anything solo since September 2008, which seems like ages considering her release pace since she is under Universal.
After being featured on an EP of her friend Kiyoshi Takakuwa aka Curly Giraffe (released on March 13th), Chara returns with a new single slated for a July 29 release. Entitled Breaking Hearts, the CD will include a cover of Yumi Matsutouya's Mamotte agetai as a B-side; Chihiro Onitsuka already recorded a very beautiful version of this song a few years ago. Chara's single will be out in two versions: CD-only and CD+DVD with a music video for the A-side.A DVD entitled LIVE LIFE2 containing her performance at the Tôkyô JCB Hall, held on November 16 2008 as part of her Chara Tour 2008 "honey", will also be out on July 29th.
To pre-order the single and the DVD, go to CDJapan.
Montag, 18. Mai 2009
Kawase Naomi Awarded Prize at Cannes
Director Kawase Naomi (39) has taken first honors for Japan at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. On Thursday night she became the first Japanese director to be awarded the meritorious Carrosse d’Or prize, given as part of the festival's Directors' Fortnight. Before the ceremony, there was a screening of a re-edited version of Kawase’s 2000 feature "Hotaru." Though less well known than many of her male counterparts, Kawase has a very strong track record at Cannes. She won the Camera D'Or prize for best first feature film in 1997 with "Moe no Suzaku" and in 2007 she took the Grand Prix with "Mogari no Mori" (The Mourning Forest). Elsewhere in this year's festival, Koreeda Hirokazu's "Kuki Ningyo" (Air Doll) will be screened in the Un Certain Regard category. It's about a video store clerk falling for an inflatable female doll. "Map of the Sounds of Tokyo," from Spaniard Isabel Coixet, stars Sergi Lopez and the busy Kikuchi Rinko. Set in Tokyo, the movie features both English and Japanese dialog.
After singing sunflowers, Yuusuke sings dandelions
Two months after the release of his first solo single, Yuusuke, more known under the name Yuusuke Kamiji as an actor and a member of Shuuchishin, is about to release the next one..
On March 11th, Yuusuke released Himawari, his first attempt at a promising solo career. Indeed, the actor/singer is quite liked by the Japanese. His method is successful, Himawari stayed on the Oricon top positions for over a month and even managed to steal KAT-TUN's top spot for a few days during its first week of sales.The single eventually sold 300.000 copies. It is one of the best selling single of this year's first semester. Thus, it is logical that a new single has been announced.
Tanpopo/Kaizokusen/Sono Kobushi will be out on June 24th in three formats, two of which are limited: the first one comes with a DVD containing the Tanpopo music video, the second one comes with the Kaizokusen music video.
You can pre-order the single on http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/list_from_code_banner.html?key=455178
New single of Kumi Koda who wants to be licked
Announced for a July release, Kumi Koda's next single will contain three previously unreleased songs, one of which is entitled Lick Me. That will take some doing!
Many people probably think it will be an irreverent hip-hop/RnB song, but it is actually not that at all: a 45 second preview revealed to [b]Kumi Koda[b]'s fanclub shows it is an upbeat pop song, far from JUICY and her other RnB songs.There will be more information on Kumi Koda's new single soon.
Hikaru Utada to sing the Evangelion 2.0 theme song
Fans hoped for it but did not dare to believe it, yet it has now been confirmed: after singing the theme song for the movie Evangelion 1.0, Hikaru Utada will also sing the theme song of the sequel..
Amost two years ago, we learnt that Hikaru Utada had been chosen to sing the theme song for the first new Evangelion movie (there will be 4 movies). Entitled Beautiful World, the song had unanimous support and consequently gave complete satisfaction to Eva's producers.The second issue of the magazine EVA EXTRA, out today in Japan, confirms that Hikaru Utada will sing the theme song of the movie Evangelion 2.0, which will be released on June 27th. No further information about the song was given, but since the movie will be released very soon, we will not wait a long time!
Single releases selection from 18th may to 25th may
| Aira Mitsuki | BARBiE BARBiE | |
| Chihiro Onitsuka | X / Last Melody | |
| hitomi | World! Wide! Love! | |
| GARNET CROW | Doing all Right | |
| Fukuyama Masaharu | Keshi | |
| Maria | Getaway |
CD Shop Taishou: discover the Japanese record dealers' favourites
First of all, let's remember the CD Shop Taishou principle: bored because their discoveries are not in the list of award winners, record dealers from all over Japan decided to get together into an association, and to create their own awards, called CD Shop Taishou. These awards are supposed to highlight (indistinctively indies or major) albums which did not necessarily get media publicity matching their qualities.
A first section of 29 albums was revealed in January:
ACIDMAN 『LIFE』
Hikaru Utada 『HEART STATION』
HY 『HeartY』
Oohashi Trio 『THIS IS MUSIC』
Kicell 『magic hour』
Kaela Kimura 『+1』
9mm Parabellum Bullet 『VAMPIRE』
GOOD CREW 『Nippon Husky』
Anri Kumaki 『Hito Hinata』
GRAPEVINE 『Sing』
The Cromagnons 『FIRE AGE』
SAKEROCK 『Honyarara』
ZAZEN BOYS 『ZAZEN BOYS 4』
The Birthday 『NIGHT ON FOOL』
Superfly 『Superfly』
Soutaisei Riron 『Chiffon Shugi』
Sokabe Keiichi BAND 『キラキラ！』
Tamurapan 『Butabest』
Tsubakiya Shijuusou 『TOKYO CITY RHAPSODY』
Mika Nakashima 『VOICE』
NICO Touches the Walls 『Who are you?』
Motohiro Hata 『ALRIGHT』
Perfume 『GAME』
Ikuko Harada 『Kemono to Mahou』
Humbert Humbert 『Makkura Yami no Nimarekko』
pupa 『floating pupa』
Fuji Fabric 『TEENAGER』
Mr.Children 『SUPERMARKET FANTASY』
MUCC 『Shion』
Those were reduced to 10 semifinalists, among whom three finalists, one of them being the winner, were chosen.
Here is the winner list of the first CD Shop Taishou, with the url of some winners' MySpace so that you can discover them !
■ Grand Prize: Soutaisei Riron - Chiffon Shugi / http://www.myspace.com/soutaiseiriron
■ Finalists:
- Oohashi Trio - THIS IS MUSIC / http://www.myspace.com/ohashitrio
- Perfume - GAME
■ Semifinalistes (top10):
- Hikaru Utada - HEART STATION
- HY - HeartY / http://www.myspace.com/hymode
- SAKEROCK - Honyarara
- Superfly - Superfly
- Motohiro Hata - ALRIGHT
- pupa - floating pupa / http://www.myspace.com/floatingpupa
- Mr.Children - SUPER MARKET FANTASY
