Visual Kei band D=Out has released a new single “Manji (卍)”. To accompany the single, not only has the band reminded us that the swastika is an ancient Hindu symbol completely separate from the Nazi interpretation but have also released a ghostly music video and footage of a live performance at Shinjuku ReNy. The single is available in two version. 

Check out the track list of both versions and the promotional video after the jump!

SAVAGE has released their debut album. The album titled “モルヒネ-25ｇ-” was released November 16 and includes 13 tracks.  The released of the albums comes after the group’s hiatus and new member JUN joining of the group as their bassist. 

Check out the track listing and promotional video of the band after the jump!

The annual Kohaku Uta Gassen has announced it’s first set of performers! Dominating the headlines have been the famous veteran musicians who will all be making their very first Kohaku appearance. This prestigious list includes Utada Hikaru, Kinki Kids, PUFFY, THE YELLOW MONKEY, and RADWIMPS. As previously reported the hosts for the show this year will be Arashi’s Masaki Aiba and Kasumi Arimura.

This year Kohaku will be airing from 5:15 PM JST – 11:45 PM JST. The first list of confirmed performers can be seen below!

VOCALOID producer PinocchioP has released his latest video for “SAYONARA HUMAN”, off his latest studio album “HUMAN”.

This video was directed by Yuma Saito, who has collaborated with many other popular VOCALOID producers such as sasakure.UK and DECO*27. Eclectic and colorful, the MV is a depiction of PinocchioP’s lyrics searching for what the meaning of being human is in an irrational digital universe. In our interview with PinocchioP conducted earlier in the month he revealed that SAYONARA HUMAN was the most personal song on the album.

Check out the full video below.

Enon Kawatani is defeated, dragging Becky with him. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu‘s position on the throne is becoming meaningless. Trump is in. Hikki came out (on Twitter). Shiina Ringo needs a new product endorsement. Bowie, Prince, Lemmy and Cohen have left us. Dark times have spread across the land. Even some of the more fearsome, cult-like Seiko Oomori fans are starting to question her actions. There’s nowhere to turn for your inspirational leather care tips, now that SMAP are no more.

But what’s this??? A shimmer of light appearing in the gloom…

This week singer/songwriter Chikuzen Sato, perhaps better known as the frontman for fusion-rock band SING LIKE TALKING, released the sixth in his series of “CORNERSTONES” cover albums, entitled “My Symphonic Visions ~CORNERSTONES 6~”.  Included on this release are eight covers of popular Western songs by artists such as Maroon 5, Phil Collins, and Ed Sheeran, as well as a couple of original tunes, all of which have been rearranged and performed with the help of the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.

One of the new tracks, “Human”, was written specifically for the purposes of a collaboration with world famous patissier Susumu Koyama (and to serve as a promotional song for his 2016 chocolate collection).  This has now come to fruition in the form of the song’s music video, which combines beautiful stills of the natural world with the chocolates created by Mr. Koyama.

Read on below for a look at the simple, yet striking PV for “Human”, a trailer for the album itself, and its cover and track list.

On December 7, BOMI will release her third album, “A_B.” This album is a concept album with an autobiographical slant. BOMI decided to go this route after meeting her birth mother for the first time two years ago. She’s put the emotions surrounding that experience into “A_B.” Nariaki Obukuro of Tokyo Recordings is in charge of the production of “A_B.”

To help cover the production costs for things such as music videos and the album’s photobook, BOMI launched a project titled “#BOMIPROJECT” on the crowdfunding site CAMPFIRE. This initiative was launched on October 26 and ends November 26. BOMI asked fans to help raise ¥1 million. The project has been a success, with BOMI receiving ‎¥1,428,500 from 97 people as of the time of this writing. Everyone who contributes to “#BOMIPROJECT” receives a copy of “A_B”, but there are more perks the more the fan pays. These perks range from an autograph to an album listening party held at a home rented out on Airbnb to a sleepover with BOMI (for female fans only). BOMI will even create an original song about anything one lucky fan wants (that ¥300,000 experience is sold out already though).

BOMI recently released the music video for the album’s title track. It features some cool digital light effects that are juxtaposed against everday situations. Check it out below, along with the album’s cover!

This month’s guests were Ogura Yui, Shionoya Sayaka, Fujita Maiko, Ai Shinozaki, Higuchi Ai, Goodbye holiday, and Perma Taisa.

Ogura Yui – Future Strike

Shionoya Sayaka – Mahou

Fujita Maiko – Kimi yo Susume

Ai Shinozaki – TRUE LOVE

Higuchi Ai – Boku to Obaasan

Goodbye holiday – Juu Kajou

Perma Taisa – Mori no Kuma-san