On September 28, Utada Hikaru’s first album in 8 years, “Fantôme”, is released. She’s been out of the spotlight since she began her hiatus 5 years ago, with a few exceptions, both personal and professional. She comes back to a different industry a different person.
Utada’s personal life during her hiatus has had the biggest impact on who she is today. The biggest and most public event for her during her hiatus was the 2013 suicide of her mother Utada Junko, who was known as Fuji Keiko during her enka career. Utada, who frequently mentioned in interviews her closeness to her mother and admiration for her, was devastated. In the past, she described herself as having a “mother complex.” It’s remarkable the number of times the word “mother” pops up in Utada’s music, with lyrics suggesting a longing for an unfulfilled connection.
However, some good things happened in Utada’s personal life during her hiatus. In 2014, she married Italian bartender Francesco Calliano, and the following year she gave birth to their first child. It is these events that “Fantôme” comes off the heels of.
This week’s guests were Nishiuchi Mariya, MIYAVI, and HERO.
Nishiuchi Mariya – BELIEVE
MIYAVI – Fire Bird
HERO – LOVE LETTER
We’re back with this week’s edition of Oricon Flashback. This is where we look back on what topped Oricon this week 5, 10, 15, and 20 years ago. Think of it as a way to reminisce and learn about the past of Japanese music.
After Sadako (Ringu) and her rival Kayako (Ju-On) had their legendary showdown on the silver screen earlier this year, Sadako is back with a new CM.
The hilarious commercial comes with a twist though, as things aren’t going as well for Sadako as they usually are. Not only does she fail to break loose from the TV, she also proceeds to snatch her own weave (wow).
See for yourself what being hungry does to Sadako after the jump!
After a highly successful first season that ran from October-December 2015, ONE and Yusuke Murata’s superhero gag/action manga One-Punch Man is getting a second season of TV Anime! The announcement for its second season was done last Sunday, at the “One-Punch Man Fall Festival” event. The home page of the official website has also been updated to display the news. In addition, the staff also announced that The Caped Baldy will also star in his own smartphone game sometime next year.
“Macarena” WHO? Move aside “Gangnam Style.”
“PPAP” is here, and it’s ready to end careers.
The latest infectiously addictive song and dance is “Pen-Pineapple Apple-Pen” (or “PPAP“) by Piko-Taro, a fictional character played by Japanese musician and comedian Kazuhiko Kosaka.
It’s no shock as to why it’s making its rounds around social media. It has every ingredient for a viral YouTube video: a simple yet catchy song, an even simpler dance routine, nonsensical lyrics, and of course, ridiculousness.
Check it out below.
Earlier this week, there was an accident at a Masaharu Fukuyama concert that resulted in a woman’s eye rupturing.
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, at 9PM towards the end of his concert set while the Fukuyama was performing at the Tokyo Dome on the 25th, confetti streamers that were fired through a cannon as part of the show’s special effects production. The said streamer struck a 42-year-old female staff member, leading to a serious injury that ruptured her right eye.
It is assumed she will be blind as damage to the posterior segment of the eye is associated with a very high frequency of permanent visual loss. Prompt ophthalmologic intervention are essential to maximizing functional outcome.
Released to avex’s official YouTube Channel today, Happiness is set to return as a group with their second album GIRLZ N’ EFFECT and a new music video “Ordinary Girls” to promote it.
It has been four years since we’ve had a new Happiness album, and this release marks Suda Anna and Kawamoto Ruri’s first album since becoming members of the group. From visuals to dance performance skills, “Ordinary Girls” shows that this group of girls are anything but ordinary.
Check it out below!
