Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Namie Amuro defeat SKE48 and BUMP OF CHICKEN to come out on top. This week, we have a newcomer facing off against an entry from previous weeks. Find out what various staff members thought of the songs that topped the physical and digital charts this week and share your thoughts on them too!
With the rise of social media happening during her hiatus from the entertainment industry, legendary recording artist Utada Hikaru has used her social media accounts to give a glimpse into her mysterious life away from the spotlight.
Unlike most celebrities, Utada uses her social media accounts in a very down-to-earth sort of way, not using it to show off or really promote herself.
With just a glance serious investigative journalism analyzing her shared media across Twitter and Instagram, you’ll notice something right away: she’s always finding things—small things, things that surprised her, unusual things.
For the past 6 years, she has consistently been picking up things and displaying them for her fans. Now that she’s back (and actually promoting), it seems like she will continue this long-standing tradition and I’m excited about it.
Who else but the J-Pop queen of detail?
Since it has been 17 years since her Japanese debut, check out these 17 things Utada has found.
E-Girls subunit ShuuKaRen, comprised of Happiness vocalist Fujii Karen and Flower performer Fujii Shuuka, have supplied the opening theme song for men’s professional basketball league B.LEAGUE for its 2016-17 SEASON.
The track “Take A Shot!” features LDH labelmates PKCZ, a multi-discipline music and design collective founded by EXILE HIRO, EXILE MAKIDAI, Verbal and DJ Daruma in 2014.
Check out the promotional video below.
Last night, UK fans voted metal-idol group Babymetal as the Best Live Act at the AIM Independent Music Awards.
Independent Music Awards is an international program that honors top-ranked independent artists and releases in more than 80 Album, Song, EP, Producer, Music Video and Design categories. The program receives submissions from previous major-label artists as well as self-released and indie label talent from more than 94 countries on 6 continents.
Arashi will be releasing their new album on October 26! The group’s 15th album “Are You Happy?” expresses “the current Arashi according to Arashi” through the theme of “Happy,” incorporating a rich variety of music. In their 17th year, Arashi asks, “Are You Happy?”
And in addition to their solo songs, this time each of the members were in charge of original Arashi songs using the “Happy” theme. Five songs that are even more individualized than usual are included on this album! This is a powerful album that will envelop all who listen, packaging up Arashi’s current progress as they continue on forward!!
There are not much detail yet on the album, but take a look on the available info on tracklist below.
Up-and-coming rock band back number have revealed that they will be releasing a brand new single titled “Happy End” on November 16th. “Happy End” follows the release of “Boku no Namae wo” back in May and is set to include two as-yet untitled B-sides along with the lead song.
In addition, the band have also announced that they will be embarking on an arena tour next year which is set to start in late February and conclude in early June. This 30 show tour will be the largest that back number have ever held, but for those looking to guarantee a seat a ticket pre-order serial number will be enclosed with every copy of “Happy End”.
You’ll find the complete concert schedule for back number’s upcoming set of lives just beneath the cut.
This week’s guests were
MIYAVI – Sunshine of Your Love
GLIM SPANKY – Ikari wo Kure yo
Yu Takahashi – Hikari no Hahen