On June 22, AKLO will release his third album / major label debut album, “Outside the Frame.” A few hours ago, he was interviewed by the esteemed New York-based hip hop radio personality Ebro Darden on Apple Music’s radio station Beats 1. The English interview gave listeners worldwide a primer on AKLO. He also premiered his new song “McLaren” on the show, which he recently released teasers of the music video for on YouTube and Instagram. The music video is currently an Apple Music exclusive.
During the segment, Ebro also discussed a new series on Beats 1, “Takeover: starRo in Tokyo.” The four part series, which began this past weekend, sees Los Angeles-based Japanese music producer starRo exploring the Japanese music scene with listeners worldwide. AKLO will be a special guest on this week’s episode, which is focused on hip hop.
Check out the interview and more below!
As we previously reported Ayumi Hamasaki released a surprise album “MADE IN JAPAN” last month through the new music streaming service AWA, a collaboration between Avex Trax and Cyber Agent Inc. Details on the physical copy and standard digital release due out June 29th have finally started to take light. The album will be released in five versions, with two of them being exclusive to Ayu’s fanclub “TeamAyu”. Fans who purchase the album from Avex’s online shop mu-mo will receive a “washifu” (think oragami) style B-3 poster, and those who order from TeamAyu will five “washifu” style stickers along with the poster. Lastly, fans who purchase “MADE IN JAPAN” at her upcoming TA tour will receive the album housed in an exclusive sleeved case.
Many fans speculated that for the cover Ayu would do an Asian theme based on the name of the album, but the art direction right surprise you. Check out the covers and tracklist below!
On Recochoku this week, Flower topped the chart with their new single, “Yasashisa de Afureru You ni.”
On iTunes, back number topped the chart for the second week in a row with “Boku no Namae wo.”
This week, AKB48 topped the Oricon single chart with their new single “Tsubasa wa Iranai”, selling 1,440,711 copies in its first week.
THE IDOLM@STER topped the Oricon album chart with their new album “THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA MASTER Cute jewelries! 003”, selling 32,936 copies in its first week.
Today, mitsume released their new album, “A Long Day.” In conjunction with the album’s release, the band has released the music video for the album’s fifth track, “Objet.” The video centers around the mysterious exchange of an objet (French for “object”).
mitsume will also be performing overseas ahead of their domestic tour in September. They will play a show in Shanghai on June 18, and then play a show in Los Angeles on a to be determined date.
Check out the video for “Objet” below!
Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Arashi defeat Namie Amuro. They’re both back this week, facing off against a newcomer. 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!
Recently, a poll was posted asking Japanese television viewers what programs they wanted to end. Although many of these shows are popular, some people are ready for them to be taken off the air. Topping the list was “Gyorestuno Dekiru Horitsu Sodanjo.” Those polled said that while the program could be interesting, the concept isn’t always conveyed as well as it could be.
Coming in at number 2 is “SMAP X SMAP.” After the disbandment disturbance, some do not see them the same. Another feels that even if the content is interesting, they’re no longer funny. SMAP X SMAP’s first episode aired on April 15, 1996.
Rounding out the top 3 is “Akko ni Omakase!” which has been on air since October 1985. One voter said the topics on the program are uninteresting and the program overall is irritating. While someone else said the performers who harden around Akiko Wada are pitiful. They continued that Wada’s intentions are transparent and explained that she’s an inconsistent person that only thinks of herself.
Check out the rest of the top 10 below!
Stills from the movie, Fullmetal Alchemist, has been released through an Italian newspaper called La Nazione. A total of 3 photos were published. In one of the photos, Yamada Ryosuke can be seen in costume. They are currently filming in Volterra, a town in central Tuscany. After shooting in Italy, filming will continue and finish in Japan. The movie will open in theaters in Winter 2017.
What’s your impression on the first look of the movie?
