As previously reported, Momoiro Clover Z will be releasing their 3rd album AMARANTHUS and 4th album Hakkin no Yoake simultaneously on February 17.
Their new albums contains 13 tracks each with two singles released since their 2nd album 5TH DIMENSION. The limited editions of the albums will also include a deluxe packaging box.
Check out the released music videos for WE ARE BORN, Hakkin no Yoake and Mahalo Vacation, along with the album cover arts and tracklist below.
On May 20, Seiho will release his new album, “Collapse.” The album will be released on Los Angeles-based label Leaving Records. The label’s co-founder, Matthewdavid, befriended Seiho when he was touring Japan in 2012. Since then they’ve remained close and exchanged influences. The pair serve as a bridge between the West Coast electronic music scene and the Japanese one.
“Collapse” will have an international release. Leaving Records has released one of the album’s tracks, “Peach and Pomegranate”, on SoundCloud.
Ahead of the album’s release, Seiho will be coming to the US. He’ll play 2 dates at SXSW and also embark on a crosscountry tour. Stops include New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. The full itinerary can be seen after the jump, along with more information on the album!
Last September, Thelma Aoyama released a male-themed mini album titled “GRAY SMOKE.” Now, she’s set to release a female companion piece. It is titled “PINK TEARS” and will be released on April 27. It deals with the “tears” of women, and sees Thelma collaborating with several female artists. Some of the collaborators include 14 year old fashionista MAPPY and columnist LiLy.
Thelma will have 2 other releases on April 27. She’ll be releasing a package that combines “GRAY SMOKE” and “PINK TEARS”, titled “SMOKE & TEARS.” She’ll also be releasing a new best album, “LOVE! ~SPECIAL~” It will feature songs from 2 of her previous best albums, “LOVE! ~THELMA LOVE SONG COLLECTION~” and “LOVE! 2 -THELMA BEST COLLABORATIONS-.”
Thelma has released a teaser for “PINK TEARS” which can be seen after the jump!
On Tuesday, Imai Eriko of SPEED held a press conference announcing her plans to run in this summer’s election for the National Diet’s House of Councillors. She will run as a proportional-representation candidate of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
Eriko said that her experience raising a son, who is 11 years old, with a hearing disability is a reason for her decision. At the news conference, which was held at LDP headquarters in Tokyo, she said, using sign language, “I want to create a society in which disabled children can have hopes that are brighter than now.”
In December, Akina Nakamori released her new album, “FIXER.” She’s now set to release a new version of the album’s title track as her new single. On February 24, Akina will release her new single, “FIXER -WHILE THE WOMEN ARE SLEEPING-.”
The single also includes the song “Hirari -SAKURA-.” It was written by Shindo Haruichi of Porno Graffitti and deals with the themes of spring and a woman’s painful emotions.
Check out the singe’s cover and tracklist after the jump!
This week, BOYS AND MEN topped the Oricon single chart with their new single “Wanna be!”, selling 62,519 copies in its first week.
Big Bang topped the Oricon album chart with their new album “MADE SERIES”, selling 128,230 copies in its first week.
This week on Recochoku, Kiritani Kenta as Urashima Taro returned to the top of the chart with “Umi no Koe.” This week is the song’s third non-consecutive week at #1 on Recochoku.
AI’s “Minna ga Minna Eiyuu” topped iTunes this week for the third week in a row.
Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw NEWS beat Urashima Taro (Kiritani Kenta) and AI. This week, we have a returnee and a newcomer facing off. 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!