On December 31, NHK aired its annual year end music show, Kohaku Uta Gassen. The show had an average rating of 37%, the lowest in the show’s 65 year history. In comparison, 2013’s show had an average rating of 40.7%, while the 2014 show’s average rating was 38.65%. At its peak in 1963, the show had an average rating of 84.1%. All of the ratings reported were measured by television audience research company Video Research and represent the Kanto region.
This week, AKB48 topped the Oricon single chart with their single “Kuchibiru ni Be My Baby”, selling 70,778 copies in its third week.
Masaharu Fukuyama topped the Oricon album chart with his new best album “Fuku no Oto”, selling 178,428 copies in its first week.
On January 3, the winners of The 2015 Arama! Japan Awards will be announced. This announcement will be done the via an awards show, hosted by me, Ronald, along with some other staff members possibly. This awards show will take place on our TinyChat channel at 6 PM EST. Since we have readers around the world in various time zones, and also for those who can’t tune in for the show, the list of winners will be released here immediately after the show.
Happy New Year, Arama! Japan! It’s Friday, so it’s Open Post Time! Feel free to chat with your fellow readers about whatever you like! Enjoy!
Today, AKLO announced that he signed with TOY’S FACTORY. He was previously on One Year War Music. In celebration of this deal, he has released a new digital single as well as the music video for it. This new song is titled “We Go On” and it features SALU and H.Teflon. The song is now available on iTunes and Apple Music worldwide.
The music video features appearances by JAZEE MINOR, Bed In, and Mike Matida, as well as SALU. The clip was directed by SITE (Ghetto Hollywood), who previously directed AKLO’s video for “RGTO”, which also featured SALU and H.Teflon, as well as K Dub Shine. The music video has a Mexican gang theme, a play on AKLO’s Mexican heritage. Check it out after the jump!
On February 3, FEMM will release major debut EP, “PoW! / L.C.S. + Femm-Isation.” Today, the duo released the music video for its opening track, “PoW!” The video has the concept of “TWIST ‘n’ TWERK.” It’s a blend of the 50s and today. Check it out after the jump!
SEKAI NO OWARI released 2 new music videos today. The first is for their song “Present”, which was released on September 25. “Present” served as the theme song for the 82nd NHK Nationwide School Music Competition. The band also performed the song on Kohaku Uta Gassen last night. The black and white animated clip tells the story of a girl who joins her school’s chorus.
The second video SEKAI NO OWARI released today is for the song “Mr.Heartache.” The song is a collaboration with Adam Young, also known as Owl City. This song came about around the same time SEKAI NO OWARI worked with him on the Owl City song “Tokyo.” “Mr.Heartache” was released digitally on December 9. The video for the English language song features the band in various costumes, performing on tv and at Fukase’s home.
Check out both videos after the jump!
On February 10, E-girls will release their first best album, “E.G. SMILE -E-girls BEST-.” The album will feature several of the group’s hits, as well as 2 new songs. One of those new songs is titled “DANCE WITH ME NOW!” E-girls have now released the music video for the song. The song and video display E-girls’ stronger side in a nightclub setting. Check it out after the jump!