Nippon TV’s year end music show Best Artist 2015 is currently airing in Japan. KAT-TUN is one of the acts performing at tonight’s show. Before their performance of “Dead or Alive”, member Taguchi Junnosuke make a shocking announcement: he will be leaving his group as well as Johnny & Associates this coming spring, effectively ending his career as an entertainer. This is especially surprising given that March 22 marks the 10th anniversary of KAT-TUN’s debut.

With Junnosuke’s departure, KAT-TUN will have lost half of its members, following the departures of Jin Akanishi in 2010 and Tanaka Koki in 2013. Johnny & Associates made an announcement on their site about the news. KAT-TUN will not be disbanding, but they are currently in talks about their future as a group.

Check out of the video of Junnosuke’s announcement and their performance of “Dead or Alive” after the jump.

On November 25, AISHA will release her second album, “Pink Diamond.” This is her first album under SPACE SHOWER MUSIC. This album comes 4 months after her debut release on the label, the EP “Candy Love.” Three songs on that EP will appear on “Pink Diamond.” The entirety of AISHA’s new album is produced by TinyVoice Production. One of the new songs on “Pink Diamond”, “MAKE LOVE”, is the official song for the exercise craze Zumba in Japan. “MAKE LOVE” features additional production by GUNHEAD from HABANERO POSSE.

Today, AISHA released the music video for the second track on “Pink Diamond”, “Ai ni Iku yo.” The track features AISHA’s strong vocals over piano and powerful drums. In the clip, AISHA runs around Tokyo at night in a gown looking for her lover. Check it out after the jump!

This week’s episode of SONGS was dedicated to Hoshino Gen. The episode explores his roots and his career as a musician, actor, and writer. Gen also performed 3 songs on the show.

Hoshino Gen – Kudaranai no Naka ni / Yume no Soto e / SUN

From November 20 – 22, this year’s Rostelecom Cup took place in Moscow, Russia. This was the fifth event in the International Skating Union’s 2015 – 2016 Grand Prix Series. Japan sent 4 skaters to this competition, none of which finished in the top 3.

Last year’s winner Rika Hongo finished in 5th place, the highest among the Japanese skaters. Her total score was 179.12. Rika’s short program was given a score of 63.45, putting her in 6th place. Her free skate received a score of 115.67, the fifth best of the night. She doubled her triple salchow. She also fell on her triple lutz and didn’t do the planned double toe loop in the combination.

Yuka Nagai finished in 8th place with a total score of 159.62. She was in 9th place after the short program, with a score of 53.19. She singled the first part of her triple lutz-triple toe combination. Her free skate was the 6th best of the night, with a score of 106.43. Once again, she singled the first part of her triple lutz-triple toe combination, but this time she didn’t do the triple toe loop on the end. She attempted the triple lutz again, falling.

This week’s guest was LIFE IS GROOVE. There were also talk segments with KenKen x Hama Okamoto x Kameda Seiji x TOKIE and KANA-BOON x Scenarioart.

LIFE IS GROOVE – Today’s Song

This week’s guests were Dream, Love Crescendo, HKT48 feat. Kishidan, May J. with Chris Hart, Charan Po Rantan, Eir Aoi, and Pile.

Dream – Blanket Snow

Love Crescendo – Cup no Naka no Komorebi

HKT48 feat. Kishidan – Shekarashika!

May J. – Bijo to Yajuu with Chris Hart

Charan Po Rantan – Mobius no Ikidomari

Eir Aoi – Shoegazer

Pile – Dream Trigger

This week’s guest was Nana Mizuki.

Nana Mizuki x Kanjani8 – Shin’ai

Nana Mizuki – Glorious Break

Hamada Masatoshi, half of comedy duo Downtown, has a character named Hamada Bamyu Bamyu. This Kyary Pamyu Pamyu parody character came about as part of an idol creation project on Downtown’s Nippon TV show “Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!” Last month, 2 integral members of Kyary’s team appeared on Downtown’s show, her producer Yasutaka Nakata and her art director Masuda Sebastian. On the show, they announced that they would be working with Masatoshi on Hamada Bamyu Bamyu’s musical debut.

Hamada Bamyu Bamyu will make make her musical debut on December 16 with the single “Nandeya Nennen.” The song was written and produced by Yasutaka. The song is described as humorous and charming. Sebastian created the colorful, kawaii imagery for this release. The single is released digitally on November 23, and will later be available digitally in 110 countries around the world. Ahead of the single’s release, Hamada Bamyu Bamyu will be performing on Best Artist 2015 on November 24.

Today, a portion of the music video for “Nandeya Nennen” was shown on “Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!!” Check it out after the jump, along with the single’s cover and tracklist!