This week’s guests were Dream, Tomita Shiori, Bitter & Sweet, Arsmagna, and Che’Nelle.

Dream – Konna ni mo

Tomita Shiori – Moshimo World

Bitter & Sweet – Koigokoro

Arsmagna – Miroku no Hana

Che’Nelle – Happiness

This week’s episode featured a performance by chay. The talk guests this week were Kuninaka Ryoko, Sekine Tsutomu, and Matsuo Satoru.

chay – Anata ni Koi wo Shite Mimashita

Earlier this week, Armenia announced that it will bring together six musical artists of Armenian origin together to form their Eurovision 2015 supergroup Genealogy.

The announcement came with a preview video that gave a small hint in the form of a map, highlighting New York, Paris, Addis Ababa, Yerevan, Sydney and Tokyo as the origins of its members. With some investigation by Eurovision news blog Wiwibloggs, they were able to compare those locations with the list of artists published by OGAE Armeni, and for Tokyo, singer Stephanie Topalian fits the bill.

Former GARNET CROW keyboardist and lyricist AZUKI Nana was spotted February 13th acting as a spokeswoman for a far-right extremist party in Osaka. Having written lyrics for groups and artists such as DEEN, MEG, FIELD OF VIEW and WAG in a music career spanning more than a decade, AZUKI Nana is now pursuing a political career under her real name, Rie Iwai.

Kanjani8’s Shibutani Subaru has released his solo debut single titled “Kioku (Memory)/ Kokoro Odoreba” last February 11. Both songs are theme songs for his movie “Misono Universe” which opens on February 14. In the movie, Subaru plays “Pochio”, a young man who has lost his memory but not his ability to sing. Music themed film “Misono Universe” deals with this man, who rushes the stage of a live performance and takes the mic. The young man’s singing impresses the band and the band’s manager, but they learn he suffers from memory loss and he has no idea who he is.

The single’s regular edition contains the two bonus tracks “Nokkari Torein”  and “Mamori Uta”, with lyrics and music written by Subaru himself.

Check out Subaru’s music video for Kioku below which was recorded from a live performance. Subaru also played the harmonica for the song.  The intro footage of the clip shows some behind the scenes before his performance and his harmonica session with the band.

We’re back with our new weekly feature Oricon Flashback. This is where we look back on what topped Oricon this week 5, 10, 15, and 20 years ago. Think of it as a way to reminisce and learn about the past of Japanese music.

Hey AramaJapan! It’s Friday so it’s Open Post time! Feel free to chat with your fellow readers about whatever you like! Enjoy!

This week’s guests were NMB48, Leo Ieiri, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Makihara Noriyuki, Shibutani Subaru, SMAP, and MAN WITH A MISSION. There was also a countdown in which teens chose their favorite songs from the hits of 1988.

NMB48 – Don’t look back!

Leo Ieiri – miss you

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu – Mondai Girl

Makihara Noriyuki – Fall

Shibutani Subaru – Kioku

SMAP – Humor Shichau yo

MAN WITH A MISSION – Seven Deadly Sins