Hello AramaJapan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Che’Nelle beat off Super Junior to come out on top. She’s back again this week along with a returnee from the past plus 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!

On February 11, JUJU will release her 28th single “Hold me, Hold you / Hajimari wa Itsumo Totsuzen ni.” The first A-side is the theme song for the movie “Otoko no Isshou”, which opens in Japanese theaters on February 14. The second A-side is the Friday theme song for Fuji TV’s morning program “Mezamashi TV.” The single’s B-side is a cover of MONGOL800’s “Chiisana Koi no Uta.” The limited edition of the single will also have a ballad version of JUJU’s hit “Last Scene” as well as a dvd with footage from her tour last year. Check out the covers and tracklist after the jump!

Popular singer Yonezu Kenshi (otherwise known as the vocoloid producer Hachi) has recently published the music video for his latest song “Flowerwall” to his official Youtube and Nico Nico Douga channels.  The PV makes use of various brightly colored powders and several shooting techniques (such as quick cuts and the deliberate use of lens flare) in order to create a unique and impactful spectacle.

“Flowerwall” is the lead track off of the single of the same name, which is set to be Yonezu’s first release since his second studio album “YANKEE” back in April of last year.  You’ll find the PV for this track, as well as a Crossfade Video which previews all three songs on the single right below the cut, and be sure look forward to its full release next week on the 14th.

BOMI is set to release her second album “BORN IN THE U.S.A.” on January 21. The title is a biographical reference for the singer-songwriter, who was born in the US to Korean parents before moving to Japan as a child. The album features collaborations with Hama Okamoto from OKAMOTO’S, Maisa Tsuno from Akai Koen, and Yushin Takei from Czecho No Republic. In advance of the album’s release, BOMI has released the music video for the album’s second track, “Getsuyo no Melancholy.” The video features a funeral for BOMI’s old all-lowercase name that she used while signed to Columbia Nippon. The album cover references the funeral as well. BOMI is now on the independent label Bad News and this album is seen as a rebirth, hence the new all-capitalized name. Check out the cover and tracklist for “BORN IN THE U.S.A.” as well as the music video for “Getsuyo no Melancholy” after the jump!

Popular singer-songwriter ayaka has recently announced that she’ll be releasing a new studio album titled “Rainbow Road” this year on April 15th.  “Rainbow Road” will be ayaka’s first full album to be released in over three years since “The Beginning” hit shelves back in February of 2012 and will include her previously released songs “Tsuyoku Omou”, “beautiful”, “Arigatou no Wa”, “number one”, and “Nijiiro” as well as a selection of newer tracks.

The new album is set to be released in four versions:

• A CD-Only Edition which will only include the new album
• A 3CD Edition which will also include two discs of live audio from ayaka’s “Nijiiro Acoustic Live Tour 2014 ~3-STAR RAW~”
• A 3CD+DVD Edition which adds a DVD that will contain music videos for her songs, such as “Nijiiro”
• The Room Ayaka Edition, which is also a 3CD+DVD package that exchanges the Music Video DVD for a DVD of songs which were covered (or self-covered) by ayaka in a live setting (examples of this can be found on ayaka’s Official Youtube Channel, though more than what has been posted there will be included)

We will continue to report on this album as its release date draws closer, but please look forward to both “Rainbow Road” and the Live DVD of ayaka’s acoustic tour, which is set to release on March 18th.

(via natalie & room-ayaka.jp)

Japanese beauty brand Shiseido has enlisted pop star Lady Gaga as the model – and photographer — of its New Year ad campaign.

For the campaign which will run only in Japan, the singer took 50 selfies, 46 of which were featured on national and regional newspapers on January 1, and the remaining four unveiled on January 5.

The emphasis is on “Shiseido with you”, the makeup brand supporting women who want to create their own style. Shiseido has also created a new “Vision 2020″ strategy looking ahead to the Tokyo Olympics, which will see the brand diversify and personalize.

While the selfies are displayed on her Instagram (not mentioning it was for a marketing campaign), the images will also be available online by January 13 on Shiseido’s marketing website. A fansite has also uploaded compiled photos of the newspaper ads. You can check out the links and some preview images below.

As previously reported, the latest single of NEWS titled “KAGUYA” will be released on January 7.  The music video for the  song based on “Princess Kaguya” from the “Tale of the Bamboo-cutter” is directed by Ninagawa Mika.

Check out the full 6 minute PV of “KAGUYA” which also incorporates some behind the scenes footage at the end.

As we previously reported American actress Scarlett Johansson was offered the lead role in the live action adaption of the classic anime and manga series Ghost In The Shell. It has now been confirmed that Scarlett has accepted the role in the upcoming DreamWorks’ action flick.

Similarly to the original anime, the films plot will follow “the exploits of a member of a covert ops unit of the Japanese National Public Safety Commission that specializes in fighting technology-related crime.”.  Rupert Sanders (Snow White and the Huntsman) will be directing the film and Bill Wheeler (The Hoax) is responsible for the script. Many fans have already expressed frustration that Hollywood continues to relentlessly whitewash, but there is still some excitement that the iconic series will be getting it’s much deserved A-list treatment. 

Ghost In The Shell is currently in pre-production.

(via variety)