Idol Industry Exposé: ARAMA! JAPAN Interviews Former Idol Keekihime
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Idol Industry Exposé: ARAMA! JAPAN Interviews Former Idol Keekihime

The world of Japanese idols has always been one shrouded in mystery to those outside of Japan. What are the lives of idols like? Is it a demanding job? What is the salary like? With the moderate success following Beckii Cruel’s rise as a Western idol with cult following, many more Western girls became hopeful in following their dreams of becoming J-pop idols.

We caught up with retired idol keekihime, former member of idol group Tone Jewel, to ask her about her experiences and views about the idol industry as a Westerner.

The stereotypes that people have of idols will be broken down and shocking truths are revealed. Also revealed is her key to success, how she improved her Japanese language ability, why she quit being an idol and more!

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Anna Tsuchiya gets dark for new mini-album ‘LUCIFER’
Music

Anna Tsuchiya gets dark for new mini-album ‘LUCIFER’

Singer Anna Tsuchiya will release a new mini album ‘LUCIFER‘ on October 22.

The visuals for the album feature Anna representing good and evil, much like ‘LUCIFER’ the fallen angel himself. Totaling five songs, the title track is a cool rock track and will be used as the CM song for new survival horror game ‘Psycho Break’.

The mini-album will also have re-recording of her older songs ‘Somebody Help Me’, ‘Taste My Skin’ and ‘FROZEN ROSE’.

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Longer trailer for ‘Kinkyori Renai’ starring Yamapi and Nana Komatsu
Movies

Longer trailer for ‘Kinkyori Renai’ starring Yamapi and Nana Komatsu

Yamapi and Nana Komatsu star in a new forbidden love film ‘Kinkyori Renai‘ (localized in English as ‘Close Range Love’) based on Rin Mikimoto’s manga of the same name.

Nana Komatsu plays Yuni Kururugi, an accomplished prodigy skilled in all her subjects except one: English.

Luckily her school gets a new part-time English teacher, Haruka Sakurai (Tomohisa Yamashita), who becomes a favorite amongst the other female students for his studly looks. Yuni starts visiting his office for additional help and despite his tsundere personality, she eventually begins one-on-one tutoring sessions with him. As time progresses, she starts developing a crush on him and confesses her love to him.

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Kinki Kids ends 18- year music program ‘Shin Domoto Kyoudai’, gets new TV show
Music/Award showVariety program

Kinki Kids ends 18- year music program ‘Shin Domoto Kyoudai’, gets new TV show

It was confirmed that Kinki Kids’ 18 year music program ‘Shin Domoto Kyoudai’ will be ending. It will air its ‘Last Stage’, with a Special Live on September 28.

In October 1996, the duo started the program ‘LOVE LOVE Aishiteru’ during Saturday night, was later renamed to ‘Domoto Kyoudai’ (Domoto Brothers) in 2001 and renewed as ‘Shin Domoto Kyoudai’ (New Domoto Brothers) in 2004 to its current Sunday, 11:15 pm timeslot.

What is the new show format and why is SDK, despite being well received, ending?

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Yuko Oshima reveals new photo from new photobook
Netizen Comments

Yuko Oshima reveals new photo from new photobook

Edit: All images associated with this post have been removed by request.

Yuko Oshima (25) has finally unveiled the cover to her first photobook since leaving AKB48, and it’s causing a bit of a stir between fans and detractors alike. Titled Nugiyagare! or “Take it the hell off!” by Yasushi Akimoto (56) himself and photographed in Ibiza by Mika Ninagawa (41), who directed the group’s infamous Oshima-centered “Heavy Rotation” PV in 2010, its racy concept has some wondering if this is the right move for the lovable idol’s debut solo endeavor.

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FEMM don’t want substitutions in “The Real Thing” PV
New release

FEMM don’t want substitutions in “The Real Thing” PV

FEMM’s 13th music video this year has been released!

Following their smasher “Dead Wrong” (and our interview with them which you should check out as well), their new song “The Real Thing” features your favorite mannequins RiRi and LuLa singing about wanting to experience real love. The video shows the interactions between a man and a digital FEMM, predominately in purple wigs but also serving other looks, being controlled through a series of keyboard commands and trackpad movements until things get out of control.

Check it out below!

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