Ever since it’s March 2014 theatrical debut Disney’s Frozen (released in Japan under the name “Anna and the Snow Queen”) has taken Japan by storm.

Frozen is currently Japan’s third highest grossing film ever.  It sits behind 1997’s “Titanic” (26.2 billion yen) and 2001’s Spirited Away (30.4 billion yen). The film has currently grossed 25.4 billion yen at the box office and held the #1 spot for an impressive 19 weeks. Even though Frozen has been out on DVD and Blu-ray since July it’s still being shown in theaters all across the country.

There’s been many ideas as to why Japan has taken such a liking to Frozen, a popular suggestion is the “girl power” theme the movie represents.  83-year-old fan Tamiko Mizune revealed

“I went to see it because everyone was talking about it, and the critics were all raving about it in the newspapers.  The themes were simple but strong, the animation was stunning and the songs came over well. The Ari no Mama de [Let It Go] phrase really captured people’s imagination. Nearly everyone I know has seen it.”

Naturally the movie’s soundtrack has been a huge success selling over 500k copies, a first for a soundtrack in Japan since “Titanic”. Frozen still has a long way to go before it comes close to dethroning Japan’s highest selling soundtrack of all time, 1992’s “The Bodyguard” by Whitney Houston which has sold over 1.8 million copies.

(via Japan Today)

A teaser video for MIYAVI’s new single ‘Real?’ has been published to YouTube.

Grammy Award winning production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, known for their work with Janet Jackson and Boyz II Men, have produced this track. The coupling track ‘Set It On Fire‘ is an intense heavy rock song produced Jeff Blue, previously making hit singles for Linkin Park and Hoobastank.

Directed by Toshihiko Imai, the video was shot in 16 hours in black and white and features MIYAVI’s powerful performance and instrument skill.

Check it out below!

Renowned folk-pop duo Kobukuro have announced that they’ll be revealing one new song every month for the next three months as part of a new musical project.  This will be the duo’s first set of new songs since they released the single ‘Hidamari no Michi’ back in early June.

The first of these new tracks, a mid-tempo number titled ‘Shinkokyuu’, is currently being used as a CM song for the Japanese convenience store ‘Seicomart’.  It is currently unknown if either of the remaining two new tracks will also have tie-ins.

While no official release has been confirmed for any of these new songs, you can listen to the CM version of ‘Shinkokyuu’ and read the group’s comments on the new song on this special website. Keep on eye on this site for the next two months, as it’s expected that the other songs will also get their own dedicated sections.

(via natalie)

Pop-rock band GReeeeN, which consists of four dentists from Fukushima Prefecture, will release their new oral care products nationwide starting September 1st.

These are not your typical promotional items. There’s a fine line between normal artists goods and this: a lot of research actually went into these. As all the members act as dentists when they are not promoting, they have been developing this new line of products to incorporate all of their knowledge.

Products include portable mouthwash, Y-shaped dental floor in mint flavor, antibacterial inter-dental brush, and an ultra-fine toothbrush with rubber grip for plaque removal and easier polishing.

(via Natalie)

In the past couple of months, many have voiced their worries for AKB48 general manager Minami Takahashi and her super thin physique. At AKB48’s performance at ‘Ongaku no Hi’ earlier this month, she even held up a sign denying how thin she is during the performance of ‘Kokoro no Placard’.

On the August 27th episode of MBS’s radio show ‘Appare yattemasu!‘ Minami’s love for katsudon (a particularly unhealthy dish of rice topped with a deep-fried pork cutlet, egg, and condiments) came into question.

Golden Bomber – Laura no Kizudarake

Mai Kuraki – STAND BY YOU

V6 – Namida no Ato ga Kieru Koro

AKB48 – Kokoro no Placard

Funky Kato – Taiyou

Gesu no Kiwami Otome. – Ryoukiteki na Kiss wo Watashi ni Shite

Moriyama Naotaro – Wakamonotachi / Natsu no Owari

On October 2, tofubeats is set to release his debut major label album “First Album.” The album will feature an array of acts including BONNIE PINK, Hitomi Arai of Tokyo Girls’ Style, PES of RIP SLYME, Noko of Shinsei Kamattechan, and Diplo protege LIZ.  After releasing the music video for “Come on Honey!” a few weeks ago, he’s back with the music video for another album track, “20140803.” tofubeats shot and edited this video himself at home. Check it out after the jump along with the covers and tracklist for tofubeats’ new album!

Composer and actress Mai Mishio has announced that she will be starting a solo music project known as MANNERS. Mishio was formerly the frontwoman of the band Uzumibi, which disbanded earlier this year.

MANNERS will be releasing its debut mini-album, ‘Facies’ on October 15th of this year, Mishio’s goal to provide a sophisticated but current experience. This release will be preceded by a performance at ‘DELAY 2014’, a concert held every year by rock band OGRE YOU ASSHOLE.

Check out the previews for all four songs on ‘Facies’ below the cut!