On April 21, Mukai Taichi will release his new album, “COLORLESS.” The album’s title comes from the desire to live life freely, creating the future with one’s own color.

“COLORLESS” will include the previously released songs “Boku no Mama de”, “Comin’ up”, “Get Loud”, “Love Is Life”, and “BABY CAKES.” The album will also include the song “We Are”, as a bonus track. Taichi debuted the song last August at his online concert “Supplement Live at Zepp Haneda (TOKYO).” “COLORLESS” will feature production by the likes of CELSIOR COUPE, grooveman Spot, mabanua, and SONPUB.

Taichi has now released the music video for his album’s title track. The song, which was produced by Momota Rui of agehasprings, has the theme of “feelings as they are.” The music video features Taichi acting for the first time, alongside Tozuka Junki. It was directed by Nakae Isamu and written by Mizuhashi Fumie. The video focuses on two best friends, played by Taichi and Junki. Check it out below, along with more information on Taichi’s new album!

Fourty one years ago today, Seiko Matsuda debuted with the single “Hadashi no Kisetsu.” In honor of this anniversary, today she is releasing a new digital single, “Aoi Sangoshou ~Blue Lagoon~.” The song is a self-cover of her 1980 classic “Aoi Sangoshou.”

Speaking of this remake, Seiko said that “Aoi Sangoshou” is her favorite song, and that she is excited to cover it in a rearranged form 40 years after her debut.

Seiko has also released a music video for “Aoi Sangoshou ~Blue Lagoon~”, which she directed. This is the first time that a music video has been made for “Aoi Sangoshou.” In the video, Seiko revives her iconic “Seiko-chan cut”, which she had during the song’s original release. Check it out below!

It was recently reported that Avex and AEG Presents have formed AEGX in an effort spread JPop worldwide and expand the reach of American music in Asia. One of the first AEGX projects is the relaunch of Koda Kumi‘s US career!

Koda’s first two singles, “Take Back” and “Trust Your Love”, were released in the US in 2001 as dance singles. “Take Back” hit #10 on the Dance / Electronic Singles Sales, while “Trust Your Love” hit #1 on that chart.

Koda feels as if she’s done all she can do in Japan and is looking for a new challenge, hence the return to the US. This time around she’s looking to go a more urban route and will be based in Atlanta. She previously visited the city when she shot the music video for her 2008 Fergie collaboration “That Ain’t Cool.” She loved the vibe of the city and feels it suits her.

For her American relaunch, Koda has scored a big collaboration: Nicki Minaj! She’s loved Nicki for years and has dreamt of working with her. The song will be called “Twerk” and will be released just in time for summer!

This week, Utada Hikaru topped the Hot 100 single chart with her digital single “One Last Kiss”, with 11,341 points.

Johnny’s WEST topped the Hot Albums chart with their new album “rainboW.”

YOASOBI took retook the top spot on the Artist 100 chart.

Ayase topped the Hot 100 Lyricists chart for the fourth consecutive week.

Ayase also topped the Hot 100 Composers chart for the 13th consecutive week.

Yuuri topped the Streaming Songs chart for the ninth consecutive week with his digital single “Dry Flower.”

Hikaru also topped the Download Songs chart for the second consecutive week “One Last Kiss.”

Hikaru also topped the Download Album chart for the second consecutive week with her mini album “One Last Kiss.”

Over the past year, Tohji and Loota have released a series of ambient works. The two have joined forces with the French producer Brodinski, known for his work on Kanye West‘s “Yeezus”, to take that work further with the album “KUUGA”, out March 31.

“KUUGA” is a blend of crude, iron-like beats and sexual, physical vocals. It is reminiscent of the Japanese landscape, with its silence and industrial feel.

This stark, post-industrial feel of desolation carries through to the album’s art, which was created by the Russian brothers Anton & Nikita Leva.

“KUUGA” has been uploaded to Tohji’s YouTubepage in full. Check it out below, along with more information on the album!

On March 31, Lucky Kilimanjaro will release their new album, “DAILY BOP.” This album comes a little more than a year after the release their major debut album, “!magination.”

“DAILY BOP” will include the previously released songs “Emome no Natsu”, “Taiyou”, “Yoru to Synthesizer”, and “MOONLIGHT.” The digital single “Hikari wa Watashi no Naka” is included as a CD only bonus track.

In conjunction with the album’s release, Lucky Kilimanjaro has released the music video for the album track “KIDS.” The song expresses frontman Kumaki Yukimaru‘s desire to leave his old self behind and try new things. Check it out below, along with more information on Lucky Kilimanjaro’s new album!

On March 31, JP THE WAVY will release his new mixtape, “WAVY TAPE 2.” This release comes nearly a year after the release of his debut album, “LIFE IS WAVY.”

“WAVY TAPE 2” contains JP THE WAVY’s recent digital singles, along with some new songs. There are several collaborations on this mixtape, including with BAD HOP‘s YZERR & Benjazzy, vividboooy, and the British rapper Lancey Foux.

JP THE WAVY recently released “WAVY TV vol.3” on his YouTube channel. In it, the production of some of the mixtape can be seen. Check it out below, along with more information on this release!

As reported late last year, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics & Paralympics ceremonies committee was disbanded, and their work, which was 80% done as of February 2020, was scrapped. People wondered what the ceremonies would have looked like, if the COVID-19 pandemic hadn’t caused the Olympics & Paralympics to be delayed. Shukan Bunshun will now give us a glimpse!

The choreographer MIKIKO, who has worked with the likes of Perfume, BABYMETAL, and Hoshino Gen, was part of this committee, serving as Chief Operating Officer of the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Shortly before she was let go, she gave a presentation to the International Olympic Committee about the ceremony, which the IOC praised. Shukan Bunshun was able to obtain the 280 page document detailing what would the Opening Ceremony would have been.

The document is dated April 6, 2020, just after the decision was made to postpone the Olympics & Paralympics for a year due to the pandemic.

“The IOC was overjoyed, saying ‘Well prepared so far.’ They also said that a message about coronavirus needed to be included, so it was fine if the current proposal was altered to fit it,” said a Tokyo Olympic organizing committee executive.

However, on May 11, MIKIKO was informed by Dentsu’s CEO that she was being replaced by the now disgraced Sasaki Hiroshi. On March 18, he resigned by from his post after planning to include Naomi Watanabe in the Opening Ceremony as the “Olympig.”

Given that Sasaki is gone, it was up to Hashimoto Seiko, president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing body, to decide what to do about the ceremonies. Given that there are only four months until the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, it was decided to go ahead with Sasaki’s plan for the ceremonies.

“It is virtually impossible for MIKIKO’s team’s proposal to see the light of day. Many Olympic officials regret this because of how well loved her plan was,” said Tokyo Olympic organizing committee official. “Naomi Watanabe said on YouTube that the proposal gave her goosebumps due to how cool it was.”

So what was MIKIKO’s plan?