Noda Yojiro, frontman of RADWIMPS, has created a stir on Twitter, with his supposed promotion of eugenics. On July 16, he reaffirmed via Twitter his belief that Japanese people with exceptional genes, such as Ohtani Shohei, Fujii Sota, and Ashida Mana, should have their spouses chosen as a part of a national project. He closed the tweet by including a hashtag saying it was his personal opinion.

This week’s guests were Hiromi Go, Ohguro Maki, Kalen Anzai, and SixTONES.

Hiromi Go x Ohguro Maki x Kalen Anzai – How many Ii Kao

Kalen Anzai – Bokura wa Tsuyoku Nareru.

SixTONES – NAVIGATOR

Ohguro Maki – OK

Hiromi Go – Want You!!!

This week’s guests were MAN WITH A MISSION, SixTONES, Suzuki Masayuki, and AK-69.

MAN WITH A MISSION – Change the World

SixTONES – NAVIGATOR

Suzuki Masayuki – Motivation

AK-69 – If I Die feat.ZORN

As previously announced, Sexy Zone will be releasing a new single under their new label “Top J Records”, established by both Johnnys and Universal Music. The single “RUN” serves as the theme song for NTV drama series “Miman Keisatsu: Midnight Runner” starring member Nakajima Kento alongside King & Prince member Hirano Sho.

The song’s lyrics expresses “bond with friends”, “believing in yourself” and “moving forward”. The short version of the MV has been released by Universal Music on Youtube but unfortunately is region locked. It is made available to stream though on the group’s record label website. “RUN” will be released on August 5. Catch the MV below!

Comedian Naomi Watanabe has uploaded a parody of Lady Gaga‘s #1 hit “Rain On Me”, uploaded today on Watanabe’s official YouTube channel “NAOMI CLUB”. She actually got the permission from Gaga’s production team for this so the parody can be as close to the original as intended.

For the parody Watanabe recruited fellow plus sized comedian diva Yuriyan Retriever, who plays the role of Ariana Grande. Watanabe is a big Gaga fan, describing her as having a “mother-like presence that greatly envelops me“. This is the very first parody MV to be released on her YouTube channel, and a return to form as this is the reason why she became such a big star in the first place. Watanabe got her big break parodying American singer Beyoncé .

Check out the full parody MV below!

In early June, I had the chance to interview JP THE WAVY via video for The Japan Times. This interview marks five years since I started writing for the newspaper. In the course of our conversation, we discussed many topics, including the state of Japanese hip hop, how the genre serves as a bridge between Japan and the rest of Asia, and his love of the J-Urban boom of the 00s. One topic that I was particularly interested in, given the conversation around race that is currently happening in many places around the world, is his thoughts on cultural appropriation, seeing as how he is a Japanese rapper. Check the interview out below!

Hey, Arama Japan! 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 episode was a three-hour special. This week’s guests were Sexy Zone, Toshl, Last Idol, GENERATIONS, Nogizaka46, HYDE, Takashima Chisato, Ishimaru Kanji, Kinoshita Haruka, Arashi, TUBE, SixTONES, Official HIGE DANdism, Eito, and Ikimonogakari. Miura Haruma, who was scheduled to be on the show before his death last week, had his new music video shown in tribute.

Sexy Zone – RUN

Toshl – BE ALL RIGHT

Last Idol – Ai wo Shiru

GENERATIONS – You & I

Nogizaka46 – Route 246

HYDE – BELIEVING IN MYSELF

Takashima Chisato x Ishimaru Kanji x Kinoshita Haruka – Bijo to Yajuu / Part of Your World / Umarete Hajimete / Whole New World

Arashi – IN THE SUMMER

Toshl – Yoru ni Kakeru

TUBE – Nippon no Natsu Kara Konnichiwa / Hanabi / Ah Natsuyasumi

SixTONES – NAVIGATOR

Arashi – Kite

Official HIGE DANdism – HELLO / 115-man Kilo no Film

Eito – Kousui

Ikimonogakari – Kira Kira ni Hikaru