We’re back with this week’s edition of Oricon Flashback! This is where we look back on what topped the charts this week 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years ago. Think of it as a way to reminisce and learn about the past of Japanese music.

This week’s guests were SIRUP and JO1. They performed from home.

SIRUP – Your Love

JO1 – Mugendai

Taka of ONE OK ROCK and Shota Shimizu have launched a new project, “[re:] Project.” This project came about after the two discussed what they could do with artists of their generation.

[re:] Project has released a new song, “Mou Ichido.” The song features several artists of their generation: Abe Mao, ayaka, Aimer, WANIMA‘s KENTA, Nissy, and Daichi Miura. The song has a message of hope and unity. Check it out below!

This week’s guests were Hikawa Kiyoshi, Kitamura Takumi, milet, Shonan no Kaze, and Johnny’s WEST.

Hikawa Kiyoshi – Bohemian Rhapsody

Kitamura Takumi (DISH//) – Neko ~THE FIRST TAKE Ver.~

milet – us / inside you

Shonan no Kaze – Suiren

Johnny’s WEST – “WA ni Natte Odorou” Project

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!

Popular singer/songwriter Kenshi Yonezu has announced that he will be releasing a new studio album titled “STRAY SHEEP” on August 5th. This will be his first such release since 2017’s smash hit “BOOTLEG”, and his first release of new material in nearly a year.

“STRAY SHEEP” will include Yonezu’s previously released tracks “Lemon”, “Flamingo”, “TEENAGE RIOT”, “Umi no Yuurei”, and “Uma to Shika”, his self-cover of popular children’s song “Paprika”, and nine new tracks – such as “Kanden”, his theme song for the upcoming drama “MIU404” – for a total of 15. The record will be issued in four versions, including an “Omamori” edition which will come packaged with a key-chain in a special box, and a DVD/Blu-ray and Artbook combination.

Read on below to find the cover for “STRAY SHEEP” – which Yonezu drew himself – and look forward to further details about this release being published as they are made available.

Up-and-coming singer/songwriter Akira Yuki has revealed that she will be releasing a new mini-album titled “Smoke” on August 19th. This will be her first release of new material since last year’s “Ippiki Ookami” and her first longform release since 2018’s “Sosei”.

“Smoke” will include six new songs, arranged by a rogue’s gallery of collaborators like Yosuke Sato, Sasanomaly, NAOtheLAIZA, Nobuyuki Nishikawa, and Yoshiaki Dewa. The first of these collaborations – “Answer” – sees Yuki working with NAOtheLAIZA and will be released as a digital single on June 5th.

You’ll find the audio for “Answer”, as well as the cover and track list for “Smoke” right after the jump.

Electronic-rock quartet Newspeak have announced that they will be releasing a series of four digital singles over the next several months. These songs were produced as a direct response to the Coronavirus crisis, after the band considered how best to address the new climate that has emerged in its wake.

The first of the tracks, “Pyramid Shakes”, is set to be released next week on June 12th. Once all of the songs have been made available, they will be collected as a conceptual work titled “Complexity & Simplicity of Humanity (and That’s Okay)”.

You’ll find a live at-home performance of “Pyramid Shakes” right after the cut.