This week’s guests were KinKi Kids, LOVE PSYCHEDELICO, and Last Idol.
KinKi Kids x LOVE PSYCHEDELICO – Your Song / Zenbu Dakishimet
Last Idol – Ai no Shiru
LOVE PSYCHEDELICO – Swingin’
KinKi Kids – KANZAI BOYA
Following her 50 minute long “M” live compilation video, Ayumi Hamasaki has given “A Song for xx” similar treatment.
The 90 minute long “A Song for xx” live compilation video sees Ayu performing the song at various concerts over the course of 18 years, starting with “ayumi hamasaki concert tour A Dai 2 Maku” and ending with “ayumi hamasaki ARENA TOUR 2018 ～POWER of MUSIC 20th Anniversary～.”
Watch “A song for xx COMPLETE 2000-2018” below!
On May 1, Gesu no Kiwami Otome. will release their fifth album, “Streaming, CD, Record.” The album’s title is a reference to the many ways that it can be listened to.
“Streaming, CD, Record” includes the song “Mitsu to Toboe”, which serves as the theme song for the app game “Tales of Crestoria.”
Gesu no Kiwami Otome. recently released the music video for their new album’s opening track, “Jinsei no Hari.” Check it out below, along with more information on their new album!
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!
On April 25, the second episode of “M Ai Subeki Hito ga Ite”, the drama based on the rise to fame of Ayumi Hamasaki, starring Kalen Anzai as Ayu, aired.
This episode starts off where the first left off, with Ayu trying to leave her old management for A Victory, the stand in for Avex in this drama. Masa, the stand in for Avex head / Ayu lover Max Matsuura, again goes to extremes with his speaking, having a tone that is almost like a shout, which is especially odd since nobody else has taken it to that level. This is a recurring element with him.
A Tetsuya Komuro reference! But first, backstory: TK, who in this drama is portrayed via a character named Tenmei Kira, was the power behind Avex’s top acts in the 90s. But he wasn’t producing only for Avex. Pioneer LDC gave TK his own label in 1995, ORUMOK RECORDS (“ORUMOK” is “Komuro” backwards). The first artist on ORUMOK RECORDS was Tomomi Kahara, who TK eventually ended up in a relationship with (as he often did).
In 1997, Tomomi released her second album, “storytelling.” The CM for the album and the music video for the 1998 re-cut single “I WANNA GO” both feature TK and Tomomi arriving at a club in a red Ferrari. After Masa successfully acquires Ayu, they leave Velfine in a red sportscar, a reference to this.
On May 1 at 6PM EST, Mark Ronson‘s project “Love Lockdown: Video Mixtape” will start on YouTube. The project is a fundraiser for COVID-19. Several artists are taking part in the project, including Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus, Robyn, Mabel, and Troye Sivan.
Hoshino Gen is also part of “Love Lockdown: Video Mixtape”, the sole Japanese artist. Mark and Gen have a relationship, having performed in New York City and Yokohama together last year as part of Gen’s “Gen Hoshino POP VIRUS World Tour.”
Check out “Love Lockdown: Video Mixtape” below!
Johnny & Associates is continuing its “Johnny’s Smile Up! Project”, this time by teaming up with NHK. The broadcaster has been documenting the fight against coronavirus at the Japanese Red Cross Medical Center in Tokyo. After finding out that Johnny & Associates has a close relationship with the hospital, this series was born.
Yamada Ryosuke (Hey! Say! JUMP), Nakajima Kento (Sexy Zone), and Hirano Sho (King & Prince) are the stars of this series of videos. In these videos, they discuss the seriousness of both the situation at the hospital and the infection among young people.
Ryosuke’s segment is dedicated to stay at home measures, Kento’s centers on protecting loved ones, and Sho’s focuses on supporting medical staff. Kento also has an interview with a doctor on the front line of the fight against COVID-19. Check out the videos below!
Golden Week is April 29 to May 6. Normally a busy time for travel, this year, the Japanese public is being told to stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19.
In an effort to get people to stay home, YouTube has created “YouTube Music Week STAY HOME #WITHME.” There are 49 acts taking part in this project, in which they will release concert videos on their YouTube channels. These acts include Daichi Miura, Aimer, MIYAVI, iri, m-flo, THE ORAL CIGARETTES, Leo Ieiri, and Ai Otsuka.
The schedule of videos will be release daily on YouTube Japan’s Twitter. See who else is part of “YouTube Music Week STAY HOME #WITHME” below!