Utada Hikaru has two digital singles out in May, “Time” (May 8) and “Dare ni mo Iwanai” (May 19). To promote these releases, and in keeping with coronavirus self-isolation measures, she will start a new Instagram Live series!

Titled “Jitaku Kakuri-chu no Hikaru Paisen ni Kike!”, the series starts on May 3 and will run from 7:30 PM – 8:00 PM JST every Sunday night for the rest of the month.

Even though it’s taken a while, we’re seeing Japan getting serious about it’s citizens staying home due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But as you also can see it does take some persuading to get some to stay home. From Gen Hoshino to Naomi Watanabe (and of course the government), celebrities are finding their own little way of encouraging people to stay home. This includes animated celebrities as well.

Manga artist and story-teller Tomoko Ninomiya made a 4 panel comic featuring her much beloved characters Nodame Megumi and Shinichi Chaiki of ‘Nodame Cantabile’. We last saw the couple in 2016 planning and postponing a wedding. Well they’re still together folks! And staying in as stated by their creator in the Twitter post below.

This week’s guests were Iwasaki Hiromi, Mizuki Minami, and Adachi Kana.

Iwasaki Hiromi x Mizuki Minami x Adachi Kana – Romance / Madonna-tachi no Lullaby

Iwasaki Hiromi – Nokoshitai Hana ni Tsuite

Adachi Kana – Omokage

Mizuki Minami – Reflection

On April 8, JP THE WAVY released his debut album, “LIFE IS WAVY.” The album featured a number of guests, including m-flo‘s VERBAL. The music video for their collaboration, “OK, COOL”, has now been released.

The music video was produced by METACRAFT, a creative team that has also done digital installations for Louis Vuitton and Adidas.

In the clip, JP THE WAVY ventures to Mars on a spaceship, encountering asteroids and VERBAL along the way. Check it out below!

It was recently revealed that Avex has taken several of its newer acts and created a supergroup, REVIVE ‘EM ALL 2020. Consisting of Beverly, FAKY, FEMM, lol, Yup’in, and Kalen Anzai, REVIVE ‘EM ALL 2020 is set to release their compilation album “avex revival trax” digitally on April 25. A physical release will follow on May 13.

REVIVE ‘EM ALL 2020 has now released the music video for their collaborative song, “CAN’T STOP THIS!!” To continue the play on the 90s concept, the video was shot in a 4:3 aspect ratio, which was standard at the time. The video also features the Avex logo of that era.

Several of the artists involved tied this release to the current COVID-19 pandemic, saying that the sense of revival that this project has can help people look forward to the future that comes after this crisis. They also hope to lift people’s spirits with the music on this release.

Check out the video for “CAN’T STOP THIS!!” below, along with the digital and physical covers for the 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 18, the first episode of “M Ai Subeki Hito ga Ite”, the drama based on the rise to fame of Ayumi Hamasaki (played by Kalen Anzai), premiered. I have watched the first episode and have several thoughts.

This episode consists of scenes from the early 00s and the mid 90s. In the 00s scenes, Kalen does look like Ayu. But in the 90s scenes, when she smiles, Kalen reminds me more of Tomomi Kahara rather than Ayu, given that she has dark hair in those scenes.

The hair. The hair. The hair. My first issue with the drama was the hair! Ayu’s pigtail wig! I was immediately shocked by how cheap it looked. It looked liked part of a Halloween costume, not even a wig that would be bought on its own. But this wig was just the first in a series of cheap, synthetic wigs that Kalen wore to play pre-debut Ayu.

There were these weird full face shots of Kalen, where she repeated what someone just said as a question to herself. I feel that they were trying to give an air of naivete, but it just came across as dumb.

I actually don’t mind Kalen’s acting, I just don’t like the childishness of her pre-debut Ayu.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is back with her first new release of 2020, a digital single called “KAMAITACHI“

As usual lyrics and production were handled by capsule member Yasutaka Nakata, with a “fantasy” and “cute” vibe that is typical of Kyary. Beginning on April 24th, the song will be available on all major streaming sites such as Apple Music and Spotify.

To celebrate the YouTube premiere of the MV, Kyary participated in the chatroom featured with “YouTube Premiere”. She also held a special Instagram Live to celebrate the release of the MV.

Watch the full MV for “KAMAITACHI” below: