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.

Ayumi Hamasaki‘s 2000 song “M” is one of her signature songs, so much so that the new book / drama about her rise to fame, “M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite”, plays on the song’s title. A new compilation video of Ayu performing the song has been uploaded to her YouTube channel.

This 50 minute long live video features Ayu performing the song at various concerts over the course of 16 years, starting with “ayumi hamasaki countdown live 2000-2001 A” and ending with “ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2016-2017 A 『Just the beginning -20-』.”

This video is one of the many that Ayu has uploaded since COVID-19 began to interupt the Japanese live music scene. See will be uploading more live videos in the coming days, so stay tuned to her YouTube channel.

Watch “M COMPLETE 2000-2017” below!

“Music Lives” is a virtual festival that takes place April 17 – 19. The event is sponsored by LiveXLive Media, Inc. and allows viewers to donate to the “MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund”. This fund helps people in the music industry that have been affected by coronavirus.

The lineup for “Music Lives” includes the likes of Anitta, J Balvin, and Trippie Redd. m-flo, Crystal Kay, and MIYAVI have now been added to the lineup. All three will be performing on April 19. Find out more 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!

Arashi fans are in for another surprise! Their YouTube did a surprise upload of their popular tour “ARAFES NATIONAL STADIUM 2012“. Originally held in September 2012, what made this tour so special was that fans were able to vote for songs to makeup the entire tour setlist.

240 songs were eligible for voting, ranging from singles to b-sides, and album tracks. Some of the songs that made the vote were “Happiness”, “Truth”, “Love so sweet”, and “A. RA .SHI”. Check it out below!

Avex has assembled a lineup of their rising stars to create REVIVE ‘EM ALL 2020, a music unit that celebrates the glory years of the iconic Japanese music label.

The compilation album includes Beverly, FAKY, FEMM, lol, Yup’in and Kalen Anzai performing a new group track, as well as covers of globe, DA PUMP, hitomi, Every Little Thing, TRF, Nanase Aikawa, and m-flo.

The group track is titled “CAN’T STOP THIS!!” and interpolates 1995 instrumental track “CAN’T UNDO THIS!!“ by techno musician MAXIMIZOR.

This release ties into upcoming TV Asahi/Ameba TV drama “M Aisubeki Hito ga Ite”, based on Ayumi Hamasaki’s astronomical rise to fame. Originally written as a dramatized biographical novel by Komatsu Narumi, the drama stars Kalen Anzai as Ayumi Hamasaki, with Miura Shohei playing her love interest and producer Masa (based on avex CEO Max Matsuura).

Fictionalized portrayals of hit Avex acts will make appearances in the new drama, played by the agency’s current acts. Da-iCE‘s Wada Hayate and FAKY‘s Hina will play members of the trio “OTF” (based on Every Little Thing), lol will portray a group “USG” (based on TRF), and yup’in will play rock diva “Saeki Maki” (based on Aikawa Nanase).

Hot off their very successful debut earlier in the year, Johnny’s group SixTONES will be returning to the scene with their 2nd single!

“Navigator” has been selected as the groups 2nd single, and will serve as the official theme song for the popular anime series “The Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited”. The single will be released in three versions. A limited CD+DVD, a super limited CD+DVD featuring art by Millionaire Detective Balance’s creator Yasutaka Tsutsui, and a standard CD only version.

Two members of King & Prince are showing off their fit bodies on the covers of new magazines!

Hirano Sho is the coverboy for new issue of “FINEBOYS+plus BEAUTY”, out April 16. In the men’s beauty magazine, he shows off his strong body and introduces the “four methods of a polished man.”

Not to be outdone, King & Prince’s leader, Kishi Yuta, is on the cover of the new issue of the fitness magazine “Tarzan.” In the magazine, he shows readers high impact ab exercises that can be done at home (timely, given that Japan as a whole is now under a state of emergency due to COVID-19). In addition to an eight-page gravure photoshoot, Yuta talks about his fitness training and his body goals.

Check out both covers in full below, and decide who wins this body battle!