The novel coronavirus COVID-19 is terrorizing the world. People everywhere are sick and dying, businesses failing. In Japan, a particularly hard hit segment of businesses are cultural facilities. Live music venues, nightclubs and theatres across the country have seen events canceled as a means of preventing transmission of the virus in large groups, resulting in plunging revenue. These spaces have a hard time closing though because they need to make money still to survive. But it’s not only the venues that are affected; their employees, performers, sound engineers, lighting engineers, and many others have been harmed.

A movement, #SaveOurSpace, has been created by the affected parties. This movement is asking that the government fund cultural facilities so that they can close, while still being able to pay their workers and maintain their spaces. It would also cut down on the chances of the COVID-19 being transmitted, since these spaces often contain large amounts of people in close quarters. #SaveOurSpace is also seeking compensation for revenue lost from events that have been canceled since February 26, when the Tokyo government first advised people to stay away from large groups.

This week, AKB48 topped the Combined Single chart with their single “Shitsuren, Arigatou”, with 1,168,143 points in its first week in the chart’s top 10.

Johnny’s WEST topped the Combined Album chart with their new album “W trouble”, with 207,592 points in its first week.

AKB48 also topped the Single chart with “Shitsuren, Arigatou”, selling 1,166,598 copies in its first week.

Johnny’s WEST also topped the Album chart with “W trouble”, selling 207,592 copies in its first week.

Official HIGE DANdism topped the Digital Single chart for the eighth non-consecutive week with their single “I LOVE…”, selling 47,627 copies in its tenth week.

Nogizaka46 topped the Digital Album chart with the special edition of their new single “Shiawase no Hogoshoku”, selling 5,054 copies in its first week.

Official HIGE DANdism also topped the Streaming chart with “I LOVE…”, with 6,578,922 streams in its tenth week, topping the chart for the sixth consecutive week.

Johnny & Associates has announced that Snow Man member Iwamoto Hikaru has voluntarily decided to take a break from his activities. This comes after Friday reported that he was part of a drinking party at a love hotel in November 2017. Some of the female attendees of the party were underage at the time. A former female idol told Friday that she and two other girls who attended the party were minors at the time.

Earlier today, Johnny & Associates streamed two concerts on YouTube as part of the company’s “Johnny’s World Happy LIVE with YOU” concert series. The company has canceled several events in light of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The “Johnny’s World Happy LIVE with YOU” concert series serves as a way to cheer up fans during this troubled time, but also as a means of educating fans about how to prevent the virus’ spread.

Today’s first concert featured Sexy Zone, SixTONES, and HiHi Jets; the second one featured Kanjani8, Johnny’s WEST, and Naniwa Danshi. They can be seen below!

On March 30, the first concert (at 4 PM JST) will feature Yamashita Tomohisa, Travis Japan, Hey! Say! JUMP, and Kis-My-Ft2. The second one, at 8 PM JST, will feature KAT-TUN, A.B.C-Z, and King & Prince. The performers on for the March 31 concerts have not been announced.

It was recently reported that Ken Shimura tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19. Unfortunately, his agency announced that he passed away from complications of the virus on Sunday.

This week’s guests were Miyamoto Hiroji, Kobushi Factory, Creepy Nuts, Chisato Moritaka, MOROHA, Mayumura Chiaki, and Tajima Takao.

Miyamoto Hiroji – Hallelujah

Kobushi Factory – Start Line

Creepy Nuts – Otona

Chisato Moritaka – Watarasebashi

MOROHA – Squall and Response

Mayumura Chiaki – Daijoubu

Tajima Takao – Fiesta

This week’s guests were Okamura Yasuyuki, Teraoka Yohito, Kawatani Enon, Takahashi Shigeo, and Ichikawa Saya.

Okamura Yasuyuki x Kanjani8 – Ai wa Oshare Janai

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.