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, Official HIGE DANdism topped the Combined Single chart with their single “Pretender”, with 9,092 points, topping the chart for the fourth non-consecutive week.

LUNA SEA topped the Hot Albums chart with their new album “CROSS.”

Official HIGE DANdism also topped the Streaming Songs chart for the 31st consecutive week with “Pretender.”

Arashi topped the Download Songs chart with their new single “A-RA-SHI : Reborn.”

LUNA SEA also topped the Download Albums chart with “CROSS.”

This week’s performers were Nigami 17sai, Novelbright, sumika, and Lucky Kilimanjaro. There was also a talk segment between the show’s hosts, Yokohama Ryusei, and Yukipayo. They went over a list of the acts that a group of 224 music industry professionals chose as the ones to look out for in 2020. MUSICA Editor-in-Chief Ariizumi Tomoko also provide commentary. The full top 30 list can be seen below!

Nigami 17sai – Tadashi, BGM

Novelbright – Haikei, Shinai naru Kimi e

sumika – Higher Ground

Lucky Kilimanjaro – HOUSE

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!

Check out Arashi enter the anime world of ONE PIECE for the music video of the song “A-RA-SHI : Reborn”, a “re-production” of the group’s debut song “A・RA・SHI“, which was released on November 3, 1999. Both Arashi and the anime franchise celebrated their 20th anniversary in the same year prompting this collaboration.

In the music video, Arashi is making headlines as they are nowhere to be found nearing their scheduled National Stadium concert. Luffy and his crew enters the scene for the rescue! Watch as Arashi joins the Straw Hat crew in adventures and take the concert stage together. What kind of journey will Arashi take in the future?

The 2020 edition of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will take place April 10-12 and 17-19 in Indio, California. Last year, Perfume performed. This year, a fellow Yasutaka Nakata act, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu will perform. She’s joined in the lineup by Hatsune Miku.

On January 1, Katori Shingo will release his debut solo album, “2020010.” The album has the theme of “let’s have fun.” “2020010” will feature an array of collaborators, including BiSH, Mukai Taichi, SALU, KREVA, TeddyLoid, Kishidan, yahyel, and WONK. Shingo is also involved in the album’s production.

“2020010” will come in three editions: the limited “Miru BANG” edition, the limited “GOLD BANG!” edition, and the regular edition. The limited “Miru BANG” edition comes with a DVD featuring two music movies, while the limited “GOLD BANG!” edition comes with a bonus remix and a 56 page photobook.

Shingo has released the music video for his Scha Dara Parr collaboration, “Business wa Perfect”, in tandem with “2020010.” Check it out below, along with more information on his album!

In the continuing saga of the ratings of NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, we have hit another low point. In fact, it is the lowest point in the show’s history. The second half of the show, the one deemed the most important, saw a record low rating of 37.3% in the Kanto region, down from last year’s 41.5%. This beats the previous low of 39.2%, which occurred in 2015. Ratings peaked in 1963 at 81.4%.

What is to blame for this though?