Fully two years after his previous release, singer/songwriter Shin Rizumu has announced that he will be releasing a new analog single this week on August 7th. Titled “Akai Tower Made / Moon River Lady”, this self-produced release was performed almost entirely by Rizumu himself.

To coincide with the vinyl’s release, he has uploaded a live performance of “Moon River Lady” to his YouTube channel. The video was produced in Rizumu’s home studio and features Novo Ritmo Banda as support musicians.

You can find this live PV below, and feel free to check out the full single on Spotify.

Well-known instrumental band TOKYO SKA PARADISE ORCHESTRA are currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of their debut in the industry. As part of the festivities, the group will be releasing a special collaborative single titled “Ribbon” on August 7th.

Known for their extensive collaborations with rock singers, “Ribbon” sees the band working with Mr.Children’s Kazutoshi Sakurai for the first time. The track’s PV features both artists performing in a darkened room lit by various different light sources.

You’ll find this music video, as well as the cover and track list for “Ribbon” right after the cut.

This week folk/pop singer Yuta Orisaka released his latest song “Asagao” as a digital single on August 5th. “Asagao” is currently serving as the theme song for FujiTV’s Getsu9 drama “Kansatsui Asagao”.

In conjunction with the track’s release, a music video directed by filmmaker Pennacky has been uploaded to Orisaka’s YouTube channel. The PV centers around the story of a young martial artist training, and was shot in such a way as to deliberately evoke nostalgia.

You’ll find the full version of this moody music video right after the cut.

There’s a new Hello!Project group in the scene, today marks the official debut of BEYOOOOONDS.

They were first formed in the fall of 2018, consisting of now former members of Hello!Project trainee program “Kenshuusei”. The girls were split into two different groups, “CHICA # TETSU” (Philosophical Girls) and “Ame no Mori Kawa Umi” (Rain Forest River Ocean). It was then annojunced that the two groups would be combined to form the collective BEYOOOOONDS.

On August 7, m-flo will release a new digital single, “Toxic Sweet.” The summery, reggae-tinged song is a collaboration with JP THE WAVY, an act that m-flo cited as one to watch in our recent interview with them. m-flo has been interested in JP THE WAVY and offered this collaboration to him. He happily accepted, calling the collaboration a dream and an honor.

m-flo has released the music video for “Toxic Sweet” in tandem with the song. It was shot in Los Angeles the week of Anime Expo, the same time as Arama! Japan’s interview. It’s also of note because it’s one of the rare times that Taku Takahashi raps. Check it out below!

The winners of this year’s MTV Video Music Awards Japan have been announced! Daichi Miura, Aimyon, Keyakizaka46, and Sakanaction are among the winners, while ONE OK ROCK, Hoshino Gen, GLAY, and Official HIGE DANdism are among the winners of the special awards.

On September 18, the big prize, the Best Video Award, will be handed out at MTV VMAJ 2019 -THE LIVE-. The Best Video Award award will be voted on by viewers online from among the winners of the other regular categories. Voting is now open here.

BiSH, GLAY, King Gnu, and Daichi Miura will perform at MTV VMAJ 2019 -THE LIVE-, with more perfomers to be announced. Hinatazaka46 will serve as hosts.

See who won below!

Sota Fukushi and Nanao have been cast in a brand new TBS drama. They will be starring in a live-action version of “Marigold in 4 Minutes“. It’s based off of a manga series by the say name by Kirie.

Sota plays the leading male role of “Mikoto”. A 25-year-old man who works as an emergency medical technician. Mikoto has a special power where whenever he touches someone with his hand, he is able to see the last moment before that person will die.

Former E-Girls member Dream Ami is prepping for the release of a brand new song. It has been decided that she will be covering Koda Kumi’s 2006 hit “Koi No Tsubomi“.

The song will serve as the theme song for the 2019 version of the drama series “Busu no Hitomi ni Koishiteru”, which starred Gori Inagaki, Tomoko Murakami, and Yuri Ebihara. Kumi’s “Koi No Tsubomi” was the theme for that drama, hence Dream Ami doing her own spin on it.