Back in February, we reported that singer/songwriter Shikao Suga would be releasing a new longplay titled “Roudou Nanka Shinaide Kougousei Dake de Ikitai” on April 17th. With the record’s release nigh, he has now published the short PV for its title track to his newly opened YouTube channel.

This music video matches the upbeat funk song with a comical scenario wherein 150 ‘Shikao Sugas’ – including the real one – invade the nation’s streets and convenience stores. Additionally, previews of the rest of the album’s tracks can be found on the release’s special website.

Meanwhile, you’ll find this amusing short PV right after the cut.

This week’s guests were Suga Shikao, Jaejoong, Miyakawa-kun, and Asako.

Suga Shikao – Progress / Rodonanka Shinaide Kogosei dake de Ikitai

Jaejoong – Sweetest Love

Miyakawa-kun – LiBERO

Asako – Apple Tea

Earlier this year it was announced that alternative band PAELLAS would be partnering with EMI Records to release their first major label album on June 5th. The record, titled “sequential souls”, will be the group’s second studio set and comes just two years after their debut album “Pressure”.

“sequential souls” will include their previously released digital singles “Orange” and “Weight”, as well as nine new songs for a total of 11. In conjunction with this announcement, the band have also published a digest for the record, which is available on their label’s YouTube channel.

Read on below to find both this digest and the track list for “sequential souls”.

Pop-rock band HY will be celebrating their 20th anniversary next year in 2020 and have decided to start the festivities early by releasing a new album on June 12th. Titled “RAINBOW”, this will be the group’s 13th studio album together and their first since 2017’s “CHANCE”.

Based around the theme of overcoming the sorrows present in the modern world, “RAINBOW” will include 14 new songs from the band. Eight have been used in various local commercials on the island of Okinawa, while the remaining six – including title track “no rain no rainbow” – will be totally new.

You’ll find the cover and track list for “RAINBOW” right after the jump.

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!

Back in March we reported that popular rock band BUMP OF CHICKEN would be releasing a new studio album on July 10th. As a bit of early promo, the group have chosen to publish the Hikigatari audio of new song “Nagareboshi no Shoutai” to their YouTube channel.

The first verse and chorus of “Nagareboshi no Shoutai” were originally shared in a similarly acoustic form back in January of 2017. It is uncertain if the audio posted this week represents the song’s full version or merely another additional section.

You’ll find this special handwritten lyric video below, and visit the band’s Instagram page to find footage of vocalist Motoo Fujiwara performing a section of the track on his guitar.

Back in February we reported that psychedelic rock band Odotte Bakari no Kuni would be releasing a new studio album titled “Hikari no Naka ni” on May 1st. Now that this date has drawn closer, the group have uploaded the music video for album track “weekender” to their YouTube channel.

This video, directed by Takako Noel, centers around live and off-shot footage taken at both the start and end of the day. Of note, Noel was also responsible for the group’s most recent artist photo (found above).

You’ll find the full PV for “weekender” right after the cut.

The Heisei era is coming to an end, and Oricon has now released its charts to close it out. Even thought the Heisei era started on 1/8/89 and ends on 4/30/19, the Oricon Heisei era charts cover the period of 1/9/89 – 3/31/19.

B’z is the best selling artist of the Heisei era. SMAP‘s “Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana” was the best selling single, while Utada Hikaru’s “First Love” was the best selling album. Celine Dion and Kryzler & Kompany‘s “TO LOVE YOU MORE” was the best selling Western single, while Mariah Carey‘s “The Ones” was the best selling Western album.