Japanese entertainment conglomerate Yoshimoto Kogyo and South Korean entertainment company CJ E&M will co-produce “Produce 101 Japan” based on the reality television talent competition franchise popular in South Korea and China.

A press conference was held on April 11 at Ebisu Act Square to announce “Produce 101 Japan”.

Following an apology from the management of idol group NGT48 to the Niigata government over the mishandling of the Maho Yamaguchi incident that took place late last year, the official NGT48 website has announced that the group’s current two teams will be dissolved, and the group is “restarting” as first-generation members and trainees.

On March 29, the representative director of agency AKS Natsuko Yoshinari and manager of NGT48’s theater Maiko Hayakawa apologized to Niigata City vice-governor Hiroshi Mizoguchi and a representative of the government office for the prefecture’s public relations department.

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.

Late last year, Seiko Oomori made the announcement that she would be producing her own idol unit, ZOC (short for Zone Out of Control). Since then the group has mainly been performing live (with and without Seiko) and mainly doing Seiko Oomori covers.

However, finally, last night, ZOC announced their debut single on T-Palette Records, entitled ‘Family Name‘, due out April 30. The single features two newly written songs, the title track (arranged by Hiroki Suzuki) and ‘Chu-Puri‘ (arranged by Sakurai Kenta). It will also feature the tracks in instrumental form. Read on to see the single cover!

Earlier today hard rock duo B’z announced that they will be releasing a new full-length album on May 29th. This record, titled “NEW LOVE”, will be the pair’s 21st studio album together and their first since 2017’s “DINOSAUR”.

“NEW LOVE” will include the group’s already revealed tracks “Majestic”, “WOLF”, “Tsuwamono, Hashiru”, and “Deus”, as well as nine new songs for a total of 13. Of note, album track “Rain & Dream” will feature Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry, while Stone Temple Pilots bassist Robert DeLeo will join the duo’s live support members on the remainder of the record.

The album is currently planned to be issued in three different versions: a Regular CD-Only Edition, an Analog Edition, and a Limited Edition which will come packaged with an original T-Shirt.

Read on below to find both the cover and track list for “NEW LOVE”.

This week’s guests were Ichikawa Yukino, Jaejoong, Takeshima Hiroshi, Tokunaga Yuuki, Niizuma Seiko, Nishikawa Takanori, Hinatazaka46, Beverly, Mikawa Kenichi, Miyama Hiroshi, DJ KOO, MUSIC CONCERTO, and Flash Kaneko.

This week’s guests were ZIGGY, J☆Dee’Z, and Denpa Shoujo.

ZIGGY – Hikari no Ame

J☆Dee’Z – Ima Sugu ni Aitai

Denpa Shoujo – NEWTON

This week, Hinatazaka46 topped the Hot 100 single chart with their debut single “Kyun.”

back number topped the Hot Albums chart with their new album “MAGIC.”

Aimyon topped the Streaming Songs chart for the 13th consecutive week with her single “Marigold.”

back number also topped the Download Songs chart for the fourth non-consecutive week with their single “HAPPY BIRTHDAY.”

back number also topped the Download Albums chart with “MAGIC.”