Earlier today, CDTV aired a special episode, CDTV Special! Sotsugyou Song Ongakusai 2019. The show revolved around graduation songs and was a little over three hours long. The performers included the likes of King & Prince, Nogizaka46, back number, and DA PUMP. Check out the full show below!
This week, Kanjani8 topped the Hot 100 single chart with their new single “crystal.”
TWICE topped the Hot Albums chart with their new album “#TWICE2.”
Aimyon topped the Streaming Songs chart for the tenth consecutive week with her single “Marigold.”
back number topped the Download Songs chart for the third consecutive week with their single “HAPPY BIRTHDAY.”
TWICE topped the Download Albums chart with “#TWICE2.”
On May 12, the 13th annual Japan Day @ Central Park will be held in New York. That night, there will be two special concerts held in coordination with the event. Titled “Japan Night“, these concerts will pair HYDE and Wagakki Band, followed by MISIA and Puffy AmiYumi.
These concerts are part of the “Japan 2019” program. Following on the heels of last year’s French program, Japonismes 2018, Japan 2019 looks to expand the understanding of and interest in Japanese culture in the US. Both Japan 2019 and Japonismes 2018 are spurred by the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Japan Night is organized by The Japan Foundation, and produced by Disk Garage, Gorgeous Entertainment, and Cool Japan Music, and sponsored by Kinoshita Group.
With the release of AKB48‘s latest single “Jiwaru DAYS” the group has hit another brand new milestone, they have become the 2nd best selling Japanese music act.
The sales from “Jiwaru DAYS” has brought them to just over 60 million units sold, putting them ahead of the legendary rock group Mr.Children who is at 59.5 million units sold. Back in 2017 AKB48 became the best selling Japanese female artist of all time, pulling ahead of Ayumi Hamasaki.
Almost a week ago musician and actor Pierre Taki was arrested for being in possession of a small amount of cocaine. As a result all promotion and sales have been halted for “Judgement”, a Playstation 4 game starring Pierre and Takuya Kimura.
Pierre’s arrest has also put the game’s worldwide release in limbo, as Sega is currently further accessing the situation. Pierre had already completed a slew of projects, including acting in one of the main roles in the film “A Gambler’s Odyssey 2020”.
Hoshino Gen and Orisaka Yuta have been announced as the Grand Prize winners of The 11th CD Shop Awards 2019. Gen won the Red Grand Prize award for his album “POP VIRUS”, while Yuta won the Blue Grand Prize for his album “Heisei.” This is Gen’s second time winning this award, the first being in 2015 for his album “YELLOW DANCER.”
Check out the full list of winners below!
As we’ve reported previously, six-piece fusion rock band Suchmos will be releasing their latest studio album “THE ANYMAL” next week on March 27th. In further support of the release, the group have now published the music video for lead song “In The Zoo” to their YouTube channel.
This PV, directed by yahyel’s Kento Yamada, pairs the sprawling eight minute psychedelic blues number with some suitably trippy and washed-out visuals. According to the band, “In The Zoo” is based around the idea that humans are animals constantly caught between reason and their instincts.
You’ll find the full version of this rather lengthy music video below.
It’s been announced that electronic rock band Sakanaction will be providing the latest CM track for Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s Calorie Mate brand. The song, titled “Nylon no Ito”, will be featured on Sakanaction’s upcoming double album “834.194“.
The commercial stars Sakanaction frontman Ichiro Yamaguchi, pairing footage of him working in the studio with shots of a vast desert meant to represent the scenery inside his head. In addition, the company also produced a short interview video which sees Yamaguchi discussing both “Nylon no Ito” and the music production process in general.
You’ll find the commercial and its pairing interview right after the cut.