This week’s guests were Teraoka Yohito, Asakura Daisuke, Goto Masafumi, Shimada Masanori, Yamazaki Hironari, and chay.

Teraoka Yohito x Asakura Daisuke x Kanjani8 – Toilet no Kamisama (Uemura Kana cover)

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.

On January 18th Utada Hikaru released her latest single “Face My Fears“, along with American DJ Skrillex. The song was her first Japanese physical single release in over a decade, the last being 2008’s “Prisoner of Love”.

“Face My Fears” served as the opening theme song for the popular video game Kingdom Hearts III. The release saw a brand new milestone for the singer, it became her very first entry on Billboard’s hot 100!

Back in November, singer Konomi Suzuki took stage at the Anisong World Matsuri at Anime NYC, a concert tour partnership between leading Japanese entertainment companies including Amuse, Bandai Namco Arts, and Sony Music Entertainment to bring music popularized by anime (“anisongs“) to new audiences around the world.

Suzuki’s career began when she won the Animax Anison Grand Prix in 2011, beating out tens of thousands of contestants at only 14 years-of-age. She made her music debut the following year, singing the opening theme song for “Dusk Maiden of Amnesia” (JP: Tasogare Otome x Amnesia). She has since gone on to release 15 singles, three original albums, and one best album. This year, she took on the challenge of voicing a leading character in the anime “Lost Song”.

ARAMA! JAPAN interviewed Konomi Suzuki following her Anisong World Matsuri appearance to discuss her music and work. Check out how she got into playing guitar, her thoughts on why anisongs are so special, and more on the next page!

This week’s guests were Mika Nakashima, Leo Ieiri, and Okazaki Taiiku.

Mika Nakashima – STARS / Yuki no Hana

Leo Ieiri – Kono Sekai de

Okazaki Taiiku – Karada

This week’s guests were Backstreet Boys, DA PUMP, Touken Danshi, and DEAN FUJIOKA.

Backstreet Boys x ISSA – I Want It That Way

Touken Danshi – Touken Ranbu

DEAN FUJIKOKA – Maybe Tomorrow

DA PUMP – Sakura

Backstreet Boys – Chances

This week’s guests were Fujifabric, THE RAMPAGE, Sakai Yu, and Fudanjuku.

Fujifabric – Wakamono no Subete / Hagan

THE RAMPAGE – THROW YA FIST

Sakai Yu – You’re Something

Fudanjuku – Tsubame

Today on the Johnny’s fanclub website, Arashi announced that they will suspend activities on December 31, 2020. The members of the group discussed their future together, and decided to pause their activities for the whole of 2020. Arashi also held a press conference to address their hiatus.