Following a rather quiet 2018, groove-heavy rock band NONA REEVES have announced that they will be releasing a new studio album titled “Mirai” on March 13th.  Though details about the record are scarce as of yet, this past week the group chose to both make its title track available for digital purchase and publish the song’s music video on their label’s YouTube channel.

Mirai’s PV was directed by 22 year old Instagrammer and photographer Taichi Sunagawa, whom the band members specifically requested after seeing his work.  Of particular note, this track also features TRICERATOPS/Northern Boys member Kouji Hayashi as a support bassist.

You’ll find the music video for “Mirai”, plus the album’s cover art right after the cut.

Nearly two years after their last release, alternative rock band Base Ball Bear have announced that they will be releasing a new EP titled “Polaris” on January 30th.  “Polaris” will be the group’s first release on DGP (Drum Gorilla Park) Records, a collaborative venture between the group and Victor Entertainment, and is currently set to include four new tracks.

Ahead of the EP’s street date, the group have chosen to publish the Short PV for its lead track “Flame” to their YouTube channel.  The video was directed by Yuuri Takei and shot in the style of their film “The Red Comet Club”, which the band’s singer Yusuke Koide has praised in the past.

You’ll find this music video, a brief live preview of “Tamesareru”, and the cover and track list for “Polaris” right after the jump.

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.

Note: Oricon was on holiday break last week for several of the years covered, so that week’s numbers and this week’s numbers are combined. The numbers are regular though for some of the years though. It should also be noted that the dates for 1989 and 1994 are different than the other ones, but the actual weeks measured are the same.

This week, Yonezu Kenshi topped the Hot 100 single chart for the fourth non-consecutive week with his single “Lemon.”

Hoshino Gen topped the Hot Albums chart for the third consecutive week with his album “POP VIRUS.”

Aimyon topped the Streaming Songs chart with her single “Marigold.”

Kenshi also topped the Download Songs chart for the 17th non-consecutive week with “Lemon.”

Gen also topped the Download Albums chart for the third consecutive week with “POP VIRUS.”

This week, Yonezu Kenshi topped the Combined Single chart with his single “Lemon”, with 84,708 points in the chart’s fourth week.

Hoshino Gen topped the Combined Album chart for the third consecutive week with his album “POP VIRUS”, with 36,083 points in its third week.

Kuwata Keisuke & The Pin Boys topped the Single chart with “Let’s Go Bowling”, selling 38,817 copies in its first week.

Gen also topped the Album chart with with “POP VIRUS”, selling 27,826 copies in its third week.

Kenshi also topped the Digital Single chart for the 19th non-consecutive week “Lemon”, selling 140,618 copies in its 47th week.

Gen also topped the Digital Album chart with “POP VIRUS”, selling 8,257 copies in its third week.

Aimyon topped the Streaming chart with her single “Marigold”, with 1,651,796 streams in the chart’s fourth week.

Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw KinKi Kids defeat Uru and Aimyon. Aimyon is back this week, facing off against a newcomer and a blast from the past. Find out what Ronald thought of the songs that topped the singles charts this week and share your thoughts on them too!

This week’s guests were Mrs. GREEN APPLE, Nisshoku Natsuko, and FOMARE.

Mrs. GREEN APPLE – Boku no Koto

Nisshoku Natsuko – white frost

FOMARE – Can’t help myself

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!