Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Aimyon defeat Nogizaka46 and back number. back number and Aimyon are back this week, facing off against a newcomer. Find out what Ronald thought of the songs that topped the singles charts this week and share your thoughts on them too!

We’re back with this week’s edition of Oricon Flashback. This is where we look back on what topped Oricon this week 5, 10, 15, and 20 years ago. Think of it as a way to reminisce and learn about the past of Japanese music.

This week’s guests were Sexy Zone, Nishino Kana, BiSH, and Kyuso Nekokami.

Sexy Zone – Suppin KISS

Nishino Kana – Bedtime Story

BiSH – stereo future

Kyuso Nekokami – Oshi no Iru Seikatsu

This week’s guests were MIYAVI, NAOTO, SINSKE, DJ IZOH, Takahashi Shigeo, and Ichikawa Saya.

MIYAVI x NAOTO x Kanjani8 – Pink Spider (hide with Spread Beaver cover)

This week’s performers were Kobukuro and SKE48. There was also  a segment feature Yamashita Tomohisa.

Kobukuro – Kaze

SKE48 – Stand by you

As previously reported, Utada Hikaru will release a new single, “Face My Fears”, on January 18. The song, a collaboration with Skrillex, serves as the opening theme for the video game “Kingdom Hearts III.” Today, as part of the 20th anniversary of her debut, Utada released more information about the single.

The cover art for “Face My Fears” was released. It was created by  Tetsuya Nomura, the director of the “Kingdom Hearts” series.

Utada also released two trailers for “Face My Fears”, one in Japanese and one in English. Each features about 90 seconds of the song’s opening, along with visuals from “Kingdom Hearts III.” Check them out below, along with the single’s cover!

EXILE and EXILE THE SECOND member EXILE SHOKICHI has released preview images from his upcoming photobook.

“BYAKUYA” is the singers very first photobook release, the photos have three main themes. “Music”, “Life”, and “Sexy”. The two main locations for the shoots was a recording studio, where SHOKICHI actually creates music, and the “royal room” in a luxurious hotel located in Tokyo.

It has been announced that former Momoiro Clover member Akari Hayami is now married! The 23-year-old married a non celebrity in his early 30s, his job was simply stated as a “company employee”.

Hayami has been in a relationship with him for many years now, she described him as very warm and caring. The couple originally began to date each other in 2014.