On December 12, the second night of the 2018 FNS Kayousai will air. Previously announced performers include names such as Ai Otsuka, KAT-TUN, King & Prince, V6, Morning Musume. ’18, Daichi Miura, E-girls, and Nishino Kana. Six more acts have been added to the lineup: Hoshino Gen, Bakuchu Mondai, TARAKO, B.B.Queens, Kiryuin Sho, and AKB48.

The year is coming to a close, so the end of the year charts and rankings are upon us! Billboard Japan has now released its year end charts for 2018, measuring the period from 11/27/17 – 11/25/18. Yonezu Kenshi was named Top Artist of the year, while his song “Lemon” topped the year end Hot 100 chart. Namie Amuro’s farewell best album, “Finally”, topped the year end Hot Albums chart for the second consecutive year. DAOKO and Kenshi’s 2017 hit “Uchiage Hanabi” topped the year end Streaming Songs chart. Kenshi’s “Lemon” also topped the year end Download Songs chart. The “Greatest Showman” soundtrack topped the year end Download Albums chart. Check out more of these charts below!

On December 5, the first night of this year’s FNS Kayousai aired. The show featured performances by the likes of Arashi, Ayumi Hamasaki, Koda Kumi, Daichi Miura, DA PUMP, Hey! Say! JUMP, JUJU, and SEKAI NO OWARI. Check out the full show below!

This week, back number topped the Hot 100 single chart with their single “Old Fashion.”

Nishino Kana topped the Hot Albums chart  with her new best album “Love Collection 2 ~pink~.”

Aimyon topped the Streaming Songs chart for the fourth consecutive week with her single “Konya Kono Mama.”

back number also topped the Download Songs chart for the third consecutive week with their single “Old Fashion.”

The “Bohemian Rhapsody” soundtrack topped the Download Albums chart.

This week, Tohoshinki topped the Oricon single chart with their new single “Jealous”, selling 91,056 copies in its first week.

Nishino Kana topped the Oricon album chart  with her new best album “Love Collection 2 ~pink~”, selling 56,816 copies in its first week.

back number topped the Oricon digital single chart for the third consecutive week with their single “Old Fashion”, selling 39,439 copies in itsthird week.

The “Bohemian Rhapsody” soundtrack topped the Oricon digital album chart, selling 6,440 copies in its sixth week.

Today marks the release of FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE’s debut single “OVER DRIVE“

Signed under the Avex Trax subsidiary Rhythm Zone, FANTASTICS follows the usual LDH group lineup having two vocalists and 6 performers (dancers). The groups beginnings date back to December 2016 when it was announced that EXILE TRIBE performers Sekai & Taiki Sato would be in a new unit.

Back in October 2018, it was announced that Yuimetal would be withdrawing from the group BABYMETAL.

This happened right in the midst of the groups latest North American tour.  Originally, BABYMETAL’s management kept quiet about the entire situation. When the tour started only, Su-metal and Moametal appeared on stage and no explanation was given.

Winners for the annual Yahoo! Japan Search Awards 2018 are announced. These awards are given to people or things which had the biggest increase in their Yahoo searches compared to the previous year and is based on data from January 1 to November 1, 2018. The mid year results which lists the top 3 for each category was previously announced. King & Prince, the newest Johnnys group which debuted last May is the winner for both the Grand Prize and the Idol Division. Namie Amuro is the top search for the Musician category for the 2nd consecutive year.

More winners for several other categories can be found at Yahoo’s site. Check out the winners below!