Veteran kayokyoku singer Akira Fuse has announced that he will be releasing a brand new album titled “WALK” this week on May 9th.  Of note, this will be Fuse’s first full-length release to contain original material since 1996’s “Estimado” and also his first album since entering his 70s.

“WALK” will include 12 newly written songs from not only Fuse himself, but also his frequent collaborators Mickey Yoshino, Kenji Kadoya, Motoki Funayama, Fumido, Masao Urino, and Goro Matsui.  In addition, a special “Jazz Live” mix of his famous song “Kimi wa Bara yori Utsukushii” will be included as a bonus track.

Read on below to find both the cover and track list, as well as a digest for “WALK”.

Sandaime J Soul Brothers will release their new album, “FUTURE”, on June 6. However, the group has looked to the past with their new song “Koi to Ai.” The song is more reminiscent of “Hanabi”, the song that helped the group rise to the A-list, rather than the tryhard ratchet EDM pop they’ve been peddling as of late.

Sandaime J Soul Brothers recently released the music video for “Koi to Ai.” It’s a dramatic affair, complete with a suicide, a burning wedding dress, and a back alley brawl. Check it out below!

As previously reported, Crystal Kay will release her new album, “For You”, on June 13. One of the songs on the new album, “Shiawase tte.”, serves as the theme song for the NHK drama “Daisy Luck.” Crystal has now released the music video for the song. The soft-focused clip has a spring theme, complete with blooming flowers. Check it out below!

This week, Nogizaka46 topped the Hot 100 chart with their single “Synchronicity.”

Kis-My-Ft2 topped the Oricon album chart with their new album “Yummy!”

Nishino Kana topped the Streaming Songs chart with her single “I Love You.”

Utada Hikaru topped the Download Songs chart with her new single “Play A Love Song.”

CRAZYBOY topped the Download Albums chart with his new EP “NEOTOKYO IV EP.”

All hell broke loose among BABYMETAL fans earlier today, when videos and pics reporting on the group’s last night performance in Kansas City – opening date of their 2018 U.S. Tour – surprisingly unveiled that member Yui-Metal (Yui Mizuno) was absent and did not perform on stage. Rumors say that Mizuno is not touring with the group, and could have possibly remained in Japan.

This may be potentially linked to Yui-Metal’s absence at BABYMETAL’s Hiroshima Green Arena shows last December, when the group’s staff suddenly announced that the member could not take part to the performances due to health issues. No one had news of Yui Mizuno since then.

Obviously, when fans realized that Yui was also absent during last night’s show, they pretty much lost it for two reasons: the lack of communication from the Staff regarding Yui-Metal’s conditions and whereabouts, and the fact that they paid to see a regular BABYMETAL show and instead found themselves in front of members Su-Metal and Moa-Metal only plus two backup dancers taking Yui-Metal’s place (take a deep breath before opening that link). The group also performed ten songs only, with no encore, a weirdly short setlist. Some fans who attended the show also reported that Moa-Metal did not sing at all during the performance. 

This week’s guest were Kato Miliyah, Yoshida Rinne, and Roys.

Kato Miliyah – ROMANTIC

Yoshida Rinne – BQN

Roys – I’ll be there

Netflix and Scott Free Productions have announced that EXILE and Sandaime J Soul Brothers member Kobayashi Naoki will star as the male lead in their new film “The Earthquake Bird.” The Tokyo-set film tells the story of a female expat who is suspected of murdering her friend she is in a love triangle with. Naoki will play the other part of the love triangle. His character’s name is Teiji, and he is a handsome and mysterious photographer. Alicia Vikander and Riley Keough play the two women he is involved with. Jack Huston also stars in the film.

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.