This week folk/pop duo Yuzu released their new album “BIG YELL“.  In support of this release the pair have uploaded the music video for its lead track “Equal” to their Youtube channel.

“Equal” was the result of a collaboration between Yuzu and vocal group GReeeeN, who provided the initial melody which inspired the song.  Yuzu have worked with GReeeeN’s producer JIN in the past (on the tracks “Irotoridori” and “Tatta”), but this is the first time that the members of both groups have done so on their own.

You’ll find the PV for this sparkling mid-tempo track below.

Last month we reported that folk/pop duo Kobukuro would be releasing their latest single, “ONE TIMES ONE“, on April 11th.  With this date fast approaching, the group have now chosen to upload the lead song’s music video to their label’s Youtube channel.

The PV for this bombastic, mid-tempo number finds the pair wandering a city at night, crossing paths with each other as the rain pours down from above.  Directed by Hidenobu Tanabe, the video is intended to express the musicality of the group’s members.

You’ll find the PV for “ONE TIMES ONE”, as well as a live performance of B-side “Kimi ni Nare” right after the cut.

V6 youngest member Ken Miyake has formed a brand new duo with one half of Tackey & Tsubasa, Hideaki Takizawa, called KEN☆Tackey.

The unit was formed in support of Takizawa’s annual stage play titled Takizawa Kabuki. The 2018 version begins performances today on April 5th, and will run until May 13th at the Shinbashi Enbjo in Tokyo. Starting in June the show will head to Nagoya.

Takizawa Kabuki has been around for well over a decade now, and the continued success has lead Takizawa to become chairman of the entire project. The performance is his own take on Kabuki, a classical dance-drama known for it’s elaborate makeup. Takizawa’s version heavily incorporates illusions, flight, and choreographed fight scenes.

A CD for Takizawa Kabuki will be released in the summer, and KEN☆Tackey’s debut song will be titled Gyakuten Lovers. Miyake previously appeared in the 2016 version of Takizawa Kabuki, receiving rave reviews.

Luckily for fans, the unit will be under avex trax which means content for the duo will be uploaded on their official YouTube channel.

(KenTackey)

It has just been announced that Ayaka Wada will be graduating from both ANGERME and Hello!Project in Spring 2019, she made a very lengthily blog post explaining the situation.

Her graduation will take place on the final date of ANGERME’s 2019 spring tour. Wada had talks with the office about graduating dating back to last year, and both decided upon 2019 since it would be 10 years since the formation of ANGERME (who was then known as s/mileage).

Wada will not be retiring from show business, she still has interest in being an entertainer but wants to find different ways to express herself apart from dancing and singing.  She also shared that she wants to go beyond the basic definition of an “idol”, and has plans to continue performing well into her 30s.

ANGERME is currently preparing for a concert tour at Nippon Budokan this month, and the release of a brand new single in May titled Nakenaize…Kyoukan Sagi / Uraha Lover / Kimi Dake ja nai sa…Friends (2018 Acoustic Ver.).

It has been announced that superstar Utada Hikaru will be providing a brand new song for the upcoming TBS drama series Hana Nochi Hare ~Hanadan Next Season~.

The new drama will be apart of the successful Hana Yori Dango franchise, and will officially be a sequel to Hana Yori Dango Returns released back in 2007. Utada’s single Flavor of Life was selected as an image song for the drama, and became one of the biggest hits of the year.

Almost zero information has been released about the song. We don’t know the genre, or even the title of it. Those who want to hear the song first will have to tune in to the premiere episode of Hana Nochi Hare on April 17th, 2018.

A few months ago we reported on a new transgender idol trio called Himitsu no Otome. The idol group has now officially debuted: their first single ‘Jun eye People’ was released on April 4th, and on April 5th they uploaded the single’s titular music video to YouTube.

In the video, a boss at an office attempts to take advantage of a woman working for him. Despite the gloomy setting, the song is an upbeat pop piece relying on a catchy chorus. Watch the video below!

On April 4, Passepied will release their new mini album, “Neon to Tora.” This is the band’s first release since their mini album “OTONARI-san” last October. In the months since that release, Passepied feels as if they’ve progressed, leading to a more new wave sound on “Neon to Tora.”

“Neon to Tora” will be released in three editions. The limited edition will include a bag, while the regular edition is CD only. The fanclub edition includes a t-shirt.

To promote their new mini album, Passepied has released music videos for the first two tracks on “Neon to Tora”, as well as a digest for it. Check them out below, along with more information on this release!

This week, Yonezu Kenshi topped the Hot 100 single chart with his single “Lemon.”

NEWS topped the Hot Albums chart with their new album “EPCOTIA.”

Suda Masaki retook the top spot on the Streaming Songs chart with his single “Sayonara Elegy”, topping the chart for the third non-consecutive week.

Yonezu Kenshi topped the Download Songs chart for the sixth consecutive week with his single “Lemon.”

The “Greatest Showman” soundtrack topped the Download Albums chart for the sixth consecutive week.