This week, Hoshino Gen topped the Oricon single chart with his new single “Doraemon”, selling 144,382 copies in its first week.
The “Greatest Showman” soundtrack topped the Oricon album chart, selling 26,957 copies in its 13th week.
Yonezu Kenshi topped the Oricon digital single chart for the third consecutive week with his single “Lemon”, selling 125,100 copies in its third week.
The “Greatest Showman” soundtrack topped the Oricon digital album chart for the third consecutive week, selling 13,384 copies in its 13th week.
Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Hey! Say! JUMP defeat Yonezu Kenshi and TWICE. Kenshi is back again this week, facing off against two newcomers. Find out what various staff members thought of the songs that topped the singles charts this week and share your thoughts on them too!
Multi talented superstar Dean Fujioka is set to play the lead role in a new Japanese interpretation of The Count of Monte Cristo.
Based off of the 1844 French novel Le Comte de Monte-Cristo by Alexandre Dumas, it has gone on to become one of the most influential literary works of the 19th century. Ranging from comics, to films, to television series, the story has been remade countless times throughout various nations.
Set to be aired on Fuji TV, the 2018 Japanese version follows Dan Saimon (Dean Fujioka), an average man who one day decides to marry the woman he loves, Sumire Meguro (Mizuki Yamamoto).
Unfortunately, he gets caught up in some unsavory business and his falsesly accused of a crime he did not commit by three other people, one of them being Kanjani8 member Tadayoshi Okura. He’s sent to prison in a foreign land and is locked away for 15 long years.
When Saimon is finally released from prison, he’s almost like a completely different person. He’s able to obtain vast wealth only solidifying the complete change in persona. The series was written by Tsutomu Kuroiwa (Liar Game 2, Samurai Sensei) and directed by Mai Takano (Hirugao: Love Affairs in the Afternoon) & Yusuke Noda (Massan). Additional cast includes Hirofumi Arai, Katsunori Takahashi, and Mahiro Takasugi.
The Count of Monte Cristo will begin to air in April, 2018 every Thursday at 10:00PM on Fuji TV.
(natalie)
Vocal group Kalafina is said to be disbanding at the end of Spring.
The catalyst for the group falling apart is due to Yuki Kajiura making her departure from SACRA MUSIC, which is a subsidiary of Sony Music.
Kajiura was a “support” member for the group, while she didn’t appear in promotional pictures and videos she was responsible for many duties behind the scenes. This includes composing, arranging, producing, and providing backing vocals.
While it was reported that the group would continue on without Kajiura, things eventually fell apart behind the scenes.
On March 11th the girls held a live event, and after that their schedule is virtually blank. Their radio show Kalafina Club is still happening, but an announcement has already been made that the final episode will air at the end of March.
It’s rumored that the sudden stop, and eventual departure of Kajiura and the group will put a huge burden on their office resulting in an alleged blow of 2 billion yen. Kalifina isn’t the only one suffering from issues with their office, last year both Rola and Mariya Nishiuch went head to head with their management.
Former Morning Musume member Mari Yaguchi is currently in the final stages of planning her marriage! Her future husband is said to be a former model who now works a job outside of the entertainment industry.
Multiple news sources cited entertainment officials, and even relatives who said they will be “getting married soon”, and are ready to submit their marriage certification.
The couple are trying to keep a low profile, his name hasn’t even beeen released to the public yet. Furthermore, the two are said to be a little worried about the stigma Yaguchi brought upon herself after the highly publicized destruction of her last marriage. Back in 2011 she married actor Masaya Nakamura.
Following several years of silence, respected pop singer Miki Imai has announced that she will be releasing a new studio record titled “Sky” this year on June 6th. Her 20th full-length album, “Sky” will feature ten songs written by industry veterans such as her husband, Tomoyasu Hotei, Seiji Kameda, Junji Ishiwatari, and Yoshinori Ohashi (Ohashi Trio). The overall work will be produced by Kameda, marking the first time that he and Imai have worked together in such a capacity.
It has also already been revealed that one of the songs written by Hotei, “Anata wa Anata no Mama de Ii”, has been selected as the theme song for the upcoming film “Owatta Hito”. To coincide with the album announcement, Imai’s record label has uploaded a trailer for the movie which features an extended three minute preview of this track.
You’ll find this trailer, as well as the cover and complete track list for “Sky” (which includes information on the other songwriters involved) right after the cut.
It has been announced that Sandaime J Soul Brothers member Kenjiro Yamashita will be replacing his fellow LDH co-worker EXILE MAKIDAI on the weekly news show Zip!
Yamashita has made a name for himself being the groups mood maker, with his talkative nature causing him to shine on variety and radio programs. He’s also been gaining traction as an actor, recently starring in the film Our Blue Moment with Mai Fukagawa. He also starred in all five of the High & Low films.
The “Sanketsu Shoujo” Sayuri (Suffocating Girl) is currently enjoying the success of her 6th single Moon & Bouquet. It’s currently serving as the ending theme for the anime series Fate/EXTRA Last Encore.
Back in 2015 Sayuri burst onto the scene with the release of her debut single Mikazuki, she later followed with the release of her acclaimed album Mikazuki no Koukai. The album topped the Oricon daily charts and finished weekly at #3!
