Shota Shimizu is currently celebrating the 10th anniversary of his debut. On January 24, he will release his new single, “Good Life.” This is his first single since Feburary 2017’s “FIRE.” “Good Life” express Shota’s view of his life after a decade in the music industry. Check out more information on Shota’s new single and its music video below!

This week’s guests were Wagakki Band and Da-iCE.

Wagakki Band – Yukikage Boshi

Da-iCE – TOKYO MERRY GO ROUND

Kinema Junpo, Japan’s oldest film magazine that began publication in 1919, has released their Best 10 and individual awards for 2017! The awards ceremony will be held on February 12.

Check out their list winners for movies, actors and actresses below! Other categories can be viewed at the official website.

The 41st Japan Academy Prize Association for excellence in film announced its winners and nominees for the Grand Prizes. All nominees for the top prize receive “Awards of Excellence”. The Grand Prize will be presented in a ceremony on March 2 in Tokyo.

“Sekigahara” and “The Third Murder” received most nominations and awards, with 10 each. Yakusho Koji, who appears in both works is given two Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role awards.

Miyazawa Rie (Best Actress winner last year) and Nishida Toshiyuki (Vice Chairman of the committee and host for the last 5 years) will serve as moderators for the event. Movies are eligible if they opened in Japan between December 16, 2016 to December 15, 2017.

Check out the list below!

Momoiro Clover Z member Ariyasu Momoka has announced that she will graduate from the group after a concert on January 21. Momoka says that she is leaving the group to live life as a regular girl, which would be a change of pace for her seeing as how she’s worked in the entertainment industry her entire life, starting off as a baby model.

She has no firm plans for the future.

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.

Note: Oricon was on holiday break last week in 1998, 2003, and 2008, so that week’s numbers and this week’s numbers are combined. The numbers for 2013 are regular though. Also starting this week, we’ll include the Billboard Hot 100 #1 for the years where the chart existed.

Five-member idol group drop quit activities last October due to two original members graduating from the group. On January 14th it was revealed that the two graduated members had instantly formed a new unit. Hikari Takiguchi and Misato Miira (formerly known as Misato Misaki) brought in Takiguchi’s sister Kirara, and the three of them formed a new group ゑんら (Wenra, “we” written with a historical, practically obsolete hiragana). According to Natalie that reported on the news, the girls will “self-produce” their activities.

Ryohei Otani (37) has snagged his first lead role in a film. The actor most famous for his supporting role in a 2016 hit drama ‘Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu’ will star in a film titled ‘Zenigata’ that will hit theaters in May.

‘Zenigata’ tells the story of a man who runs an izakaya with his younger brother. At midnight, the izakaya that the film has lended its name from turns into an illegal loan office. Otani’s character loans money with a high interest rate and is steadfast at collecting the debt, not showing mercy to the debtors. Otani himself describes the character as “the dark hero of the modern society”.

The film is directed by Shinya Ayabe who is known for his work with the ‘The Werewolf Game’ film series. ‘Zenigata’ opens on May 26th.

(Via Natalie)