This week’s episode is a special edition which is dedicated to songs which have trended in 2017. The three artists behind these songs are SHISHAMO, Kotoringo, and NOBU. In this episode, the backgrounds of these artists are explored. SHISHAMO, Kotoringo, and NOBU also performed their 2017 trending song.

SHISHAMO – Ashita mo

Kotoringo – Kanashikute Yarikirenai

NOBU – Ima, Taiyou ni Mukatte Saku Hana

Former SMAP member Shingo Katori has created his own official Instagram account!

As fans are well aware Katori’s previous agency Johnny & Associates has extremely strict rules in-regards to social media, and the use of photos featuring any of their talents. They are completely banned from engaging with fans on any form of SNS.

According to the website 123accs Katori’s account was created after July 15th, 2017. He uploaded his very first photo today, with fellow former SMAP members Goro Inagaki and Tsuyoshi Kusanagi. In 9 hours his first post has already received nearly 300k likes, and his account itself has almost amassed 600k followers! Katori seems to be greatly enjoying his freedom with social media, he’s already posted 15 more times since his first.

Katori’s other posts feature the comedy duo Maple Chogoukin, Mari Yaguchi, and more.

Throughout her career, Shiina Ringo has been known to create songs for other acts, ranging from SMAP to PUFFY. In 2014, Ringo did her own versions of some of these songs on the self-cover album “Gyakuyunyuu ~Kouwankyoku~.” On December 6, she’ll reimport (hence the title “Gyakuyunyuu”) some of these songs again on the second volume of the album, “Gyakuyunyuu ~Koukuukyoku~.”

Ringo will cover SMAP and Chiaki Kuriyama on this album like she did on the first one, but she’ll also be singing songs she’s created for the likes of Kou Shibasaki and Sayuri Ishikawa. One of the highlights of the album will be her rendition of “Otona no Okite.” The song was a hit earlier this year for the fictional group Doughnuts Hole, serving as the theme song for the TBS drama “Quartet.”

Unlike “Gyakuyunyuu ~Kouwankyoku~”, where each song had a different arranger, “Gyakuyunyuu ~Koukuukyoku~” will feature just four: Saito Neko, Murata Yoichi, Nagoshi Yukio, and Asakawa Tomoyuki.

The Olympics fever has proven to be quite infectious. By now, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have swarmed their way into every possible genre, media format and franchise one could imagine. Though it may sound a little peculiar, even NHK’s revered historical taiga drama format wants to get its slice of the Olympics mania.

The 2019 taiga ‘Idaten: Tokyo Olympics Banashi’, penned by Kankuro Kudo, will focus on “the history of Olympic Games”, according to the official description. In the center of the story are two notable historical figures from different time periods who, in their own respective ways, shaped Japanese Olympics history: one unlucky marathon runner and a man who helped Japan to get its first Olympics in 1964.

The world sure loves these colorful pocket-sized creatures! Modelpress reported that TV Tokyo will broadcast the 1000th episode of the popular anime ‘Pokémon’ on November 9th. The anime that has since conquered the world began 20 years ago when Ash (Satoshi in Japan, voiced by Rica Matsumoto) began chasing his dream of becoming a pokémon master in 1997.

This week’s guests were Ishii Tatsuya, X4, Oka Midori, Oginome Yoko, Tagawa Toshimi, Takeshima Hiroshi, Tanimura Shinji, Tendo Yoshimi, Nagayama Yoko, Hayashibe Satoshi, Fujisawa Norimasa, Mizutani Chieko, May J., Aoi Wakana, Ohno Takuro, Tokunaga Eri, Hamada Gaku, Maeno Tomoya, Matsuzaka Tori, Flash Kaneko, and MUSIC CONCERTO.

This week’s guests were Sayaka Sakamoto, Czecho No Republic, and Antenna.

Sayaka Sakamoto – JOKER

Czecho No Republic – For You (Acoustic Arrangement)

Antenna – Mongata

Teaser trailer, visuals and additional cast are announced for the upcoming film “Laplace’s Witch”. The film, adapted from Higashino Keigo’s novel, stars Sakurai Sho. The film will be released during the busy blockbuster week of Golden Week next year. Sakurai stars in a movie after 4 years and since Yatterman (2009), reunites with director Takashi Miike.

In addition to Hirose Suzu and Fukushi Sota, other cast include Toyokawa Etsushi, Tamaki Hiroshi, Shida Mirai, Sato Eriko, TAO, Takashima Masanobu, Dan Rei, and Lily Franky.

Teaser trailer and visuals are out below!