ARAMA! JAPAN | Page 849 | Breaking J-Pop News and Celebrity Gossip

Keisuke Kuwata to release his first Studio Album in over 6 Years

This has been a busy year for singer/songwriter Keisuke Kuwata, who is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his solo debut. Now he has announced what is likely to be the crown jewel of these celebrations – the release of a brand new studio album on August 23rd, to be followed by an extensive Dome and Arena Tour in the Fall.

This new record is titled “Garakuta” and will be Kuwata’s first full-length album since he released “MUSICMAN” back in February of 2011. “Garakuta” is planned to include tracks from his previous singles “Yin Yang”, “Yoshiko-san”, and “Kimi e no Tegami”, and will be issued in five different versions: Limited Edition A (CD+Blu-ray+Special Booklet), Limited Edition B (CD+DVD+Special Booklet), Limited Edition C (CD+Special Booklet), a Regular (CD-Only) Edition, and an Analog (Vinyl) Edition.

Read on below to find the cover, track list, and a trailer for “Garakuta”, as well as all of the dates for Kuwata’s upcoming live tour.

EXILE ATSUSHI and Char team up for “Ningen no Shomei no Theme”

The latest music video from EXILE ATSUSHI, joined by one of Japan’s most influential guitarist Char, has been released!

The song is a cover of the classic song “Ningen no Shomei no Theme” from the late Joe Yamanaka, which was a big hit in 1977 selling more than half a million copies.

The video features ATSUSHI playing a man who is wandering on the streets looking for his mother, singing his love to her against the backdrop of Tantalus Hill on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu.

Man arrested at Keyakizaka46 handshake event: “I wanted to stab and kill her”

At a handshake event for idol group Keyakizaka46 on June 24, a flare was ignited and the local fire department was contacted, Sanspo reports.

According to the group’s website, the event was held at Makuhari Messe venue in Chiba City to commemorate a CD release.

The Municipal Fire Department reported that fire extinguishers were used to quell the flames and no one was injured.

According to Chibanishi Police Station, the man ignited the flare at the designated storage area. He was initially arrested under suspicion of violating established firearms laws, but once apprehended, he was found to be in possession of a paring knife*. Fans that attended the event claim the flare was thrown into one of the handshake lanes.

Ongaku no Hi 2017, this year’s edition of TBS’s annual mid-year music show, will air on July 15 at 2 PM JST and end at 5 AM JST the following day. Ex-SMAP member Nakai Masahiro and TBS announcer Azumi Shinichiro will be hosting for the seventh year in a row.

The theme of this year’s show is “first step towards the future.” This theme deals with the ongoing recovery efforts in the areas affected by 2011’s Great East Japan Earthquake (the reason Ongaku no Hi was first conceieved), as well as looking forward to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The first set of performers was annouced today and it includes the likes of Hey! Say! JUMP, Ken Hirai, MAX, and Daichi Miura. TOKIO will appear, performing “Kumo”, the theme song for the TBS drama “Wanitokagegisu.” V6 will perform “Ai Nanda”, while Otake Shinobu will make her Ongaku no Hi debut, singing “Ai no Sanka.” Yuzu will perform “Eikou no Kakehashi”, using a relay system to connect chorus singers across Japan. Kome Kom CLUB will perform a medley of their hits. Kinki Kids’ performance will take place on the 16th at a 20th anniversary event at Yokohama Arena. Sayuri Ishikawa will be performing live from her hometown of Kumamoto. See who else is performing below!

Akiko Yano Releases Peaceful PV for “Soft Landing”

On June 23, Akiko Yano will release her new digital single, “Soft Landing.” The song serves as the theme for the NHK drama “Blanket Cats”, which also premieres on June 23. Akiko is known for her love of cats and “Soft Landing” was inspired by the drama’s source material, Shigematsu Kiyoshi’s cat-themed novel “Blanket Cats.”

Akiko has now released the music video for “Soft Landing.” It was shot in Malta, a place known to cat lovers due to the fact that 700,000 cats live in the small Mediterranean country. Check out the serene video below, along with the single’s cover!