The HOTTEST party game has arrived: DOKIHARA wo Bakana Sausage, or Silly Sausage, from popular Japanese toy manufacturer TAKARA TOMY.

Think of it as extra and oddly phallic Japanese version of a Bop-it.

According to EXCITE, its appeal is in that it looks like a foreign toy like Spongebob or the Simpsons, and apparently it was a “big hit” overseas this past Christmas season. It actually is from America but it doesn’t have seemed to make as big a splash as presented, for shame, but it’s sure to make a splash in Japan.

Model and talent Ryucheru, who was responsible for voicing the toy’s commands and is pictured on the packaging, appeared at the press conference today to explain its appeal and took commands from his sausage to demonstrate how to play to the crowd of reporters.

Preceding the release of their debut mini-album in two weeks, Avex girl group FAKY have released a teaser video for “Unwrapped“.

FAKY debuted in 2013 as a 5-member group, but put its activities on hold in 2014 due to contract issues. The group restarted activities in 2015 as a 4-member group, and despite getting their start 4 years ago, FAKY has never released a physical album. A true label-fueled mess of pop injustice, “Unwrapped” will be the group’s first you will be able to hold in your hands

GONDOLA Co., Ltd., the company who manages the voting system used for the ongoing AKB general election, have responded to allegations concerning voting fraud.

On May 31, participating fans were shocked by the announcement of the preliminary first day votes in which NGT48 member Yuka Ogino came in first place, breaking records with over 55,000 votes received. Immediately those unhappy with the results cried fraud, thinking in no way possible an overall relatively unknown NGT48 member managed to shoot up the rankings over 90 places from the previous year, let alone come in first place by a huge margin.

Fans took to the web to claim that due to a system failure with NGT48’s mobile website, it was possible to duplicate your vote.

Hot on the heels of her stunning album kitixxxgaia, Seiko Oomori has taken no time to pause and has already announces her follow-up. Two in-fact.  Firstly, we will get a brand new single on August 9 entitled “draw(A)drow“. This will be composed and produced by TK from ling tosite sogure, who also handles guitar duty. Other backers include Pierre Nakano on drums and Kentaro Nakao on bass. Seiko will be handling vocal and lyrics (to which she claims are the most personal she has ever written).

Following that, in September (around the time of her 30th birthday), fans will be treated to a brand new album of fully re-recorded, acoustic versions of her hits. Read on for a little more information!

Every year, fans make their voices heard by voting for their favorite members from AKB48, SKE48, NMB48, HKT48, NGT48, BNK48, and now this year STU48, at the Senbatsu elections.

Yesterday at the ninth annual AKB48 Senbatsu Election for AKB48’s 49th single, the fanbase was SHOOK at the preliminary results: NGT48 member Yuka Ogino shot up to the number one position with over 55,000 votes, towering over the 34,641 votes from #2 position SKE48 Matsui Jurina.

Last year, AKB48 Mayu Watanabe broke the voting records surpassing 42,000 votes on the first day, the highest number ever voted until now. These particular results come as an especial shock as Ogino barely broke into the 90s on the ranking last year.

The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Japan has been a destination for Studio Ghibli fans around the world since it opened in 2001, and now they have something more exciting to look forward to.

It has just announced that Aichi Prefecture’s EXPO Park will become “Ghibli Park” in early 2020, right before Tokyo’s Summer Olympics get underway.

On May 31, Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki and Aichi prefectural governor Hideaki Oomura held a conference where they revealed details on the upcoming park.

Yesterday, DADARAY released their 2nd mini album “DADAMAN“, the followup to the previous month’s “DADAISM”. Along with the release came a gorgeous and stylish new video for the fourth track on DADAMAN, “Breeze in Me“. One of the most striking and memorable tunes from the group yet, this song is a nice rock ballad that has a catchy chorus and features quite a bit of English lyrics throughout. Check out the MV and Mini album details below!

Zam Zaddies!

Summer is approaching at the speed of light, and EXILE THE SECOND is getting a head start on the festivities with the release of the short version of the music video for their new single “Summer Lover“.

EXILE THE SECOND bring strong visuals with this new music video, which was filmed at a resort in beloved Japanese vacation destination Guam and showcases what the Island nation has to offer: beautiful white sand beaches against the backdrop of blue oceans and sky.

Check it out below!