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.

This week’s episode was a Chisato Moritaka special in honor of her 30th anniversary.

Chisato Moritaka – Tou ga Tatsu / Fight!!

This week’s guests were Kobukuro, Kiryuin Sho, Tsukaji Muga, and Asahina Aya. Kobukuro also performed with Kanjani8, as well as a song alone.

Kobukuro x Kanjani8 – Kaze

Kobukuro – Kokoro

This week, Bodan Shonen Dan topped the Hot 100 chart with their new single “Chi, Ase, Namida.”

Mr.Children topped the Hot Albums chart their new digital-only best album “Mr.Children 1992-2002 Thanksgiving 25.”

This week on Recochoku, Beverly topped the chart with “I need your love.”

On iTunes, Mai Kuraki retook the top spot with “Togetsukyou ~Kimi Omofu~.”

Japanese fashion and lifestyle brand Its’Demo has just released items from their brand new Pokemon collaboration line. The items all have a floral theme making it the perfect fit for the current Spring season. In the cute promotional images we see Pikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle sitting in a giant flower wreath wearing eyeliner!

The first item is a make up pallet containing eye shadow, blush, and highlighter mainly in light pink, peach, and white tones. Priced at 1,800 yen it comes in three different cover variants. One with Pikachu peeking behind a floral wreath, another with the Generation 1 stater Pokemon, and lastly one with various grass type Pokemon (and Pikachu!). Foundation compacts are priced at 1,000 yen again featuring Pikachu and the Generation 1 starter Pokemon. A makeup magic cushion provided by South Korean beauty brand “Missha” also comes with the compact.

Back in April, singer BONNIE PINK revealed on her official website that she had given birth to a healthy baby girl. Her husband is a non-celebrity, their marrige was announced during the MC segment at Bonnie’s 20th anniversary concert “BONNIE PINK 20th Anniversary Live Glorious Kitchen”.

While it was a very happy time for Bonnie and her family, there was still an overall somber atmosphere. Bonnie just revealed that a few weeks prior to giving birth her beloved father passed away. Bonnie and her father were extremely close, and while he never got to meet his granddaughter in person Bonnie felt that her dad was passing her a “baton” of sorts. Even though his life was leaving Earth, a new one was coming to enter the family. While reflecting on what happened Bonnie resonated with her song “April Shower ~Shigatsu no Arashi~ ” from her 2003 album Present.

Regarding further activities Bonnie said that she’s excited to go on tour again and sing in front of her fans. Still ambitious as ever at 44, many await her return to the music industry.

(via Natalie)

It’s been well over year since Becky’s infamous scandal with singer Enon Kawatani, but it seems like select parts of the media are still hung up on what happened.

Becky recently did an exclusive interview with the newspaper “The Asahi Shimbun“, it is one of Japan’s five national newspapers. In the column she talked about the special relationship she shared with her father. Becky revealed that her father originally came to Japan to learn Karate, but fell in love with the country and decided to make it his home. He currently runs a school specializing in teaching English conversations.

She also let readers into a look on her father’s personality, saying that he’s a classic country gentleman who always “puts ladies first”, so naturally growing up and still to this day he tends to dote on her. Becky shared many memories of her father doing great things for her like picking out her shoes and putting them by the door  on days when she overslept, or drawing a bath for her when she came home late.