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 guests were Takahashi Yu, GLIM SPANKY, and Block B.

Takahashi Yu – Road Movie

GLIM SPANKY – Utsukushii Ibara

Block B – Yesterday (Japanese Version)

Legendary producer Towa Tei just released a Music Video for “REM“, yet another track taken from his newly released 9th studio album “EMO“.

“REM” is a dreamy, almost cathartic Electronic number softened by Jazz-y layers, framed by the soothing voice of Ano (from Alt Idol unit You’ll Melt More!), that perfectly matches the mood of the track. Despite being a complex, occasionally even unpredictable track, “REM” is one of those tunes that immediately get stuck in the head of the listener, gradually unfolding to show all its details with each listen. The video is a wonderful visual trip filled with CG effects, and Ano, whose personality is well known in the mainstream scene, perfectly feels at home in such a dreamy and crazy video.

The thing that makes Yanakoto Sotto Mute stand out in the maze of the Idol niche, is without a doubt the great synergy between their music, voices and art direction: in fact, few units in this industry can find a compromise to make these factors sound and look totally cohesive. Yet, these four girls and their production team found the right formula to make this happen, and the new Music Video for “Lily” is yet another proof of this valid artistic direction.

On April 26, Natsume Mito will release her debut album titled “Natsumelo”. Produced entirely by the irreplaceable Yasutaka Nakata, the record will include the plethora of her previously released singles, from “Maegami Kirisugita” to “Puzzle”, and their b-sides accompanied by 3 new tracks. Mito herself admits that the album is “more of a compilation that documents her career as a singer”.

Check out the tracklist and the artsy album cover below.

This week, AKB48 topped the Hot 100 chart with their new single “Shoot Sign.”

YUKI topped the Hot Albums chart with her new album “Mabataki.”

This week, Anly+Sukima Switch= topped Recochoku with “Kono Yami wo Terasu Hikari no Mukou ni.”

On iTunes, WANIMA topped the chart for the second week in a row with “Yatte Miyou.”

This week’s guests were Negishi Takamune, KenKen, Hama Okamoto, Sawabe Yu, and Kawata Hiromi. KenKen and Hama Okamoto also performed with Kanjani8.

KenKen x Hama Okamoto x Kanjani8 – Kaminari (RIZE cover)