As previously reported, YUKI will release her new album, “Mabataki”, on March 15. “Mabataki” is YUKI’s first album since September 2014’s “FLY.” The album will be released in four editions: 2CD+DVD limited edition, CD only regular edition, cassette edition, and 2 record vinyl edition (the last two editions will be released on March 29). The second CD that comes with the limited edition features live recordings from YUKI’s “commune of ten” tour from last year. The DVD that comes with that edition of “Mabataki” includes video footage from the same tour. All of this content will be housed in LP-sized packaging.

Check out more information on “Mabataki” below!

It has been announced that SEXY ZONE member Kento Nakajima will be starring in the live-action film adaptation of “The Anthem of the Heart”. The animated version of the film was originally released in August 2015. Kento will be playing the role of “Takumi Sakagami”, one of the main characters.  Kyoko Yoshine, E-girls member Anna Ishii, and Kanichiro round out the main cast.

This is Kenta Nakajima’s fourth starring role in a film, his last film project was another live-action adaption of the successful managa series “Kurosaki-kun no Iinari ni Nante Naranai”. This will also be the acting debut for Kanichiro, who is the son of actor Sato Koichi.

The plot of “The Anthem of the Heart” follows Jun Naruse (Kyoko Yoshine), who carries the guilt of breaking up her family due to something she carelessly said as a child. An “Egg Fairy” appears in front of Jun and curses her, so that she can never heard people with her words ever again. Jun loses her ability to speak, every time she tries she feels a sharp pain in her stomach. Due to this Jun hides all her feelings deep inside her heart, resorting to e-mail and texts as her sole means of communication.

During her second year of high school, Jun’s homeroom teacher appoints Jun and three other students to join a club called the “Regional Friendship Exchange Executive Committee”, the other three members all turn out to suffer from their own personal issues just like Jun. Takumi Sakagami (Kento Nakajima) is a burnout who can never speak his true intentions. Daiki Tasaki (Kanichiro) is a former baseball team ace who ruined his run at the championships due to an injury. Lastly, Natsuki Nito (Anna Ishii) is a cheerleader and honor student who is anxious about her love life.  All of them help each other overcome their issues.

The film will hit Japanese theaters on July 22nd, 2017. Another promo image from “The Anthem of the Heart” can be seen below.

This week’s guests were V6 and Saito Kazuyoshi.

V6 – Can’t Get Enough

Saito Kazuyoshi – Iden

This week’s guests were AKB48, Oka Midori, Kawakami Daisuke, Chris Hart, Koda Kumi, Hikawa Kiyoshi, Ayaka Hirahara, Miyama Hiroshi, Mori Masako, Yashiro Aki, Yamamoto George, MUSIC CONCERTO, and Kaneka Takahiro.

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.

As  Shounen Jump announced earlier, Yamazaki Kento gets the lead role in the live-action adaptation of The Disastrous Life of Saiki Kusuo (Saiki Kusuo no Psi-Nan).  The teaser trailer has been unleashed recently along with the visuals of the other casts. Check it out below:

After just one year since the release of her last album “LIBERTY”, Miliyah Kato is back with her 9th studio album “UTOPIA”. The main promotional song for the album will be her 38th single “Dokomademo ~How Far I’ll Go~”, the Japanese version of “How Far I’ll Go” from the Disney film “Moana”. 9 new songs will be included on the album, along with her 37th single “Saikouna Shiawase”.

“UTOPIA” will have the standard two versions available, CD only and a limited edition CD+DVD. Stylish as ever, the covers feature a gorgeous black and white photo of Miliyah adorned with roses. “UTOPIA” will be released on April 12th, 2017. The covers and tracklist can be seen below.

Sandaime J Soul Brothers have released a brand new music video for their song “J.S.B. LOVE”, originally included as the b-side on their 21st single “HAPPY”, it will also be featured on their upcoming BEST album “THE JSB WORLD”

“J.S.B. LOVE” is an upbeat EDM track, which has become a staple for the originally R&B friendly LDH groups. The setting takes place in a dystopian wasteland where the boys seem to be “leaders of the pack”, posing and dancing while their minions look on.

Many Japanese netizens have made shady comments on the video basically calling it imitation K-POP, mainly comparing it to BIG BANG. Some J Soul Brothers fans defended them by saying the EDM style isn’t exclusive to South Korea and was clearly more inspired by western music, they also added that the video/visual is not a stretch from what J Soul Brothers, and their other brother groups under LDH have been doing for the past couple years. What do you think?

“THE JSB WORLD” will be released on March 29th, 2017. Watch the video for “J.S.B LOVE below.