Back in December rock band Suck a Stew Dry announced that they would be going on hiatus following the departure of guitarist Tatsuaki Fuse.  Just over three months later the group have announced their return to the music scene as a four-piece band, which they have renamed THURSDAY’S YOUTH, after one of their older tracks.

In order to celebrate the restart of their activities, and bid a fond farewell to their previous identity, the band has uploaded the music video for their new song ‘Sayonara” to their label’s Youtube channel.  The PV prominently features the silhouette of frontman Kousei Shinoyama, within which a series of emotionally appropriate images appear.

You’ll find the somber music video for “Sayonara” just beneath the cut, so feel free to check it out below.

Sora tob sakana, one of the most acclaimed underground Idol acts formed and produced by Terui Yoshimasa (from math-rock outfit haisuinonasa), announced its highly awaited new release, and it’s coming sooner than expected: the four-piece unit will indeed release its new EP, titled “Cocoon“, on April 11th. This record will feature six tracks, spacing from Math Rock, to Shoegaze soaked in Electronic layers, a formula that made last year’s “sora tob sakana” record one of the greatest surprises in Japanese music.

According to the weekly women’s magazine Josei Jishin, former Hello!Project soloist Aya Matsuura is currently working on her comeback project to the music industry. Aya’s husband Keita Tachibana, lead singer of the group W-INDS, will also apparently be involved. Even though both of them are currently signed to difference agencies they share the same record label, Pony Cannon, making it quite easy for them to do an official project together.

A reporter from Josei Jishin ran into Aya last month and asked her if the rumors they heard about her planned comeback were true. At first she played naive saying they would have to ask her agency, but when the reporter asked about her husband being involved with the project she replied with “….amazing how fast word can get out (bitter smile)”. The reporter went on to ask Aya how she’s enjoying motherhood, and she couldn’t be happier. Aya receives support from her husband and parents so she never feels overwhelmed, but feels lonely when she’s away from her daughter. That’s the main reason why Aya doesn’t want to enroll her daughter into nursery school. At this young age it seems like they change daily, and Aya doesn’t want to miss any of those moments.

It’s been over three years since her maternity leave started, and even though she’s enjoyed prioritizing her husband and child she would occasionally help Keita with his work. Helping him out made her feel like she wants to sing again. Afterwards the reporter contacted Aya’s agency UP-FRONT WORKS, who responded with “Nothing has been decided about her comeback”.

Aya Matsuura auditioned for Hello!Project in 2000, eventually being selected as one of the winners for the “4th Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition”. She made her official debut the following year in April with the single “Dokkidoki! LOVE Mail”.  In 2013 Aya announced her marriage to Keita, they had been dating for 12 years. In December 2014 she gave birth to a healthy baby girl.

(yahoo)

The super group Arashi has been laying low for some time and their fans have been in need for a new release.  Finally, the wait is over and they will be releasing their first single of the year, “I’ll be there“, on April 19 2017!  We last saw them shaking those dad bods in the “Don’t You Get It?” PV for the Are You Happy album back in October and demonstrating some patriotism in the 2016 Summer Olympics’ theme song “Power of Paradise” in September.  Now they are back with their 51st single to be used as the theme song for next season’s getsu9 drama starring the group’s very own Masaki Aiba.

The Weeknd isn’t really a person that we post about here on Arama! Japan given that he doesn’t fall into the scope of this site; but today, he does! A few hours ago, the Canadian singer released the music video for his Daft Punk collaboration “I Feel It Coming”, the second single off his 2016 album “Starboy.” Viewers of the video may not know the name of his beautiful co-star, but readers of this site do: Kiko Mizuhara. Yes, Kiko plays the love interest of The Weeknd in his new music video! The pair dance under the moonlight, until something unusual happens.

Check out the video below!

Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Perfume top HKT48 and Yonezu Kenshi. This week, we have two newcomers facing off. Find out what various staff members thought of the songs that topped the physical and digital charts this week and share your thoughts on them too!

This week’s episode featured YUKI. This episode was done in the format of a radio show, just like YUKI’s last episode of SONGS in 2014. She answered questions that were sent to her by Ayase Haruka, Umino Chika, Kokubun Taichi, Suiyoubi no Campanella, Nagasawa Masami, and Matayoshi Naoki. YUKI also performed three songs.

YUKI – JOY / Post ni Koe wo Nageirete / Sayonara Bystander

On March 10, it has been announced that the 3rd season of “Code Blue” featuring Tomohisa Yamashita, Yui Aragaki, and Erika Toda will air during the Getsu 9 slot starting this July.  Yosuke Asari and Manami Higa have also been announced to reunite.

The series began in July 2008 depicting young men and women aiming to become doctors part of the “Doctor Helicopter” system.  After a 1-episode special, the 2nd season aired from January 2010, making this new season a 7-year reunion.