NONA REEVES is currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of their major label debut. As part of this celebration, the band will release a new best album, “POP’N SOUL 20~The Very Best of NONA REEVES”, on March 8. The album will contain 16 songs, including a new recording of their 2002 single “ENJOYEE! (YOUR LIFETIME).” The album will also a new song, “O-V-E-R-H-E-A-T.” Earlier today, NONA REEVES released the music video for this new song. With the release of “POP’N SOUL 20~The Very Best of NONA REEVES”, the band will be returning to their original major label, Warner Music Japan, leaving Billboard Records. NONA REEVES was on Warner Music Japan from 1997 to 2001.
Check out more information on NONA REEVES’ new best album below!
This week’s guests were Koda Kumi and SODA!.
Koda Kumi – Promise you / Ultraviolet
SODA! – GET POWER!
This week’s guests were Ishimaru Kanji, Kis-My-Ft2, Shimazu Aya, Suga Shikao, Sen Masao, Tendo Yoshimi, Nagakawa Akinori, Niinuma Kenji, Hatakeyama Miyuki, Perfume, Fukada Kohei, miwa
MONKEY MAJIK, MUSIC CONCERTO, and Kaneka Takahiro.
The covers and promo image for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s latest single “Ii Suta” have been released. Her 15th single overall, the title track “Ii Suta” is a play on words, it’s supposed to sound similar to “Easter”, a traditionally religious holiday used to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. The covers depict Kyary peering behind a giant easter egg, and also feature Kyary dressed up as some sort of hairy tree and rabbit creature. You know, the usual.
“Ii Suta” will be released in two versions, a standard CD only and a limited edition version. A new song called Todoke Punch will serve as the b-side, as well as a remix of her 12th single Sai & Kou. A photo-book will be included with the limited edition version of the single. “Ii Suta” will be released on April 5th, 2017. On the same day her concert “KPP 5iVE Years Monster World Tour 2016 in Nippon Budokan” will hit store shelves via DVD and Blu-ray. The limited editions of the concert will come with special virtual reality glasses, giving viewers a completely unique experience when watching the concert. The “system requirements” for these virtual reality glasses haven’t been revealed yet.
Check out the covers, tracklist, and promo image below for both “Ii Suta” and “KPP 5iVE Years Monster World Tour 2016 in Nippon Budokan” below.
Record Store Day, inaugurated in 2007, is a celebration of the record store. It has since hit worldwide and Japan is no exception. To celebrate a series of unique titles and pressings of vinyl are made available to purchase- from physical stores only. There are no online preorders or orders until one week after the day, to try and make it fair for everyone- and to encourage visiting brick and mortar stores. This year, Record Store Day is held on the 22nd of April and Japan has released it’s list of exclusive titles. It is not confirmed if this is a first round of announcements or the entire list.
Notable names this year are TOWA TEI, Kinoco Hotel, Predawn, Tentenko, 3776, SOUL FLOWER UNION, PAELLAS, YOGEE NEW WAVES, Shonen Knife amongst many more. Keep reading to see the entire list!
It was recently announced that well-known singer/songwriter Keisuke Kuwata will be providing the theme song for this year’s Spring Asadora “Hiyokko”. This newly written track is titled “Wakai Hiroba” and has been described as possessing a relaxed melody and lyrics that capture the hopeful perspective that many Japanese people held during the 1960s, when the drama is set. Of note, this marks the first time that Kuwata has ever provided the theme for an NHK drama.
“Hiyokko” tells the story of heroine Mineko Yatabe (Kasumi Arimura), a young woman whom lives in a mountain village far to the northwest of the Ibaraki Prefecture. After her father fails to return from Tokyo, putting their family in a difficult monetary situation, Mineko travels to the capital herself (along with two childhood friends) in order to both earn money and, hopefully, track down her father.
There have been no details made available regarding the release of “Wakai Hiroba”, but viewers can get their first listen to the song when the drama starts airing on April 3rd.
(via natalie)
The first trailer for the live action adaptation of Araki Hirohiko’s JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Diamond Is Unbreakable manga is out! Take a look as well at the released visuals for the cast of the film.
The teaser introduces Morioh City (filmed in Sitges, Spain). It shows a “no trespassing” sign, a newspaper headline that reads “No Leads on Family Massacre Culprit,” and the teaser line “Something’s strange in this town.” The teaser gives a peek of Yamazaki Kento as Higashikata Josuke and the other cast.
The film will open in Japan on August 4. Check out the video and visuals below!
Rap is a genre that’s still having a hard time in getting a proper exposure in Japan. Leaving aside the watered-down renditions that populate the mainstream scene, Hip Hop music – and, generally, its culture – constantly struggle in getting recognized outside of the usual circle of aficionados. Still, there’s a valid roster of acts in the underground panorama who’s slowly creating an ever-growing fanbase that’s gaining more and more followers, and the hope is that, one day, these artists will get their own spot in the market (hopefully not beside the few Trap/Pop acts who “made it”).
