Hello, Arama! Japan readers and welcome to this week’s installment of #1 Song Review! Last week saw Hoshino Gen defeat Busaiku. Gen is back again this week, facing off against a newcomer. 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 Akiko Yano. She’s currently celebrating her 40th anniversary. On the show, Akiko reflected on her career. Also commenting on her career were TIN PAN, Quruli’s Kishida Shigeru, and Hiromi Uehara.  Akiko also performed three songs.

Akiko Yano – Gohan ga Dekita yo / Hitotsu Dake / Hourou

It’s been over four years since the release of Mika Nakashima’s last studio album REAL, the singer has finally announced a follow up to the #1 album titled TOUGH, her eight studio album overall. TOUGH will have fourteen songs and be released in two editions. The limited edition comes with a DVD with performances from her “THE ACOUSTIC 2016 – MIKA NAKASHIMA 1st Premium Tour ~” held last year, as well as a photobook.

It’s also been announced that customers who purchase her latest album or her upcoming single Koi Wo Suru will be eligible to attend an exclusive event held in April. Lucky entrants will get to see a special screening of her treasured images, and a talk from Mika explaining the creative process that goes into developing new music. TOUGH will hit store shelves on March 22nd, 2017.

(via Natalie)

Following last years fantastic album, TOKYO BLACK HOLE and her three single project “Wonder Romance Three Good Fortunes ~Today’s lover is YOU?! Series~”, Seiko Oomori has revealed that she will be releasing her 3rd major label album (to make it 5th studio album in total) on March 15. It is to be entitled “Kichigaia“, which some speculate seems to be a play on the Japanese word for madness ‘Kichigai’ and the Greek Earth Goddess/Mother Earth “Gaia”. The album features 5 already released tracks (Pink Methusalah, Gutto Kuru SUMMER, POSITIVE STRESS, Hikokuminteki Hero and Orion Za) plus 8 new tracks for a total of 13. Continue reading for details on the individual versions!

The full MV for Yasutaka Nakata’s Crazy Crazy has finally been uploaded to youtube! Yasutaka and his collaborators Charli XCX and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu take full advantage of the “face swap” technology for this wacky release. The trio can be seen dressed up in a variety of costumes including a schoolgirl, chef, and maid while performing the song in an industrial apartment.

Crazy Crazy feat. Charli XCX & Kyary Pamyu Pamyu was released physically on January 18th, 2017. Check out the full video below!

Singer Koda Kumi has finally shared details on her upcoming 13th studio albums. She will be releasing two albums on the same day, titled W Face -inside- and W Face -outside-.  With this release Kumi wanted to showcase two very different sides to her, W Face -inside- will be an emotional and “soft” album  focusing on ballads and pop tunes, while W Face -outside- will be much more aggressive and sexy featuring dance songs, J-Urban, and a soulful R&B ballad sung only with a piano. On My Way a track from W Face -inside- has also been announced as the theme for the Tokai TV drama Mahiru no Akuma starring Rena Tanaka and Aoi Nakamura.

Each album contains 10 tracks and will be released in three editions each, CD only, CD+DVD, and CD+Blu-ray. Three songs from each album will also reportedly be getting a music video. Exclusive editions and goodies for avex’s online shop mu-mo, and Koda Kumi’s fanclub “playroom” are expected to be announced shortly. W Face -inside- and W Face -outside- will be released on March 8th, 2017. Check out the tracklist for both albums below.

AKB48‘s 8th studio album Thumbnail was released on January 25th, 2017. Included on the tracklist is a special collaboration between HKT48 member Rino Sashihara and Morning Musume ’17.

Titled Get You!, the girls formed a temporary unit called Sashining Musume. This is the first song to feature Morning Musume’s 13th generation members Reina Yokoyama and Kaede Kaga, both girls officially became members of Morning Musume in December 2016. This is a dream collaboration for Rino, she has looked up to Morning Musume and Hello!Project since she was a child, commenting once on how she used to avidly follow their activities via the online textboard 2ch.  For Rino’s debut solo single Soredemo Suki da yo she even covered Yeah! Meccha Holiday, one of the signature hits from Aya Matsuura, a former Hello!Project soloist.

Perhaps this will open up the opportunity for more collaborations between the 48 family and H!P? Listen to Get You! under the cut.

Talent, model and now actress Rola has officially made her Hollywood debut. Resident Evil: The Final Chapter is the sixth and final installment of the Resident Evil movie series, and will be hitting North American theaters on January 27th, 2017. In the film the half-Bengali beauty plays the role “Cobalt”, one of the few survivors of the events that occurred in the climax of the previous film Resident Evil: Retribution, leaving humanity on it’s last legs.

Rola hit the red carpet wearing a striking black lace gown by the American luxury fashion brand Rodarte, pairing it with dramatic red eye makeup and a simple but sleek ponytail. Rola did a solo strut down the red carpet, and then joined her fellow female cast members Milla Jovoich, Ali Larter, and Ruby Rose. It looks like this endeavor into acting will payoff for her, ahead of the North American and U.K Premiere the film has already grossed $35.1 million USD against a budget of $40 million, and currently has a respectable score of 7/10 on IMDb.

Pictures and videos of Rola on the red carpet can be seen below!