Back in December we reported that popular rock band [Alexandros] would be releasing a new Double A-side single titled “SNOW SOUND / Ima made Kimi ga Naita Bun Torimodosou” on February 1st.  Ahead of this date the band have now chosen to publish the music video for the first A-side (and JR SKISKI theme song) to their official Youtube channel.

SNOW SOUND’s PV was directed by Misato Kato, with help from creative director Atsunori Toshi, and tells the story of two young people (Ryutaro Akimoto and Natsumi Okamoto) who fall in love during the winter season.  The tale starts on the brightly lit streets during the holiday season and concludes up in the mountains as the titular snow showers down around the lovers.

Read on below to find the full version of this sweet PV, as well as the cover and track list for the single.

Newly established band Mamoru & The Critical Hits have announced that their first single “Binetsu no Oasis / Seishun Voyage” will be available for sale through live events and the crowdfunding site Limited Stand starting on January 30th.  Formed around nhhmbase’s Mamoru, the group includes a number of other talented musicians like fox capture plan’s Tsukasa Inoue (on drums) and How to count one to ten’s Yuta Okuhara (on guitar).

The goal of this 10 person ensemble is to produce synthesizer-influenced rock music which is backed by a sizable brass section.  If you’re curious about exactly what this will sound like, wonder no more, as the group have uploaded a trailer for their upcoming single to Youtube.

You’ll find this trailer, as well as the single’s cover art, right after the jump.

Electrorap duo Charisma.com is really growing accostumed to having a hectic agenda, and there’s no sign of any slowdown! After releasing one mini album, one EP and quitting their jobs as OLs this past year, a new album (their first release classified as full album since they went major!) is coming on March 22th! Titled “not not me”, this album will feature a total of 10 tracks, five of which have been already revealed. The leading track “#hashdark” explores the dark side of SNS and the hashtags, and it will be the theme song of the upcoming film “Ankoku Shoujo”, which will debut on April 1st. Check info about the five revealed tracks and a sample of “#hashdark” just after the jump!

Kanae Hazuki’s manga « Say ‘I Love you‘» (“Suki Itte ii na Yo” in the original version) is going to end this year, at it’s 18^th or 19^th volume.

This week, Kanjani8 performed their new single, which is out January 25.

Kanjani8 – Naguri Gaki BEAT

During the year end chart rush of last month, it was decided that Arama! Japan will cover the Billboard Japan charts in 2017, due to how they factor in many different criteria as opposed to just physical sales. The Hot 100 and Hot Album charts represent a more comprehensive view of the Japanese music industry. Since the first chart week that is fully inside of 2017 has ended, we will now start this.

Hoshino Gen’s “Koi” topped the Hot 100 chart for the eighth non-consecutive week.

back number’s best album “Encore” topped the Hot Albums chart for the second week in a row.

The first images have been released from the upcoming live-action film adaption of “Fukumenkei Noise”, based on the manga series written and illustrated by Ryoko Fukuyama. The series was originally launched in April 2013, and went on to become a huge success. Back in October 2016 Viz Media announced their license to officially publish the series in North America. An anime adaption will also begin airing in April 2017, helmed by the animation studio “Brain’s Base”.

“Fukemenkei Noise” is a high-shool romance with a musical twist. The main character “Nino” has a heavy interest in music, but has the personality of a loner. She tends to alienate herself from people by walking around wearing a mask and headphones all day. Nino experiences two heartaches growing up. First, with her childhood “love”, Momo, and second, with Yuzu, a boy who composes music. While they eventually lost contact, she made a promise with both boys, to continue singing until they find her voice again. Six years later the three are all mysteriously reunited in high-school.

Actress Ayami Nakajo will play the role of Nino, Ayami got her big break last year with the film “Setoutsumi” where she currently has a pending nomination for Best New Actress at the Mainichi Film Awards. Jun Shison plays the role of “Kanade Yuzuriha (Yuzu)” and Yuta Koseki will be playing “Momo Sakaki”

Additionally, former Hello!Project soloist Mano Erina will join the main cast as “Miou Suguri”, lead singer of the fictional band “NO hurry to shout.”

“Fukumenkei Noise” will hit Japanese theaters nationwide on November 25th. Check out the cast photos below

Electro girl group Perfume have revealed the covers for their 23rd major label single “TOKYO GIRL” . The girls are modeling between transparent boxes of various sizes, meant to represent Tokyo’s vast number of large buildings and skyscrapers. A behind the scenes look on how the cover was made will be included on the limited edition CD+DVD version of the single.

“TOKYO GIRL” serves at the theme for the NTV drama “Tokyo Tarareba Musume”, while the b-side “Houseki no Ame” is the promotional song for Perfume’s collaboration with beauty brand Ora2. The single will be released on February 15th.

The covers, as well as a short preview of the “TOKYO GIRL” pv can be seen below!