This week’s performers were Little Glee Monster and Marie Ueda. There was also a talk segment between the show’s hosts, Chris Matsumura, and MUSICA Editor-in-Chief Ariizumi Tomoko where they went over a list of the acts that a group of 164 music industry professionals chose as the ones to look out for in 2017. The top 10 were talked about on the show, but the full top 30 list can be seen after the jump!

Little Glee Monster – Hop Step Jump!

Marie Ueda – Dining

Late last year we reported that Koshi Inaba and Stevie Salas would be releasing a special collaboration album titled “CHUBBY GROOVE” on January 18th.  Now the duo have made the music video for one of the record’s lead tracks, “AISHI-AISARE”, available on their Youtube channel.

The PV focuses on a performance of the track in front of a screen that produces a sundry of different light-based effects, a trio of dancers hard at work in the center of the band’s formation.  In addition, they have also uploaded short previews for album tracks “Kunou no Hate no Sore mo Kotae no Hitotsu” and “TROPHY”, each featuring footage from various parts of the release’s recording process.

You’ll find both the PV for “AISHI-AISARE” and these previews just beneath the cut.

This week, Hoshino Gen topped both Recochoku and iTunes for the twelfth week in a row with “Koi.”

It also topped the Recochoku monthly chart for December, the third consecutive month.

Hey, Arama! Japan! It’s Friday, so it’s Open Post time! Feel free to chat with your fellow readers about whatever you like! Enjoy!

This week, NMB48 topped the Oricon single chart with their new single “Boku Igai no Dareka”, selling 266,813 copies in its first week.

SMAP topped the Oricon album chart for the second week in a row with their best album “SMAP 25 YEARS”, selling 275,027 copies in its second week.

back number topped the Oricon digital album chart with thier new best album “Encore”, selling 24,666 copies in its first week.

The GazettE have announced plans to released a best ballad album titled “TRACES VOL. 2” on March 8. The album will contain remixed versions of earlier material to collide with the group’s 15th anniversary.

In addition to the album, the GazettE will be selling happy bags to HERESY members starting today.

Check out the tracklist for the upcoming album after the jump!

Visual Kei band VRZEL have recently released their second mini album “THE FIVEFOLD DEW” back on December 21, however the band has released a music video for the song “Fivefold Envy”. The band has also released information regarding their first live DVD to be released on January 12.

Check out the music video and a preview of the DVD after the jump!

Goals are a common part of the new year, with some being more ambitious than others. 5-piece girl group Def Will has announced that they hope to be promoting not only in Japan this year, but in Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia and hopefully western countries as well. This goal has not appeared for no reason.

The group first received buzz because of being the creation of famous producer Tetsuya Komuro, and having their first single ‘Lovely Day‘ be the theme song to Tokyo Girls Collection A/W 2016 show; and it currently being the theme song for the WAKUWAKU JAPAN “Catch Your Dream” campaign . Now their second single ‘Winding Road‘ will serve as the opening to ‘Kimi wa Petto‘ this February. The drama will not only air in Japan, but also in China, Korea and other Asian countries; causing Def Will to gain more exposure.

The groups agency has also said that the girls are big news on the instagram fashion scene; with overseas girls wanting to imitate their style.

2017 has just started, so there’s plenty of time for Def Will to reach their goal. Continue on to listen to their first single ‘Lovely Day‘.