Ever since it was reported that SMAP wouldn’t join the yearly Kouhaku Utagassen for their final performance together, many have speculated what was the idol group going to do instead on their final day? Now we have an answer!

It’s a new year and also a new start for Omedetai Atama de Nani Yori. The five-member rock band formed in August 2016 with the members Sekihan (vocals), Ponikingu Damu (vocals and guitar), 324 (pronounced as mitsuyo, guitar), mao (bass), and Mito Mitsuru (drums). They finally released their first single, a double A-side called “SHOW-GUTS / Daruma-san wa Korobanaii”, on New Year’s Day under the label NANIYORI RECORDS.

Check out the music video for both songs after the cut!

We’re back with this week’s edition of Oricon Flashback. This is where we look back on what topped Oricon this week 5, 10, 15, and 20 years ago. Think of it as a way to reminisce and learn about the past of Japanese music.

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

During Ayumi Hamasaki’s annual “Count Down Live” concert fans were stunned when the show was opened with a song that had never been performed before, Ayumi’s 12th single “kanariya” . Originally included as a secret track on Ayumis sophomore album “LOVEppears”, the song was later released as a re-cut single and made history by becoming the first re-cut single to achieve a weekly #1 rank on Oricon.

Over the years “kanariya” gained some notoriety among fans since it’s her only a-side, and one of the few songs in her entire catalogue that has never been performed live. Many fans came up with theories ranging from the high notes being too difficult to hit live, or simply Ayu herself not liking the song.

The version Ayu performed at “CDL” is comparable to the original arrangement found on LOVEppears, this version however has no mysterious male vocalist and the R&B flavor is considerably toned down in favour of a more classic piano ballad sound. At times the vocals sound like she’s singing through a walkie-talkie underwater, but during the entire performance Ayu performs an extremely impressive air acrobatic routine. P!nk who?

Check out the full performance below.

Up-and-coming singer/songwriter Kenshi Yonezu has announced that he will be releasing a new single titled “orion” on February 15th.  His first such release in nearly half a year, the lead song has already been picked up as the second ending theme for anime “Sangatsu no Lion”.

This new single will be issued in three versions:  a regular CD-Only edition, a special “orion” edition which includes a clear print of the cover packaged in a hard case, and a “Lion” edition which will come packaged with a DVD in a paper-based casing.  Ahead of the single’s release, a radio edit of “orion” will be airing on popular program “SCHOOL OF LOCK!” later this week on January 6th.

Read on below for a look at the cover and track list for “orion” and expect further updates as its release date draws closer.

Pop trio color-code is set to have a new year as good as the past one, in which they toured Europe and pre-released their latest album “Colorfull”. For this year they have already revealed two big news: firstly, the release of a new single for this January (when will it drop? who knows!); and secondly, they will be back to Europe this February, concretely to Spain. They will be performing in Madrid’s Japan Weekend, a Japanese pop culture con to which names as LADYBEARD or Hideaki Kobayashi are coming. Check the video announcement just after the jump!

After a ten month hiatus, idol group, Sayonara Ponytail are starting off the new year with a release. The group uploaded the lyric video to new song ‘Rainbow‘ to their official youtube account. The track is heavily influenced by late 60s/early 70s rock; a familiar psychedelic surfer rock sound. Taken from (what is possibly their new album?) Season 3: The Planet which Dreams, here is  Sayonara Pontail‘s ‘Rainbow‘.