A few months ago, it was reported that Masaharu Fukuyama and Fukuiishi Kazue were expecting their first child. Today, we can report that Kazue has given birth! The official announcement was made on Masaharu’s official fanclub website. In his message to his fans, Masaharu said that he was overcome with emotion while witnessing the birth and is still emotional over it.

This past October Avex announced a collaboration with EXPG to form new group, Questy. After two months of waiting, the time has come for their debut with their song “Fantasy“. The video is quite simple with member Marin “discovering” a sort of teleportation device on the streets that transports her to a pixelated world to perform the song with the rest of Questy. Come take a look at “Fantasy“!

Back in February, Shiina Ringo wrote the single “Usurahi Shinju” for singer and seiyuu Megumi Hayashibara (most widely known as Rei from Neon Genesis Evangelion). That single was for the MBS anime “Showa Genroku Rakugo Shinju” which is now about to commence it’s second season. This calls for a second season tune- and Shiina Ringo is back at the helm, and has announced that the title for this one is “Imawa no Shinigami“. Read more about the release below!

Boy-band Da-iCE has covered Ariana Grande‘s song “Into You” for their newest album, “NEXT PHASE”, and released the short version of it last month. Now they have released the full version, which showcases the five members being romantic and intimate. The boys have also given the track a personal touch, featuring a dubstep part before the last bridge, something quite different from the original version. Check the full MV just after the jump!

On December 21, the band PAELLAS will release their first full album, “Pressure.” The album contains 10 songs, three of which were released earlier this year. PAELLAS has now released the music video for one of those songs, “Fire.” The clip consists of various random objects (such as a pineapple, a pencil sharpener, and a globe) bathed in light, which is at times multicolored. Check it out below, along with more information on PAELLAS’ new album!

Jazz-fusion duo Sukima Switch have revealed that they will be releasing a new album next year on February 15th.  Their first such release since their eponymous album in 2014, “re:Action” is not a conventional studio album, but rather a rearrange album featuring a collection of older songs which have been completely reimagined with the help of a series of special producers.

The names working with Sukima Switch on this release range from rock icons like Tamio Okuda, to rap acts like RHYMESTER, to soundtrack composers like Hiroyuki Sawano, to pop legends like Kazumasa Oda.  In addition to these 11 restructured songs (two of the album’s 13 tracks are new), the album’s Limited Edition will also come packaged with a second CD containing the tracks’ original versions, enabling buyers to compare and contrast the old with the new.

Read on below to find both the track list and full guest list for “re:Action”, as well as the original and new (produced by Tamio Okuda) version of track “Zenryoku Shounen”.

Sexy, smoky jazz and cabaret inspired rock songstress Maron Hamada has been slowly building a loyal fan-base over the last few years and has finally announced her third album, “Lady Monochrome” this morning. It follows up her fantastic previous album “Seijuku no Marble” and runs hot off the heels of her latest single “Kisetsu Meguredo (Jazz Ver.)“. “Lady Monochrome” is set for release on January 25 and already has no doubt what will be one of the most striking album covers of 2017. Check it out, and the track-list below!

2017 marks the 30th anniversary for Japanese rock mainstays Elephant Kashimashi, which they have decided to commemorate by releasing a compilation album on March 21st (the same date they issued their first single).  Their “All Time Best Album THE FIGHTING MAN” will include two discs containing 30 songs total, the choices including tracks from their very first album all the way up to their most recent studio set “RAINBOW”.

This special best album will be released in three versions:  a Regular CD-Only edition, a Limited Edition which includes a DVD chronicling the band’s live performance history, and a Deluxe Edition which will come packaged with two different DVDs, one including rare footage from a 1995 concert at Shimokitazawa’s SHELTER and a second with footage from a corresponding concert which will take place on December 27th of this year at the same venue, plus a CD containing demo tracks recorded prior to the band’s official debut, and finally, a special booklet which attempts to tell the story of their 30 years in the industry.

Read on below to find the full track list for Elephant Kashimashi’s upcoming compilation album.