Thu, February 21, 2008 (6:02pm EST)
On Thursday, pop duo I WiSH reunited for a one-time concert at C.C. Lemon Hall in celebration of vocalist Ai Kawashima's 22nd birthday. It was the first time that she and keyboardist nao performed together since they disbanded in 2005.
During the concert, Kawashima announced that nao had married one of her friends. In December, he tied the knot with singer Tamami Koike, who currently performs under the name "as" (pronounced "asu"). It was also revealed that the couple is expecting a baby boy this May, and they are considering naming him Kantaro.
During the concert, Kawashima announced that nao had married one of her friends. In December, he tied the knot with singer Tamami Koike, who currently performs under the name "as" (pronounced "asu"). It was also revealed that the couple is expecting a baby boy this May, and they are considering naming him Kantaro.
Thu, February 21, 2008 (4:53pm EST)
Another posthumous release for ZARD vocalist Izumi Sakai has been announced. The previously unreleased "Tsubasa wo Hirogete" will be the theme song of the new "Detective Conan" movie, titled "Detective Conan: Full Score of Fear." Sakai has previously provided several theme songs for the franchise.
Sakai wrote the lyrics for the original "Tsubasa wo Hirogete," which was released by the band DEEN in 1993. More than ten years ago, she recorded her own version, but it was never made into a CD or performed live.
The song is being released as a double A-side with "Ai wa Kurayami no Naka de," which was first released as the B-side of Sakai's debut single "Good-bye My Loneliness" and is currently being used as the theme song for the "Detective Conan" anime. The single goes on sale April 9, ten days before "Detective Conan: Full Score of Fear" opens in theaters.
Sakai wrote the lyrics for the original "Tsubasa wo Hirogete," which was released by the band DEEN in 1993. More than ten years ago, she recorded her own version, but it was never made into a CD or performed live.
The song is being released as a double A-side with "Ai wa Kurayami no Naka de," which was first released as the B-side of Sakai's debut single "Good-bye My Loneliness" and is currently being used as the theme song for the "Detective Conan" anime. The single goes on sale April 9, ten days before "Detective Conan: Full Score of Fear" opens in theaters.
Thu, February 21, 2008 (4:04pm EST)
Kiminori Wakasugi's popular manga "Detroit Metal City" already has an anime series and a live-action movie (starring Kenichi Matsuyama) in the works. Now, several artists who are fans of the comic have gotten together to release a tribute album.
The album contains 13 metal remixes of existing songs, ranging from BEAT CRUSADERS' "HIT IN THE USA" (retitled as "HIT IN THE D.M.C.") to Tommy february6's "je t'aime je t'aime." The other artists featured are: Kaela Kimura, Schadaraparr, Midori, YUKI, monobright, MUCC, King Giddra, ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK, ANA, WAGDUG FUTURISTIC UNITY, and Kahimi Karie.
The album goes on sale March 28, the same day as the manga's 5th volume.
The album contains 13 metal remixes of existing songs, ranging from BEAT CRUSADERS' "HIT IN THE USA" (retitled as "HIT IN THE D.M.C.") to Tommy february6's "je t'aime je t'aime." The other artists featured are: Kaela Kimura, Schadaraparr, Midori, YUKI, monobright, MUCC, King Giddra, ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK, ANA, WAGDUG FUTURISTIC UNITY, and Kahimi Karie.
The album goes on sale March 28, the same day as the manga's 5th volume.
Thu, February 21, 2008 (3:27pm EST)
Fuji TV is adapting Yuu Watase's shojo manga "Zettai Kareshi" (also known as "Absolute Boyfriend") as a live-action drama series, starring Mocomichi Hayami and Saki Aibu. The six-volume manga was originally serialized in Shojo Comic and has sold more than 1.6 million books.
Aibu plays a temp worker in search of a boyfriend, and she ends up in possession of a "robot" known as Night Tenjo (Hayami), who is programmed to be the perfect boyfriend. However, this creates a love triangle with a distinguished young man at Aibu's company (played by Hiro Mizushima) who has feelings for her.
The series will air on Tuesdays at 9:00pm, starting on April 8.
Aibu plays a temp worker in search of a boyfriend, and she ends up in possession of a "robot" known as Night Tenjo (Hayami), who is programmed to be the perfect boyfriend. However, this creates a love triangle with a distinguished young man at Aibu's company (played by Hiro Mizushima) who has feelings for her.
The series will air on Tuesdays at 9:00pm, starting on April 8.
Thu, February 21, 2008 (5:14am EST)
Yahoo! Japan has announced the results of its 2007 Yahoo! Music Awards. The main awards, which were decided by users' votes, went to the following artists:
The full lists of nominees and winners, including Yahoo! category rankings, can be seen at the official website.
- Best Male Artist: Hideaki Tokunaga
- Best Female Artist: YUI
- Best Group: L'Arc~en~Ciel
- Most Photogenic Artist: Maki Goto
- Best Western Artist: Backstreet Boys
- Best Newcomer: ERIKA
- Best Artwork: "Tanz Walzer," Quruli
- Best Collaboration: "yanokami," yanokami
The full lists of nominees and winners, including Yahoo! category rankings, can be seen at the official website.
Source: mikan music network | Comments (0)
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Thu, February 21, 2008 (4:55am EST)
At the end of the sales week, m-flo's "Award SuperNova -Loves Best-" managed to take #1 on the albums chart, selling close to 86,000 copies. This barely beat out Ikimono Gakari's "Life Album" by fewer than 3,500 copies.
Kumi Koda still had a strong showing, falling only two spots to sit at #3, ahead of Ayaka Hirahara's new release, "Jupiter." Perfume had the only other new entry in the top ten, taking #9 with a box set of their indie-label singles, titled "Fan Service ~Prima Box~."
On the singles chart, Porno Graffiti ranked 1st with about 63,500 copies of "Anata ga Koko ni Itara," the theme song of the movie "Naoko." Kiyoshi Hikawa's "Genkai Funauta" and the GazettE's "Guren" held the next two spots.
Other new singles in the top ten were held by Shonannokaze (#6), TVXQ (#8), Every Little Thing (#9), and melody. (#10).
Kumi Koda still had a strong showing, falling only two spots to sit at #3, ahead of Ayaka Hirahara's new release, "Jupiter." Perfume had the only other new entry in the top ten, taking #9 with a box set of their indie-label singles, titled "Fan Service ~Prima Box~."
On the singles chart, Porno Graffiti ranked 1st with about 63,500 copies of "Anata ga Koko ni Itara," the theme song of the movie "Naoko." Kiyoshi Hikawa's "Genkai Funauta" and the GazettE's "Guren" held the next two spots.
Other new singles in the top ten were held by Shonannokaze (#6), TVXQ (#8), Every Little Thing (#9), and melody. (#10).
Thu, February 21, 2008 (4:33am EST)
On Wednesday, the Recording Industry Association of Japan announced that Kobukuro's song "Tsubomi" has reached 3 million chaku-uta (ringtone) downloads. This still trails the 4 million downloads of O-Zone's "Dragostea Din Tei," but it ranks #1 among Japanese artists.
RIAJ only announces chaku-uta download numbers at the million marks. Songs that have passed the 2 million mark include Remioromen's "Konayuki" and Hikaru Utada's "Flavor of Life" (which broke 7 million downloads across all digital formats, including chaku-uta, last July).
"Tsubomi" has been available for chaku-uta download since January 2007. It won the Japan Record Award in December, and has been chosen as the entrance march song at the opening ceremony of this year's Spring Koshien, which starts on March 22.
RIAJ only announces chaku-uta download numbers at the million marks. Songs that have passed the 2 million mark include Remioromen's "Konayuki" and Hikaru Utada's "Flavor of Life" (which broke 7 million downloads across all digital formats, including chaku-uta, last July).
"Tsubomi" has been available for chaku-uta download since January 2007. It won the Japan Record Award in December, and has been chosen as the entrance march song at the opening ceremony of this year's Spring Koshien, which starts on March 22.
