Their album, titled “Serious Japanese,” is scheduled to be put out by Pharrell’s Star Trak Entertainment label in March.

The album will also be simultaneously released in Europe and Asia, though Japan will get it first on January 28.

Continue reading Teriyaki Boyz Get Serious with US Major Lable Release

Another AKB48 member has announced her departure from the group: Team B’s Matsuoka Yuki will be graduating in February of next year.

Matsuoka Yuki announced the news during a performance of Team B’s 3rd Stage “Pajama Drive” on Saturday.

She plans to officially leave the group on February 1, the day of the final performance of “Pajama Drive.” It is not yet clear what her future plans are.

source: tokyograph

Singer Sowelu is coming out with a new song titled “MATERIAL WORLD.”

It will be used as the theme of “Tsumi Toka Batsu Toka,” a comedy film directed by Keralino Sandorovich that stars Narumi Riko as an unsuccessful idol who tries to solve a crime.

“MATERIAL WORLD” was produced by Takahashi Taku of m-flo.

The song will be sold as a single, but further details such as the release date won’t be announced until next month.

“Tsumi Toka Batsu Toka” opens in theaters next spring.

source: tokyograph

The film stars Tsumabuki Satoshi as a young doctor trying to deal with outbreak of an unknown virus across Japan.

Remioromen’s song is a moving tune titled “Yume no Tsubomi.” There is no CD release planned yet. “Kansen Retto” will open in Japan on January 17.

source: tokyograph

BoA made her US debut with the digital single “Eat You Up,” garnering a positive response from the online community.

At 3 a.m. on October 22nd, “Eat You Up” ranked third on the iTunes chart for “Top Dance Songs,” tenth on Amazon’s “Hot New Release in MP3 Downloads” and 21st on their “Today’s Top MP3 Songs” chart.

Consumers gave “Eat You Up” a five-star review on the Amazon website.

According to BoA’s agents at SM Entertainment, US netizens commented that her song was addictive and makes people want to dance.

Even Variety, a US entertainment magazine, wrote an article about BoA and her debut, referring to her as “one of the best female artists in Asia.”

Continue reading Solid BoA’s US Debut, to Perform Eat You Up on Youtube

The female pop group MAX is going back to its roots.

Former lead singer MINA is returning to the group after an absence of six years, reuniting the unit’s four original members.

They already have plans for a new release and a reunion concert.

MINA left the group in 2002 due to her unexpected pregnancy and marriage, and she was replaced by singer AKI.

However, AKI withdrew from the group this past August to pursue a solo career, reducing MAX to three members.

Continue reading MINA Returns to MAX

Dreams Come True’s new single “Tsuretette Tsuretette” goes on sale on November 12, and to help promote it, the duo has recruited actress Miyazaki Aoi to star in the song’s music video.

The last music video that Miyazaki Aoi appeared in was Kinmokusei’s “Fuyu no Jishaku” in 2005.

It was announced a couple weeks ago that mangaka Umino Chika was drawing the CD jacket and a manga-like insert booklet for the single.

The manga’s motif was a fantasy love story between a young woman and a snowman, and that motif has been carried over into the video.

Filming took place during the middle of this month.

source : tokyograph

Se7en finally spoke out after he and YG Ent. were bombarded by accusations from fans and netizens saying that Se7en’s venture into the U.S. was all just for show….or a poor bluff.

He chronicles his life from a young boy to a famous Asian artist who has finally come to the States to fulfill his dream.

The lengthy autobiographical promo clip brings greater admiration for Se7en and a wistful hope that he may reach the elusive American Dream. Good luck and don’t give up, Se7en!

source : asianfanatic

Pop star Hamasaki Ayumi will be releasing a 3-disc collection called “A COMPLETE ~ALL SINGLES~” on September 10.

It will contain all of Hamasaki Ayumi’s 43 singles, from the 1998 “poker face” to this year’s “Mirrorcle World,” plus the bonus track “Who…”

In her 10 years as a singer, Hamasaki Ayumi has had 41 of her singles enter the top 10, and 30 of them have reached #1.

Five have gone on to become million-sellers. In all, her singles have sold more than 20 million copies.

“A COMPLETE” will retail for only 3,800 yen, with the DVD-bonus version going for 4,800 yen.

Continue reading Hamasaki Ayumi Releases Complete Singles Collection

It was learned on Thursday that idol Leah Dizon will be releasing a new album, which will be followed by her first Japan tour.

The album, titled “Communication!!!,” goes on sale August 20. Out of the 12 songs included, Leah Dizon wrote the lyrics for 10 of them, and she even did composition for two rock numbers called “Lost at Sea” and “BxKxRxxx.”

Those two songs will also feature her playing guitar - she is said to have first learned the instrument as a child, and she started practicing it again last summer.

Leah Dizon was reported to be practicing with Marty Friedman, former Megadeth heavy metal guitarist.

Continue reading Leah Dizon Releasing New Album, Launching First Tour