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Japan’s DISH// Drops ‘Neko’ Video Series Inspired by TikTok Fans: Watch ‘Paper Dish’ Version
J-pop boy band DISH// shared the new animated music video for their hit song “Neko – THE FIRST TAKE ver. -” made in collaboration with fans on TikTok. The new video that dropped Thursday (July 30) is the second in a trilogy inspired by the top three ideas selected from submissions to the DISH// challenge on the short-video platform. The band decided to create three versions based on each creator’s idea so that viewers can enjoy the tune from different angles without being limited to a single point of view. The new animated video follows the first one, “Line Art,” released Tuesday (July 28). Subtitled “Paper Dish,” video No. 2 creatively animates the images laid out in the song using simple illustrations drawn on and cut-outs crafted from pape...
Retired J-Pop Producer Tetsuya Komuro Returns with Nogizaka46’s ‘Route 246′
J-pop girl group Nogizaka46 is set to release a new single composed by veteran music producer Tetsuya Komuro, called “Route 246.” After announcing his retirement from music in early 2018, the legendary hitmaker was persuaded to emerge from hibernation by longtime friend and collaborator Yasushi Akimoto, Nogizaka46’s producer and lyricist for most of their songs, including this one. “He retired once, but as we met for dinner from time to time, I learned that his passion for music hadn’t waned,” Akimoto shared. “I’m sure he has his reasons, but I wanted Tetsuya Komuro to somehow have another opportunity to become involved in music.” Komuro explained the concept for “Route 246” is friendship: “I created this song with the...
Rising J-Pop Duo YOASOBI Reveal Influences From Anime to Folk: Interview
YOASOBI is a breakout J-pop act whose debut single, “Yoru ni kakeru,” has been taking various Japanese music rankings by storm. The male-female duo formed for a project by the online creative writing site monogatary.com, and its unique concept is to produce music inspired by stories submitted to the site. Released in December 2019, “Yoru ni kakeru” — which can roughly be translated to “Racing into the night” in English — is based on an original short story by Mayo Hoshino titled “Thanatos no yuuwaku” (“Seduction of Thanatos”) that depicts the fleeting romance between the first-person narrator, presumably a young man, and the woman he loves who repeatedly tries to commit suicide. “Yoru ni kakeru” first took ...
50 Years In, Argentina’s Los Palmeras Prep ‘Great Show We Never Did’: Interview
Many artists have enjoyed years of success, but Los Palmeras have managed to reach the top of their career after 50 years. The group was formed in Santa Fe, Argentina, in 1968 with the idea of performing local cumbia, which includes touches of reggaeton and chamamé, a traditional rhythm from the northeast of the country. It is made up of Rubén “Cacho” Deicas, Marcos Camino, Exequiel Enrique, Gustavo Martínez, Darien Jorge Grenon and Silvio Medina. Although they have performed more than 10,000 times, the sextet is preparing what will be their greatest show ever at the Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires. The show, full of rhythms never played before by the band and with guests from all over the region, was scheduled for May 16 and canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The group w...
AKB48’s New Charity Single Offers Connection ‘Even When Apart’: Watch Video
J-pop girl group AKB48 shared the new music video accompanying its upcoming digital single “Hanareteitemo” (“Even When Apart”). The song is about being separated from friends, lovers and colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic and hoping the day will come when we’ll be able to meet again like we used to. It’s a reminder that our hearts are still connected “even when we’re apart.” The music video is a mini-documentary that captures the post-COVID “new normal,” featuring the members wearing masks and maintaining social distance while going about their daily lives in the city. The video also focuses on the people who work in various businesses as they resume operation after the initial lockdown, intended as a statement of solid...
KinKi Kids Blasts in at No. 1 on Japan Hot 100 as Endrecheri Rules Albums Chart
J-pop duo KinKi Kids blast in at No. 1 on the latest Billboard Japan Hot 100, dated June 15 to 21, with their 42nd single, “KANZAI BOYA.” The veteran Johnny’s pair — Tsuyoshi Domoto and Koichi Domoto (no blood-relation) — have a huge loyal following, and their highly anticipated new release sold 192,326 copies in its first week. “KANZAI BOYA” outsold the group’s previous single and the one before it: “Hikari no kehai” sold 176,310 copies, and “Aitai, aitai, aenai” sold 187,143. The new single leads physical sales and Twitter mentions, while also coming in at No. 2 for look-ups and No. 22 for radio airplay. Tsuyoshi Domoto’s solo project, ENDRECHERI’s LOVE FADERS, is the No. 1 album of the week, and the rele...
Watch HARU NEMURI’s Raw New Video Shot in Russia, ‘Trust Nothing but Love’
J-pop artist HARU NEMURI shared the new music video accompanying “Trust Nothing but Love,” a track on her latest album, LOVETHEISM. To capture the 25-year-old singer-songwriter’s true character, the video was shot in a studio apartment in Russia using a single camera to shoot the continuous take with no editing. The “Trust Nothing but Love” visuals follow the ones for “Fanfare” and “Riot” from her new set, which dropped digitally in March. A domestic CD of the album will be released Friday (June 12), while a 12-inch vinyl will be released in the U.S. and Europe on the same day. HARU NEMURI has rescheduled her North American and European tours originally slated for March this year. The North American trek kicks off at the Knitting Factor...
Watch Nana Mizuki’s Fan-Favorite Concert at Japanese Baseball Stadium
J-pop singer Nana Mizuki will premiere the full concert footage from her NANA MIZUKI LIVE PARK 2016 concert at 7 p.m. Sunday (May 31) Japan time. This show, now considered “legendary” by fans lucky enough to witness it at the time, was the veteran voice actress’ first headlining concert at the historic Hanshin Koshien Stadium. Mizuki is a known fan of the Hanshin Tigers baseball team that calls the stadium home, and the show featured colorful “jet balloons” launched by fans — a familiar spectacle during the Tigers’ home games — among the dazzling stage production, including a mega-sized dinosaur fossil float and segments focusing on her playing instruments in the downpour that she managed to harness as a special backdrop for her energetic per...
J-Pop Band RADWIMPS’ Dreamy New Video Features Footage by More Than 30 Visual Artists: Watch
J-pop band RADWIMPS shared the new music video accompanying “Neko-jarashi (Orchestra ver.).” The dreamy video features footage shot by many visual artists centering on those involved in the band’s past works. As COVID-19 throws the world into chaos, the creators captured scenes from daily life that we used to take for granted, based on their current perspectives and emotions. When joined together, the completed video reflecting each artist’s vision conveys the value of noticing new things in the midst of confusion and imagining the future that lies beyond. Watch below: Rachel Chie Miller helmed the visuals, with scenes provided by Tetsuya Nagato, Yasunori Kakegawa, Daisuke Shimada, Kanji Sudo, Satoshi Tani, Kazuma Ikeda, Yukihiro Shoda, Yasuhiko Shimizu, Hideno...
Watch Rising J-Pop Artist Mega Shinnosuke’s Making-of Video for ‘Sports’
Japanese rapper Mega Shinnosuke shared some behind-the-scenes footage from his music video for “Sports,” his latest single released in April. Mega Shinnosuke is a self-produced 19-year-old singer-songwriter and multi-talented artist who handles everything from arranging his own music to creating his artwork and videos. The making-of video was edited remotely with his friends who are all self-isolating at home due to the coronavirus pandemic. Watch the video below:
