On July 6th, AKB48 sub-unit No Sleeves digitally released a self-cover of “Kuchibiru Furezu…” called, “Perori to Pepero“.
“Perori to Pepero” is a self-cover that came from a story in “No Sleeves Special Conte～Recording Studio Episode～“, off the Limited Edition B’s DVD from their recent single, “Kuchibiru Furezu…”. The story is about a director (Minegishi Minami) who gives guidance to a singer (Takahashi Minami). As it progresses, the lyrics gradually escalate, and in the end, the self-cover of “Kuchiburi Furezu…”, is complete.
Check out a preview of “Perori to Pepero” here!
source : tokyohive
It’s been revealed that 7-membered Korean girl group T-ARA will debut in Japan this September, with the Japanese version of their hit single, “Bo Peep Bo Peep“.
Released in Korea in 2009, “Bo Peep Bo Peep” became popular for its “cat dance” choreography, which saw the members wearing cat paws and ears as their stage costume.
As a prelude to their debut, T-ARA held a showcase live in SHIBUYA-AX on July 5th, where they performed in front of 1,500 people. At the press meeting afterwards, the group’s leader Hyomin commented, “Wearing cat ears and paws, we didn’t know how it was going to turn out. When we actually did it, the concept was solid. Next time, we want to give more of our opinion.”
Video messages from other Korean artists, such as Jang Geun Suk, were also shown at the showcase.
source : tokyohive
It was revealed today that Berryz Koubou idol Kumai Yurina and ℃-ute’s Suzuki Airi will star together in the upcoming movie, ‘Oosama Game“, based on the popular cell-phone novel of the same name. The movie, scheduled to be released this winter, will not only star the two idols, but will also feature appearances by members of both groups.
“Oosama Game” is a horror movie based on author Kanazawa Nobuaki’s popular cell-phone novel. Berryz’ Kumai will play the lead role of high-school student ‘Honda Chiemi’, while ℃-ute’s Suzuki will take on the role of Honda’s enigmatic classmate ‘Iwamura Ria’. This will be the first time for the girls to star in a movie together.
Kumai, who is filming for the first time since ‘Hotaru no Hoshi‘ in 2003, confessed, “I’m definitely feeling the pressure”. She explained, “I get nervous standing in front of the camera. Movies are different from concerts and stage plays. You have to act in front of a camera. I struggled with that, but I did my best each day with the help of the cast and crew”.
Meanwhile, Suzuki recently finished filming another movie entitled ‘Vampire Stories – BROTHERS‘. She explained how she prepared for the role of Iwamura Ria by saying, “I heard that [my character] was a very mysterious person, so I spent time talking with the director and author about her facial expressions, unique way of talking, and so forth. That’s how I prepared for the role”. Producer Andrew Niwa-Tamon, known for his work in idol-centered dramas such as the ‘Keitai Deka‘ series, said that the reason he chose Kumai and Suzuki for the movie was their “unique presence”, and that “it wouldn’t be exaggerating to say that a masterpiece of high-school horror has been made”, expressing his confidence in the final product.
What’s more, all members of Berryz Koubou and ℃-ute will be making appearances in the movie. The story follows a high-school class that is at the mercy of an unseen “Oosama” who slowly drives the students apart. Having the members of two real-life rival groups play out this plot gives the movie an extra dose of realism. However, in contrast to the tense atmosphere of the story, the idols actually had a peaceful time behind the scenes. Kumai explained, “I received encouragement from everyone”. Berryz Koubou and ℃-ute, who will continue to work together in upcoming concerts and stage performances, have proved their collaboration to be a great success.
The original “Oosama Game” story is now sold in stores as both a printed novel and a comic. The movie is directed by Tsuruta Norio, known for his previous movie ‘Honto ni atta kowai hanashi‘. Under his direction, the movie was filmed in a realistic style. Representing the idols that preceded Berryz Koubou and ℃-ute, former Morning Musume idol Yoshizawa Hitomi will also appear in the movie.
source: tokyohive
Johnny’s Jimusho duo Tackey and Tsubasa have announced the release of their 12th single, entitled “Journey Journey ~Bokura no mirai~“. True to Johnny’s tradition, the single’s cover art has not yet been released, but detailed info about the work was made available.
“Journey Journey ~Bokura no mirai~” will be released in three versions: Limited Edition A, Limited Edition B, and a regular edition. The title track is described as an “uplifting song, mixing smiles and softness with a pop beat that will make your heart race”. Fans will get to find out how Tackey and Tsubasa combine these seemingly contradictory elements when the single gets released on August 31st.
The single also includes “Tomo yo“, a song about a trans-oceans friendship between Japan and Korea. The song will be featured on NHK’s program ‘Minna no Uta‘ during August and September.
Check out the track-listing below!
–
Limited Edition A
CD
01. Journey Journey ~Bokura no mirai~
02. Tomo yo
DVD
“Journey Journey ~Bokura no mirai~” music video
Behind-the-scenes footage
–
Limited Edition B
CD
01. Journey Journey ~Bokura no mirai~
02. Tomo yo
DVD
“Journey Journey ~Bokura no mirai~” music video (Takizawa Hideaki version)
“Journey Journey ~Bokura no mirai~” music video (Imai Tsubasa version)
–
Regular Edition
CD
01. Journey Journey ~Boku no mirai~
02. Tomo yo
03. Love is all
04. Ai wa takaramono (Remix)
source: tokyohive
The latest issue of magazine ‘Big Comic Spirits’ was released today, and readers had an easy time finding it on the shelf thanks to the dazzling picture of actress Ueto Aya on the cover.
Her gorgeous pictorial was titled, ‘If it’s for Aya… we will conserve electricity!‘, hinting at her newest spot in the “White Family” commercial series, where the actors don’t use any lights at all in order to conserve electricity. Looking at the pictorial in this magazine, the commercial ends up looking quite unrealistic, because Ueto would easily be able to brighten up the room with her presence alone.
The actress also talked about other forms of conserving energy, like starting to write letters again instead of emails. She commented, “I love writing letters.”
Maybe you should also rummer for your pen, dust it off, and write a handwritten love letter to Ueto, because you’re definitely going to be lovestruck after seeing this pictorial!
Enjoy the pictures below!
source: tokyohive
Last month, we reported that AKB48 sub-unit Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 will be releasing a new single on August 3rd. Details of this upcoming single has been revealed on their official website!
Watarirouka Hashiritai 7’s 8th single will be entitled, “Hetappi Wink“. This song is about a girl who can’t put her feelings with words, and tries hard to convey those feelings with a wink. When she’s around the person she likes, she is even unsuccessful at winking.
This single will also include “Mamma, Grazie!“, which was used as a campaign CM song for 7-11 Ito-Yokado in May.
Listen to a radio clip of “Hetappi Wink” below!
Limited Edition A (CD+DVD)
CD:
1. Hetappi Wink
2. Mamma, Grazie!
3. Bikini wa Niawanai
4. Hetappi Wink ( Instrumental)
5. Mamma, Grazie! (Instrumental)
6. Bikini wa Niawanai (Instrumental)
DVD:
1. Hetappi Wink Music Video
2. Special Clip A
Bonus - Original Trading Card : Solo shot (1 out of 7 types)
Limited Edition B (CD+DVD)
CD:
1. Hetappi Wink
2. Mamma, Grazie!
3. Chikatetsu no Teddy boy
4. Hetappi Wink (Instrumental)
5. Mamma, Grazie! (Instrumental)
6. Chikatetsu no Teddy boy (Instrumental)
DVD:
1. Hetappi Wink Music Video
2. Hetappi Wink Dance Shot Version
3. Special Clip B
Bonus - Original Trading Card: Solo shot (1 out of 7 types)
Limited Edition C (CD+DVD)
CD:
1. Hetappi Wink
2. Mamma, Grazie!
3. Fuku wo Kita Oosama
4. Hetappi Wink (Instrumental)
5. Mamma, Grazie! (Instrumental)
6. Fuku wo Kita Oosama (Instrumental)
DVD:
1. Hetappi Wink Music Video
2. Special Clip C
Bonus – Alternate Cover (1 out of 7 types)
Original Version (CD only)
1. Hetappi Wink
2. Mamma, Grazie!
3. Mirai no Koibito Uta (Watanabe Mayu solo)
4. Hetappi Wink (Instrumental)
5. Mamma, Grazie! (Instrumental)
6. Mirai no Koibito Uta (Instrumental)
Bonus – Original Trading Card: Group Shot (1 out of 3 types)
source :tokyohive
D-BOYS subgroup D☆DATE have updated their official website with new info about their upcoming single, “DAY BY DAY“!
In April, D☆DATE announced at their mini live that they’d be releasing their 3rd single this summer. “DAY BY DAY” will be available in three editions: a limited CD+DVD version, a limited CD version, and a regular CD version.
Check out the track list and a PV preview for “DAY BY DAY” below!
Limited Edition A (CD+DVD)
1. DAY BY DAY
2. Hello Hello
DVD: DAY BY DAY PV & Behind the Scene Clips
Limited Edition B (CD only)
1. DAY BY DAY
2. Hello Hello
Bonus: Alternative Jacket Cover of Solo Member (1 out of 4)
Regular Edition (CD only)
1. DAY BY DAY
2. All For One
source: tokyohive
Today, it was announced the popular model Kiritani Mirei will graduate from “Seventeen” magazine, with her final issue being the December edition, which starts its sales on November 1st.
Kiritani started modeling exclusively for “Seventeen” back in 2006. Recently however, she’s been appearing on the big screens for the movies “Ranhansha” and “Snowflake”, and has been showing her growth as an actress.
The model announced through her official blog, “It has been decided that Kiritani will graduate Seventeen.” She continued, “Everyone I bet you are surprised sorry (>_<)! But, there is still time, I can still see you guys at the ‘school festival’ and I will do my best to return everyone’s kindness!!! Please take care of me to the end!”
In reply, the fans wrote, “What a shock…what is your next magazine? I will buy the next magazine you are in every month!” and “I’m going to be sad when Ms. Mirei stops appearing on Seventeen! It’s all because of you that I bought Seventeen in the first place.” In total, over 1,000 sentimental messages were left on her blog.
Kiritani will be appearing in the August edition of “Seventeen”, where she will be featured on the front page wearing a cute, girly dress. She’ll also be guesting at the ‘Seventeen Natsu no Gakuensai 2011’ (‘Seventeen Summer School Festival 2011’) in Pacifico Yokohama on August 30th.
source: tokyohive
Once again, one of Arashi’s new tracks from their highly-anticipated album, “Beautiful World“, has been revealed!
This particular song is called, “Niji no Kakera ~no rain, no rainbow~“. It’s a bright song that features some great harmonics from the boys.
Listen to it below!
source : tokyohive
Singer/voice actress Maaya Sakamoto surprised her fans by announcing her intentions to release a brand new album this fall! “You can’t catch me“, her last studio effort, was released just this past January and became the first #1 album in her career of nearly 15 years.
The ‘uncatchable’ singer is already in the process of recording her next album, and will continue to use her official website to update fans with major announcements about the album every Friday.
Check back with tokyohive for more details as they come in!
source: tokyohive
The show that girugamesh performed on June 26th at Zepp Tokyo was the final stop of their world tour, “Here we go!!“, which started on March 5th. For this world tour, they toured Europe, the US, and finally Japan.
Their set list for the tour was packed with songs from their latest album, “GO“, which was released on January 26th.
The 2,450 people who were crammed into the floor at Zepp Tokyo sensed the show was about to start, and were murmuring with excitement. In response to the electricity of the crowd, the band emerged on stage exactly at the scheduled time, while “Opening” – the first track from “GO” – played in the background.
Basically, the audience directed a deafening and ear-blasting sound towards the stage. This welcome, which came from every corner of the venue floor, set the four band members on fire.
They first delivered the songs “destiny” and “EXIT” as greetings to the audience. Then they spurred the show on with big dance numbers “sunrise” and “evolution.” Now the band and the audience were staring to figure each other out, and the interplay between the two parties pitched forward into a faster gear. This is the point where the show officially promised to be amazing.
During the song “Calling“, which starts with synchronized vocals, ShuU pointed at Nii with his left hand and the crowd turned their eyes on him. Nii then hammered out a heavy guitar rift. The more he bangs his head as he played, the more he made it clear he was totally immersed in the rhythm of the song. The idiosyncratic, wild, and sharp tones of ShuU’s bass, and the powerful yet tight drumming of Яyo, laid the groundwork for Satoshi to sing his melodies. Satoshi’s steady vocals unfolded beautiful scenes before us during the middle of the set with songs like “Inochinoki“, “Mienai Kyori“, and “COLOR” – songs that you can sing along to.
—
The band did not fail to deliver their usual recipe of deliriously loud heavy rock, but there was something different about this day’s performance. Not only in the way they looked, but also in their sound there was something stylish and refined.
The band fully satisfied the audience in terms of music – but on this day, they gave more than just that. For example, they paused in the middle of one song for ShuU to talk about his first love, which was an unusual thing to put in a monologue here. Or also, Nii at the end of a song put on sunglasses, and while interjecting wild poses, played intensely on the guitar. They don’t usually have this kind of performance, and from these little signs during the show, I figured that girugamesh could develop as a band even further.
They also showed that in the future, they might appeal not only to hardcore fans, but also all people on a broader scale.
For their last song of the encore, “Saikai“, they promised the audience their further growth, and came back on stage to show the very best that girugamesh has to offer. For this song – amidst complete darkness – spotlights shot down from the ceiling to light up each of the members. And then, when there was just one pinpoint of light, there was a long silence until Satoshi – as if tearing apart the darkness – starting singing the continuation of the song without a microphone.
“Thanks for today. In the future, we’re going to stay honest with our music and approach to what we do with total integrity. So come join us!“, Satoshi said.
This tour enabled the audience that attended to sense how girugamesh’s music has appeal throughout the world, and it has allowed the group the mobility to move up a level in their performance ability.
source : tokyohive
It’s been announced that Tsumabuki Satoshi and Takei Emi will star in a movie, called “Ai to Makoto 201X“, which is scheduled to be released in 2012, and Miike Takashi will direct the film.
“Ai to Makoto” is originally a manga series written by Kajiwara Ikki, illustrated by Nagayasu Takumi, and it was serialized on “Weekly Shonen Magazine” from 1973 ~ 1976.
It’s a youth story featuring a strong love between Taiga Makoto (Tsumabuki), who is a juvenile delinquent high school boy, and Saotome Ai (Takei), who is a pure high school girl.
“Ai to Makoto” has been released as a TV drama in 1974, and it has also gotten a movie adaptation three times from 1974 ~ 1976. The story has a theme of “bond”, such as love and friendship, therefore the production company has planned to make the 4th film adaptation, after the earthquake, with a thought of, “This is filled up with elements of what Japan needs right now.”
The movie will include many action scenes using CG, and not only the love between the protagonists, but also Tsumabuki’s fighting scenes in “regent hairstyle” will be a “must see” for the movie.
source : tokyohive
Just yesterday, a PV preview for AKB48’s Itano Tomomi was released for her second single, “Fui ni“, which is scheduled to drop on July 13th, and now the full PV is out!
Check out the PV below!
source: tokyohive
Previously, tokyohive reported on Buono!’s upcoming new single, “Natsu Dakara!“, which is to be released on July 20th.
Now, the PV preview for “Natsu Dakara!” and the B-side audio preview for “Ice Mermaid” are available to view and listen!
The video features the girls in white attire and gives the girls a refreshing image that’s perfect for summer. “Ice Mermaid” gives the listeners an energetic side of summer.
Check out the summer-themed video and audio below!
source: tokyohive
The latest issue of magazine ‘Big Comic Spirits’ was released today, and readers had an easy time finding it on the shelf thanks to the dazzling picture of actress Ueto Aya on the cover.
D-BOYS subgroup D☆DATE have updated their official website with new info about their upcoming single, “DAY BY DAY“!
Today, it was announced the popular model Kiritani Mirei will graduate from “Seventeen” magazine, with her final issue being the December edition, which starts its sales on November 1st.
In reply, the fans wrote, “What a shock…what is your next magazine? I will buy the next magazine you are in every month!” and “I’m going to be sad when Ms. Mirei stops appearing on Seventeen! It’s all because of you that I bought Seventeen in the first place.” In total, over 1,000 sentimental messages were left on her blog.
It’s been announced that Tsumabuki Satoshi and Takei Emi will star in a movie, called “Ai to Makoto 201X“, which is scheduled to be released in 2012, and Miike Takashi will direct the film.
“Ai to Makoto” has been released as a TV drama in 1974, and it has also gotten a movie adaptation three times from 1974 ~ 1976. The story has a theme of “bond”, such as love and friendship, therefore the production company has planned to make the 4th film adaptation, after the earthquake, with a thought of, “This is filled up with elements of what Japan needs right now.”
