With the end of June rapidly approaching, the first half of 2011 has shockingly come to an end, and Oricon recently disclosed the top selling singles, albums, and DVDs since January 1st. Now they have also disclosed just how much the top acts have made these past six months in monetary terms.

AKB48 has proved to be a giant force in the industry, and have shown no signs of slowing down, as the group made roughly 66.6 billion yen (USD $82.6 million). Arashi also proved to be fierce competition, trailing behind the massive girl group by less than a million.


Check out the competition below!


1. AKB48 – 6.66 billion yen (USD $82.6 million)
2. Arashi – 6.59 billion yen (USD $81.7 million)
3. EXILE – 4.68 billion yen (USD $58 million)
4. Amuro Namie – 2.7 billion yen (USD $33.4 million)
5. Shoujo Jidai (SNSD) – 2.6 billion yen (USD $32.2 million)
6. KARA – 2.15 billion yen (USD $26.6 million)


Shoujo Jidai (SNSD) and KARA ranked as the highest foreign selling acts, despite debuting in the tail end of 2010. Shoujo Jidai sold roughly 153,000 copies of their single, “MR. TAXI/Run Devil Run“, and 326,000 copies of their debut Japanese album, “GIRLS’ GENERATION“, just enough to snatch them the lead spot in the foreign artists category.

Tohoshinki (TVXQ) ranks as the foreign act in fourth place, selling 284,000 copies of their single “Why? (Keep Your Head Down)“, while Jang Geun Suk rounds off the top 5 with 186,000 copies of his debut Japanese single, “Let me cry“.


source : tokyohive

Female rock band SCANDAL have just revealed the covers for their upcoming album, “BABY ACTION“!

The covers exude a “superstar” atmosphere with its cool lighting and the girls’ short black outfits, giving fans something more to look forward to until the album finally drops on August 10th.

Check out the covers below!


CD+DVD



CD-Only


source: tokyohive

Singer-songwriter NIKIIE, who made her debut last December, has had her new song, “NAME“, chosen as the ending theme for music program “CDTV” (TBS) through the month of July. The song will be included on the singer’s first album, “*(NOTES)“, on sale July 13th.

With help from Cocco and Abe Mao, and the production talents of Negishi Takamune, the song’s pop-rock sound matches perfectly with the lyrics. “There’s a part of me that’s visible, and a part of me that’s not. There are feelings that can be put into words, and those that can’t. I realized that there is a part of me on the edge of expression, a part that I had been hiding. I hope that this song gives its listeners a chance to make a new discovery”, NIKIIE commented.

The artist’s first album will encompass 12 songs, including her debut single “Shunkashuto” (December 2010), singles “HIDE&SEEK“, “Ajisai“, and others. It will be released in both a limited and regular edition. The limited edition includes the music video for “NAME”, as well as a DVD of the 8 songs performed at the “It’s ME, NIKIIE TOUR!!” concert on April 10th in Shibuya.

NIKIIE will also kick off a new tour after the album’s release, called “NIKIIE LIVE TOUR 2011 *(POSTSCRIPT)“. Beginning September 16th at KRAPS HALL in Sapporo, the tour will cover 8 concerts in 8 cities before ending October 14th at club SONIC in Mito.

Tickets for the upcoming tour will go on sale August 13th.
source :tokyohive

The critically-acclaimed BBC documentary, “Life -Inochi wo tsunagu monogatari-“, narrated by kabuki actor Matsumoto Kojiro and his daughter, actress Matsu Takako, will open on September 1st, and the theme song for the Japanese release will be rock band Mr. Children’s “Sosei” (“Rebirth”).

The song was released in May 2002 as part of the album “IT’S A WONDERFUL WORLD“, and is a favorite at Mr. Children concerts. Nine years after its release, the song that means so much to Mr. Children has finally been picked up as a movie’s theme.

The song was chosen for its message of life, hope, and courage, which dovetail with the documentary’s theme. Mr. Children’s vocalist and guitarist Sakurai Kazutoshi said, “Animals have their own will, and know how to communicate it. I didn’t know that until I watched the movie”. He says he can relate to the movie’s theme, and agreed to participate because he wants to inspire others to watch the movie as well.



This movie is the largest production in history with more than 3,000 days of filming and a production cost of 3.5 billion yen (~$43.6 million). More than traditional nature photography, this documentary is the first to capture scenes from the animal’s point of view.

With more than 20 episodes surrounding the animals of land, sea, and sky, the movie aims to illustrate the animal kingdom in breathtaking detail.

source : tokyohive

Former Morning Musume member Goto Maki left a message for her fans on her website recently.

In the message, she talks about her plans to go on hiatus in 2012.

See the original message here.

The translation of the message is as follows:

“To my fans and those who will be affected,

Today, I have important news.

I, Goto Maki, will stop all entertainment activities starting January of next year.

13 years ago, during the summer, not knowing the world, as a daughter of a working-class family, I brazenly took the opportunity to audition for Morning Musume. And I became Gomaki; while I experienced many brilliant stages, I ran about in a daze.

I am truly thankful for all my fans who came to support and root for me in both clear weather and rain, for the staff and others who always assisted me, and for my family as well as fellow entertainers I have met.

In winter of last year, I lost my mother, who was a strong source of support; this led me to think about many things.

Looking back on the path that I had walked, I thought about how I wanted to live in the future and found it different from the path that I had chosen up until now.

I feel extremely thankful for everyone’s existence.

However, as it is, I cannot fill up a giant void within myself.

Up until now, I have always been living not for myself, but for someone else.

I have come to the conclusion that this time, that “me” should not be living for someone else, no matter who they are, but for myself.

That “me” is not Gomaki; instead, it is connected to my desire to change into a normal Goto Maki.

While I think about what I can do, I want to challenge myself to do whatever it is I think up.

I have agonized about this for a long time, but I have decided to stop my feet here.

For those who have supported me as singer Goto Maki, I will use all of my energy to run through the remaining half of the year.

In July, a new track will be released for distribution; in the summer, I will go to various places to sing for a-nation; in the fall, Avex, to which I have transferred to, will release my first album.

And in December, just like nearly four years ago, I will hold a solo concert.

While I wish that you will understand my selfish determination, in the period until my hiatus, even though I am just one person, I want my gratitude to reach everyone and I will do my best to open up all of my power.

Doozo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.

2011 June

Goto Maki”

source : tokyohive

Mizuki Nana’s upcoming song “7COLORS” has been chosen as the new ending theme for the TBS quiz show “Hitachi Sekai Fushigi Hakken!“.

“7COLORS” will be included on Mizuki Nana’s 25th single, “Junketsu Paradox“, on sale August 3rd, and it promises to gain a lot of attention as the ending theme of a popular prime-time show.

The singer is currently on her nationwide tour, “NANA MIZUKI LIVE JOURNEY 2011“. The tour covers 14 concerts and will finish at Sendai’s Sun Plaza Hall on August 13th and 14th.

source: tokyohive

AKB48 has been chosen as the image characters for Asahi’s “Wonda” coffee drinks!

The group – which features top members Itano Tomomi, Shinoda Mariko, Watanabe Mayu, Oshima Yuko, Kasai Tomomi, Yokoyama Yui, and Maeda Atsuko – will be promoting the drink, “Wonda I’m FREE“.

During the commercial, Yokoyama cutely exclaims, “I’m FREE!”, in reference to the 97% caffeine-free drink.

Unlike previous commercials, AKB48 wears casual clothing to bring out their sincere expressions of happiness.

Check out the CM below!




source: tokyohive

On June 20th, idol group Morning Musume appeared at a public recording event for a STAR digio music broadcast that occurred in Tokyo.

The group has just completed their first concert as a nine-person group with the four new Ninth Generation members, and in front of nearly 1000 fans who gathered at the event, Morning Musume Sixth Generation member Michishige Sayumi remarked with a smile that, “The ninth generation members are still feigning innocence.” Afterwards, she praised herself, while her fellow members smiled bitterly.

Before their first public recording, new member Suzuki Kanon said, “As usual, I want to sing and dance with a smile,” while Ikuta Erina said spiritedly, “I think that many people are listening and I also think about the people who could not come to the event while I sing and dance.”

Mitsui Aika, who fractured her left ankle at the group’s May 8th public performance in Nagano Sunplaza, and was told she needed 8 weeks of recovery time, smiled and said, “I am okay. I stood for one month. I am healthy,” and she later participated in the event on crutches.

An edited recording of the event will be broadcast as a special program on the 26th at 11 PM on STAR digio as “Morning Musume. ‘Shoka no Kaishingeki’ Special ~ Watashitachi no deban ga yatte kitaa!! 9 nin, chikara o awasete tsukisusumu kara nee!!~.”


source: tokyohive

Yesterday, AAA’s Nishijima Takahiro and Uno Misako posted a YouTube video on their YouTube channel on how to dance “CRAZY GONNA CRAZY,” a song that will be featured on their Buzz Communication Tour 2011.

In this short video, Nishijima starts out the video by stating, “Hi, everyone! How are you? The two of us will now show you how to dance ‘CRAZY GONNA CRAZY’. I’ll be really happy if you learned it and remembered it for our live concert for Buzz Communication Tour 2011!”

Many of the comments from the viewers state on how cute this video is.

So check out for yourself on how cute the video is below!



source: tokyohive

Model/talento Masuwaka Tsubasa (Milky Bunny) has revealed the jacket covers for her upcoming debut single, “Bunny Days“, to be released on July 20th.

The cover see Masuwaka posing with adorable bunny ears in a pastel-colored room.

Check out the regular version of the cover below, in addition to the close-up version shown above!




source : tokyohive

The cast of “Ouran Host Club” was recently interviewed on TBS’s morning show,”Ousama no Brunch“!

Check out the video and translation below!




Based on a very popular teenage girl’s manga, the main character is a girl who joins a club and ends up posing as a boy.


Kawaguchi Haruna acts as the main character, performing in her first drama.

Yamamoto Yusuke acts as the host club leader/director.

Daito Shunsuke acts as club’s vice leader/director.

-

Question to Kawaguchi: This is your first drama, how do you feel?

Kawaguchi: I’m so nervous, I feel like throwing up (laugher). But I have the will to perform well, and I’ll do my best.

-

Question: How did everybody prepare for their roles?

Yamamoto: There is the manga and anime to study and learn the role from.

Nakamura: And we also learned the mannerisms of the characters directly from the character instructor.

-

Question: Within those character’s mannerisms that you learned, were there any surprise parts to the character?

Response: The manner in which one has to “bow” (ojigi).

This is how you normally bow, but we learned to bow from the waist, keeping the angle of one’s neck straight.

-

Question to Ryusa: It seems Ryusa is the black sheep of the group, as you’re the only one with a different uniform. How do you feel?

Response: Yeah, it just seems like an error, but…the character is well played at certain point.

-

Question to Kawaguchi: Among the seven actors here, please pick the one who portrayed the character best.

Response: (After playing around with the seven guys…complimenting, bribing, etc.)

Tamaki (Yamamoto)!

Fundamentally, these parts always had lots of tension, but when we’re together, we always kept smiles on our faces.

Yamamoto: There is a lot of similarity in my character and my real self. I think even if this is for real, and not just acting, she’s probably picking me.

-

Question: What about in real life?

Kawaguchi: For real, I think it’s Nakamura.

(Yamamoto seems down…he thought she would pick him.)

-

Now a question to everybody…how do you plan to fight the heat this summer?

Ito: I don’t like to keep air conditioning on…like when I go sleep, I just leave the window little open and feel the night breeze.

Takaki: I don’t think of it as hot. It’s all a matter of mind control.

Yamamoto: Guarantee you guys are lying!

-

At the end of the interview, Kawaguchi states:

With interesting members, I’m hoping that this drama will provide good laughter and a good story for everyone.

The drama starts in July!


source :tokyohive

Hello! Project group Buono! has released some details about their upcoming single, titled “Natsu Dakara!”

The single will be released on July 20th in three different packages: Limited Edition Type A, Limited Edition Type B, and Regular Edition. The limited editions will come with a serial number for their fan event and a DVD.

Check out the single covers below!




source: tokyohive

The members of AKB48 will be making a guest appearance on an award show called, “The Golden Melody Awards“, which is the Taiwanese equivalent to the Grammys.

AKB48 members Umeda Ayaka (22) and Oya Shizuka (19), as well as SKE48 members Ogiso Shiori (18) and Matsumoto Rina (17) made an appearance at a press conference for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan to make the announcement.

AKB48 opened their first official store in Taipei on June 12th. Umeda commented, “Our Taiwanese fans have been supporting us for a very long time,” showing her gratitude towards the fans over there. She even added, “We’ll worked very hard to deliver a perfect performance!”

For the performance in Taiwan, five members from AKB48, five members from SKE48, and six members from NMB48 will be making an appearance. A total of 16 girls will be there to see the Taiwanese fans at The Golden Melody Awards.

source : tokyohive

Takimoto Miori, who will be playing the lead role in the Japanese remake of the popular Korean drama, “You’re Beautiful (Ikemen desu ne),” has cut 36 centimeters of her beautiful long black hair.

She will be playing the two roles of Miko, a girl who is filling in as her twin brother Mio, a vocalist in a rock band. Although she is merely gearing up to play her role, cutting hair is no easy task for any girl. However, Takimoto commented, “I feel refreshed! I want to be called ‘cool’ instead of ‘cute’ right now.”


On top of revealing Takimoto’s new look for this drama, they have also released the album covers for the rock band “A.N.JELL“, along with artist photos. Kis-My-Ft2’s Tamamori Yuta and Fujigaya Taisuke, as well as HEY! SAY! JUMP’s Yaotome Hikaru, are also featured on the album covers.

Being that this was before their group’s major debut, both members of Kis-My-Ft2 were amazed that their faces were on the cover of a CD, excitedly commenting, “We haven’t even debuted and our faces are on a cover of a CD!”

The insert song for the drama will be a Japanese version of the song from the Korean drama, and is currently being recorded. There may be a chance that those songs will be released in some form or another.

The drama will also feature AKB48’s Kojima Haruna as the troublemaker idol, as well as Tano Shingo as the hair stylist, which makes it a very fresh cast. With new and fresh faces gracing the TV screen, we can definitely look forward to the next wave of “Ikemen” fever!

Check out Takimoto Miori’s new look, as well as one of the album covers for “A.N.JELL”, below!






source: tokyohive

Ikimonogakari will be releasing their 20th single, “Warattetainda/NEW WORLD MUSIC”, on July 20th, and it has been about a year since they released their last single, “Kimi ga Iru Kara”.

This new single includes “Warattetainda”, a song that the band’s guitarist, Mizuno Yoshio, wrote for Nissan Motor’s “Nissan SERENA” CM. The coupling song, “NEW WORLD MUSIC”, is the theme song for Fuji TV’s morning news program, “Mezamashi TV“. The arrangements for “Warattetainda” were done by Kameda Seiji, while “NEW WORLD MUSIC” was arranged by Tsutaya Koichi.

Last night, the members of Ikimonogakari broadcasted on “Ikimonogakari Yoshioka Kiyoe’s All Night Nippon”, and announced this new release. Additionally, they sang “Warattetainda” on air, pleasing the listeners.

Track List:

1. Warattetainda
2. NEW WORLD MUSIC
3. Warattetainda -instrumental-
4. NEW WORLD MUSIC -instrumental-

source: tokyohive