[starttext] Just moments ago, the Sanrio Japan Official YouTube Channel released the full PV for SCANDAL’s “CUTE!“, which is also the “CINNAMON Collaboration Song“.
The track is the coupling song off of SCANDAL’s first single of 2011, “PRIDE“, due out for release on February 9th.
We previously reported that pop group BRIGHT would be releasing a new song, called “Ichinen Nikagetsu Hatsuka”, on January 12th through Recochoku, but it appears the girls have more plans for the song!
A 60-second teaser of what appears to be an official PV or advertisement for the “Ichinen Nikagetsu Hatsuka” track was uploaded onto Avex’s official YouTube channel. BRIGHT also announced through this video, and on their official website, that they would be going on tour in order to promote their newest song.
Those who purchased the song through Recochoku as a ringtone will be entered into a raffle to attend a special premium live by the four-membered group. The series of performances, titled “BRIGHT LIVE TOUR ~Sannen Ikkagetsu Nijuuyokka,” will begin on March 12th and end on March 27th for a total of four lives.
Actor Chiba Yudai and fashion model Kanno Yui will both be making special appearances in rookie rock band Violent is Savanna’s newest PV, “Awa-Iro Sakura Chiru”!
Although their second major label single, “Awa-Iro Sakura Chiru / Refrain Tumor”, will not be released until February 9th, the band has already released the music video for their newest song, marking the first time that Chiba and Kanno have appeared together.
Aside from his role as the Red Ranger in Tensou Sentai Goseiger, Chiba also appears in television commercials and fashion magazines as a model. On the other hand, Kanno has made multiple appearances in popular teen magazines, and has even produced her own brand of cosmetics.
Violent is Savanna debuted as major band last year. During their time as an indie band, they charted at number two on the indie single charts. The band’s latest song, “Awa-Iro Sakura Chiru”, is said to be a painfully sad “sakura song” to coincide with the theme of farewells during the season of the cherry blossoms.
After teasing us with a 30-second sample earlier, the nine ladies of Shoujo Jidai have finally dropped the full audio of their new digital release, “Run Devil Run“.
The girls will perform this track on the January 28th episode of TV Asahi’s “MUSIC STATION”, and many fans are curious over whether Shoujo Jidai will revive the original Korean choreography for its promotion.
Check out the track below (and you can support them by purchasing the music through iTunes Japan)!
Fuji Television’s music program, MUSIC FAIR aired the “Tokunaga Hideaki the 25th anniversary special” on January 22nd, and AKB48 member, Itano Tomomi made an appearance on the show. Itano performed, “Kagayakinagara…” with Tokunaga Hideaki which is one of the classic masterpieces of Tokunaga from 1987.
Although this was the only song Itano performed on this episode, MUSIC FAIR will air the sequel to the “Tokunaga Hideaki the 25th anniversary special” next week as well. So you will be able to see her performing more on next week!
Below is the performance of Itano and Tokunaga together.
Rock band SuG released their single, “Crazy Bunny Coaster“, on January 12th, and a day before its release, they held a special promotional event for the single.
Just a little while ago, the PV for “Crazy Bunny Coaster” was revealed, and you can check it out below.
AKB48 has just kicked off their 4-day live concert, “AKB48 Request Hour Set List Best 100 2011“, on January 20th at SHIBUYA-AX. The members held a press conference before the concert started, and to the reporters’ delight, they performed their upcoming song “Sakura no Ki ni Narou“!
At the press conference, member Itano Tomomi said, “This year will be the real challenge for AKB48.” Another member, Takahashi Minami, also said, “I hope we’ll be known by people in other countries as well.”
Check out the part of their performance for “Sakura no Ki ni Naoru”.
The premiere for “Byakuyako” was held on January 19th, and cast members Horikita Maki, Kora Kengo, and Funakoshi Eiichiro showed up to the greet the press. As we reported several times, Horikita is challenging an evil role in the movie for the first time.
At the premiere event, Horikita was asked by the host what kind of villainies she has done in the past. Horikita answered, “I can’t tell you the worst wrong I have done, but I will confesse my tenth worst one. I was quite terrible at drawing, so I asked my friend to draw it for me in art class. I even received a compliment for the picture.”
Listening her past villainy, Funakoshi, the king of suspense drama, said, “It’s quite bad for the tenth thing. I would like to know what you have done for the worst to the ninth.”
The official release of “Byakuyako” is scheduled to be on January 29th, and it will also be exhibited at the “61st Berlin International Film Festival.”
The popular puzzle game series Professor Layton has recruited none other than veteran singer-songwriter, Matsutouya Yumi to sing the theme song for the latest game in the series, “Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle”!
The Professor Layton series has shipped more than 9.5 million units worldwide, and will be releasing its fifth addition to the franchise next month. The game will be one of the first to be available for Nintendo’s newest handheld console, the Nintendo 3DS, and will hit stores on February 26. Matsutouya’s new song “Mysterious Flower” is described as being a pop tune that is simultaneously mysterious and bright, all characteristics which describe the world inside the game.
This year, the beloved singer will also be performing at the “SURF&SNOW in Naeba Vol.31″ event being held at Niigata’s Blizzardium performance hall. The event begins on February 4th and ends on the 16th for a total of 8 performances. A free “ski slope live” is also being arranged for any person attending the performance on February 13th.
Check out the official trailer and the commercial featuring “Mysterious Flower” below!
Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle CM (Mysterious Flower ver.)
J-Pop queen Ayumi Hamasaki held the final stage of her nationwide tour on October 11th, 2010, and it was such a spectacular show that she’s decided to share it once more!
Titled “ayumi hamasaki Rock’n'Roll Circus Tour FINAL ～7days Special～”, the recording will be released as a special 3D movie in Spring of 2011, but fans can now preview the concert (in 2D) through the singer’s official YouTube account.
To recap, the final stage for Ayu’s “Rock’n'Roll Circus” tour featured 11 different costumes and a whopping 28-song set. From wedding dresses to an aerial swoop over the audience, fans can relive (or experience for the first time) the intense excitement found at her concert. Tickets to the movie will be ￥2,000 -￥2,500 at the door.
Check out the official trailer below!
“A3D-II ayumi hamasaki Rock’n'Roll Circus Tour FINAL ~7days Special~” Official Trailer
SMAP member Kusanagi Tsuyoshi and actress Takeuchi Yuko showed up at the theater to greet the audience for their movie, “Boku to Tsuma no 1778 no Monogatari“, which was released that day on January 15th.
This marks the third time that the pair have co-starred with one another since the first time it occurred for “Yomigaeri“, released in 2003. Kusanagi said, “Thanks to Yuko-chan, I was able to do wonderful acting, it was a miracle.”
The movie is based on the true story of the San Francisco writer Mayumura Taku and his wife, who passed away due to cancer in 2002, and it’s a story in which the main character kept writing a short story every day for five years to make his wife smile, believing the doctor’s word that when people laugh, it increases the body’s immunity.
Since the movie’s theme is “What can you do for your loved one”, Kusanagi said, “I would find something common between me and the wife. Since I love curry, if the wife also likes curry, how about cooking curry for her every day…the spices are good for her health too.” On the other hand, Takeuchi said, “I would try to keep myself smiling in order to make my partner smile. If he makes curry for me, I would be pleased to eat the curry.”
