THE SOUND BEE HD Strikes Back with the Releases of their Best-of Album!

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MEMORIES-THE SOUND BEE HD 20th anniversary- Jacket Cover

MEMORIES-THE SOUND BEE HD 20th anniversary- Jacket Cover

In celebration of the band's 20th anniversary, the Gothic Rock band THE SOUND BEE HD has released a new best-of album titled DEAD MEMORIES-THE SOUND BEE HD 20th anniversary- on May 26. 

This is a double-disc that compiles 29 tracks, featuring new versions of “WALKING DEAD”, “SOU”, “doku”, “live”, “maimu” and their early-stage song “SLIPPING TO THE HOLE”. The old tunes may make the fans nostalgic, but the re-recorded tracks convey the experience and evolution of the band.

Originally, THE SOUND BEE HD was supposed to celebrate the band's 20th anniversary in June 2020, but this release and the commemorative concert were postponed to this year due to the pandemic. In addition, they took a brief break to allow vocalist DaISUKE DARK SIDE to recover from the affection of throat polyps. THE SOUND BEE HD returned to live activities by the end of the winter season and announced the release of this new work with the spot of the re-recorded iconic song “WALKING DEAD” in April. 

Through several releases over the years, the band has been taking their fans into a dark and horror-like world. Going through their Japanese Gothic era, stepping into their zombie theme direction for what they’re now known for, and going forward with the heavy and aggressive sound shown on the previous mini-album First Blood.

Get a glimpse of THE SOUND BEE HD’s 20-years journey with this best-of. You will be bewitched by their dark and melancholic music! Be sure to order DEAD MEMORIES-THE SOUND BEE HD 20th anniversary- from our friends at Starwave, along with the music video for the track “ENDLESS DEAD” below!

Standard edition

Original Soundtrack of the Anime Film “Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop” to Release on July 21!

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Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop, an original anime film directed by Kyohei Ishiguro (Your Lie In April) and starring Somegoro Ichikawa VIII and Hana Sugisaki, is set to premiere in Japan on July 22. The film’s original soundtrack, which includes both the score and insert songs, will be out a day earlier on July 21.

This album will include a total of 24 songs, including the score by Kensuke Ushio, a solo artist who performs under the moniker agraph and has also worked on films such as A Silent Voice; the song “Yamazakura” by Taeko Onuki, a pioneering female singer-songwriter in the Japanese pop scene; and the main theme song “Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop” by never young beach, a band that has been attracting attention for its pop melodies and life-size lyrics.

Be sure to pre-order Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop below!

Standard edition

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop Original Soundtrack Jacket Cover!

Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop Original Soundtrack Jacket Cover!

Various Artist 「Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop Original Soundtrack」

01. Soda Bottle Baby

02. Nouvelle Mall

03. It’s A Mess!

04. Sunny

05. Sunset Like An Orange

06. Face-2-Face

07. Sepia

08. Detour

09. #Kawaii!!

10. Bitter Sweet

11. Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop

12. Close Sig

13. Look For Something

14. Warm Light

15. Yes, We’re Open

16. I Like You

17. Your Smile

18. Words I Couldn’t Say

19. Tears

20. I wish…

21. YAMAZAKURA / Taeko Onuki 

Lyrics/composition: Taeko Onuki, arrangement: Hirokazu Ogura

22. YAMAZAKURA (Instrumental)

23. Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop / never young beach

Lyrics/composition: Yuma Abe, arrangement: never young beach

24: Oyamada Daruma Ondo / Shohei Naruse

Lyrics: Dai sato, composition/arrangement: Kensuke Ushio

*Songs 1-20 were written, composed, and arranged by Kensuke Ushio

Hololive VTubers Star in Virtual Concert This Weekend on Quest, Smartphones, Online!

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Botan Shishiro

Botan Shishiro

Hololive VTubers Lamy Yukihana and Botan Shishiro, with over 1.3 million combined YouTube subscribers, will headline a virtual concert in VARK, a virtual concert platform, and on the web via the streaming platform Niconico on Saturday, May 29. The show kicks off at 9 AM CET / 4 AM EDT / 5:00 PM JST via the VARK app on Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2, as well as Android and iOS smartphones. 

For those unable to attend the live concert, but still want to experience it for themselves, the Niconico platform allows for video on demand viewings for up to two weeks after the premiere.

Cinderella Switch vol.6 is brought to viewers by Hololive, a Japanese VTuber agency with millions of global fans, and VARK, Inc., the global leader in the VR concert industry.

Lamy Yukihana

Lamy Yukihana

• Cinderella Switch is an innovative virtual concert series starring Hololive VTubers


• Two hugely popular VTubers trade places being on-stage and cheering with fans from the audience


• After both sets, viewers can join a backstage conversation between Lamy and Botan, exclusively for bundled ticket purchasers


Tickets for Cinderella Switch vol.6 featuring Lamy Yukihana and Botan Shishiro are on sale now. 

VR and mobile tickets are available in-app on Oculus Quest, Oculus Quest 2, and Android and iOS smartphones for approximately $43 / €35 (448 VARK coins) for one concert part, or approximately $80 / €66 (847 VARK coins) when buying both parts bundled together. 

Web tickets are available now via Niconico for approximately $33 / €28 for one part, or $62 / €51 when bundling.

Kiyoshi Hikawa Brings the Southern Winds With Upcoming Album!

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Enka star Kiyoshi Hikawa announced that he will be releasing a brand new album, 南風吹けば (Minami Kaze Fukeba), June 8. This will be latest release by the artist since  “南風” (“Minami Kaze”) back in January and will include “千年先までも” (“Chitose Saki Made mo”), which was composed by Raymond Matsuya, and “紫のタンゴ” (“Murasaki Tango”), written by Reiko Yukawa. The album will feature twelve tracks in total and be available in two editions: a CD-only standard edition and a limited edition which will come with a bonus DVD. The DVD will contain the music video for “Murasaki Tango". The music video, produced in a studio near Tokyo, is a lively work featuring professional tango dancers and Hikawa’s expression of duality by changing make-up and costumes.

As we look forward to the upcoming release be sure to check out the preview for his track “Minami Kaze” along with the pre-order links for Minami Kaze Fukeba below!

Standard edition 

Limited edition 

Kiyoshi Hikawa「Minami Kaze Fukeba」

01.南風

02.そこまで春が...

03.出発

04.筑後川

05. みちのく恋女

06. 澄海岬

07. 五島の船出

08. 明日への道

09. 千年先までも

10. 紫のタンゴ

11. 星空のメモリーズ

12. 大地の子守唄

FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE Brings the Magic With Latest Music Video!

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Popular eight-member dance-vocal unit FANTASTICS from EXILE TRIBE released the music video for their track “PERFECT MAGIC” on their YouTube channel. "PERFECT MAGIC" is a song produced for the project "BATTLE OF TOKYO", comprised of the 38 Jr. EXILE generations members featuring GENERATIONS, THE RAMPAGE, FANTASTICS, and BALLISTIK BOYZ. “PERFECT MAGIC” is a FANTASTICS-like song with a digital update of New jack swing. The MV is composed of live-action and animation and the motion of FANTASTICS, which develops a performance. Their avatar, created by Astro9, develops a splendid illusion that is seamlessly connected to create one world view for the viewers.

“BATTLE OF TOKYO” drops June 23, and the single will come in a bombastic seven editions: a CD-only standard edition, two standard editions that will come with a bonus DVD/Blu-ray, two standard editions that will come with three DVDs/Blu-rays, and two limited editions which will also come with three DVDs/Blu-rays. 

Be sure to check out the music video in question along with the pre-order links for “BATTLE OF TOKYO” below!

Standard edition

Standard DVD edition/ Blu-ray

Standard three DVD edition/ Blu-ray

Limited three DVD edition/ Blu-ray