Nao Toyama Casts a New Spell with Upcoming Single!

During a special variety show titled “Naobou’s Summer Vacation with Yumiri and Tane” that was recently streamed on YouTube, voice actress Nao Toyama announced that she will be singing the ending theme of Isekai Shokudo (Restaurant to Another World) season 2, which will begin airing in Japan in October 2021. The song, titled “冷めない魔法“ (“Samenai Maho”), will also be released as a single on November 3! 

Since her debut, Nao Toyama has played the heroine in numerous popular anime. Last year, in 2020, she celebrated her 10th anniversary as a voice actress and released a character song best album titled “Special Thanks.” This year, her fifth as an artist, she released a mini concept album titled “off” on the theme of rest and healing, which ranked 4th on the Oricon Weekly Ranking. 

“Samenai Maho” will be released in three editions: a CD-only standard editions, a limited editions that will come with a bonus Blu-ray, and an anime editions that will come with a bonus DVD. The limited edition Blu-ray will include a full recording of Ouchi de Naobou! Minna de Off-Kai, a YouTube concert held to commemorate the release of her mini concept album “off” in June. This will also include previously unreleased footage of her singing “Sayonara Moratorium” and “Kimi no Egao ni Koishiteru.” The booklet will include the names of those who supported Ouchi de Naobou! Minna de Off-Kai with Super Chat/Super Stickers, as well as newly taken photos. 

The bonus DVD with the anime edition contains the entire episode of Naobou’s Summer Vacation with Yumiri and Tane that was broadcast on August 14, including unreleased footage. The cover of the anime edition will be a special collaboration illustration of Nao Toyama tucking into a meal at Yoshoku no Nekoya, a restaurant in Isekai Shokudo season 2. 

As we look forward to the upcoming release be sure to check out the music video for “off”, song with the pre-order links for “Samenai Maho” below!

Standard edition

Limited edition

Anime edition 

The Masterpieces of DREAMS COME TRUE are Recorded by a World-Famous Belgian ocarina player, Tom Vanopphem with 'Bittersweet'!

World-famous ocarina player from Belgium, Tom Vanopphem announced that he will be teaming up with UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN with an official cover album of Bittersweet, September 22. Tom Vanopphem, who is an ocarina player from Belgium, loves Japan and Japanese culture.  He has become popular on social media by playing requested songs with the ocarina.  Speaking fluent Japanese, he has been attracting many followers.  The number of his TikTok followers counts over 330,000. 

After playing the ocarina around the world, Italy, Australia, Belgium, Greece, China, Taiwan, and Japan, he decided to stay in Japan where the video game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which Vanopphem is a fan of was born. It gave him an opportunity to get to know the ocarina.  The Japanese culture, economic strength, people’s kindness were additional factors that made him stay.

Vanopphem will releases his major label debut album, Bittersweet, which is a cover album from the band, DREAMS COME TRUE. The ocarina’s sensitive and lyrical sound perfectly matches with the melodies created by the extraordinary melody maker duo, Miwa Yoshida and Masato Nakamura, and enhances the beauty of the songs.

The album consists of ten masterpieces of DREAMS COME TRUE, “Mirai Yosouzu II”, “Suki, Kiminishika Kikoenai”, “Memai”, etc.  In addition, as a bonus track, “Green Hill Zone” from the game SONIC THE HEDGEHOG is included, which was composed by Masato Nakamura. Recently it was played at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics 2020.  This is actually the song that introduced DREAMS COME TRUE to Vanopphem. Vanopphem plays three octaves with triple ocarina, not the ordinary single ocarina. His ocarina makes you hear the words.  This album is a must-listen for music fans all over the world.

As we look forward to the upcoming release be sure to check out his cover of the popular track “Homura” along with the pre-order links for Bittersweet below!

Standard edition 

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Tom Vanopphem「Bittersweet」

1. Mirai Yosouzu II   

2. Kiminishika Kikoenai   

3. Memai   

4. Suki   

5. Mikazuki   

6. Kohakuno Tsuki   

7. Oyasumino Uta   

8. NOCTURNE 001   

9. SNOW DANCE   

10. ETERNITY   

11. Green Hill Zone

LOVEBITES' Bassist Miho to Withdraw & Band to go on Hiatus!

We have the unfortunate news of reporting that Miho, member of the popular five-member girls rock band LOVEBITES’ had announced that she will leaving the group and with the band being taking a hiatus from all activities. Miho, who has been with the band since 2016 had commented, “Over the past couple of years, I have been self-reflecting and reconsidering how I can be myself as a musician. When I look back, this period gave me an opportunity to broaden my perspective in both my professional and personal life. I'm parting ways with the band. However, my spirit for Heavy Metal never dies. Also, LOVEBITES will keep moving forward, so I really hope you all keep giving the same love for their future.” With the band commenting “Today we have to let you know that our bassist, Miho, is leaving LOVEBITES. We’re so sorry to be bringing such sad news to our fans and everyone who has supported us so far. When we think of and feel for our fans, we struggle to find the right words to say.

This is also a really tough one but we need to let you know that we will be suspending our activities as LOVEBITES for a while. However, we are definitely coming back. We kindly ask for your patience until then.”

We at OTY would like to thank Miho’s to her contributions to LOVEBITES’ and the Japanese music industry on a whole as well. We wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.  

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Full comments

Miho Comment:

To all my loving and supportive fans,

It was really hard to make this decision, but I have to announce my departure from LOVEBITES as of August 17, 2021. Given the current state of the world, it has made it difficult for me to give my goodbyes in person, so I really apologize for those who are shocked by this sudden announcement.

Over the past couple of years, I have been self-reflecting and reconsidering how I can be myself as a musician. When I look back, this period gave me an opportunity to broaden my perspective in both my professional and personal life.

LOVEBITES has been my life since 2016, and it always holds my best memories, especially performing at WACKEN OPEN AIR made one of my dreams come true even though it's still unreal to me.

I couldn’t have done any of these without my bandmates, crew, staff and the undying love and support from fans all across the globe. My words cannot describe how much I want to thank you all for everything.

I'm parting ways with the band. However, my spirit for Heavy Metal never dies. Also, LOVEBITES will keep moving forward, so I really hope you all keep giving the same love for their future.

Thank you so much again for all your love and support.

Hope to see you again one day soon.

Miho

LOVEBITES Comment:

To our dear fans,

Firstly thank you all for always supporting LOVEBITES.

Today we have to let you know that our bassist, Miho, is leaving LOVEBITES. We’re so sorry to be bringing such sad news to our fans and everyone who has supported us so far.

After Miho told us she was thinking of leaving, the band and our staff have had countless meetings to find a way for her to stay. But in the end, we decided to respect Miho’s wish.

When we think of and feel for our fans, we struggle to find the right words to say.

This is also a really tough one but we need to let you know that we will be suspending our activities as LOVEBITES for a while. However, we are definitely coming back. We kindly ask for your patience until then.

Thank you all for your continued support for LOVEBITES’ future and for Miho’s future.

LOVEBITES

Asami, Midori, Miyako, Haruna

RADWIMPS Turns It Up A Level With Upcoming Album!

Popular three-member rock band RADWIMPS announced that they will be releasing a brand new album November 23. Currently untitled, this will be the latest album release by the band since ANTI ANTI GENERATION back in December of 2018 and will be their tenth album overall. This work includes brand new song "TWILIGHT" and the already-released songs "Cocorononaca (Complete ver.)", "夏のせい" (“Natsu no Sei”), and "鋼の羽根" (“Ko no Hane”). The album will drop with three editions: a CD-only standard edition and two limited editions. Lovingly called the 15th Anniversary Box, both editions will come with either a bonus Blu-ray or a two-disc DVD and 64-page photo back. The Blu-ray/DVD will feature footage from their anniversary concert along with the music video for “TWILIGHT”.

As we look forward to the upcoming release be sure to check out their latest music video “Ko no Hane” along with the pre-order links for the album below!

Standard edition 

Limited edition DVD/ Blu-ray

ORESAMA Introduces Fans to A Brand New World With Upcoming Album!

Duo ORESAMA announced that they will be reloading a brand new album, CONTINEW WORLD, October 27. This will be the latest album release by the duo since their album Hi-Fi POPS back in April of 2018 and will be their second album overall. The album will come with two discs and will feature twelve tracks total on each. In addition to six new songs including the title song "CONTINEW WORLD", the ending theme song "Gimmme!”and "OPEN THE WORLDS" will be featured. With the second disc come all 12 songs of the self-cover "Dressup cover", which was popular with fans on ORESAMA's official YouTube channel.

As we look forward to the upcoming release be sure to check out the music video for their track “Gimmme!” below!

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CONTINEW WORLD Jacket Cover

ORESAMA「CONTINEW WORLD」

DISC 1

01. Gimmme!

02. OPEN THE WORLDS

03. パラレルモーション

04. Chewy Candy

05. CATCH YOUR SWEET MIND

06. ロマネスク

07. Baby Baby Blue

08. Waiting for… -Album mix-

09. ホトハシル

10. 夜行ノ雨

11. Moonlight

12. CONTINEW WORLD

DISC 2

01. 銀河 -Dressup cover-

02. 綺麗なものばかり -Dressup cover-

03. カラクリ -Dressup cover-

04. Morning Call -Dressup cover-

05. 秘密 -Dressup cover-

06. 迷子のババロア -Dressup cover-

07. あたまからモンスター -Dressup cover-

08. 耳もとでつかまえて -Dressup cover-

09. 恋のあじ -Dressup cover-

10. ワンダードライブ -Dressup cover-

11. 密告テレパシー -Dressup cover-

12. 「ねぇ、神様?」 -Dressup cover-