FAKY LIVE 2022 #nofilter", A one-man Live Concert with A Live Audience will be Streamed Online for Overseas Fans Tonight!

Popular girl group FAKY is holding a one-man live concert called "FAKY LIVE 2022 #nofilter" with live audiences on Wednesday, 23 February 2022. In response to requests from overseas fans who can't make it to the venue, they have decided to broadcast the live one-man live performance to overseas audiences as well! Both of the daytime and nighttime performances will be streamed live!

For those who cannot view it in real-time, there will also be an archive of the event so don't miss out on this opportunity! In addition, the archived broadcast for overseas is a special version that includes the members' talk sessions. So after watching the live broadcast, don’t forget to watch the archived broadcast as well! Let's have a great time together online! 

You can purchase tickets at the following site!

https://ib.eplus.jp/index.php?dispatch=tour_group.view&id=523&time_key=1645154722&key=9eba9b5dea4dd671ac338c27a7ac9f41

Maaya Sakamoto Brings Double Trouble with Upcoming Releases!

Popular vocalist Maaya Sakamoto will be singing theme songs for two TV anime starting in April in Japan. The first is the opening theme for Deaimon, a story set in an old confectionery store in Kyoto. The title is “Sumire.” The lyrics were written by Sakamoto herself, and the composition and arrangement was done by Shigeru Kishida of Kururi, a Japanese rock band from Kyoto, matching the setting of the anime. Sakamoto has stated that she has always loved the band Kururi and was deeply moved by the collaboration. She will also be voicing Mari Yukihira, the mother of the anime’s heroine, Itsuka Yukihira.

The second song is “Kotoba ni Dekinai,” the ED theme for the third season of the popular anime Ascendance of a Bookworm, which has sold over 6 million copies (including e-books). Sakamoto commented, “This song is full of feelings of gratitude for irreplaceable people and places, and feelings that inspire you when you’re discouraged. In that sense, it’s a sad song but also one that allows you to positively move forward.” It is a fitting ending for the third season.

Comment from Maaya Sakamoto:

“Sumire” is the theme song of Deaimon. I wrote the lyrics and asked Shigeru Kishida of Kururi, a band that I’ve always loved, to handle the composition. I think that I was able to write very peaceful lyrics, guided by the warm melody. Sumire (Violets) are a common flower in everyday life, and you can even find them growing in gaps in concrete. They’re so small that you might overlook them, but they are actually very powerful and huddle together to bloom. I chose this title due to the characteristics that these flowers share with people. I’m delighted to have another precious song that I can continue singing into the future.

“Kotoba ni Dekinai” is the ending theme for the third season of Ascendance of a Bookworm, and I handled the lyrics and composition. This song is full of feelings of gratitude for irreplaceable people and places, and feelings that inspire you when you’re discouraged. In that sense, it’s a sad song but also one that allows you to positively move forward. People who are going through many new encounters and farewells as their environment changes this spring may be particularly able to identify with it. Please give it a listen.

As we look forward to both releases be sure to check out the lyric video of her fourth concept album Duets, below!

TK from Ling tosite sigure Announces Striking New Singles with Guest Vocalist Koshi Inaba!

TK from Ling tosite sigure announced two new songs with guest vocalist Koshi Inaba (B’z), which will be released as a double A-side single “As long as I love / Scratch (with Koshi Inaba)” on March 16. 

“As long as I love (with Koshi Inaba)” is a rock number with lyrics written by Inaba and music composed by TK. This song with Inaba’s powerful vocals along with TK’s intense guitars and his typical roller coaster-like composition will make everyone explode with excitement. On the contrary, “Scratch (with Koshi Inaba)” is a stunning ballad with a sad, solemn piano and strings, and the powerful voices of the two singers will touch all hearts. 

“Scratch (with Koshi Inaba)” will be used in an animated advertisement for “Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty” which will be released on February 18. This is the latest product of the original strategic trading card game “Magic: The Gathering” which has over 40 million players and fans worldwide. The song will be available on YouTube and other sites from noon on February 16 and will also be available for pre-order on music distribution sites on February 17. 

This collaboration came about from TK’s strong respect for B’z which impacted him since he started playing the guitar during his schooldays. To close off the 10th anniversary of TK’s solo project, he sent Koshi Inaba a demo and the project became reality. 

In October 2021, on the occasion of TK’s 10th anniversary solo project, he released a best album “egomaniac feedback” including new songs and those collaboration songs with various musicians created a buzz. 

In November, when Spotify had their 5th anniversary in Japan and announced various rankings, TK’s song “unravel”, which was the opening theme song for the anime “Tokyo Ghoul” released in 2014, ranked first in the “most played Japanese songs overseas” ranking. It will soon reach a total of 200 million streams and has a great reputation overseas, especially in Europe and the United States. The new single with Koshi Inaba, Japan’s leading vocalist who needs no further introduction, is a must listen to.  

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<Comment from TK (Ling tosite sigure)>

I’d always stay in my room, constantly playing B’z on my guitar. Their sound fascinated everybody and of course I was also blown away by their sound too. In this dream-like collaboration, Inaba-san listened and paid close attention to all my detailed requests. It was surreal and every single moment that he was involved in has been engraved in my new musical DNA. The voice that could be heard right next to me, sounded even more radiant than ever before, and it felt like an essential element was being poured from an unreachable place. The person that opened the doors to music for me, continues to be an overwhelming existence that still shook my heart, and it was a collaboration filled with joy. I hope that this song will leave a lasting impression for many people. 

Koshi Inaba

<Comment from Koshi Inaba>

When I was approached about this project, I had no idea what TK and I would be able to create together. So, we started on the premise that if we create something interesting and we’re both satisfied, then we would release it. And the moment I listened to the first demo he sent me, all my hesitations disappeared, and I let the momentum of TK’s creativity take over and ran with it until the end. TK is a musician with great ears, open-minded with lots of ideas and above all has the ability to hold stimulating conversations. I am grateful for the wonderful musical experience. And, of course, the finished song is amazing.

As we look forward to the upcoming release be sure to pre-order the single here!

NASCAR Series racer Akinori Ogata collaborates with SUPER EUROBEAT for new single ‘RED ZONE’, out now!

Akinori Ogata, a racer in the hugely popular NASCAR Series motorsport racing series in the United States, has joined forces with avex’s Eurobeat brand HI-BPM STUDIO (SUPER EUROBEAT) for an exciting new collaboration. The result is “RED ZONE”, a brand-new signature song produced by SUPER EUROBEAT especially for Ogata, released this past week.

The Hi-NRG music genre exploded out of mainland Europe in the 1980s, based largely around a thriving production scene in Italy in the latter half of the decade. The SUPER EUROBEAT series of compilations took this music genre to a whole new audience: The first compilation was released in 1990, and the series has continued up to Vol. 250, with a further 500-plus related releases to date. The genre mingled with disco, club music, the motorsport scene and Japan’s “parapara” dance style, and more recently, it has been finding fresh demand all around the world, especially throughout Asia and the United States.

The storied Eurobeat music genre and the revered brand SUPER EUROBEAT have long been associated with high-speed racing, making them a perfect fit for Ogata, who is a competitor in the NASCAR Series, a massively popular racing series in the United States.

The NASCAR series is the largest such motorsport event in the US, with a history of over 70 years. It is a national series, with a total of over 90 races held on dedicated oval courses all across the States during the 10-month season from February to November. With 75 million fans worldwide enjoying everything from practice races to live televised events, NASCAR is a major sport in itself. 

As a professional racer from Japan, Ogata has participated in the NASCAR Series since 2003, and is now based in North Carolina, home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, where he competes in the Xfinity Series among others.

“RED ZONE” Digital Jacket Cover

For this collaboration, SUPER EUROBEAT has produced and digitally released ”RED ZONE”, a signature song created especially for Ogata by RAY HIKARI. The track was produced in consultation with Ogata and expresses his essence through music and lyrics, as a warrior behind the wheel in the rough and tough races of the NASCAR Series, and as an icon of Japanese taste and American racing.

The artwork accompanying the digital single features a Toyota Supra, which Ogata drives on the track. A music video is also available on YouTube, featuring footage shot at the racing circuit as well as clips of Ogata himself, making it a must-watch for lovers of Eurobeat as well as racing fans.

This new track is the first of many planned collaborations between Akinori Ogata and SUPER EUROBEAT. Keep an eye out for more updates soon!

Comment from Akinori Ogata

“To be able to participate in both a SUPER EUROBEAT song and NASCAR racing brings me much happiness and energy. The engine sound you can hear in the track is a recording of my actual racing car in action, so I hope you will enjoy the real sound of NASCAR racing and continue to support me in future.”

Be sure to check out the official video below, along with the streaming link for the track here!

Olympic Figure Skater Used Yoshiki's Composed “MIRACLE” in the Beijing 2022 Olympics!

Mana Kawabe, representing Japan in figure skating at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, will be free skating to "Miracle", composed by YOSHIKI, this past week on February 17.

Originally written and composed in Italian by YOSHIKI as a classical song, "Miracle" also opens his band X Japan’s live shows. In 2018, a collaboration version was released with world-famous soprano Sarah Brightman. The combination of the majestic, beautiful melody with Brightman's powerful singing voice brought "Miracle" to Top 10 Classical Music charts in 15 countries.

Last night, YOSHIKI posted a New York Times article on his Twitter account. Along with touching upon the problems occurring in the Olympic figure skating world and adding "Hope everything goes well for everyone", he sent out some "miracle power" with the following statement: "There has been a lot of big news about the Beijing 2022 Olympic figure skating competitions here in the United States. To all the Japanese athletes, I am supporting you from America. Mana Kawabe will be free skating using 'Miracle', a song which I composed. I would be happy if 'Miracle' could provide her with strength."

Songs composed by YOSHIKI have been used by a number of championship skaters. In 1993, US athlete Midori Ito performed using X Japan's "Rose of Pain", while Mai Asada performed using "Amethyst". From 2015 to 2016, Daisuke Murakami used "Anniversary", which is a congratulatory song for the 10th anniversary of His Majesty the Emperor's coronation. Yamato Tamura, who represented Japan at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, is famously a big fan of X Japan, loving to use both "Kurenai" and "Amethyst" for his exhibitions.

Be sure to check out her previous performance of the track below!