Nao☆ Shows off her Best☆Friends with her Latest Music Video!

Vocalist Nao☆ released the music video for her track “Best☆Friend” on Palette Records’ official YouTube channel. Releasing April 7th, Nao☆ will venture forward once again with her solo career like Negicco member Kaede before her. This will be her latest release since her single “菜の花” (“Kusa no Hana”) back in April of 2018 and will be her second solo single overall. Taijirou Matsuki of the band SCOOBIE DO wrote and composed the single with the band. Not staying too far from Negicco’s usual compositions, “Best☆Friend” is a happy go lucky tune that puts Nao☆ bubbly and carefree nature front and center. The music video itself was shot in sunny Okinawa with Negicco members Megu and Kaede showing up in a blink and you miss it cameo. 

“Best☆Friend” will be released in a CD-only standard edition. Unfortunately, there are no pre-order links at this time, but you can still check out the new music video below!

Yayoi Daimon Presents YouTube Live Showcase!

Japanese singer, songwriter, rapper, DJ, and producer Yayoi Daimon streamed a special Live Showcase on YouTube. This special is a retaliation to the cancellation of the music festival SXSW that Yayoi was supposed to perform at this year. The YouTube Live Showcase is a personal show to all her fans and consists of many of her new tracks from the 3EPs Girls (Strong, Love, and Diamonds) that has just been released. Check out the Live Showcase below!

*Warning - Parental Advisory due to profanity.

Haru Nemuri Tears Up the Town with Latest Music Video!

Vocalist Haru Memuri released the music video for her track “Riot” on her official YouTube channel. Set to be the lead track for her upcoming 2nd album LOVETHEISM releasing March 20th, this will be the latest release done by Memuri since her single “kick in the world” back in 2018. “Riot” has Memuri exploring the chilly environment of Russia with her unique flare and style. 

LOVETHEISM will be released in a CD-only standard edition and a 12 inch vinyl edition in April. More details TBA.

Check out the music video for “Riot” along with the pre-order link for LOVETHEISM below!

Standard edition 

Tuneback Tuesday For The Fifth Week of March!

Let’s turn back the hands of time as we look back at the songs that made the Japanese music industry what it was on the Oricon Weekly Chart. This week we look back at the fifth week of March* for both 2010 and 2015, where two female idol groups Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 and Nogizaka46 reigned supreme with “AkKanbe Bashi” and “Inochi wa Utsukushii” respectively. But just what exactly made these songs so great?

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“AkKanbe Bashi” was Watarirouka Hashiritai 7’s fourth single and first and only single to hit number one on the Oricon charts despite having the lowest sales. It originally sold 27,441 copies during its initial release week and sold a total of 34,296 that year. The single was original available in six different editions; a CD+DVD Limited Edition in Type A, B, CD+Photobook (Type C), a regular edition, a DVD single edition, and a special low priced edition re-named “Otameshi Ban”. Takanori Fujimoto composed “AkKanbe Bashi” and had also composed their previous single “Kanpeki Gu~no ne”, which made it to number seven on the Oricon. “AkKanbe Bashi” is a school tune with an interesting composition that makes it feel like an Anthem song. The track is easy to follow with its simple lyrics and composition which anyone could dance and sing to. “AkKanbe Bashi” is a music that begins very simplistically such as a School Anthem, then ramps up for the chorus, and goes back down to being a simple easy to follow along tune. Watarirouka Hashiritai 7’s showed how they can make their own way despite being a subgroup of AKB48 and made their mark on the industry even if it was for a short period of time.

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“Inochi wa Utsukushii” was Nogizaka46’s eleventh single and their tenth consecutive number one single on the Oricon chart. It originally sold 500,297 copies the first week and had a total sales of 622,248. The single was originally availabe in four editions; three CD+DVD limited edtion versions Type A, B, C and a regular edition. Each version of the single had different track listings and it also came with a ticket to vote in the Senbatsu. “Inochi wa Utsukushii” was written by Akimoto and composed by Hiroki Sagawa. Akimoto has written most of the 48 and 46 groups songs and is also the creator of Nogizaka46. This was the first song for Nogizaka46 that Hiroki Sagawa composed and would go on to produce the B-side track “Sorezore no Ise” later on. “Inochi wa Utsukushii” is a heavy vocal track with beautiful piano composition throughout. Nishino Nanase is the center of this track both vocally and in the video. The song shows off the vocal capabilities of the group and the center Nishino Nanase with moving lyrics and a beautifully memorable composition. Nogizaka46 continues to make an impact in the music industry today as they have continued to release more number one tracks, with their latest being “Shiawase no Hogoshoku”.

*Note that we are following the sales listing for the Japanese Oricon chart for 2010 and 2015 which has five sales week.

Kaede Higuchi releases debut single MARBLE on all streaming platforms!

Los Angeles, CA–

Popular V-YouTuber Kaede Higuchi has major debuted from Lantis Label on March 25th 2020 with her single “Marble”. “Marble” is also available now on all streaming platforms world-wide starting on the same day. As one of the virtual characters managed by Nijisanji, she started her virtual YouTuber activities in February 2018. Her official YouTube channel has attracted 277,000 subscribers and viewed more than 26 million times. 

Written by Tomotaka Taira Arranged by Hajime Mitsumasu, both from the production company First Call, “MARBLE” explodes out of the gate with high pace compositions and angelical vocals making this a great jumping on point for new listeners. The single released with three tracks total and dropped with two editions; a standard CD-only edition and a CD+Blu-ray edition. The Blu-ray included the music video for “MARBLE” along with a behind the scenes making of.

Kaede Higuchi Debut Single “MARBLE” Release Event! Wednesday, April 29 2020

【The First Event】Animate Sapporo Event Space

9:00 AM Open/10:00 AM Start

【The Second Event】Kokura Aruaru City 7F Hologram Theater

11:15 AM Open/11:45 AM Start

【The Third Event】Nagoya The Third Taiko Bldg.

1:15 PM Open/1:45 PM Start

【The Fourth Event】Animate Hiroshima Event Space

4:30 PM Open/5:00 PM Start

【The Fifth Event】Animate Osaka Nipponbashi Event Space

6:15 PM Open/7:00 PM Start

Higuchi also announced that she will hold several release events nationwide across Japan on April 29 which you can check out here.

Check out Higuchi’s Official YouTube Channel, Twitter, along with her Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music page.

Check out the music video for “MARBLE” and order your copy in the links below!

Standard edition

Limited edition

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Track listing:

Kaede Higuchi「MARBLE」

Standard Edition CD

M1. MARBLE

Written by Tomotaka Taira (First Call)

Composed & Arranged by Hajime Mitsumasu (First Call)

M2. Sugar Shack

Written by Tomotaka Taira (First Call)

Composed & Arranged by Hajime Mitsumasu (First Call)

M3. For you

Written by Kaede Higuchi & Everyone

Composed by Hironobu Kageyama

Arranged by Masatomo Ota (SCREEN mode)

Limited Edition Blu-Ray

01 MARBLE -Music Video-

02 Making of “MARBLE”

03 Trailer