Hikaru Utada Announced Online Concert!

The wait is almost over. Here’s the update fans have all been waiting for. The online concert titled "Hikaru Utada Live Sessions from Air Studios" will be streamed on the artist's birthday, January 19.

The studio concert was recorded at Air Studios, the legendary recording studio in London, with the concept of performing the songs for the first time from Hikaru Utada’s brand-new album BAD MODE, releasing on January 19. Performing the majority of songs from an album on the very day of its release will be a first for Hikaru Utada.

For this performance, Utada gathered a group of renowned musicians led by bassist Jodi Milliner, the band master for their tour in 2018. The session is recorded and mixed by sound engineer Steve Fitzmaurice, who also worked on the new album. Video was directed by David Barnard, whose filmography includes Radiohead's "In Rainbows - From Basement" and Eric Clapton's "LOCKDOWN SESSIONS". The idea is that the online show allows you to immerse yourself in the ultimate performance with the best sound and video in the most comfortable space of your choice.

It's a rare opportunity for fans everywhere and the artist themselves to share and celebrate the release of the first new album in 3 years and 7 months, so don't miss it!

"Hikaru Utada Live Sessions from Air Studios" Official Website
https://www.utadahikaru.jp/livesessions2022/

Title: Hikaru Utada Live Sessions from Air Studios
Date: January 19, 2022
Open 7pm (JST) / Start 8pm (JST)　Ends 9:00pm (JST) tbc
Archive Streaming: Available through January 23, 2022 11:59pm (JST)     

Price: Viewing Ticket (includes Digital Invitation Card): 2,800JPY (incl. tax)
Ticket Sales: From December 9, 2021 12pm/Noon (JST) to January 23, 2022 10pm (JST) *All Platforms

Streaming Platform (Outside Japan):
Stagecrowd: https://intl.stagecrowd.live/hikaruutada_0119/
Ticket Info: https://intl.stagecrowd.live/inquiry_hikaruutada_0119/

HIRAIDAI Collaborates with Starbucks Once Again with Another Amazing Holiday Track!

“Starbucks, Me and You (English Ver.)” Digital Jacket Cover

Singer-songwriter HIRAIDAI has released “Starbucks, Me and You (English Ver.)” today (Wednesday, December 8) across all digital music streaming platforms, as his latest official holiday collaboration with Starbucks.

The original Japanese-language version of “Starbucks, Me and You” was released last year as the first ever musical holiday collaboration with Starbucks, featuring lyrics based on festive stories provided by over 3,800 Starbucks customers and baristas. The song was played in Starbucks stores around Japan last year, and this year as well.

This heartwarming song perfectly captures the comforting glow of Starbucks during the holiday season, including references to the iconic gingerbread lattes and red cups that we all know and love, while channeling the feelings of happiness, connection with loved ones and warm emotion that we associate with the festive season.

The new English version of HIRAIDAI’s song features lyrics cowritten by globally renowned producer Corey K, along with HIRAIDAI’s touring cohorts David King and J’Nique Nicole. The new English lyrics bring a whole new charm to this timeless song.

Since Wednesday, December 1, “Starbucks, Me and You (English Ver.)” can be heard at Starbucks stores in 13 countries and regions around the Asia Pacific, including Japan (may exclude some stores). Check it out next time you stop in for a coffee and be sure to check out the track here and the lyric video below!

Hikaru Utada Connects with Fans with Latest Music Video!

It is Hikaru Utada's 23rd anniversary of debut. On this memorial day, we are very excited to finally share details of the 8th studio album, BAD MODE!

The album will be released digitally on January 19 and will also be available on CD February 23. The album will feature many hit songs such as "Kimini Muchuu" (main theme for TBS Friday night drama Saiai), as well as “One Last Kiss”, theme song for EVANGELION:3.0+1.0 THRICE UPON A TIME, “Find Love” featured in SHISEIDO's new global campaign "POWER IS YOU", “Face My Fears” (opening theme for action role-playing game KINGDOM HEARTS Ⅲ), “Time” (main theme for NTV Sunday drama Bishoku Tantei Akechi Goro), “PINK BLOOD” (main theme for anime series To Your Eternity) and “Darenimo Iwanai” (SUNTORY Tennensui CM song). Of course, it also has brand new songs including the title track “BAD MODE” and, on top of that, there will be some remixes as bonus tracks.

The Single-Run Limited Edition CD will be bundled with DVD and Blu-ray that contain “Hikaru Utada Live Sessions from Air Studios” concert and behind-the-scenes documentary of the show, along with music videos of “Time,” “One Last Kiss,” “PINK BLOOD,” “Kimini Muchuu,” and “BAD MODE.” This is sure to be a must-have item for the fans! Stay tuned!

Be sure check out the music video for “Kimini Muchuu”, along with the pre-order links for BAD MOOD below!

Standard edition

Limited edition

I☆Ris Overflows Their Love with Latest Music Video!

Popular voice actress and idol unit i☆Ris release their 21st single, “Junigatsu no Snowry” / “Heart Beat Kyujosyo” on December 8. Overflowing with the power of love, lead track “Heart Beat Kyujosyo” also has a music video out now on YouTube!

In the music video, the five members of i☆Ris wear adorable red and white dresses and express their innocent feelings of love as they dance in a fairytale world adorned with giant stuffed animals, heart-shaped balloons and mountains of wrapped presents. 

Near the beginning of the video, the girls dance with the pointer fingers of both hands on their heads as though they are firing laser beams, known as the “love beam dance”, grabbing the viewer’s heart with the most adorable dance imaginable. True to the track’s title, hearts feature prominently in the video, with the members making heart shapes with their hands and on their cheeks. In fact, you can spot eight different types of heart poses in the video, including one that is made up by three members together! During the chorus, in particular, the heart poses are timed to the beat of the song. 

The simple “heartbeat dance” choreography allows you to dance along with just your upper body, making it perfect for TikTok videos. It’s a dance filled with heart that makes you want to join in, and there’s no doubt that i☆Ris will start a “heart whirlwind” this winter! 

The end and the beginning of love – check out i☆Ris as they express both of these feelings in the new video for “Heart Beat Kyujosyo” below!

▼Join the i☆Ris Heart Share ❤ campaign on Twitter!

The music video for ‘Heart Beat Kyujosyo’ is packed to bursting with hearts! i☆Ris want you to take a screenshot of your favorite heart-related moment in the video, from the members’ heart poses to cute heart-shaped items, and post them to Twitter along with a heartfelt message for i☆Ris and the hashtag #i_Ris_Heartshare. Come join in the fun!

The official i☆Ris Twitter account will send you a heart in return, by liking your tweet! Yes, you will be trading hearts with the members of i☆Ris! As well as posting your best heart-shots yourself, you can even add hearts (likes) or retweets to messages by other fans too, and help the “heart circle” of i☆Ris to grow even further!

Campaign period: Wednesday, December 1, 20:00 Japan Standard Time until Wednesday, December 8, 23:59 JST

Live Report: KiRiSaMe UNDERTAKER's The trouble at the KiRiSaMe Festival! Find out the mystery of vanished Harrison and one million Lisvaletta pounds!

Five-member rock band KiRiSaMe UNDERTAKER performed their first hosted live show, The trouble at the KiRiSaMe Festival! Find out the mystery of vanished Harrison and one million Lisvaletta pounds, at Shibuya GUILTY this past weekend. Here is the official report of the live show where KiRiSaMe UNDERTAKER has performed many theme songs and inserted songs from anime and games with a variety of guests.

They released the music video of “Mozaiku Kakera”, which is the ending theme song of Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion, today. This song is their third project covering the theme songs from SUNRISE’s anime works and they performed at the live show and released to the world.
KiRiSaMe UNDERTAKER kicked off their live concert with “Twin×Hayate”, which is the theme song of ZENONZARD BReAK. They warmed up the audience with their sharp mixture rock sound. After that they performed their debut single “Stereo to Monologue” then they continued to perform “Don’t Think Feel So Good!!!” and “Gunpower Ballad”. Those 3 songs are all related to the TV anime Double Decker! Doug & Kirill.

They performed the song “Tri- Alive”, which is the ending theme song of SD GUNDAM World Sangoku Soketsuden, with the animation. And after they finished the song “REW” with huge applause, their guest  DJ KAMMY, who worked on the song for anime Saikyo Kamizmode!, appeared on the stage.

The DJ’s amazing performance and collaboration with the vocalist Joshua made the atmosphere of the place energetic. Then KiRiSaMe UNDERTAKER introduced their 3rd project which is covering the theme songs from SUNRISE’s anime works. They have been releasing music videos of their cover songs on their official YouTube.

As their 3rd cover song for the project they performed “Mozaiku Kakera”, which is the ending theme song of  Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion. They made this cover song with a new arrangement and the song was totally reborn with their new interpretation.

They revealed the story behind the shooting of the music video of the cover song “COLORS”, This song is also the theme song of Code Geass Lelouch of the Rebellion and the shooting of the video was done at the head office of SUNRISE (It used to be situated in Kamiigusa, now the head office was moved to Ogikubo.)

There was a voice message from Shun Horie who voiced the main character for the mobile phone game Code Geass Genesic Re;CODE. When he said that there would be a request for a new insert song of the  anime, the members were surprised and happy to hear the news. They performed ‘Hitosetsuna’ as if responding to him.

Next, Nanase Matsuoka, who worked on  the song  ”ZENONZARD THE ANIMATION”, sang solo. She sang songs from the anime, such as ‘WakeUp’ and ‘It’s so beautiful’ amazingly as the audience can immerse themselves into the world of the anime story. After her performance the band members joined the stage again.

She sang the opening theme song “Da La Doubt” with Joshua as twin vocals, which is part of the uniqueness of the song. And performed the ending theme song “MaGiC x NuMBER” stylishly.

In the end they welcomed Satoshi Mikami who voiced Douglas Billingham for Double Decker! Doug & Kirill and he performed four songs including character songs. They sang  “Stereo to Monologue”, which is the theme song of Double Decker! Doug & Kirill, together. The audience were totally captivated by his beautiful voice.

The two hours of their first host live show ended with them thanking all the anime works, and thanking all the fans who supported them. Be sure to check out the live below!

Event information
The archive of the live show will be released until the 12th of December (Sun) !
KiRiSaMe UNDERTAKER’s first hosted live show
“The trouble at the KiRiSaMe Festival! ～Find out the mystery of vanished Harrison and one million Lisvaletta pounds～” .
Date: 4th of December (Sat)
Performer: KiRiSaMe UNDERTAKER
Guests: Satoshi Mikami,Nanase Matsuoka and others
Venue: Shibuya GUILTY　（https://www.guilty.ne.jp/top.php）

Ticket information

 (Ticket)
Price: JPY 2,500 yen＋tax plus settlement fees
Period of sales： until the 12th December (Sun) at 21:00
Tickets URL：https://faver.tv/live/show/19

※The period of releasing the archive video：It will be available to watch once the video is ready after the live performance. It ends on the 12th of December (Sun) at 23:59.