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Namie’s “NEW LOOK” is the VMAJ 2009’s Best Female Video
Namie Amuro’s PV (promotion video) for her single “NEW LOOK” took the Best Female Video at this year’s MTV VMAJ (Video Music Awards Japan). In addition to the top female video award, her PV for the single “Sexy Girl” won the Best R&B Video award. Congrats to Namie! (Via Tokyograph.)
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SPEED to go on nationwide tour
Having reunited in August of last year and with a new single (“S.P.D.”) to be released on the 27th of this month, the girls of SPEED have announced a nationwide tour—their first in eight years—beginning September 5, 2009, in Aichi Prefecture and concluding on October 14, 2009, at the Nippon Budokan. (Via Yahoo! Japan.)
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THE BOOM to release a special cover album commemorating the band’s 20th anniversary
On July 22, 2009, THE BOOM will commemorate their 20th anniversary with a special cover album that will feature several artists from Okinawa. Known for their song “Shimauta,” THE BOOM has released a number of singles with an Okinawan-sound to them. Titled “THE BOOM 20th SPECIAL COVER ALBUM,” it will feature Kariyushi58, MONGOL800 and BEGIN.…
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Stereopony’s 1st album to be released on 6/17
Popular 3-piece all-girl rock band, Stereopony, coming off from a gig in the US at SXSW ’09, will be releasing their debut album on June 17, 2009. Titled “Hydrangea ga Saiteru,” the album will have a total of 13 tracks with the limited edition CD+DVD version (cdjapan link) containing a documentary of the trio at…
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Long-awaited debut album from Sadahito China
Gosh, I think this release is more than a decade in the making and I believe it’ll be well-worth the wait. Sadahito has for years, been one of the backup musicians for O-pop quartet Nenes, is also the second son of legendary utasaa Sadao China. So I’ve always thought it strange that it took so…
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BENI to release a new single on June 10
Following the release of her April single, “Kiss Kiss Kiss,” BENI has her second single for 2009 set for a June 10 release. The single, titled “Koi Kogarete,” will be coupled with tracks related to the opening of the first FOREVER 21 clothing store in Harajuku. Official Website BENI’s YouTube Channel (Via bounce.com.)
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Misako Oshiro & Toru Yonaha to release collaboration album!
Mark your calendars for this historic (well, IMHO) release: on June 24 veteran singer Misako Oshiro and popular singer-songwriter (and producer) Toru Yonaha will release a collaboration album titled “Futari Uta~Umui Keishou.” The 12-track (including a bonus track of a live performance at Misako’s Shima Umui) album is produced by Toru Yonaha and will be…
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Kanako Hatoma’s second album, “Tiida nu Fwaa”
Yeah, I’m late on this one as it’s been sitting in my To-Do list for several months. So without further ado… Yaeyama singer Kanako Hatoma (26) released her second album, “Tiida nu Fwaa,” in October of last year. The album follows her debut album “Yoon no Michi” which was released in 2001 on Sadao China’s…
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MAX to release new single on July 22
MAX, reunited with the return of MINA in October of last year, will be releasing a new single called “Rough Cut Diamond” on July 22nd. The single, the group’s 30th, will be their first in three years and will have a tie-up with the TV Tokyo drama “Kariyushi Sensei Chibaru! (かりゆし先生 ちばる!).” The afternoon drama…
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Maki (HandMC’s former vocalist) is pregnant
Congratulations to Maki (former vocalist of HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR) who with her husband, Masato Nakamura (of DCT), are expecting their first child. The couple married in June 2008 with Maki leaving HandMC shortly after. The band has replaced Maki with 21-year-old vocalist HALCA who is from Okinawa. (Via Tokyograph.)
Karakui 