JapanSugoi

Last month, heavy metal guitarist and Japanese TV celebrity Marty Friedman released a Jpop cover album called “TOKYO JUKEBOX”

The project was made in conjunction with his magazine column “J-POP Metal-giri (J-POPメタル斬り)” on “Nikkei Entertainment! (日経エンタテインメント！)” and the tracks on the album like Sayuri Ishikawa’s (石川さゆり) “AMAGIGOE (天城越え)” were requested from fans of his column.

Marty also released a Jpop book (in Japanese) last year which became a best seller on Amazon Japan. He’ s been trying to get the book translated into English.

Marty Friedman Tokyo Jukebox playist

01. TSUME TSUME TSUME (爪爪爪) / Maximum the Hormone (マキシマム ザ ホルモン)
02. GIFT / Mr.Children
03. AMAGIGOE (天城越え) / Sayuri Ishikawa (石川さゆり)
04. Story / AI
05. Polyrhythm (ポリリズムポリリズム) / Perfume
06. Karitaku Nattayo (帰りたくなったよ) / IKIMONOGAKARI (いきものがかり)
07. TSUNAMI / Southern All Stars (サザンオールスターズ)
08. Yuki no Hana (雪の華) / Mika Nakashima (中島美嘉)
09. Eki (駅) / Maria Takeuchi (竹内まりや)
10. Sekai ni Hitotsudake no Hana (世界に一つだけの花) / SMAP
11. Romance no Kamisama (ロマンスの神様) / Koumi Hirose (広瀬香美)
12. Ashita he no Sanka (明日への讃歌) / alan

Marty Friedman promoting his Jpop book

Rie Tomosaka ともさか りえ is a 29 year old actress and model who has appeared in 39 TV shows since her debut in 1993.  The Nagano born actress has also appeared in 9 movies and 6 stage shows and is also a Jpop singer with 10 singles and 4 albums (under her name) and another album under the stage name Eri Sakatomo.

Her last album from 1999  “rie tomosaka best” was re released yesterday under the name “rie tomosaka best +3″.  The album will include the same 12 tracks as her 1999 best album, plus three additional songs that have never been included on a best album. Those three songs are “Shoujo Robot,” “Ikenai Ko,” and “Nihon ni Umarete,”, all produced by her friend, rocker Ringo Shiina.

Yesterday, she also released a brand new album called “Toridori トリドリ” which marks her return to music after 9 years.  Mito and Ikuko Harada (Clammbon クラムボン) , Ukigumo and Ichiyo Izawa (Tokyo Jihen 東京事変 ) Yuichi Ohata, Hajime Omori Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra 東京スカパラダイスオーケストラ  and Kaela Kimura 木村カエラ , are all involved in the new album.

Rie Tomosaka Videos

slideshow

cappachino PV

Shoujo Robot PV

Otaku fans of school girl idol Jpop group AKB48 will be looking forward to purchasing their new single tomorrow called Namida Surprise 涙サプライズ.  The single is the group’s 12^th since it was first formed back in 2005.

The maxi single with  CD cover jacket designed by famous contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami,  includes  the title track, a second track titled Shonichi 初日 and a bonus track, First Love. There’s also a vocal less track for  sing along version or karaoke .  The DVD box includes the music video and a behind the scenes “making of” the music video. Just in case you can’t keep up with AKB48 and all the subgroups

Team A has  Maeda Atsuko 前田敦, Fujie Reina 藤江れいな, Kojima Haruna 小嶋陽菜, Miyazaki Miho 宮崎美穂, Minegishi Minami 峯岸みなみ, Takahashi Minami 高橋 みなみ, Kitahara Rie 北原里英, Itano Tomomi 板野友美 and Shinoda Mariko 篠田麻里子

Team K has Oshima Yuko 大島優子, Ono Erena 小野恵令奈, Miyazawa Sae 宮澤佐江 and Kasai Tomomi 河西智美

Team B  has Watanabe Mayu 渡辺麻友, Kashiwagi Yuki 柏木由紀, Nito Moeno 仁藤萌乃 and Sashihara Rino 指原莉乃

SKE48 has Matsui Jurina 松井珠理奈 and Matsui Rena 松井玲奈

Kenkyuusei : Komori Mika 小森美果

Fans of  Jpop group Scandal will be happy tomorrow when their new single Shoujo S 少女S will officially be released.  The all girl band who some say are the successors to ZONE are riding on a wave of publicity since the single (the band’s sixth) is also used in the opening for popular anime Bleach which has won them many otaku fans.   The sexy “schoolgirls dancing in the rain” will win them more fans!

More photos of the video here.

Scandal Shoujo S Videos

Music Video

live version

TV news segment featuring  Tomomi and Haruna of Scandal

The new opening for Bleach 10 - Shoujo S

usertube user metalreda from Mexico covering Shoujo S

Like Scandal’s music? We do! See more or purchase here

Saturday night is a classic pop song by the Scottish band Bay City Rollers from 1976 which has very popular in Japan and the song has been “Jpop-ized” and covered 5 times in Japan. Japanese comedian Gorie released a 2005 cover called  “Pecori Night” (same music different lyrics) which was the 48th best selling single that year.

The song was also covered by Japanese producer Yoichiro Ito - Akakage,  Japanese boy band Arashi (borrowing the chorus and replacing the lyrics) with their song Carnival Night Pt. 2,  Japanese band JAM Project used the Saturday Night chant rhythm in their song “March of Rescue Hero” and Japanese band TOKIO used elements from Saturday Night in their song “Kanpai!!”

Recently the lead singer of the Bay City Rollers Les McKeown appeared on SMAPxSMAP to sing Saturday Night.  Les has a connection with Japan through his Japanese wife Peko.

Pecori Night by Horie

Arashi Carnival Night pt2

Bay City Rollers 1976 Saturday night original

Light rock/Jpop group Anatakikou アナタキコウ was founded in October 2001 by Masaki Houjo (vocal/guitar),  Masaki Matsuura (vocal/guitar) and Toshimitsu Fuji Toshimitsu.  In May 2002, the band produced their first demotape “Lily” that led to a recording contract with Sonata Records.

The band’s refreshing sounds have been captured in their 4 albums “Sweet montage A”, “Gradation’12″, “Message Pie” and ” Yellow Matador”. Earlier this year the band announceanad that main vocalist Masaki Houjou would be leaving the band in order to pursue a solo-career. Despite this loss, the two remaining members are continuing the band together along with support member Mina Sugimura.

Read more about Anatakikou from there interview here.

Anatakikou Music Videos

Lily

雨がやんだら　”ame ga yandara (After the rain stops)”

レモンの涙 “Lemon no Namida(tears of lemon)” yellow matador

Like Anatakikou’s music? We do! See more or purchase here.

Straightener ストレイテナー is a great Japanese indie rock band formed in 1998 who still have a strong and loyal following today.  Although their band line up has changed over the years their sound is still as powerful today as it was when they first started.  The band consists of front man Atsushi Horie, guitarist Jun Oyama, bassist Hidekazu Hinata and drummer Shinpei Nakayama.

The band has released 14 Singles/EPs and 11 albums since 2000 and are a favorite performer at rock festivals across Japan. The band toured all over Japan during their LINEAR tour in 2007 and they toured Japan earlier this spring to promote their new album NEXUS.

Straightener Music Videos

against the wall

killer tune 2004

today

a song runs through world

the remains 2005

Like Straightener’s music? We do! See more or purchase here.