Music News
Avex Star Search 2009
Are you a US-based entertainer who wants to become a star in Japan? Here's a competition that just might get you there.
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- Posted 7-1-09
HYDE's Greatest Hits Album Digital Release on July 7 Originally released in Japan on March 18th of this year, HYDE will be offering his first greatest hits self-titled album for digital download from iTunes and other online music stores.
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- Posted 6-26-09
VAMPS Album Release What happens when you combine the talents of L'Arc-en-Ciel's vocalist HYDE and Oblivion Dust’s guitarist K.A.Z.? A wonderful thing called VAMPS!
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- Posted 6-25-09
Capsule Greatest Hits Album "Flash Best" Capsule is a two-person group composed of songwriter/producer Yasutaka Nakata and vocalist Toshiko Koshijima. Their double CD greatest hits collection "Flash Best" will be released in Japan on 8/26/2009.
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- Posted 6-24-09
 Ready to do your good deed for the day? Just click on this link and vote to help get Natccu onto the bill at Japan's Summer Sonic.
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- Posted 6-22-09
 She's back with a new 13 song album! Japanese release date of 6/24/09.
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- Posted 6-18-09
 On 6/24/09 Ringo Shiina will release a new 14 song album in Japan featuring the songs "Marunouchi Sadistic (Expo Version)" and "Karisome Otome Death (Jazz Version)".
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- Posted 6-18-09
Joe Hisaishi New Album "MinimaLRythm" Joe Hisaishi, aka Mamoru Fujisawa, the grandmaster composer for Hayao Miyazaki, has a new album featuring the song "Da Ma Shi E" (The End of the World) set to be released in Japan on 8/12/09.
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- Posted 6-18-09
Kalafina's New Single "Storia" to be Released July 1st Fresh from their US debut at Anime Boston 2009 Yuki Kajiura's singing project's new single "storia" will feature music from the NHK TV show "Rekishi Hiwa Historia". The original soundtrack album will be released on August 26th in Japan.
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- Posted 6-12-09
Two months after the release of their cover album Puffy will be releasing a new original album in Japan and supporting it with a 7 show Japanese tour aptly titled "PUFFY TOUR 2009 Bring it!"
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- Posted 6-12-09
Gackt Attack Sets Up July 4th 10-year Anniversary Gackt has announced that to commemorate his 10th year anniversary as a solo artist he will be releasing -- count em' -- four singles over the course of four weeks leading up to his solo debut on July 4th. Welcome to Gackt Solo Heaven.
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- Posted 6-12-09
Love em' or hate em' their success goes on. On May 21, 2009 Morning Musume's new single "Shouganai Yumeoibito" hit #1 on Japan's weekly Oricon Singles Chart.
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- Posted 6-12-09
New Puffy AmiYumi Cover Album "Puffy AmiYumi x Puffy" On March 25, 2009 Puffy released a 19-track album containing cover songs of various artists. Most of the songs had been previously released on albums or on singles.
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- Posted 6-12-09
The Yoshida Brothers release a new album entitled "PRISM" The modern masters of the shamisen are back with a new album and a supporting May tour of the US.
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- Posted 6-12-09 (from an earlier post)
Everything Starts Somewhere Originally conceived as an interview website, we've made the decision to begin posted Music News for a variety of Japanese musicians and related artists. If you're a publicity agent with info you want considered contact us at: comments@j-popworld.com or at our MySpace page. - Posted 6-12-09
News and Comments Archives A list of our past Music News and Interviews in WordPress format. Great for looking up specific artists. |
Latest Interviews
And now a delicious riddle for all fans of Japanese rock music: What do you get when you combine the talents of L'Arc-en-Ciel's HYDE with Oblivion Dust’s K.A.Z.? A wonderfully gothic creation called VAMPS! After years of collaboration the duo officially joined forces in 2008. After a massive tour of Japan, HYDE and K.A.Z. have released their first album "VAMPS" and are set to bring their chart-busting music overseas in July with a ten-show tour of the US. Grab your tickets while you can at vampsliveusa.com So put on your best set of fangs and prepare to take the plunge into the wondrous world of "Sex Blood Rock n’ Roll". On June 27, 2009 HYDE and K.A.Z. were kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World. VAMPS Interview.- Posted July 2, 2009.
"That's ecstasy!!" is the only way to describe the raw power of Japan's Sexy et Dangereux trio, TRILL-DAN. They are hard rock with a head-banging attitude and a throat-shredding singing style you’ve got to hear to believe. Their new self-titled mini-album, TRILL-DAN, will be released in July to coincide with their performance at Japan Expo and their own European tour. So come say hello to JUAN, MARU and GIVA and hear their story of how they formed the band, their first 2007 album, Megabasutarizumu, and their upcoming performances. On June 23, 2009 the members of TRILL-DAN were kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World. TRILL-DAN Interview.- Posted June 27, 2009.
Fun and free, the way rock was meant to be. That's the feeling you get from sugar'N'spice. Based out of Osaka, this four-girl band combines an upbeat vocal sound with classic guitar, bass and drum work. Their self-titled second album was released earlier this year. So come say hello to Kyao, Tsue, Yu and Aska and hear what they had to say about their new music, latest tour and their hopes for the future. On June 13, 2009 the members of sugar'N'spice were kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World. sugar'N'spice Interview.- Posted June 22, 2009.
Singer, songwriter, dancer -- you name it and Emyli seems to do it and do it well. She released her first single "Rain" at the age of 14 and her
first album "Flower of Life" shortly after. She also shows her well honed dance moves in high energy videos to songs like Tekito Lover and
Day by Day.
While music is her first love, she decided to continue her education after high school and is currently a college student in Tokyo majoring in literature. But fans don't worry, her music career will continue during her college years and after graduation. On May 26, 2009 Emyli was kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World. Emyli Interview. - Posted June 15, 2009.
"When my favorite uncle died suddenly, I decided to pursue my one and only passion." For Mari Tochi, that love was for music. After years of
working at a Japanese publishing company Mari made a leap of faith to pursue her dream of a musical career. Exposure to Jazz while attending
school in the US would give a new form to that love.
On May 10, 2009, Mari celebrated her birthday with the birth of her first musical creation, the CD "Arigato [aligato]," a fusion of Jazz and the many different elements of music that have played such an important part in her life. On June 8, 2009 Mari Tochi was kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World. Mari Tochi Interview. - Posted June 13, 2009.
In 2007 the talented songwriter Yuki Kajiura brought together three female singers to form the vocal group, Kalafina. They've recorded several
successful singles, including the theme song for the anime series "The Garden of Sinners" (Kara no Kyoukai). On March 4th, 2009, they released
their first full album, Seventh Heaven.
Kalafina made their US debut from May 22nd to the 24th at the Anime Boston 2009 at the Hynes Convention Center. On May 8th and June 8th, 2009 the members of Kalafina were kind enough to give a two part interview to J-Pop World. Kalafina Interview. - Part One posted May 20, 2009.
Part Two posted June 9, 2009.
Gina Hiraizumi first achieved fame as an actress appearing on TV shows such as "City Guys," "Port Charles" and "Quintuplets." Her growing film credits
include "Day of Independence," "Hot Spot" and "Only the Brave," where she played alongside Jason Scott Lee and Tamlyn Tomita. But in 2005 the rising
star decided to surprise everyone by taking a break from Hollywood to attend New York's Juilliard School to pursue her dream of a singing career.
With a third generation Japanese-American father and a mother from Japan, Gina grew up in a bilingual California home with a love for both countries. In keeping with her multicultural roots her debut 2008 single "Unmei no Ai" was recorded and released first in Japan with a full album in the works. On May 27, 2009 Gina Hiraizumi was kind enough to give an updated interview to J-Pop World. Gina Hiraizumi Interview. - Posted May 28, 2009. (Updated from an earlier interview.)
"It just feels so right... I thought I had something that I can add to this art form of Screw music. I wanted to let the rest of the world know
what this is all about." - DJ Princess Cut
Once upon a time a Japanese girl named Juri Koshikawa was born in Wakayama, Japan. At 18 she would travel to the US to start a new life, immersing herself in the challenge of learning English and mastering an art form few in her homeland had ever heard of. Miss Koshikawa would emerge from her studies as the one and only DJ Princess Cut, the First Lady of Screw Music. So come learn the story of how Texas became home to a Japanese woman who has dedicated herself to spreading the word about a form of music where, when she gets in the zone: "Time flies, still trill workin' the wheel at 4 in the morning. All the chops are on point. The bring backs sound good and the music I'm playing just sounds good screwed." On March 21, 2009 DJ Princess Cut was kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World. DJ Princess Cut Interview. - Posted May 4, 2009.
Let's take a trip to the darker side of Japanese rock. The Kyoto-based rock group Rikugo began making a name for themselves with the release of
the album "Yu-En" in 2005 and "Yoiyami no Zanko" in 2008. Their stage show displays a mix of harder, darker edged rock music interspersed with a
more melancholy, almost pop sounding musical style.
They are currently working on their next album, due out later this year, featuring Shimpei Tsumita on vocals, Yusuke Murata on guitar, Shunsuke Yagi on keyboards, Kiyotaka Masudo on bass and Shingo Uchida on drums. On April 27, 2009 Rikugo was kind enough to give an interview to J-Pop World. Rikugo Interview. - Posted April 30, 2009.
Interviews and News Archives Sequential archive of our Interviews and Music News as they were first posted each month on our homepage. May - June 2009 March - April 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 September - November 2008 May - August 2008 January - April 2008
J-Pop World 2008-2009 is run by Andrew of Indianapolis. Send comments to comments@j-popworld.com or contact me at MySpace.com. |
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