SMAP is disbanding x_x , cries

Curtain falls down on yet another Johnnys group

I'm not really a SMAP fan but I'm devastated as so many current Johnnys groups that're junior than them look up to them for inspiration

1st it was KAT-TUN and now this ugh awful so awful :tired

The name of this new band is bit weird but the sounds and the voices are great. I'll surely give a try to their debut mini-album.

miusiq on tumblr seems to have been deleted. I'm so upset, now where will I go to discover amazing new artists and find high-quality music? ;_; I discovered Haruka to Miyuki, Suiyoubi no Campanella, Itsue, immi, and other music I loved through the recommendations there, it can't all just be gone now!

Just heard the previews for new Jaejoong album and am so relieved it's not r&b! It's pure rock again. there's only maybe a couple of tracks that are r&b influenced. Was so worried, because that stuff is just plain borring to me. But i'm so glad it's not! I need that album already.

I miss Yuna Ito, Leah Dizon and Meisa Kuroki.

Jaejoong's NO.X....For the first time, i actually purchased an album on iTunes, and i have no regrets, this stuff is beyond amazing. EVERY SONG SO FAR IS.... WOW. There's no way i could lose faith in this guy. He's saved me from going insane after i had to let go of GACKT. Jaejoong, you did it again, love. You are worth my money. The first one i didn't even think twice about purchasing the album. I cannot even explain how this stuff makes me feel. All the energy all the power all the emotion. Absolutely amazing!

Today's MUSIC STATION episode was heartbreaking to watch especially since it was WaT's final live appearance as a duo as they disbanded yesterday

Seeing Wentz Eiji cried live on TV was awful and some of the audience in the crowd were struggling to hold back tears

It's always unfortunate everytime a group disband :x

YES.

http://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m275fpn1yR1qmi4yb.gif

Gosh, sad to hear about another group leaving. Last year was Kimaguren, and now WaT. :(

At least my Rina Katahira singles just got delivered yesterday. :) (Coming up to Presidents' Day holiday weekend...)

KAT-TUN couldn't have picked a more appropriate date to release KAT-TUN 10TH ANNIVERSARY BEST "10Ks!" :heart

Also I know 10th anniversaries are supposed to be a joyous thing but for Taguchi to be leaving next month , it's a bittersweet thing :(

Next week will be a great week music wise - Miliyah Kato's and GILLE's new albums as well as KIRA's new mini album are coming out 03/02. Looking forward so much! :D

^ Ahh, I hadn't even realized that's already next week! YES! I can't wait for both Miliyah's and GILLE's albums, and I'm curious to try KIRA as well! I still haven't found the time to listen to her first album though I downloaded it way back when you posted it here on AHS. I'll try to do that before next week.


And now some shameless plugging.

I had a pretty bad week last week. I was super stressed, tired all the time and just feeling generally dead inside. One morning, I was lying in my bed, listening to songs I like on my iPod, but no music did anything to move my emotions one way or another, until I came across this song:

FOLKS - Yoru no Sabaku to Tsuki no Hikari

This song suddenly made me feel ALL THE THINGS. It's such a beautiful track: atmospheric, endlessly melancholic but somehow comforting, tranquilizing but with an uplifting, otherworldly bridge in the middle of the song, immaculately arranged and with a perfect vocal performance. I paid it little attention back in October when FOLKS's BLUE & YELLOW EP came out, but like some of their other best tracks, it worked its magic slowly, seeping through my skin, right into my bones, and turning them liquid when the right moment hit. I haven't been able to stop listening to it several times a day for almost a week now, and the magic hasn't worn off yet, I keep getting hit by all the emotions. Definitely one of the best songs of 2015.

Tl;dr: please try this song, it's so amazing.

Also, after the 13th time listening to Yoru no Sabaku to Tsuki no Hikari this morning, I felt like listening to some other songs with a similar sound, and re-discovered Kaela Kimura's EGG once again. Another amazing song, right there. :heart

I've been in the Johnnys fandom for a really long time and I have never seen anything like this

1 of the most innovative Johnnys PV by utilising various different sounds to form the song and no singing is involved at all

That said , I so can't wait to watch the entire Theme of "QUARTETTO" PV !

@Kacku
Still waiting for GILLE's and KIRA's album to be up somewhere.
They're on iTunes (GILLE even on the international), but I don't use iTunes.

Also waiting... Is GILLE's album really on international iTunes? I do use iTunes and just went to see if I could buy the album, but it doesn't seem to be available in Finland (though even the profile picture is updated to her current promo pic, lol). :(

flumpool are coming back to perform in my country in July

Very excited , I'm so going as their last concert here in 2014 , I didn't went but this time round I'm going to see them again

I find it amusing that flumpool are not my most favourite JRock group but here I'm seeing them the most number of times x)

Elva Hsiao is recording a new album, which I'm certainly hoping marks a return to her style for I'm ready and Ms. Elva. Also, I'm very sad Jolin will not release a new album this year. :(

Miliyah Kato's LIBERTY needs to be heard by more people. Hands down the best j-pop release in the last year, and certainly the best for 2016. It's going to take a damn good Ayu record to topple LIBERTY. Miliyah really delivered this time. Beginning to end, it's on point.

I desperately want another aMEI album this year. It's not going to happen, but PARANOIA and Amit2 were so good, and I want more of her new sound and more personal style. I never thought I'd fall in love with a song called Jamaican Beetlenut but damn me if a Taiwan artist wasn't most likely to make that happen.

Also, Show Luo. He needs to just do a nude shoot. Get it over with. No one would seriously find it offensive. He's already a sex symbol.

Ugh, the last couple years have been amazing for Taiwan artists... I just want Japan to catch up here.

OH! Also... BIGBANG. Seungri won me over. He's so dorky. But that's such a beautiful quality of him.

AKIHIDE's Furusato album is amazing & yet once again , it's under performing on Oricon which's annoying

Goes to show Oricon is no longer relevant but it's not as though I support AKIHIDE (and/or BREAKERZ) cos of how (poor) they sell

All in all , Furusato is so good & AKIHIDE captured the essence of Hometown & the 4 Seasons in his latest album :heart

I still wished he will sing again as frankly I like his singing a lot more than DAIGO :3

BABYMETAL stopped by Stephen Colbert last night:

I can't stop listening to Maki Goto's discography right now. Her avex stuff is amazing, and I love SOME BOYS! TOUCH and ガラスのパンプス from her H!P era.

GANGLION is disbanding. :( I have really fond memories of a gig they did near my hometown last year and meeting them.

My friend will specially apply leave to go attend AKIHIDE's birthday concert in July as it will take place on a Tuesday

Now that's dedication :laugh

Wait what? I just discovered them a year ago and really liked them. =( Now I'm sad. =(

I'm getting hooked on listening to TM Network's Beyond The Time on YouTube:

Yuzu is embarking on their 1st Asian tour YUZU ASIA TOUR 2016 Summer NATSUIRO & my country is listed 1st , tour date wise

It's quite nice especially since Yuzu has never perform here although I'm not so keen that avex asia is bringing them in & let alone the venue is the same place where AAA , Perfume , flumpool , Kuu & others used to perform here when they came :x

^I didn't know that you like Yuzu too. I haven't listened all their discography yet but I like them. I discovered them with Sakurae ♥. Lucky you that they are coming for a concert.

Yeah I listen to some of their stuff , not all just the more prominent ones

I just find it funny that for most Japanese artistes that come to my country to perform , it's always the same venue except for Mizuki Nana where she performed at a different venue the 2nd time she came , LUNA SEA (hall) & L'arc~en~ciel (Arena)

I guess avex asia wants to save on cost because *scape is centralised and it's a really small live house venue

The venue that Mizuki Nana performed is considered a hall venue and you have to take additional transport to go to another island , even though you're still technically in Singapore :laugh

Someone on Facebook thought Yamapi is part of KAT-TUN now

I don't know should I laugh or cry over this -_-

Yet another Japanese act will come to Singapore in July and this time round it's MAN WITH A MISSION O_O

AAA really loves S'pore , if not they wouldn't be coming back again to perform

2 days somemore :O

When asked

What would you do with 100 million yen ?

Kanjani∞'s Yokoyama's answer - Create a mountain of chicken nuggets

:roflmao genius answer :laugh

iTunes is making me want to tear my hair out. When I installed the new update back about a month or two ago, the layout of iTunes Store went all fucked up: all the images and text got bigger and fill the screen so much that I can't see the right-side bar with the most popular songs and albums etc. and I can't scroll sideways to see everything, and worst of all, the mouse icon is always a little off and I need to have it a little to the side of whatever I want to click if I actually intend to end up clicking the right object. It's so annoying, and I haven't been able to do anything about it. It keeps me from using iTunes Store though I really want to do things like try to buy GILLE's new album from the Japanese iTunes Store because it hasn't leaked anywhere and I can't really afford to get a physical copy. It's been two and a half months, I need the whole album!

I hoped the newest update that appeared this week would do something to fix this, but no. The Store is still terrible and unusable, some things I liked seem to be gone and even the music library isn't as nice-looking anymore.

You're lucky to have as many japanese artists who are coming in your country to hold a concert.

Now that I saw the covers of MADE IN JAPAN I'm feeling sad and frustrated to not be able to buy more than one copy. I would like to buy all versions so much T_T

^ things definitely can improve because the past few years the same old Japanese acts have been coming back to perform

Like last week , SCANDAL came back & they performed here just last Oct . Likewise for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu last month

I guess for fans of them , it's good but I want other Japanese acts to come , others that haven't perform in S'pore

At least next month Yuzu and MAN WITH A MISSION will be gracing their presence here for the 1st time & flumpool's coming back to perform (which I'm going xD)

It's frankly high time for a Johnnys act to come do a concert here , only problem's who's going to bring them in here ? :x

Also I'm still hoping SPYAIR will someday come to S'pore to perform T_T

You are lucky indeed.
I want more (pop) acts to come to Germany. The only ones so far were Perfume and Kyary Pyamu Pyamu (also Olivia and Kalafina, but only within a convention, not stand alone). Ah, yeah, and color-code just recently. But it was in Berlin and too far away, at least after announcing the European Tour so late.
some bigger acts would be great as well or in bigger locations.

Going to see Babymetal this evening in Stuttgart though. Looking forward to it!

^ I don't know if you like SCANDAL, the girls are going to Germany in September for a concert. There are two dates :

3/09/2016 Cologne, Germany @ Luxor
14/09/2016 Hamburg, Germany @ Kaiserkeller

Mao's SID's Tsuki (which's the 1st A-side of his debut solo single) is almost 7 mins long :dead2 :dead2 :dead2

i've been following the whole Yoochun deal since it started...it still bothers me a lot even though the news kind of died down now.

I wonder who will be the next JRocker to get married cos this year , already 3 did so , inclusive today which flumpool's Ryuuta said he'll be tying the knot next month

And my sister & I will be seeing flumpool yet again in concert so we will convey our best regrets/wishes to Ryuuta next month in person :D

Suiyoubi no Campanella's new album UMA is out and naturally, I love it; I think it might be my favourite release of theirs after Crawl to Gyaku Agari, even though the album doesn't have a big song I REALLY love and go back to all the time, like Medusa or Light Kyoudai on Zipang. But I love that they managed to surprise again, though you'd think that their style should be really predictable by now, with this being their... like, eighth notable release. And of course, to some extent, their music is predictable, but you never know which influences are going to be most prominent whenever they cook up a new album. Listening to UMA, what stands out for me is that KOM_I is rapping less and singing more, the songs are more mellow, melodic and chill, and most of the songs seem to have something I haven't heard from them before; the vocal sample and spacey synth heard in Unico strikes me as something you might hear in a pop song on the radio... but then the song otherwise kinda swerves into a whole different direction and ends up being this pretty, tranquilizing ballad with unexpected amounts of acoustic guitar, which I think is something very unusual for Campanella. Then there's Phoenix with its great house piano and dance beat (and samba influence, if KOM_I's spoken interlude is to be believed?). Yukiotoko Yeti and Kraken also have some new things going on (what even is the sound heard throughout Yeti? I can't even describe it because ugh music words in English), and it's all exhilarating. Baku is kind of a misstep though, I just can't see what they were going for with that one... But overall, what an enjoyable release! My favourite songs are Tsuchinoko, Unico and Phoenix. Also, I LOVE how the album's title stands for Unidentified Mysterious Animal and all the titles are names of mythical animals/creatures... took me way too long to connect the dots, lol.

EDIT: Well, the next day I came across an interview with KOM_I and found out they were working with foreign trackmakers for this album! That sure explains something. Surprisingly, Unico is all them though I thought it was sure to be one of the tracks made with outsiders... Phoenix, Kraken, and Yeti are the tracks made with foreign trackmakers. At least I was right about Chupacabra and Tsuchinoko being made by Campanella all by themselves!

Also, today I finally listened to Haruka and Miyuki's new single Kiseki wo Inoru Koto wo mou Shinai, and it's SO GOOD. They also managed to surprise me: I feel like this is the first time they've done an epic rock ballad like this! I used to be on the fence with enjoying Haruka's vocals, but I've gone all the way to loving her singing; it gets squeaky at times, but at its best, it gives the songs such honesty and rawness, and I think it does just that in this song. I love how the huge chorus just doesn't stop after its second run. Ugh, I can't wait for their new album in August, I hope it's all this good. It's always nice to have albums to look forward to. :heart

Based on what's going on wrong with Ayu on the Oricon...I'm not that optimistic whether Ayaka's going to get a #1 ahead of DREAMS COME TRUE. I mean, they're going to release the best album on the Saturday before, and will count towards the previous week's Oricon sales, but I'm not so sure if Ayaka can really hit it big with that 10th anniversary best album just to stay ahead of DCT (and not only that, Dorikamu will have the "Monday sales advantage" because of the Saturday release)...

I want a Wonder Girls comeback. Ughh

You can cheer up then. They're currently coming back with a "single album" called Why so lonely. Three songs written by the girls, digitally and limited to 20,000 copies physically ( and packaging and photobook look amazing).
Release date is 07/05.

Their album last year was my favourite KPop release, so I'm really looking forward!

My sister said her luck is not that good but yet her friend was able to get/ballot extremely good tickets to an anime event for her & both of them will be seated in the 1st 5 rows on that day o_O

She flipped out earlier on to say the least , LOL cos among the voice actors that will be present is Miyano Mamoru which my sister hasn't seen in person , yet

KinKi Kids's new single song is fabulous & the PV is just so cool

I definitely will be buying it & no offence to Tsuyoshi but Koichi steals the limelight in the PV this time round :tipsy

The good news: My copy of Ayaka's 10th anniversary best album (THIS IS ME) is finally on its way!

The bad news: I'm going to have to wait for at least two weeks because of my trip to Canada next week...

Today for 6years ago Kagerou's vocalist Daisuke passed away, can't believe it's already been 6years ago T__T

I have just read that LAGOON is disbanded. Sad, this band had a potential and they didn't even release a full album yet.

So my copy of Ayaka's best album shipped out of Tenso yesterday, but I've got a trip to Canada starting late tomorrow for the next week, and I'm going to have to wait until no earlier than the 25th for the package to arrive...

I wonder should I go for flumpool's press conference event next week

And on that note , I'm real excited to see them perform once again in my country and they're not even my most favourite artiste , LOL

But EGG is surprisingly good & frankly (so far) my favourite album of 2016

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cn29tyAUsAQIoZ2.jpg

:roflmao :roflmao :roflmao

Tsuyoshi don't look happy o_O & I don't blame him , LOL

I miss MiChi. Will she ever release anything again?

my girl KOTOKO is back with new music :heart I'm so happy

flumpool's press conference earlier on was awesome & I was 2 rows away from them onstage @_@

I took tons of photos and it helps that I'm tall

It's extremely rare for flumpool to do something like this overseas & let alone in Japan

As such earlier on was a real treat but the main highlight was when they performed an acoustic of Yoru wa Nemureru kai ?

Anyway I'm so psyched for tomorrow's concert now , I can't wait *___*

Olivia posted yesterday on Instagram, that new music is coming soon, though it will be a litle different than we might think. But yay, she's recording! :D

http://imageshack.com/a/img921/4982/9nNRUo.png
http://imageshack.com/a/img922/7471/9bnFeB.png

flumpool were AMAZING just now . Not the 1st time I saw them in concert (my 4th overall) but still it was great , it was like catching up with old friends again

Let alone they did triple encore which was brilliant & towards the end of the concert , they even said photos could be taken ! (which I didn't took any as I took tons when I went for their open press conference on Fri as I was 2 rows away from them onstage , LOL)

All in all , I hope flumpool can come back again , it's so nice they hold my country in high regard/esteem !

My copy of Ayaka's best album just reached Federal Way (south of Seattle) last night. Cannot wait to see the box on my front door on Monday...!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CoVqyg6VMAA3rSC.jpg:small

That penlight is amazing , going to ask my friend to buy it for me in Oct

Suddenly NEWS & KAT-TUN's penlights are being put to shame this year by Hey! Say! JUMP

Not sure if it's a Japanese thing but 2 hours & above is ideal for a concert , duration wise

flumpool performed here again last Sat & their concert was 2 1/2 hours inclusive of triple encore

On the other hand , Selena Gomez performed here for the 1st time in my country last night & her concert was only 75 mins which doesn't include an encore

Past Western acts that performed here were also criticised for going through the motion in their concerts

To me you pay so much to see them , the least they can do is to give it 150% cos when will be the next time they will come back here to perform ? :shrug

I hope she does, but she seems to be having fun in art school in New York at the moment.

the vocalist of the visual kei band Re:ACT is following me on twitter ♥_♥

https://scontent-tpe1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...7f&oe=58156553

:roflmao :roflmao :roflmao

I don't know but somehow I'm quite scared off by that o_O

YUI IS BACK! I can't wait for FLOWER FLOWER to release their first ACTUAL physical single! (Well, somewhat...)

Yuna Ito... Where art thou? :/ She was the highlight of my summer when DREAM came out. That album was full of energy and good vibes. Then she just stopped making music. Sad, really. I feel like that's when my interest in Japanese pop in general started dwindling. A lot of my favorite artists just stopped making music... Sucks. Now I only follow Utada, Ayu and Namie lol. I don't even follow Kuu anymore. But I guess a general change in my music tastes is something to blame as well. I've been more into the EDM scene, as I've been attending festivals and shows.

I've been listening to a LOT of Galileo Galilei lately, especially their latest (and last) studio album Sea and the Darkness. I'm sort of feeling like I should be sad that they're disbanding just when I've really discovered them, but mostly I'm just happy that they released such a good album before quitting, none of their earlier releases ever appealed to me quite this much. Also, I hope Yuuki Ozaki will keep doing music, I've discovered that I really like his voice.

Also, Haruka to Miyuki's new album is really good. I found their previous full album kind of a drag and was worried that this one would be the same, but fortunately that wasn't the case at all! The end of the album is a little filler-ish, but most of it is really solid, and they worked in some surprising new sounds again. I'm pretty sure I'll be listening to LOVELESS/ARTLESS quite a lot in the upcoming weeks. :)

My friend today went to watch Ikuta Toma's butai & managed to shake his hand after that

Damn so envious of her ugh xD

AKB48 just released their newest single and it sold 1,1 million in its first day.

Itano Tomomi is coming to my country next month :O

KIRA just posted on her Instagram, that she's currently working on her 2nd full album! :woohoo:

^ Ohh, I'm excited to hear what she's gonna come up with next!

I truly fell in love with CLAZZIQUAI PROJECT over the weekend. I've been listening to them since the release of BLINK, but mostly just that album and a few other tracks. Now I actually listened to LOVE CHILD of the CENTURY, color your soul, METROTRONICS and, most of all, Mucho MUSICA attentively and holy shit all the albums are really good, I have so many new songs I'm addicted to (The Road, Flea, Beautiful Stranger -sliced cheese remix-, Beat in Love (Yasutaka Nakata remix), Flower Children, Hold Your Tears...). I'm so ready to hear their new album next week. :heart

I appreciate that BREAKERZ has a new photoshoot done for each of their fanclub magazines/trading cards they've issued for this year so far

They can choose not to do it (like reusing leftover photos & all that) but this makes me look forward in getting hold of their fanclub magazines/trading cards every single time

If possible , I would love to go back Japan again next year to see them again during their 10th anniversary tour

HOME MADE KAZOKU is coming to perform for the 1st time in my country

My sister is stoked as she likes some of their songs they contributed to the Naruto & Bleach animes

^ holy shit wow I would go see them. They make such great music!

Crystal Kay's VIVID is still one of the best jpop records ever. I still can't with the sales.

Mika will be doing her 1st man live concert in Taiwan

Ah so wish she would come here x_x

I hope there will be still somemore Japanese artistes that will come here at the end of 2016 & not just the same old same old people

Agreed.

Is there any live tour thread here ?

I'll be in Japan in november/december and since I can't catch Ayu/Namie/Kuu touring, I was wondering what other artists were touring during my stay...
I'm also interested in any external link/website, thank you.
(Tokyo : 11/20>11/25 & 12/07>12/11, Kyoto : 11/27>11/30, Osaka : 11/30>12/04)

^ There're quite a few artistes touring at the last 2 months of 2016 but unfortunately their tour dates don't match with the dates that you're going , prefecture wise :x

Domoto Koichi out of your many talents , 1 of them is not rapping so please don't venture into a rap career cos you look & sound awkward in doing so :laugh

I can't believe it's been over 6 years since this masterpiece was released:

After watching this retrospective video of Morning Musume, it has me feeling very nostalgic. I kind of miss the Morning Musume of the 90s.:(

I wonder if I should start a BABYMETAL and Sekai no Owari artist thread but I don't know if there'd be enough interest from other people.

^I'll follow the Sekai no Owari thread if you create it. I started to listen to them with Anti-Hero.

I'd definitely follow any BABYMETAL thread. They're my most recent J-pop/rock obsession for the past year.

RAVE’s guitarist Mikuru has passed away.
http://i.imgur.com/ZO2nByB.jpg

The dude who's responsible for PPAP is coming to my country end of this month

Er no further comment , LOL

I think the last girl group/idol group Avex produced that I thought was good is SweetS.

Man I miss them...

They had a really interesting sound. Of course they had "idol" type songs, but they also had rather dark, mysterious, atmosphere-creating songs.

Love like candy floss is my absolute favorite. Considering their average age they were really cool.

Did you guys notice the scandal about the Japan Record Awards recently?
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/201.../#.WDFkhMsxkwh

Oh interesting

I live here and isn't even hear about it lol

Yeah, I heard about it. But I have a feeling that even AKB48 - or any artist - could do it... :no

Good to hear about JSB NOT being nominated for the JRA - but this scandal could really tarnish the reputation of the Japan Record Awards - and I could be guessing this could really put a big cloud over Japanese pop music today... :irked

(I imagine if a new award similar to the JRA would be created - but the voters wouldn't be the record industry, but expert music reviewers that would be unbiased from any record companies, and rules to prevent acts of bribery and to promote competition, such as limits an artist can earn the top prize...that isn't going to happen very much (if at all), but I have to imagine...)

This might be a reason why in recent years J-pop has been a bit boring on one of my views...

My sister & I are finally going to fulfil something in our bucket list ie. watching a BREAKERZ concert together

Hopefully both of us will be able to go for their mini live/handshake event as well . If so , I will be at a loss of words on what to say to them personally

And after being in the guys' fandom for so long & receiving a customised autograph from them , it's a real honour & it's now hands down 1 priceless possession I have

So this year's Kouhaku performers list has been released

The only thing I'm happy about it is KinKi Kids getting invited to perform for the 1st time , in 19 years & also for the senior Johnnys groups

Aside from that , meh . It's a pity SMAP are not in the list as they're disbanding soon & I'm relieved Golden Bomber is not in as they frankly do not deserve to perform on the show (I will never understand the hype/appeal about them)

To be honest, I'm surprised SMAP isn't at the list. That's the thing we're most furious about, given the fact they're disbanding. WHY?????

Also upset about Leo Ieiri not in the Kouhaku either, but we're more furious about why SMAP isn't going to be in the Kouhaku before disbanding... (>_<)

(Ironically Leo and SMAP are in the same label - Victor Entertainment.)

It's great for Utada to appear in the Kouhaku for the first time (!), but I'm not sure if it will be enough to save the Kouhaku from the recent downward trend in TV ratings... Not only that, we have to wonder ourselves:

Is Japanese pop music's relevance waning? (this was after the recent bribery allegations involving the Japan Record Awards)
http://aramajapan.com/news/music/is-...-waning/67330/

V6's Nagano got married

So happy for him & what the Johnnys did for him on Tue's Best Artist 2016 was so touching & awesome

At least Nagano didn't cried xD

Metal Resistance is at #3 at the 2016 world album charts. Congrats, BABYMETAL!

http://www.billboard.com/charts/year...6/world-albums

So, it turns out Rio Aizato, the guitarist of the Ishigaki folk duo Yanawaraba (an artist not many may have heard of these days, though may have been more known in 2006-07) is a mom already! Just gave birth to a baby boy on Monday.

Congratulations!

https://twitter.com/_yanawaraba_/sta...68213794082816
http://natalie.mu/music/news/213925
http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2083254/full/

I've been following Yanawaraba since 2007, the first time I heard of them was on a Music Station episode with Ayu back in February (remember 'evolution' for A BEST 2?). Rio Aizato got married to a non-celebrity man back in February this year, and now, she gave birth to a baby boy back on Monday! Quite a long way since I first followed Yanawaraba back then.

Sorry for double-posting, but...

I don't feel this year's Music Station Super Live was exciting in my opinion. There wasn't really anything for me that really stood out...

In fact, I felt this year's Arima Kinen horse race (major Japanese horse race, most-bet horse race in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD, and usually happening on the Sunday after MSta Super Live) was more exciting than this year's MSSL...

The upcoming new year made me think of this.:laugh:heart

Despite the overwhelming audience vote for the white team, why did all but two of the eleven judges in this year's (67th) Kouhaku voted for the red team to win consecutively for the first time in three decades???

Thanks / no thanks to Kanjani∞ , now when I listen/watch to Kisumai's Everybody Go , I can't help but laugh cos of what Kanjani∞ did during Johnny's Countdown 2016-2017 ie. when they tried their epic fail best in rollerskating while trying to sing the song at the same time xD

That failed miserably needless to say . Just stick to playing instruments or being stupid Kanjani∞ , let Kisumai do the hard work x)