Message from J-rock Band Amaterase
Interview with Guitarist YOUSAY(ex. THE KIDDIE) on His World Tour with ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D
If you have kept an eye on the Visual Kei scene ever since the genre’s first major florescence overseas a decade ago, THE KIDDIE should be no stranger to you. Although much to the disappointment of their adoring followings, this sweet, exuberant young group were left with no choice but to disband in 2015, we are still lucky enough to see most of the members continue with a music career in their own way, making public appearances on a regular basis. For those of you who were hardcore fans of them, however, the inability to see the band (or any of the members) perform live in your own country or even access their information real-time in your language could be a terrible torment, which I completely understand. But things have changed dramatically in recent years—you are now blessed with the big-eyed, captivating guitarist YOUSAY who works proactively with various music projects (AKi, SHIN, ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D, etc.) and tours extensively both home and abroad. And of course, we won’t let you miss him while he is here in the States for the co-headlined world tour of ROOKiEZ is PUNK’D and SPYAIR. Amid the chilly weather in New York on a Friday night of the approaching fall, we sat down with him over several drinks to talk openly about his life as a freelance musician, and his dreams about the future. Keep Reading
Britney TOKYO Art Show in NY
Britney TOKYO, the most famous nail artist in the U.S. and a trendsetter, challenges contemporary art for the first time.
Britney’s world is a very unique and fascinating one. It is red, white, and colorful with a pop style but it also coexists with grotesque elements, blood and eyeballs like in a horror movie. Keep Reading
DIR EN GREY Reveals New Look and Details of New Album “The Insulated World” Slated for September 26 Release
DIR EN GREY has recently revealed details of their brand new full-length album titled “The Insulated World”. Being the band’s 10th album, this is also their first album in three years and nine months since their last album release “ARCHE” on December 10, 2014. The album features a total of 13 songs which include 11 new songs, in addition to two tracks released before as singles, “Utafumi” and “Ningen wo kaburu”. Keep Reading
I love Japan. That’s why I’d like to introduce Japanese art and culture to the world – Ibuki Kuramochi
“I love Japan. That’s why I’d like to introduce Japanese art and culture to the world.”
Ibuki answered the question, in a tone close to murmuring, with a very special look in her eyes.
When asked “what do you recall the most about Japan while visiting in the US”, Ibuki’s gestures, facial expressions and look left a particularly strong impression on us during the 1-hour-or-so interview. Keep Reading
LIVE REPORT: J-rock Juggernaut SID Wraps up 15th Anniversary Domestic Tour with Showa and Indie Themed Shows
For most J-Anime fans, SID might come off as a pop music group renowned for their successful tie-ups with such titles as Fullmetal Alchemist and BLEACH; “Uso”, “Rain” and “Ranbu no Melody” are taken as their most important works more often than not. However, die-hard fans, conversant with the other side of SID, had never stopped dreaming of an opportunity to revisit the band’s hit songs back in their earlier days, to relive their raw energy and haunting beauty again years later. Keep Reading
ANIME NYC 2018 Announces Inaugural “Anisong World Matsuri” Concert Series at Hammerstein Ballroom
Anime NYC powered by Crunchyroll recently announced the globally renowned “Anisong World Matsuri” concert series will host its first edition in New York City in partnership with Anime NYC on November 16 and 17, 2018. Anisong World Matsuri brings together headlining Japanese pop stars for show-stopping concerts, and the inaugural Anisong World Matsuri NYC will feature major performances from Luna Haruna, Shoko Nakagawa, Morning Musume。’18, and more for two nights in New York’s historic Hammerstein Ballroom.
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J-Rock All-Girl Band SCANDAL Announces U.S. & Mexico Concert Dates
Japanese all-girl rock act and Epic Records Japan recording artist, SCANDAL [JP], has announced a series of live concert dates that will see the band performing in select cities in the U.S. and Mexico later this summer. The news was announced today by the group’s management company, ROOFTOP, Inc. Keep Reading
BABYMETAL Reveals A!SMART Variant Cover for APOCRYPHA Graphic Novel
This fall, BABYMETAL will release the original graphic novel APOCRYPHA: THE LEGEND OF BABYMETAL, which will explore the unknown mythology of the group.
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Anisong World Matsuri Presents Rainbow of Talent at Japan Kawaii Live, Hosting Performers from Pokemon, Fullmetal Alchemist, PriPara, Gurren Lagann, and the IDOLM@STER Franchise
“Japan Kawaii Live”, the final night of Anisong World Matsuri’s three-day concert event at Anime Expo, was held on July 7, 2018 at the Microsoft Theater, featuring AKB48 Team 8, THE IDOLM@STER CINDERELLA GIRLS, i☆Ris, and Shoko Nakagawa. Keep Reading