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
X JAPAN feat. HYDE to Perform Attack on Titan Season 3 Opening
X JAPAN’s “Red Swan” has been chosen as the opening theme for Season 3 of the TV anime Attack on Titan. The new song, featuring YOSHIKI’s first-ever recording collaboration with vocalist HYDE (L’Arc~en~Ciel), was announced at Anime Expo on July 8, 2018, at the season opener’s world-premiere screening in Los Angeles. Keep Reading
Manga Contest “Sekai Manga Senbatsu” Is Now Calling Participants Worldwide! Contest Theme and More Details to be Announced at Manga Koshien in August
Sekai Manga Senbatsu (World Manga Audition) is now calling one-page manga by artists from Japan and overseas. To apply, residents in Japan simply need to post their manga on Nico Nico Manga, while overseas residents are required to apply through Email. The audition process includes a preliminary audition and a final contest. The final will be conducted during the 5th Japan National Mangaka Conference scheduled in March 2019, in the form of public review by guest manga masters. Sekai Manga Senbatsu is hosted by Manga Oukoku Tosa, in collaboration with Nico Nico Manga and Comic Walker. Keep Reading
Visual Kei Band Kizu Release All Singles Worldwide on iTunes
Visual Kei band Kizu has just made all their three singles available on iTunes in 111 countries, which include a total of 12 songs.
The band famous for selling out all their three one-man shows in 1 second is currently among the most popular groups in the Visual Kei scene.