SPEED gets a warm welcome

Welcome back!

After six years, Japan’s most popular pop girl group, SPEED, is back and in full effect. They started off their first nation wide tour in Nagoya City Gaisha Hall, along with 7000 fans.

They performed 25 songs, starting with their debut single from 1996, “Body and Soul” and ending with their latest single, “S.P.D.” For an encore they performed “Starting Over.”

“I’m really happy to be back on stage with the best members on an awesome stage. Thank you for the warm welcome,” said Eriko Imai.

Hiroko Shimabukuro said, “We’re so excited to see everyone and happy to be back!!”

“All of us have been taking care of ourselves and are in full health, so we’re happy to see you all”, said Takako Uehara. The oldest, Hitoe Arakaki said, “It’s been a while since we’ve all been on stage together. Thanks.”

The last time the girls were seen was in 2004 on 24 hour TV. Even though their fans are in their 20s and 30s, it’s like they never went away.

You know, its times like this, I wish I was still in Japan. I was so sad when they disbanded back in ’03 and I never got to see them. They are back now and touring and I still can’t see them.  Well hopefully they will come out with a DVD of this tour after it’s done. SPEED set the standards for all current J-Pop female groups, they should be eternally grateful to them.

Don’t have any SPEED CDs? Why not get their latest album, “SPEEDLAND – The Premium Best Re Tracks-” with the DVD? Order it at CDJ.

Filed under: Avex Entertainment, Entertainment, Events, J-Pop, Vision News, eriko, hiroki, hitoe, Japan, Japanese entertainment, SPEED, takako

Aya Kamiki is moving to Tokyo

Singer, Aya Kamiki, has joined the ranks of avex artists. She recently shared the stage in Osaka with DBSK, Ayumi and other avex artists at a-nation ’09. Her previously label GIZA, located in Osaka let her go, and now she has moved to Tokyo to join avex and their wonderful ranks of artistry.

Like all artist that release their first single with a (new) label, her first single will be the opening theme song to “Kamen Rider W” starting 9/6. However, her single will not be released till 11/11, “WBX~W Boiled Extreme”, a collaboration with TAKUYA (ROBO+S).

Aya’s not a bad singer, she’s like the Avril of Japan (if there was going to be one). What gets me though, if the song is going to be used for Kamen Rider W in September, why release it 2 months later?

Oh well, I’m looking forward to it, and you should too.

Filed under: Avex Entertainment, Entertainment, J-Pop, J-Rock, New Releases, a-nation 2009, aya kamiki, ayumi hamasaki, dbsk, Japan, Japanese entertainment, ROBO+S

CLAZZUQUAI PROJECT is mucho bueno

K-Pop experimental group CLAZZUQUAI PROJECT will release a new re-mix album called “Mucho Mix” on 10/28. They released their first Japanese album on 7/1, titled “Mucho MUSICA” through Universal Music Japan (UMJ).

Some artists on this re-mix album are DAISHI DANCE, Yasutaka Nakata (capsule), sugiurumn, CLOUD, W, and DJ CLAZZIQUAI.

Filed under: Entertainment, J-Pop, K-Pop, New Releases, clazzuquai project, CLOUD, daishi dance, DJ CLAZZUQUAI, Japan, Japanese entertainment, Korea, Korean Entertainment, sugiurumn, W, Yasutaka Nakata

TVXQ @ a-nation

It’s been over a week since a-nation 09, but better late than never, right?  We got our grubby little hands on some photos of TVXQ. I’m not into this group or anything, but I have to say, some of these shots are looking good.

This is a sign that I’ve been writing way too much TVXQ on here. Tell me, should I stop posting TVXQ stuff?

If posting elsewhere please use the following credit and link back. Thanks.

credit: suitestaboo@wp.com
Photos courtesy of Avex Entertainment Inc.

Filed under: Avex Entertainment, Entertainment, Events, J-Pop, K-Pop, SM entertainment, a-nation 2009, dbsk, Japan, Japanese entertainment, Korea, Korean Entertainment, photos, tohoshinki, tvxq

YUKI brings you a message

It’s been a while, but Judy and Mary’s vocalist is back with a brand new single, “COSMIC BOX.” This will be YUKI’s 19th singles since the band disbanded back in early 2000s.

The song will be the opening to anime, “Magare! Spoon” and will be released on 11/18. The single will also have her original Christmas song, “Message”. First press comes with a DVD of her PV “COSMIC BOX.”

Pre-order: Limited Edition | Regular

Filed under: Entertainment, J-Pop, New Releases, anime, cosmic box, Japan, Japanese entertainment, judy and mary, magare! spoon, message, sony music, yuki

The end of Noriko Sakai

This is what happens ladies and gentlemen when you are in the entertainment industry. You get a dazzling career, loyal fans, lots of money, and of course drugs.

Noriko Sakai has been formally indicted on charges of drug possession and still waits to be indicted for drug use. The public announcement of this news has led to the nailing that last nail in the coffin. Sakai’s agency, Sun Music has made a formal announcement of her dismissal. Sun Music president Masahisa Aizawa held an emergency press conference and revealed that not only Sun Music, but her label Victor Entertainment has also dismissed Sakai. Victor Entertainment has terminated their contract with her including canceling her upcoming best album and has pulled her entire catalogue from all music stores.

What more could go wrong? Well the loss of 500 million yen to be exact. Sun Music also announced that they will take financial responsibility for all of Sakai’s broken contracts. This includes contracts with Victor Entertainment, Arax and Toyota (for cm) and all merchandise related to her fashion brand “PP rikorino.”

With everything going on, Sakai finally admitted to being a user for 4 years. She started as a way to help relieve the stress and fatigue that came with her career. She stated that she did have intentions to stop, but became addicted after a couple of years. Her need increased, thus landing her in the cold where no one will rescue her now.

What I want to know is what will happen to her son? Both Sakai and her husband have both been indicted, leaving their son to, hopefully caring and loving relatives. I have no sympathy for them because there are other alternatives to get rid of stress, but then I guess eating in Japan is a no-no because then she would have gotten criticized for being ‘fat’. I say that’s better than going to jail for 10 years and leaving a son behind, and losing her career.

Filed under: Drama, Entertainment, gossip, Issues, J-Pop, News, rumors, Scandalous, arax, drugs, Japan, Japanese entertainment, noriko sakai, pp rikorino, scandal, sun music, toyota, victor entertainment