If Japan allow same-sex marriage, in the future we will have a chance to see marriages between ex-members.
Japanese music of last few years, there's a rise of anonymous artists. Their real faces & identities are kept secret. However, they can be very popular During live, some of them wear masks like this: if the video does not show watch the video here Or performing in a stage with very lack of lightings that make their faces look vague like this: if the video does not show watch the video here I actually consider these anonymous artists as artists who define the Japanese music or Jpop of 2020s or even Reiwa era
Living in SoCal, I follow the exploits of Ohtani Shohei (大谷翔平). Encount has an article about his becoming a spokesman for Porshe. I guess the Angels aren't paying him enough. "Porsche Japan Co., Ltd. has appointed Shohei Otani of the American Major League Angels as a "Porsche Driving Athlete" and signed a brand partner contract. It will be the first time in the world that Otani will be appointed as a brand partner of an automobile manufacturer." if the video does not show watch the video here https://encount.press/archives/338730/
From a YT weather channel, a collection of dramatic footage from social media of severe flooding this evening in Seoul with a rainfall rate of up to 137mm (5.4 inches) per hour: if the video does not show watch the video here SBS News sent a reporter out to Gangnam to show the scenes there: if the video does not show watch the video here Hopefully everyone in the city is safe.
Avex has just started a 24/7 Jpop music channel called 'Music Live': if the video does not show watch the video here It has a virtual MC called KA (with her two cats!) with the details of each track currently being played in the bottom left-hand corner of the screen. Obviously it's only Avex artists and AFAICS most of the songs played are a few years old, however for me the great thing is that it's an opportunity to listen to Jpop music easily and for free. It also makes nice background music.
Hololive, the largest vtuber agency in the world, has a branch in Indonesia Hololive boss Yagoo said that the franchise was inspired by AKB48 that means, Hololive ID was inspired by JKT48 All Hololive ID talents just reached 7 million subscribers collectively. They put an ad to celebrate it in Senayan MRT station. It's also the closest MRT station to FX where JKT48 theatre is situated https://twitter.com/hololive_Id/status/1559012167642652672?t=_XJ7_k1KScxKxdR-xPVixQ&s=19
I've mentioned British YouTuber Techmoan before as he occasionally reviews unusual Japanese tech and in his latest video he demonstrates a couple of National RQ-8 portable 8-track players from the late 70s which he obtained from Japanese auction sites: if the video does not show watch the video here The two players are both unused in their original boxes complete with accompanying literature and batteries, some of which are still holding their electrical charge after 45 years. He explains that the players are almost identical to a Panasonic model that he has which was available in the US but one major difference is that the National ones have a karaoke function. Something else he says (at 24:32) on the subject of 'content matching' (when a copyright holder makes a claim about an unauthorised use of a music track in a YT video) is that usually only the offending song is removed, however when a Japanese music company makes a complaint they're extremely tough and they insist that the *whole* video is blocked. It might help to explain why fan-uploaded AKB48 videos from TV shows etc get deleted so quickly!
Japan is easing restrictions on overseas visitors, but not much. Japan said Wednesday it would end a requirement for vaccinated travelers to have a coronavirus test to enter the country, a gradual step toward reviving a hard-hit tourism industry but that comes as other restrictions continue to deter visitors. But tourists are still not allowed in unless they are a part of an authorized tour group, their every move watched closely by a licensed guide. Beginning Sept. 7, Japan will lift the testing requirement for boosted travelers who have had three vaccine shots, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/08/24/japan-covid-restrictions-travel-tourism-pcr/
Japan 's shirt for 2022 World Cup by Adidas Adidas has a collaboration with 2 football themed mangas, Giant Killing & Blue Lock. The 2 mangas have "leaked" the shirt on their previous issues
The Belgian 1st Division football team Sint Truiden is currently undergoing a major marketing operation in Japan to promote itself and has just announced the formation of the Sint Truiden Girls formed mostly of Japanese models. They include Shitamitsu Riko who was in an idol group called PiiiiiiiN but went on to become Miss Japan 2020 and Ayase Mao who is a former AV actress. Official website: https://stvvgirls.jp/ Promotional video with the team's anthem: if the video does not show watch the video here Presentation event today: if the video does not show watch the video here Article in Japanese from 'Soccer King': https://www.soccer-king.jp/news/world/world_other/20220830/1683746.html It looks from that article that yet more promotion in Japan by the football club is on the way.
Is creating an idol group with such big expectations still a good move today? Feels like most people in Japan aren't into idols anymore. Those who are still, most of them prefer KPop idols
Today I visited Green Park in London to view the public floral tributes to our late monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, and I'd like to share a few photos.
While expecting AKB48 to return to Kouhaku, I also hope Ado will be there too. She really deserves it. Tho her real face & identity are kept secret but she'll grow to be a new Jpop diva
NY Times: Antonio Inoki, a Japanese wrestler who was best known for fighting Muhammad Ali to a draw in a mixed martial arts match and who used his showmanship to win fame and influence in North Korea, Iraq and Pakistan, died on Saturday in Tokyo. He was 79. New Japan Pro-Wrestling, a wrestling company that Mr. Inoki had founded, announced that the cause was amyloidosis, a rare organ disease.
This tribute video for Inoki from Nikkan Sports includes a still photo of him with Matsui Rena at 1:15 (which I think I've seen before in the past): if the video does not show watch the video here
From Reuters, Japan reopens Visa free travel for dozens of countries. Travelers should be prepared to deal with a shortage of hospitality workers. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-...uvenir-shops-hotel-staff-shortage-2022-10-10/ Sent from my SM-G981U1 using Tapatalk
Outside of Music Plaza in So Cal's Koreatown, can someone point me to other websites/stores that sell K-pop CDs? I really wanted to get the individual Le Sserafim discs for their Antifragile release, but Music Plaza sold out of those quick, and it doesn't look like you can order the individual ones from CD Japan. Thanks.
I have purchased from Choice Music. https://choicemusicla.com And in other news “NAGAKUTE, Japan — Finally, it’s here: the extraordinarily visual theme park from the legendary Japanese animation house of Studio Ghibli. The studio announced plans for the attraction five years ago, and legions of Ghibli fans around the world have been eagerly awaiting its opening. That will happen Nov. 1, just as Japan is again welcoming international tourists. The park ultimately will consist of five areas, with three ready next month. Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse is an indoor showcase that recreates sets from 14 Ghibli classics. In Dondoko Forest, visitors will find the house of Satsuki and Mei from “My Neighbor Totoro.” The Hill of Youth presents Nishi’s antique shop from “Whisper of the Heart” and the Cat Bureau from “The Cat Returns.” Next fall will add Mononoke Village, based on “Princess Mononoke.” And spring 2024 will introduce the Valley of Witches, based on “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service.”” https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/10/13/studio-ghibli-anime-park-japan/