[JAPAN] Oricon Daily Chart - Top 10 Albums - BEAT CRUSADERS takes the #1 spot 5.30.07
May 30, 2007 by KNDY · Leave a Comment
It’s Wednesday and that means new releases. Which albums fared the best in Japan today?
NOTE: The big Oricon news of the week is the death of ZARD vocalist Sakai Izumi this past weekend and how ZARD’s last best album “Golden Best ~15th Anniversary~” (released back in October 2006) has been in high demand. If the album was plentifully available in stores (many people bought out what stores had, ZARD’s production company Being said that they are shipping more CD’s to meet the demand), there would be no doubt that ZARD would be #1 this week.
- BEAT CRUSADERS - EPopMAKING ~ Pop tono sogu
- Takeuchi Mariya - Denim
- ZARD - Golden Best ~15th Anniversary~
- Rhianna - Good Girl Gone Bad
- Mr. Children - B-SIDE
- BENNIE K - THE WORLD
- Ne-Yo - Because of You
- mihimaru GT - THE BESTof mihimaru GT
- Avril Lavigne - Best Damn Thing
- Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
[US] The man who launched Madonna, The Smiths and Depeche Mode’s career in the US looks toward Asia
May 30, 2007 by KNDY · Leave a Comment
Seymour Stein, known for making Madonna, The Smiths and Depeche Mode known in the US looks towards Asia as the next big wave.
According to the CRIEnglish.com article, “The record executive who discovered superstars such as Madonna, the Ramones and helped kickstart the punk revolution said Wednesday the next big rock success could be Asian.”
“Seymour Stein, whose Sire records was behind some of the biggest hits of all time, including Madonna’s “Like a Virgin,” said China and India were ready to produce their first big international superstar.”
No tag for this post.[KOREA] K-pop singer PSY under investigation
May 30, 2007 by KNDY · Leave a Comment
Chosun is reporting that K-pop singer PSY is under investigation if he was not doing his military duties while he was performing concerts.
According to the article, “The investigation is focused on whether PSY faithfully fulfilled his duties while performing in about 100 concerts during his service period, and whether PSY was qualified to work with the IT company.”
PSY’s agency said, “Although it is true that PSY came under investigation last week, there is no problem with PSY’s special military service. Because the concerts in the local areas were held after 9 p.m., they didn’t affect his duties.”
“Special military service is a substitute program through which people can fulfill their military service requirements by working in approved companies, for 34 months in the case of regional safeguarding and 26 months in the case of active service.”
No tag for this post.[JAPAN] Thousands of ZARD fans pay their respect to Sakai Izumi
May 29, 2007 by KNDY · Leave a Comment
Sakai Izumi’s production company “Being” opened their offices in Tokyo/Roppongi and Osaka for fans to come in and pay their respects to the lead vocalist of ZARD who died in a tragic accident on Sunday. Offices on Tuesday morning opened at 7:00 a.m. and immediately sounds of crying fans were heard.
Fans had the opportunity to bring in flowers and look at the CD singles and albums of ZARD.
ZARD’s “Golden Best 15th Anniversary album” which was released back in October 2006 was #6 on today’s Oricon Daily Charts and other past albums resurfaced on the Oricon top 100. The albums were sold out of many music stores around Japan that Being issued a statement that they are shipping more of the albums to fulfill demand.
Sakai Izumi’s body arrived in her hometown at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday and a wake was held at 6:00 p.m. with her next of kin present.
Being artist Ohguro Maki (37) posted about her feelings on her blog about how the two were the same age and a friend that she has respected from the bottom of her heart. Sakai is now free from any pain from her sickness (cancer) and that she prays for her happiness in the other world.
Photo courtesy of Sankei Sports
No tag for this post.[PR] ADV ANNOUNCES AUGUST 7 RELEASE - AIR GEAR: WINGS REBORN
May 29, 2007 by KNDY · Leave a Comment
ADV ANNOUNCES AUGUST 7 RELEASE - AIR GEAR: WINGS REBORN
“Straight-Up Cool.” – Anime News Network
HOUSTON, May 29, 2007 - ADV Films is proud to announce an August 7 release date for the fourth volume of the high-flying shounen adventures of Ikki and the gang in Air Gear!
Based on the hit manga series by Oh! Great (Tenjho Tenge) and produced by Toei Animation (Dragonball Z, Zatch Bell), Air Gear is set in a world with a need for speed. This is the un-edited version that fans have been waiting for, so say good-bye to the crows and get ready for Air Gear to go!
Synopsis: Ikki has formed a team of Storm Riders with the help of some new friends and old allies. With their first victory in the bag, they have begun their journey to the top of the ranks. Unfortunately for Ikki, Rika, eldest of the Sleeping Forest sisters, will do anything to keep the little crow safe and grounded. It’s a good thing Ringo is there to teach Ikki a few new tricks to survive the territory and parts wars to come. Will Ikki get his bell rung or will he prove once and for all that nothing is limited for the Sky King? Don’t miss all the high-flying, heart-pumping, breast-bouncing action that is Air Gear!
Air Gear: Wings Reborn (SRP $29.98 DVD) is a DVD-only release including the episodes 13 through 17, presented in both English 5.1 and Japanese 2.0 with English subtitles. Extras include clean opening animation, clean closing animation and previews of upcoming ADV Films releases.
DVD Product Details
Volume: 4 of 6
Running Time: 125 min.
Age Rating: TV MA (L,S)
CAT: DAG/004
UPC: 702727168321
Pre-Book Date: 7/10/2007
Street Date: 8/7/2007
Format: DVD
SRP: $29.98
Product specifications and content configuration subject to change.
No tag for this post.[JAPAN] More details on the death of ZARD vocalist Sakai Izumi
More details and clarifications to the original news story of the death of Sakai Izumi (40), lead vocalist of the popular band ZARD.
- Sakai Izumi fell from injuries that resulted from falling off an external stairway on the early morning of Saturday, the 26th. (estimated time: 5:40 a.m.).
- According to news source, police said she was coming back from her walk. She was climbing the external winding stairs and because of the rain earlier, may have caused her to slip. she hit her head hard from the fall. She was treated for cerebral contusion until Sunday but never regained consciousness. There were no witnesses to the fall. Also, they are checking at the rail bars of the stairs.
- Suicide ruled out. Because of the height of the fall (3 meters) and the arrangement of clothing and no suicide letter, authorities ruled out the possibility of suicide.
- In terms of the cancer she was recuperating from, the newspaper article (Nikkan Sports) features a statement that Sakai did not drink and she did not tolerate smoking in her home or around her hospital room.
- It was reported that Sakai was in good spirits because of the effectiveness of the chemotherapy and also that she wanted to release an album in October, to have a photo shoot done and wanted to do a nationwide tour.
No tag for this post.[JAPAN] Another evening at Club Prince
May 29, 2007 by KNDY · Leave a Comment
JapanToday recently featured an article on the Club Prince venue and the boy band.
According to the article, “While this might sound like pure female fantasy, the nationwide host industry is often viewed as a vulture preying upon innocent girls who wind up entrenched in debt. Also not boosting public relations are assumed ties to organized crime. Yuga, who once fronted the pop trio Kids Alive, hopes to change that perception through the release this month of the CD single “Love Dokkyun” (Heartbeat of Love) by his new band — not coincidentally named Club Prince — on pop label Avex. His desire is to take the glamour and nonstop pace of the host lifestyle around the globe.”
“I want to create an image similar to that of an amusement park, like Disneyland, for the host world,” says the 22-year-old of the group’s single, which is a high-tempo dance number that starts off with a call for free-flowing alcohol. “Since music is a worldwide language, I decided to use a song to convey this message to as many people as possible.”
No tag for this post.[VIDEO GAMES] WII-KLY UPDATE: THREE NEW CLASSIC GAMES ANNOUNCED FOR WII SHOP CHANNEL
May 29, 2007 by KNDY · Leave a Comment
WII-KLY UPDATE: THREE NEW CLASSIC GAMES ANNOUNCED FOR WII SHOP CHANNEL
It’s the end of a three-day weekend, but there’s still time to cram some last-minute gaming into your life. And what better way to do that than to go on a quest? Today the Wii Shop Channel on the Wii™ home video game system from Nintendo offers three questing opportunities for folks who aren’t quite ready to surrender their weekends: battling an evil dude and regaining your godly powers; rescuing your friends, who have been sucked into a video game; and rescuing “a wealthy man who’s been kidnapped.”
So do whatever it is you usually do when you go on a quest. Pack a cooler with deep-fried munchies and energy drinks. Dial up your best elf, dwarf and wizard buddies. Or grab your pal Hadji and your dog Bandit. Whatever. Just get questing.
The three new classic games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:
ActRaiser™ (SNES®, 1 player, 800 Wii Points): A masterpiece of game design originally released in the early days of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System®, ActRaiser’s enduring popularity stems from its revolutionary combination of action- and simulation-based game play. The user plays the role of the Master, a dethroned deity whose once-idyllic world has fallen under the control of the Evil One. Stripped of godly power, the Master must somehow put an end to the Evil One’s reign and rebuild his desolate realm. Game play alternates between two modes: Action and Simulation. In Action mode, the Master must battle against impossible odds to pacify six lands. Pacifying a land unlocks Simulation mode. In this mode, the Master must oversee the development and repopulation of the territory he has reclaimed. In doing so, he will gain followers who gradually restore his godly might, empowering him to take back the next land and, ultimately, defeat the Evil One.
Kid Chameleon™ (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): The local arcade is packed with kids, all lining up to play the latest, most realistic video game they’ve ever seen. It’s called Wild Side, and it uses holographic images to immerse the player in a strange world. But there’s a problem… Kids are literally getting sucked into the game, and now several of them are trapped. Throughout more than 100 levels, you’ll take on several different forms, such as a Berzerker, a Micromax, a Maniaxe or a Skycutter, which will make you much more powerful. It’s up to you, Kid Chameleon, the best gamer in town, to get yourself inside the game so that you can defeat the game’s boss and bring your friends back to reality.
J.J. & JEFF (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): This comical action game features two bungling detectives, J.J. and JEFF, as they travel through a total of six fields. One day, a request comes into their office to take a case that requires them to “rescue a wealthy man who’s been kidnapped.” Choose between the two characters and set off alone to outwit your partner and save the day. Each field is broken down into four areas, where enemies, as well as your partner, will try to keep you from your goal. There are many items throughout each area. Kick around in various locations to make them appear. Jump and spray-paint your way toward your goal. If you find a hidden room, you can regain health while being completely entertained by its short sketch and surreal allure.
For more information about Wii, please visit Wii.com.
No tag for this post.[JAPAN] Mori Riyo wins Miss Universe Japan
May 29, 2007 by KNDY · Leave a Comment
Japan wins its first Miss Universe title in 48 years with Mori Riyo (20).
According to Mainichi Shimbun, “Riyo Mori, a 20-year-old dancer from Japan who hopes to someday open an international dance school, was crowned Miss Universe 2007 on Monday night.”
“Miss USA Rachel Smith, who slipped and fell to the floor during the evening gown competition and was jeered by the Mexican audience during the interview phase, was the contest’s fourth runner-up.”
No tag for this post.[OFF-THE-HOOK] In Memory of Sakai Izumi
You have given us beautiful music for so many years.
I remember the year when J!-ENT started, “Makenaide” was the song that turned my attention to your music and going through Japan’s rental shops trying to purchase every CD single released by ZARD and your song “Eien” giving me so much strength and belief in love.
I am utterly devastated because one of my dreams was to one day meet you, to talk to you and to say thank you in person and to let you know how much your music has meant to me.
You’ve brought me so much happiness with your music and I will forever cherish your lyrics, your work and you.
God bless Sakai. Izumi
No tag for this post.
