In a recent article on Daily Yomiuri, Paul Jackson interviews m-flo’s Verbal.  From everything of growing up Korean in Japan to Lisa leaving the group and more.

In a snippet from the article, “Rapper Verbal of Japan’s popular hip-hop act m-flo saunters into his design studio-cum-urban retreat overlooking the heart of Shibuya. Despite an imminent nationwide tour in support of their latest and last “m-flo loves…” album Cosmicolor, Verbal has managed to wander through one of the world’s most crowded shopping districts pretty much unrecognized. It’s a sign of a trajectory through the universe of J-pop that has not been fueled by eye candy. What’s even more interesting is that for a rapper who has worked with top U.S. emcee/producers Kanye West and Pharrell as well as the biggest names in J-pop, from Kumi Koda to Namie Amuro, Verbal expresses respect for both realms. If he has any beefs at all, it’s with the music biz itself and with those who take themselves too seriously.”

“The first theme we discuss, though, is Verbal’s more relaxed attitude to rapping, as inspired by his experience of working with Pharrell and West.”

“I tend to be a bit nervous or edgy. I think about things a lot. I’m always checking tracks. But I’m not as tense like that as I was before,” Verbal says in pretty much flawless English, before emphasizing the speed with which the two U.S. rappers work. “Pharrell and Kanye are not like that. They just do their thing [in the studio] and ‘Bye!’”

“Rapwise I’d say Kanye directly influenced me because after listening to him and working with him for Teriyaki Boyz [Verbal's rap project with members of Rip Slyme and others] around the time we were doing Cosmicolor and writing my lyrics, that totally changed the way I wrote my rap.”

Read more of this interview 

Hey everyone!  Upcoming J!-ENT podcast coming from J-Rock Revolution courtesy of J!-ENT’s Wynne Ip.   Hopefully have it up by tomorrow!

J-Rock Gods Join Forces and Debut at Nation’s Largest Convention

Anaheim, California (May 25, 2007) —As announced on the stage of J-ROCK
REVOULTION: SKIN performs June 29th, 2007 at Anime Expo® 2007.

SKIN is Yoshiki, Gackt, Miyavi and Sugizo!

Stay tuned for more info …

All registrants who register before the end of May are automatically placed
into the drawing. Those who have already pre-registered are also
automatically entered into this drawing. Secure pre-registration can be
done via online at https://secure.rhq.com/anime/anime2007/attreg/index.cgi
<file://localhost/anime/anime2007/attreg/index.cgi> .

Attendees interested in booking flights, car rentals and/or other hotels for
Anime Expo® 2007 can do so via the AX Travel Store located at
www.AXTravelStore.com <http://www.AXTravelStore.com> .

K-POP R&B star RAIN (24) wowed 40,000 people at a concert at Tokyo Dome on the 25th.  The R&B artist performed 21 songs including his Japanese song “FREE WAY”, spoke a little Japanese to the audienceand even had some stars turn up such as SMAP’s Nakai Masahiro, Kusanagi Tsuyoshi and Katori Shingo.  RAIN is currently on a worldwide tour (since December) performing in ten countries.

More on this article

Photo courtesy of Sankei Sports

Yaguchi Mari, former leader of Morning Musume and resigned after being photographed holding hands with another guy by tabloid FRIDAY was asked about Fujimoto Miki’s (22) alleged romanced with a comedian  Shouji Tomoharu (31).

Yaguchi told the press that she was surprised when she saw the news and didn’t know anything about it but will need to talk to Fujimoto for details.

Watching Yaguchi’s “Damn Yankees” musical were former Morning Musume member/leader Iida Kaori and current sub-leader/member Takahashi Ai who commented about the musical and when asked abut Fujimoto, Takahashi commented that she was also surprised to hear about it.

More on this article

Photo courtesy of Sankei Sports

Gothic Lolita Lan by Dennis A. Amith [KNDY]

The following was created for promotion of Pacific Media Expo 2006 on MySpace.com.
This one is Miki ala Lan (from Lan and her Sisters) by SaintFox and Digital Lion, Bat Lab’s PVC GEAR Type D and Paradise Hair by 3Dream.

Software: Poser 6 and Adobe Photoshop CS2

After Wednesday night’s finale of “LOST”, I’m still thinking about the finale.  Beginning the week with “HEROES” and then to last night’s “LOST” finale, I’m not a big watcher of television and for many years, I have watched programming in the UK, Japan and Australia but I’m really enjoying these two shows…especially the newer “Battlestar Galactica” (Yes, Jeff…despite this season..not being the greatest, I still enjoy it).

I see the OC Season 4 is now out on DVD and I’ll be getting it.  Earlier this month, I decided to visit a few of the locations from the show in Los Angeles on to Orange County and I get a ticket.  Those traffic camera tickets and I hear the OC is full of them.

Where I live…green lights are longer, yellow lights give you time and you go.  I realize by thiking that, I was so wrong.  Green lights turn to yellow and those yellow lights are so quick when it turns to red and then all of a sudden, a large flash.

Total suckage!

And to add more to the suckage is the cost: $370 and then whatever it costs for traffic school…

Then the cost of gas and then car problems… and arghh….  I’m way to bummed to podcast.  So, there you go…  The month of May has been nothing but crappola and my only highlight that I have felt was the “HEROES” and “LOST” finale, and a Sunday where all I did was watch “BLEACH”…hehe..  And whatever 15 minutes a day I can play “Pokemon Diamond”.   How sad but true!

Speaking of “Pokemon Diamond”… I’ve never played these Pokemon games.  I got it because a friend recommended it and said because of my busy schedule and that it’s a game I can play for minutes and save and start whenever.  I like that.  And I think that’s why I enjoy this and Phoenix Wright so much and how much I enjoy portable gaming.   Sure, it might take me awhile to play the games that I bought that have collected dust or never played but I guess that is where I see gaming for me.  I have not touched my XBOX360 in ages but I do ocassionally play the Wii for Wii Sports for workout and “Elebits”.

Gotta go…  But as always, trying to keep optimistic.

Current member of Morning Musume and group leader Fujimoto Miki (22) is the focus of tabloid FRIDAY as the latest issue shows pictures with her and 31-year-old comedian Shouji Tomoharu.

FRIDAY was the same publication that outed former Morning Musume leader Yaguchi Mari which led to her resigning from the group and the same publication that led to Kago Ai’s suspension.

The publication details the two’s alleged romance and fans worry what will happen to Fujimoto because of the no-relationship policy. With UFA taking a strong stance after the recent problems with former Morning Musume members Kago Ai and Tsuji Nozomi, it is unknown at this time on what their stance will be.

FRIDAY is alleging that Fujimoto Miki stayed at Shouji’s apartment overnight for 3 straight days. Photos of the two coming in and out of a sauna and at a conbini.

More on this article

Photo courtesy of Sankei Sports

Good news for people wanting Burger King to return back to Japan (After losing the price war and closing shop nearly six years ago).

According  to JapanToday.com, “Burger King was forced to quit the Japanese market amid a price war in 2001, but is now back as a group company of Lotte and Revamp. The ever-popular Whopper will be the mainstay of the menu, which is almost the same as in the U.S. The size of the Whopper will be the same, too. Burger King will be using 100% New Zealand beef in its patties which are flame-grilled.”

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A true demonstration of how cool Yoshiki is and how he cares for his fans, during an early morning drive through the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles and finding out that the people waiting in line early in the morning were for his JRock music event, YOSHIKI decides to surprise the fans who camped out for the event.

Yoshiki posts on his MySpace blog, “I just have to tell you something. …Last night after the recording, I drove by the Wiltern Theater (LA). I saw several cool looking people camping outside the venue.

It was probably around midnight….I wondered “Who’s performing tomorrow?”

I then called one of my assistants to find out the schedule of the venue….. He said “Only the JRock festival is happening this week at that venue.” …… Then I said “Are you serious? Are they camping out for our concert?”…..

It was already late, but I couldn’t sleep because I was thinking about them…….. So….. around 3 A.M. I drove up to the venue, and brought several coffees and hot chocolates to them…..”

Read more of Yoshiki’s blog