Japanese rock band Tokyo Jihen reunited in January this year after 8 years with the release of their new EP News. Today, a curated selection of 23 live performances from across all of their live DVD and Blu-ray releases was posted on the official Tokyo Jihen and EMI Records YouTube channels.

Tokyo Jihen Official YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqoUKpMpv8hz64ckrRWBbUw

EMI Records Official YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcuijrCs22iiS27d4avHR6A?view_as=subscriber

Live Video Clip Line-Up

“Marunouchi Sadistic” from Chin Play Kou Play

“Ikiru” from Bon Voyage

“Oishii Kisetsu” from Bon Voyage

“Gunjō Hiyori” from Bon Voyage

“Seishun no Matataki” from Bon Voyage

“Himitsu” from Discovery

“Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo” from Discovery

“Zettaichi Tai Sōtaichi” from Discovery

“Atarashii Bunmei Kaika” from Discovery

“Dempa Tsūshin” from Ultra C

“Zettai Zetsumei” from Ultra C

“Nōdōteki Sanpunkan” from Ultra C

“Superstar” from Ultra C

“Sweet Spot” from Ultra C

“Senkō Shōjo” Ultra C

“Fukushū” from Spa & Treatment

“Kabuki~OSCA” from Spa & Treatment

“Kingyo no Hako” from Spa & Treatment

“Shōjo Robot” from Just Can’t Help It.

“Mirror Ball” from Just Can’t Help It.

“Blackout” from Just Can’t Help It.

“Dynamite” from Just Can’t Help It.

“Koi no Urikomi” from Dynamite out

Ringo Sheena released her first greatest hits album Newton no Ringo ~Hajimete no Best Ban~ on November 13, which dominated Japanese music charts at No. 1.

Now, the Japanese singer-songwriter has announced that she will release several new entries to her The Sexual Healing seriesーa collection of her music videos on DVD and Blu-ray. The Sexual Healing Parts 5-7 will feature all of her music videos produced from 2014, while The Sexual Healing Total Care Course 120min will include her entire music video catalogue (Parts 1-7). The Sexual Healing Total Orgasm Experience will include all of this plus bonus content.

To promote her album and this new DVD/Blu-ray release, Ringo Sheena will hold a talk and performance at United Cinemas Aquacity Odaiba on December 7. There will also be a 70-minute screening of her music videos edited by Yuichi Kodama who has directed many of Sheena’s music videos.

Ringo Sheena’s greatest hits album Newton no Ringo ~Hajimete no Best Ban~ is currently reigning high on the sales charts. Ringo Sheena will release a brand new Tokyo version of the song Roman to Soroban, which she created with Hikaru Utada, on November 25.

Still image from the Roman to Soroban Official Music Video.

In an interview with Ringo Sheena about the release of her album Sandokushi, she referred to Hikaru Utada as the sun and herself as the shade. Roman to Soroban is the second song the two friends worked on together since Utada’s release of Nijikan Dake no Vacance in which Ringo Sheena was the featuring artist. Roman to Soroban LDN ver., which goes by the English name The sun&moon in london, is the opening song of Newton no Ringo. The song features the instrumentals of the London Philharmonic Orchestra and was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. 

Following up on the release of the London version of Roman to Soroban, Sheena and Utada have set out to release a Tokyo version which will go by the official name Roman to Soroban TYO ver in Japanese and The sun&moon in tokyo in English.

The recording of the brand new Tokyo version will be brought to life with the cooperation of her long-time tour members Keisuke Torigoe (bass), Midorin (drums), Yukio Nagoshi (guitar), and H Zett M (keys), recreating the song in a whole new genre which rings “Tokyo sound”.

Ringo Sheena’s greatest hits album Newton no Ringo ~Hajimete no Best Ban~ finally dropped last Wednesday, and has made it to No. 1 on Oricon’s Weekly Album Charts and Weekly Digital Album Charts. This makes it her first release where both the CD and digital version have peaked at number one simultaneously.

It is also her third digital album to hit No. 1 since Gyakuyunyū: Kōkūkyoku hit shelves back on December 18, 2017.

Her first ever greatest hits album in her 22 year career, Newton no Ringo ~Hajimete no Best Ban~ also made it to No. 1 for real time sales on major e-commerce websites including Amazon and Rakuten. It also shot up to No. 1 on eleven digital music charts including iTunes, Recochoku and LINE MUSIC.

Regular Edition copies include 28 tracks while First Press Limited Edition copies have 30 tracks. Both also feature two new tracks. Featured songs include a mix of singles and songs often performed live like Kabukicho no Joou, Honnou, and Nagaku Mijikai Matsur, as well as Kouzen no Himitsu, which is used as the main theme for the TV Asahi Friday night drama Jikou Keisatsu (Time Limit Investigator), and Roman to Soroban LDN ver. featuring Hikaru Utada.

The album is produced by recording engineer Uni Inoue, with updated mixes of select songs that retain their familiar sound while making them sound seamless alongside her Sheena’s more recent hits.

Ringo Sheena’s greatest hits album Newton no Ringo ~Hajimete no Best Ban~ is finally set to hit shelves next week on November 13. This will be her first-ever greatest hits album release since her debut 22 years ago.

There’s a lot going on right now for Ringo Sheena fans. The music videos for her newest song Kouzen no Himitsu, which is used as the main theme for the TV Asahi Friday night drama Jikou Keisatsu (Time Limit Investigator), and Roman to Soroban, featuring Hikaru Utada, have already amassed over 2 million views together. But the fun doesn’t stop there, as a trailer has just dropped to tease her forthcoming greatest hits album. Check it out below.

A spot promo was also released. Check that out below too.

The official Japanese liner notes for the album were also released on the special site set up for the release. In them, Ringo talks about the conception of the new songs.

The booklet included with the album features an AR marker. When purchasing the CD at a store in Japan, a leaflet will be given explaining how to use it.

To commemorate the release of the album, fans can enter for a chance to win the prizes listed below when purchasing the CD at select stores.

• A Prize: Acrylic Paper Weight
• B Prize: T-Shirt
• C Prize: Paper Bag
• Runner-Up Prize: Bookmark

For info on which stores are participating on which days, please check the following website: https://sp.universal-music.co.jp/ringo/news/191108/ (Japanese)

On November 13, Ringo Sheena will release her first ever all-time greatest hits album entitled: Newton no ringo Hajimete no Best Ban. 

The album is full of songs ranging from her debut in 1998 to her brand new song Kouzen no himitsu, which was written for the TV Asahi October season Friday night drama Jikou Keisatsu (Time Limit Investigator). Ringo has just dropped the music video for Kouzen no himitsu and it is bound to steal your gaze. 

The song perfectly reflects the feelings of main character Mikazuki, who is played by Kumiko Hiramaru. In the video, Ringo Sheena is dressed as a bittersweet cinnamon policewoman who leads the dance as the ring leader of two darkside police members. This project was created with cinnamon squad: the wind ensemble to which song arranger Youichi Murata belongs, and midnightoutlaw, who often perform at Ringo Sheena’s live performances and recording sessions. The result: an intense video that one might even think is part of the Jikou Keisatsu series. 

One member of the darkside police force is AYA SATO, who left a grand impression on viewers after her striking performance as three different characters in Ringo’s previous music video Gate Of Living. The second member of the dance duo is MIKEY from Tokyo Gegegay. AYA’s thrilling choreography consists of her characteristic hand movements which will imprison your attention in no time. 

The music video’s director Hiroshi Usui has been the man behind Ringo’s most iconic music videos and most of her live performance videos since her debut. Being very familiar with Ringo and the performers, Usui’s masterpiece brings out the full potential of all the performers. 

A Statement by Hiroshi Usui

“You have just witnessed the almighty power of this performance supergroup. It would be a crime not to see it. You will spot something that amazes you each time you watch it. There’s no Time Limit on your investigation. Please, enjoy!

Hikaru Utada’s 2018 Laughter in the Dark Tour was released on DVD and Blu-ray today. The tour―which was her first nationwide tour in Japan in 12 years―was held to celebrate 20 years since her debut.

The DVD and Blu-ray was released in Limited Pressing Edition packaging and was also released across several streaming platforms including Netflix.

On day one of its release, the video shot up to No. 1 in downloads on the iTunes Live Video section. It has also been warmly received by foreign fans for its posting on Netflix.

Fans in Japan can also now watch it at several Sony Store branches in high resolution as part of the Sony Store Days event. At the event, fans can see the outfits that Utada actually wore on stage during the shows as well as watch Anata and Play A Love Song using Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, the latest in immersive music reproduction that brings listeners closer the artists than ever before. You must book in advance to experience this latest cutting-edge technology however.

As well as this, 13.1 channel multi-speakers will be used so that fans can enjoy the live experience together with the mix by Utada’s recording engineer Masahito Komori.

Fans can also experience Hikari and Chikai on PlayStation®VR and more. The event will begin at the Umeda branch of the Sony Store in Osaka on July 4. Full details below.

Cameraman: Teppei Kishida (岸田哲平)

After a five year-long wait, Ringo Sheena has announced the arrival of a brand new album called Sandokushi, which will be released on 27th May. Ahead of this album release, the music video for her song Gate of Living has been completed! The video just went public today so you can catch it on her official YouTube channel as well as on other sites.

Gate of Living is the opening track on her new album Sandokushi, and perfectly kicks off the theme of the entire album. The word “Sandoku” which is part of the title of the album means “three poisons” and refers to the three poisons of Buddhism, namely: Moha (delusion, ignorance), Raga (greed, sensual attachment) and Dvesha (avershion, hatred) which are believed to be the core causes of suffering.

Gate of Living music video

The music video for Gate of Living was directed by Yuichi Kodama; who is an essential component in all of Ringo Sheena’s recent music videos. Kodama made the following statement about the video:

The night the Zen priest meets with a woman at Tokyo Tower.

The night the woman walked to Roppongi, knowing she has nowhere to go.

The night the man and woman met at Ginza.

The night the man found himself lost in a mysterious tunnel.

The happenings of the night that just happened a while ago in Tokyo have been made into a video.

This video will enlighten you. 

In the video, AYA SATO represents each of the three poisons as she dances in the costumes of the three beasts. This video masterpiece is the perfect visual to bring the audio to life. Enjoy it with the album!

After a five year-long wait, Ringo Sheena has announced the arrival of a brand new album called Sandokushi! Her new song TOKYO which is included on her new album was performed with Masaki Hayashi (piano), Keisuke Torigoe (bass) and Midorin (drums). TOKYO will be released at midnight on 17th May before the rest of the album. Those three minutes of song are a strong reflection of 2019 and “now”. As TOKYO is arriving before the album, please check it out!

Along with the news of the advanced release of TOKYO, a special website to celebrate the release of Sandokushi has been set up, displaying the official line notes that go with the CD. The line notes are based on an interview that took place straight after the album was completed and it is a precious key text to understand the album. You should check it out!

Hikaru Utada’s Laughter in the Dark Tour took place throughout November and December last year to commemorate the singer’s 20th anniversary. It also marked her first nationwide tour in Japan in 12 years and first performance since Yokohama Arena in 2010 after which she went on indefinite hiatus due to fatigue. The tour wrapped up at Makuhari Messe on December 9, the exact same date as her debut 20 years prior.

Utada performed for 140,000 fans across the tour. The finale date included a set-list of 20 tracks which included Automatic, First Love, Hatsukoi which was released last year and more. The entire set including the encore is now heading to DVD and Blu-ray.

Both the DVD and Blu-ray will be released in several editions.

The Limited Pressing Edition comes on DVD and Blu-ray and includes the entire concert at Makuhari Messe as well as a documentary entitled Talking About Laughter in the Dark which features an interview with the tour members and staff.

It also comes packaged with a 60-page photo book containing unreleased photos taken on stage and during rehearsal, a replica backstage pass, and a DVD containing music videos for Forevermore, Anata and Hatsukoi―all songs released after Utada’s label move to Sony Music―as well as each video’s making-of footage. When purchased at select shops and online stores it also comes with an original neck strap as pictured above. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Limited Pressing Edition is a must-have for fans of Utada, whether they attended the tour and want to relive the moment or weren’t able to make it and want the full authentic experience.

And for the first time in Utada’s career, this DVD and Blu-ray will be released across multiple platforms. It will be available to download on the iTunes Store, the Japanese on-demand service SKY PerfecTV!, and on Netflix Japan’s on demand video subscription service.

「Play A Love Song」（Live Ver.）

「Hikaru Utada Laughter in the Dark Tour 2018」SPOT

Pre-orders for the Limited Pressing Edition opened today. All editions of the DVD and Blu-ray will be released on June 26, 2019.

Hikaru Utada dropped her 22nd single Face My Fears back on January 18 this year which marked her first single release in 11 years. The song is the main theme for the video game Kingdom Hearts III has gone on to break many milestones including surpassing 10 million streams worldwide in February and making it onto the Billboard Hot 100 list.

Two months onward the record continues to enjoy huge popularity around the globe. It was released on vinyl on March 6 and even resurfaced into the top 30 on Oricon’s Weekly Singles ranking on March 18.

The song’s music video, which was posted on Skrillex’s YouTube channel, has finally broken the 10 million view mark.

The milestones do not stop there however as the above-mentioned streaming number has been eclipsed, reaching over 35 million streams across the globe.

Utada’s Hikaru Utada Laughter in the Dark Tour 2018 was released on the music channel MUSIC ON! TV on March 10 which has evoked demand from fans worldwide for a DVD and Blu-ray release.

This marks her third tie-up with the Kingdom Hearts series. She performed the theme songs Simple & Clean (Hikari in Japan) for Kingdom Hearts (2002) and Sanctuary (Passion in Japan) for Kingdom Hearts II (2005).

A vinyl edition of Face My Fears will be released outside Japan on March 29.

Hikaru Utada released her hit new single Face My Fears last month and within two weeks of dropping has garnered over 10 million streams across the globe on music platforms including Spotify and Apple music.

The song has also topped the No. 1 charts for dance music on iTunes in the US, Japan and elsewhere settings a record for the singer.
 

The official music video for the Japanese version of the song which was released on Skrillex’s official YouTube channel also gained over 4 million views in just 4 days.

The song is used as the opening theme for the new video game Kingdom Hearts III which was released worldwide on January 29. The game has sold over 5 million copies both physical and digital worldwide making it the fastest selling game in the series.

The song also recently ranked on the US Billboard Hot 100. It has stayed in the top 5 of the Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales Chart for two weeks.