On September 14, the popular male idol group King & Prince released their 10th single, TraceTrace. The group released its 4th album, Made in, in June 2022, which became their 4th consecutive album to reach the top spot in the Oricon Weekly Album Ranking.

The new song is being used as the theme for NTV’s July Sunday drama series New Nobunaga Chronicle: High School is a Battlefield starring Ren Nagase. The dance was created by Norwegian choreographer Quick Style, with the theme of the track being ‘androids and humans.’ Nagase takes the center role for the first time in the new video.

 TraceTrace – King & Prince (YouTube Edit)

TraceTrace – King & Prince (Dance ver.YouTube Edit)

The limited first edition A includes Escort, a song about pledging one-sided love to someone who is more than a friend but less than a lover, as well as the TraceTrace music video and dance video. The limited first edition B includes My Treasures, an up-tempo song about friendship, as well as Trace Race GP, a variety video showing the group members running, dancing, and more. 

The standard edition includes the coming-of-age song Super Positive! as well as Autumn sky, a previously unreleased track. Fans can also enjoy Nothing compares, an all-English love ballad!

The newest issue of AERA Magazine, released on June 13, features exclusive content from boy band King & Prince. The group’s new album Made in is scheduled to release on June 29, and the boy’s recently completed their first dome tour, a dream for the members since the group debuted five years ago. In an expansive interview, the boys are discussing the new album and the future of King & Prince. Don’t miss this seven-page color interview along with full-color photographs taken by Mika Ninagawa.

The title of King & Prince’s new album, Made in, was inspired by the concept of doing what you can to make the people around you happy right now while remembering where you came from. “This album will really show people our range,” Sho Hirano said. In the interview, Yuta Jinguji discusses the recording and music video creation process. “Everyone was really proactive in coming up with ideas,” he said. When chatting about the cool dance sequence seen in the first track ichiban, Sho Hirano grinned. “Kishi’s movements were so unique and hilarious that everyone was cracking up.” 

The group’s recent dome tour was a massive success. “Everything felt like a reward,” said Kaito Takahashi. “I couldn’t grasp the magnitude of it,” Ren Nagase noted. “It was a strange feeling,” Yuta Kishi said. “I thought it must be an astral projection.” 

Takahashi couldn’t help but want more. “I felt this massive sense of accomplishment, but I just wanted to keep going!” 

Check out the magazine to read more comments this incredible group.

The cover of the May 2022 issue of B.L.T Magazine will be graced by second-generation members of the idol group Sakurazaka46! The new issue will go on sale on March 24.

The group will release its 4th single, Samidare yo, on April 6. Hono Tamura, Karin Fujiyoshi, Hikaru Morita, and Rena Moriya will be dressed in vivid red outfits against a bright blue sky on the new cover, and fans of the group won’t want to miss getting their hands on this commemorative issue! A 22-page long photoshoot is also included inside, so look forward to seeing the members in vintage clothing!

Boy band INI, created during the second season of PRODUCE 101 JAPAN, will release their second single on April 20, 2022. 

INI initially debuted on November 3, 2021, with the release of their debut single A. The group’s most popular track, according to a national poll, was Rocketeer, which is still used to promote the boy’s activities. The group’s debut single surpassed a half-million copies sold and reached the top spot on the Oricon Weekly Single Chart. INI also won the Favorite Asian Artist award at 2021 MAMA, one of the world’s largest K-pop award shows, and Best New Artist at the Japan Record Awards.

Up-and-coming boy band INI will be featured in a new SHIBUYA109 campaign from January 2 until January 16, 2021. The group, formed during the PRODUCE101 Japan competition, will model for the SHIBUYA109 Winter Sale at four locations around Japan, including the main Shibuya109 hub, MAGNET by SHIBUYA109, SHIBUYA109 Abeno in Osaka, and Kintetsu Passe in Nagoya.

An original campaign video has also been released, showing the members during the recent SHIBUYA109 photo shoot. This is available to watch at the Tokyo and Osaka locations, but for those unable to visit, it is also available on YouTube!

Original Campaign Video

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpt3D-UVX_jj2MDFVM6V0bA

Goods

Shopping Bag

This will be the first time for INI to collaborate with a major fashion brand as campaign models, and images of the members will be available both inside and outside select SHIBUYA109 locations. A pop-up store is selling limited-edition items, and visitors can enjoy a special photo spot, a giveaway to win signed posters, and many other activities. The stairwell on each level of SHIBUYA109 in Tokyo has been taken over by one of the members, with handwritten messages on display until January 16. 

Cardio and other INI songs will be playing in the main SHIBUYA109 Tokyo location as well as MAGENT by SHIBUYA109 during the campaign. Announcements made over the shop’s intercom will be made by the members as well!

The INI Pop-up store will be opened in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. Everything from trading cards to acrylic stands will be on sale, with many official items only available at these limited-time locations.

Japanese boy band INI, formed through the reality show Produce 101 Japan 2, will start their first regular TV program ‘INI Road: The Road to Global Expansion’ on January 30, 2022. Since their formation last year, the group has become increasingly popular in Japan, and the boys are now ready to start the challenge of taking their music global.

The theme of the first episode is ‘Language.’ This is an important subject for global expansion, and the members will learn to greet people in English, along with studying other phrases useful during award ceremonies overseas. 

Be sure to tune in to see how the members start their journey to become the world’s most famous boy band!

Universal Music has just released idol group King & Prince’s eighth single Koifuru Tsukiyo ni Kimi Omou, which served as the theme song for Kaguya-Sama: Love is War Final. The film was released on August 20, 2021.

King & Prince – Koifuru Tsukiyo ni Kimi Omou Youtube Edit

King & Prince – Koifuru Tsukiyo ni Kimi Omou Behind-the-Scenes Digest

King & Prince – You are my hero Special Movie Digest

Kaguya-Sama: Love is War Final stars Kanna Hashimoto, Sho Hirano, and Nana Asakawa. Both the standard and limited-edition singles include a B-side track titled You are my hero, which will be heard this holiday season during the 7-11 2021 Christmas commercial. 

The First Limited Edition A version of the single includes the music video of the main track and a special making-of video. Limited Edition B includes live footage from the group’s Osaka concert during their 2021 tour, along with member interviews and other special footage. 

The Recording Industry Association of Japan has published its official rankings for February 2021 gold disk records, revealing that Japanese boy bands King & Prince and SixTONES have been certified Double Platinum with their latest singles while SKE48, Kanjani Eight, Kis-My-Ft2, Johnny’s West, MISIA, and King & Prince again were certified Platinum. Check out the record-selling tracks below.

Double Platinum Ranking

King ＆ Prince – “koi-wazurai” (Single)

SixTONES – “Boku ga Boku Janai Mitai da” (Single)

 Platinum Ranking

SKE48 – “Koiochi Flag” (Single)

Kanjani Eight – “Kimi to Mitai Sekai” (Single)

Kis-My-Ft2 – “Luv Bias” (Single)

Johnny’s West – “Shuukan Umaku Iku Youbi” (Single)

MISIA – “Super Best Records -15th Celebration-” (Album)

King ＆ Prince – “King ＆ Prince CONCERT TOUR 2020 〜L＆〜” (Video)

Six records including two singles, three albums, and one video went Gold in January.

King & Prince released their 6th single I promise from Universal Music Japan on December 16, 2020. The track is the male idol group’s first winter love song, A J-pop number singing of a man whose love towards a girl isn’t realised but his feelings towards her don’t change.

The song is currently being played as the Christmas commercial song at 7-Eleven convenience stores in Japan.

King & Prince「I promise」Music Video Making -Story ver.-

All songs on the single are winter-themed. The track Winter Love Story featured on Regular Edition copies was used as 7-Eleven’s Christmas commercial song in 2019, and this is the first time it is being released.

First Press Limited Edition A is coupled with a DVD featuring the I promise music video and the first part of its making-of while First Press Limited Edition B copies feature the second part.

Universal Music Japan will release Japanese all-male idol group Male & Prince’s second album L& tomorrow (September 2).

The album’s title refers to “The place of King & Prince; a place where everyone can have fun.” Regular Edition copies will include 17 tracks while other copies will have 16. The album will include their single koi-wazurai, Mazy Night which was the main theme for the Japanese television drama Detective Novice, the main theme for the live-action adaptation of Yowamushi Pedal which stars King & Prince member Red Nagase, five songs produced by the group members themselves, and more.

King & Prince – “&LOVE” Music Video Making Digest

First Press Limited Edition ‘A’ copies of the new album will include the music video and making-of for &LOVE. ‘B’ copies will include a documentary entitled The Documentary – King & Prince in America- showcasing King & Prince in America making their international debut.

King & Prince – “The Documentary – King & Prince in America-” Digest

Both copies will also features dance lessons by Phil Tayag who is known for choreographing for Bruno Mars. Regular Edition copies will also exclusively feature recording scenes and vocal lessons for King & Prince’s song for Bounce.

King & Prince’s 5th single Mazy Night was released through UNIVERSAL MUSIC LLC today (June 10).

The title track serves as the main theme for the Japanese crime thriller drama series Miman Keisatsu: Midnight Runner starring Kento Nakajima of Japanese idol group Sexy Zone and King & Prince’s own Sho Hirano.

King & Prince – “Mazy Night” Music Video

First Press Limited Edition A copies of the single are coupled with a DVD featuring the Mazy Night music video and its making-of, while First Press Limited Edition B copies include a DVD featuring a single-cut version of the music video as well as solo cut versions for each King & Prince member.

Miman Keisatsu: Midnight Runner had its broadcast postponed but is set to begin airing again in the near future.

Kento Nakajima and Sho Hirano, who are members of the popular idol groups Sexy Zone and King & Prince respectively, will feature in the May edition of fashion magazine CanCam on both the front cover and with a special interview.

The two artists have formed a new music unit ahead of their co-star roles in the Japanese drama series Miman Keisatsu: Midnight Runner, which is set to begin this April. For fans of Sexy Zone and King & Prince, and of the members themselves, this new project is a dream collaboration. Both of them appear on the front cover of CanCam‘s May 2020 issue with their short black hair looking sexy and boyish.

What’s the relationship between the two of them?

In the 12-page special feature of the two idol stars, there is a cut of Nakajima and Hirano surrounded by lots of flowers, another of them feeding each other strawberries, and plenty of other beautiful photos. In the interview, they explain their relationship together as senior and junior in the same company.

Nakajima said of Hirano: “[He’s] a really cute junior. In the entertainment world, there are people I call ‘Big Bro,’ but there’s no one I call ‘Little Bro.’ He might just be my first Little Bro.”

Hirano said: “During my junior years I was allowed to be a backup for Sexy Zone numerous times, so to have a connection to Kento gives me the confidence to lose to no-one.”

They both started something to deepen their connection

In the interview, they reveal that Nakajima suggested they exchange diaries between each other to deepen their relationship. On the day of the interview, Hirano was supposed to take the first entry with him, but he actually ended up forgetting in the car. Nakajima said of this: “Sho’s clumsiness is cute, but when it gets down to business, he doesn’t mess around. He’s the hero I want to cheer on.”

The interview includes plenty of other information fans will love to read about too, like more about their friendship, and how they feel about their fans. Their new project together is big news for the entertainment industry in 2020.