It has been announced that flumpool will perform the new opening theme Nevermind for the ongoing basketball anime series Ahiru no Sora. It will be used from January 8, 2020, and also be released digitally on the same day.

In 2019, the band came out of their indefinite hiatus after flumpool vocalist Ryuta Yamamura recovered from his functional vocal disorder, and the band successfully completed a nationwide tour in Japan. The band promised fans during the tour that they would go all out in 2020.

It was previously announced that flumpool would perform a special end-of-year concert in their hometown of Osaka at Osaka-jo Hall on December 30. It has now been revealed that vocalist Yamamura will feature as a regular presenter on the local Osaka radio show Radio Fields on FM802 starting in January. 2020 is already looking to be a huge start for the band.

Speaking about Neverland, Yamamura said: ‘We wrote the song about not losing to yourself. I was impressed by the [Ahiru no Sora] protagonist Sora Kurumatani, who finds no excuse for his height when playing basketball. Everybody more or less has their own complexes, some kind of disease or handicap. At the same time, they should also promise and vow that they will never lose to those things. At times, it’s something people have to live with and carry on their back, like a cross you can’t separate from. When I was diagnosed with functional vocal disorder last year, and my voice wouldn’t come out, I said these words to myself. “I’m not paying any attention to my hopeless self! Never mind! I’ll make it through to tomorrow the best I can. I won’t lose to myself.” This is a lifelong issue that’s much more difficult than putting into words. I believe Sora Kurumatani’s incredible courage will lead other people. We want to convey this song too while feeling that Neverland is responsible for a part of that happiness.”

Today, L’Arc~en~Ciel’s entire discography and all their music videos were released worldwide on subscription and streaming services.

This includes everything from their 1993 record DUNE up to their 2018 live album 25th L’Anniversary LIVE, totalling 436 songs. Additionally, all 51 of their music videos since forming as a band have also been released. Find them on all the major digital music services including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, LINE MUSIC, and AWA.

A curation of ten of their music videos entitled “[L’Arc~en~Ciel Selected 10]”were also released on YouTube including Niji, HONEY, Kasou, Shinshoku -lose control-, Driver’s High, STAY AWAY, New World, DRINK IT DOWN, X X X, and Don’t be Afraid.

But it doesn’t stop there for fans, as the band are set to release seven live videos across the next seven days on YouTube starting with a performance of HONEY taken from the 15th L’Anniversary Live which will premiere in 4 hours. This is a real treat for fans of the band across the world who can tune in simultaneously to watch the performances. They won’t know until the day which songs will be released, which is all part of the fun.

L’Arc~en~Ciel also now have their own official Instagram account. Be sure to follow them there as well as on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news.

The band will release their Christmas live concert “LIVE 2018 L’ArChristmas” held at Tokyo Dome last year on December 18. They are set to embark on their first nationwide tour of Japan from January 9, 2020 entitled “L’Arc~en~Ciel ARENA TOUR MMXX.”

Häagen-Dazs Japan released two new mini cup flavours of ice cream on December 10 which will be available for a limited time only: the “Strawberry Brownie Parfait” and “Fondant au Chocolate.”

The strawberry and brownie parfait ice cream is a mix of rich vanilla custard ice cream and chocolate brownie finished with a glaze of sweet and sour strawberry sauce. Enjoy a combination of three different flavours and textures.「

The “Fondant au chocolat” is a crispy sandwich filled with rich dark chocolate ice cream and chocolate sauce. It’s sold in packaging that looks like a high-quality gift box.

If you’re in Japan for the winter then be sure to pick up these two holiday season delights!

Inspired by their Fast Rider sneakers from the 80’s, PUMA has forged two new models of the running shoes: the Future Rider Ride On and Style Rider Ride On. A special website went live in Japan featuring Japanese actor and model Yutaro as the model for promoting the sneakers.

The new models feature a cool and fun street style design for the new generation while retaining but revamping that retro look. Yutaro, who began his career from the age of 15 working in a second-hand clothing store and eventually went into modellingーand this year featured in the Japanese drama series Sherlockーdons the Ride On’s and walks the streets of Tokyo in the photo shoot wearing outfits co-ordinated by himself.

In an interview for the promotion, Yutaro looked back at the complexes and indifferent personality of his past and how he grew as an individual after getting into modelling and working. He said his world became more colourful like the Ride On sneakers.

Future Rider Ride On

These sneakers feature an iconic pop style combining vibrant colours like neon green, red, and blue. The lightweight uppers are made from ripstop nylon with a suede overlay an minimum padding. The mid soles are made from the new Rider Foam which has high resilience. The outer soles and TPU stabilisers are made with superior comfort and stability in mind.

Style Rider Ride On

The eye-catching blue Style Rider Rider On’s are made with TPU gel and boast an upfront fun street style. These sneakers are also made with the newly-developed Rider Foam on the mid soles. The thick mid soles are lightweight and cushioned, and the sneakers enjoy a strong grip.

Both styles have ridden the wave of generations to reappear in current times. Be sure to check out the special website featuring more content with Yutaro and Riders.

The anime film adaptation of Osamu Souda’s short novel series Seven Days War (Bokura no Nanokakan Sensou), which has over 20 million copies in print, will be released on December 13, 2019.

The film is set in Hokkaido in the year 2020, almost 30 years since Japanese actress Rie Miyazawa made her debut as Hitomi Nakayama in the 1988 live-action film adaptation Seven Days’ War. It has been revealed that she will reprise her role as Nakayama in the new animated film.

The anime film will maintain the spirit of the original work while crafting a new story. It stars Academy Award-winning actor Takumi Kitamura as the male protagonist Mamoru Suzuhara and Kyōko Yoshine who plays the main heroine Aya Chiyono.

A special new promotional video was released to promote the upcoming film. It features scenes both from the anime film itself as well as the 1988 live-action film.

The video begins with interlacing scenes of both films, and showcases memorable moments including when the children board a tank to fight off the adults. When the song starts playing—which is Sensou Zenya (“Last Night’s War”) by up-and-coming singer-songwriter Sano ibuki and also the main theme for the film—we see the children finding the best way to wage war on the adults in both the anime and live-action adaptations.  It shows that the spirit of the series continues to live on to today in spite of time having passed.

It has been 34 years since the first book of the series was released, and 31 years since the first live-action film adaptation. It’s a story of Japanese youth that continues to be passed down and loved from generation to generation. We look forward to seeing how today’s kids take the anime film.

The all-new “HARAJUKU AR BOX -table projection mapping cafe-” will open in Harajuku, Tokyo on December 21, 2019. This permanent cafe incorporates “interactive tabletop projection mapping” technology developed by Sony. The cafe runs in a “pair seating” system and so tables must be occupied by two people. 

The first collaboration to hit the cafe for its grand opening is with Korilakkuma. The collaboration is titled “Korilakkuma Cafe: Inside The Mirror.” Customers will be able to enjoy their meals while playing together with the characters as they walk around their plates and tables through projection mapping technology.

The theme of the cafe is “Korilakkuma inside a mirror,” which sees Korilakkuma meeting another Korilakkuma inside the mirror in a world of cats and cosmetics.

Customers will be able to get their hands on a range of exclusive merchandise with original art illustrated for the cafe, as well as enjoy themed meals which come in the form of courses made to share between two people. They are free to choose an appetizer, main dish and dessert. *Course menu only – items not available to order separately

Menu item names are translated from Japanese.

Appetizers: Soup and Salad

Welcome to the World Inside the Mirror! Soup & Salad

There are two soups to choose from: clam chowder and minestrone. As a pair you can also order one of each.

Main Dishes

Omurice – Let’s Draw Together

Chicken and Mushroom Cream Pasta Made Delicious With Magic!

Friendly Twin Korilakkuma Burger (Available December 21 – January 19 only)

There are five main dishes in total to choose from including those above.

Desserts

Spell-Cast Pancakes

Crème Brûlée & Magic Mirror (Available December 21 – January 19 only)

Heart-Filled Fondant Chocolate (Available January 20 to February 16 only)

There are five desserts in total to choose from including those above.

Drinks

Korilakkuma Cafe au Lait – ¥890 (Served Hot Only)

Korilakkuma Cocoa – ¥890 (Served Hot Only)

Twin Korilakkuma Strawberry Milk – ¥990

When you order a drink, you’ll get an original coaster too.

Merchandise

Pin Badge (6 Designs) – ¥400

Folder Set – ¥500

Sliding Mirror (Pink or Purple) – ¥1,200 Each

There are lots of other exclusive pieces of merchandise to get your hands on too. Every customer will also receive one of two dolomite crystals.

*All listed prices include tax. Photos are for illustrative purposes only.

©2019 San-X Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

LINE MUSIC-Bu is LINE MUSIC’s research team that studies popular music trends among teen girls. LINE MUSIC-Bu teamed up with love song-writer FUKI, who is releasing one love per month for 12 months, in order to produce a new bubble tea drink and tapioca dessert especially for couples. The drink and dessert is being sold at Tai Parfait Cafe, Yokohama World Porters. FUKI will also perform at a free live gig at Yokohama World Porters on December 25, which is the last day of collaboration drink and tapioca dessert sales. 

The collaboration pair-tapi contains two different drinks in a twin split cup. One side of the cup is filled with cafe au lait and the other with a strawberry-flavoured drink. Both sides are stuffed with yummy tapioca pearls and are topped with a mountain of cream. This cute drink sees the perfect opportunity to get closer to your partner. 

The second collaboration treat is the Tai Parfait Tapi which is stuffed with strawberries and tapioca pearls. The adorable tai fish is made from sweet dough – and it has cute eyelashes too. The fish’s enormously wide mouth can be seen chomping down on the delicious dessert. 

Enjoy a romantic bubble tea and make sure to check out FUKI’s love song LOVE and CRY, which is based on a true story. The song is currently available on a number of digital music services. 

Teen girls full of love problems find FUKI’S songs highly relatable. As Yokohama World Porters will be lit up for Christmas, you just can’t miss FUKI’s performance on December 25.

DEAN FUJIOKA will release his new EP Shelly tomorrow, and to celebrate, the singer and actor has announced that he will hold a special Christmas Eve live stream entitled “Christmas Streaming Party 2019” on December 24, 2019.

The live stream will take place simultaneously across various platforms including YouTube and the official LINE accounts of SSTV and A-Sketch. It will of course be free to view. FUJIOKA will discuss the writing and production of the EP as well as look back over his experiences in 2019.

A campaign is also being held in Japan for 20 lucky fans who have purchased a copy of the Shelly to sign up and watch the Christmas Streaming Party in the place it will be streamed, with FUJIOKA in point-blank range. More details can be find on the special Shelly website. Applications close on December 16, 2019.

Be sure to write in your calendars that you’ll be spending your Christmas Eve with DEAN FUJIOKA this year.

BAND-MAID just dropped their new music video for Blooming which is taken from their upcoming new album CONQUEROR which is set to hit shelves tomorrow on December 11, 2019.

BAND-MAID「Blooming」Music Video： 

BAND-MAID once again showcase their great musicianship in this headbangerーanother fast-paced tune, something which BAND-MAID have been rolling with recently.

With the release of their third album CONQUEROR set for tomorrow, BAND-MAID released the album digitally worldwide on December 4 and it soon conquered the iTunes rock charts of countries all over the world.  The album currently holds third place in Japan. On December 5, it reached no.1 in Canada, no.7 in the UK, no.4 in France, no.3 in Australia, no.11 in Hong Kong, and even no.1 of 40 places on the America and World Music Charts.

From working with world-renowned producer Tony Visconti and their Hollywood debut in a Netflix movie to their contracts with major booking agencies such as United Talent Agency and Live Nation, BAND-MAID are conquering the world with no intention of stopping.

CONQUEROR will mark almost two years since the band released a full-length studio album.

Since their debut in 2013, KANA-BOON stands at the forefront of Japan’s rock music scene. The band is set to release their first ever greatest hits album called KANA-BOON THE BEST on March 4, 2020.

The band has also announced that the album release will be followed by their first ever Hall Tour in April 2020 which will be entitled: KANA-BOON THE BEST TOUR 2020. The tour will take place in seven renowned performance halls across Japan with the grand finale to be held in Tokyo. The Tokyo performance will take place on June 12 at LINE CUBE SHIBUYA (Shibuya Public Hall), which just opened in October 2019.  

Advanced tickets will be released for sale today on the Fan Club website “KANA-BOON Mobile Bunbun Park” （KANA-BOONのモバイルブンブンパー）.

Having had a graceful 5-year anniversary celebration last year and a mountain of song releases, KANA-BOON have their eyes set on 2020 and beyond are in full-drive. The contents of the new greatest hits album and more information about its release is yet to be announced so stay tuned. 

To celebrate the December 13th release of the upcoming anime film Seven Days War, a themed cafe will open at EJ Anime Theater in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The cafe will collaborate with popular creator Pantovisco who has over 680,000 followers across his social media.

The collaboration was born from Pantovisco’s being able to relate to the theme of Seven Days War which focuses on the heart of today’s youth.

The cute menu line-up features Seven Days War-inspired food and desserts with Perochi and his friends joining in with the fun.

There’s also a drinks menu with a line-up of colourful beverages and lattes which you can get various latte art drawings on.

And for every food item ordered on the collaboration menu, you’ll receive an original sticker selected randomly from several designs.

And if you order a drink, you’ll get a special card introducing various characters from both Seven Days War and the world of Pantovisco.

©2019 Osamu Souda・KADOKAWA / Seven Days War Production Committee

©Pantovisco

Taiyou wa Ugokanai (‘The Sun Does Not Move’) is an upcoming film adaptation of Shuichi Yoshida’s 2012 suspense novel of the same name. It has been said in the past that making the book into a film would be impossible due to its immense scale, many action scenes and more, and so the staff took on the challenge and carried out a large-scale shoot overseas. This vast project will include not only feature the film, but a serialised drama adaptation too with an original story overseen by Suichi Yoshida himself that will by air on WOWOW.

Playing the leading part of the film will be Tatsuya Fujiwara, who is known for his roles in Memoirs of a Murder (2017) and Kaiji: Final Game (2020). Co-starring with him is young actor Ryoma Takeuchi, who has starred in the live-action adaptation of the manga series Aozora Yell (2016) and Sensei Kunshu (2018). The two of them play agents for a spy organisation, and both have bombs attached to their hearts which are timed to set off in 24 hours. They must work to reset the 24 hours in this non-stop suspense story, littered with incredible action scenes that take them to land, sea and air.

The film is being directed by acclaimed Japanese film director Eiichiro Hasumi (Umizaru, 2004; Mozu, 2015).

Tatsuya Fujiwara ver.

Ryoma Takeuchi ver.

A special long trailer has just been released which features both Fujiwara and Takeuchi, who play the parts of Takano and Taoka respectively. We see red lights flickering in the darkness, from which Takano enters the scene bound to a chair. We found out that the flickering pulse of the lights is actually Takano’s heartbeat. Fujiwara is famed in the Japanese film industry for his ability to portray intense characters―of which he has done countless of―but in 2020, the world will get to see his character driven into a corner and forced into a desperate struggle for survival.

Taoka has been stripped above the waist and is tied up by his arms, with a frantic, desperate expression. Like Takano, there is a flashing red light for his heart. And like Fujiwara, this is a very different role for Takeuchi, who until now has only played pure and lively characters. We’re sure to see a different side to his acting ability with this new role.

The words, “What’s Tatsuya Fujiwara done this time?!” and, “What the hell happened, Ryoma Takeuchi?!” appear on the trailer, and we see the red light flickering so fast it almost seems as though their hearts are about to explode. Will the two of them be able to escape death?

This marks the first time Fujiwara and Takeuchi have starred in a film together. The roles they have played in their respective films differ greatly from one another, so anticipations are high to see just how far they go in Taiyou wa Ugokanai.

The film was shot in Bulgaria over a one month period, which made full use of city roads for the car action scenes. They also rented a train, shot action scenes in the capital Sofia, and more. What was called previously impossible has been achieved, with filming having wrapped up in Japan in August. The film will be released on May 15, 2020. Stay tunned for future updates.

©Shuichi Yoshida / Gentosha ©”Taiyou wa Ugokanai” Production Committee（©吉田修一／幻冬舎 ©2020 映画「太陽は動かない」製作委員会）