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TOP 5 SINGLES for week ending Saturday, May 31, 2008
1) Hey! Say! JUMP - Dreams Come True
RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2008
PRICE: US $13.99
BUY IT HERE NOW!
2) Utada Hikaru - Prisoner of Love (SINGLE+DVD - All-Region!)
RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2008
PRICE: US $19.25
This Utada release also comes with a special booklet and DVD containing the music video for Prisoner of Love (no worries though, it’s an ALL-REGION DVD!)
BUY IT HERE NOW!
3) KAT-TUN - Don’t You Ever Stop
RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2008
PRICE: US $7.99
It’s yet another Oricon #1 single for Johnny’s Entertainment superstars KAT-TUN!
This edition includes a karaoke (instrumental only) version of the title track Don’t You Ever Stop!
BUY IT HERE NOW!
*Also available! Three special, first-press limited editions of this single - “each featuring solo performances from two different members”! Don’t miss it! GET THEM HERE WHILE THEY LAST! 
KAT-TUN - Don’t you ever stop (First Press Limited Edition A c/w Kamenashi, Taguchi Solo Ver.)(Japan Version) - US $29.99
4) Ai Otsuka - Rocketsneaker / One x Time
RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2008
PRICE: US $14.25
Includes the ending theme song for Kansai TV talk show Samma no Mamma
BUY IT HERE NOW!
5) Aqua Timez - Niji
RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2008
PRICE: US $12.49
BUY IT HERE NOW!
TOP 5 ALBUMS for week ending Saturday, May 31, 2008:
1) Superfly - Superfly
RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2008
PRICE: US $31.99
First self-titled album from vocalist Ochi Shiho.
Includes the song Hello, Hello from the Japanese TV drama ‘Edison’s Mother.’
BUY IT HERE NOW!
2) Kiyoshi Hikawa - Enka Meikyoku Collection 8~Genkai Funauta
RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2008
PRICE: US $30.49
BUY IT HERE NOW!
3) Acid Black Cherry - Recreation
RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2008
PRICE: US $25.99
J-Rock on the march! ;
BUY IT HERE NOW!
4) Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi - Songs (Album+DVD) (Region 2 - Japan Version)
RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2008
PRICE: US $33.99
BUY IT HERE NOW!
5) Nightmare - Killer Show
RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2008
PRICE: US $28.75
BUY IT HERE NOW!
*Also available!
Nightmare - Killer Show (ALBUM+DVD+ Photo Book) (First Press Limited Edition)(Region 2 - Japan Version DVD)
RELEASE DATE: May 21, 2008
PRICE: US $36.99
GET IT HERE NOW!
This special limited edition comes with a DVD featuring the promo video of the band’s latest single White Room, plus a photo book!
[source: http://www.oricon.co.jp/]
TOP 5 SINGLES for week ending Saturday, May 24, 2008
1) KAT-TUN - Don’t You Ever Stop
RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2008
PRICE: US $7.99
It’s yet another Oricon #1 single for Johnny’s Entertainment superstars KAT-TUN!
This edition includes a karaoke (instrumental only) version of the title track Don’t You Ever Stop!
BUY IT HERE NOW!
*Also available! Three special, first-press limited editions of this single - “each featuring solo performances from two different members”! Don’t miss it! GET THEM HERE WHILE THEY LAST!
KAT-TUN - Don’t you ever stop (First Press Limited Edition A c/w Kamenashi, Taguchi Solo Ver.)(Japan Version) - US $29.99
2) Aqua Timez - Niji
RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2008
PRICE: US $12.49
BUY IT HERE NOW!
3) NEWS - Summer Time
RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2008
PRICE: US $11.99
The Johnny’s Entertainment darlings top the Oricon Charts once again with their latest single, “Summer Time”!
This edition includes a special 4-page double sleeve-cover and bonus NEWS track, Baby! Be My Baby!.
BUY IT HERE NOW!
4) Buono! - Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!
RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2008
PRICE: US $12.49
This is the third single from popular new Hello! Project creation Buono!
Features the opening and ending theme songs to the Japanese anime Shugo Chara! (”which is based on an original story by manga duo Peach Pit”).
BUY IT HERE NOW!
5) Shikao Suga - Nobody Knows
RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2008
PRICE: US $14.25
BUY IT HERE NOW!
TOP 5 ALBUMS for week ending Saturday, May 24, 2008:
1) Superfly - Superfly
RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2008
PRICE: US $31.99
First self-titled album from vocalist Ochi Shiho.
Includes the song Hello, Hellofrom the Japanese TV drama ‘Edison’s Mother.’
BUY IT HERE NOW!
2) Yutaka Mizutani - Time Capsule
RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2008
PRICE: US $31.99
BUY IT HERE NOW!
3) Madonna - Hard Candy (Japan Version)
RELEASE DATE: April 30, 2008
PRICE: US $26.75
Madonna, still gettin’ it done, topping the pops even in Japan! 
Album contains 12 tracks, including the song ‘Miles Away,’ which will also be used as the theme song for the upcoming Fuji TV drama Change, which will star Kimura Takuya from the power jpop group SMAP!
BUY IT HERE NOW!
4) Utada Hikaru - Heart Station
RELEASE DATE: March 19, 2008
PRICE: US $28.49
BUY IT HERE NOW!
5) Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi - Love (Album+DVD)(Region 2 - Japan Version)
RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2008
PRICE: US $33.99
BUY IT HERE NOW!
[source: http://www.oricon.co.jp/]
TOP 5 SINGLES for week ending Saturday, May 17, 2008
RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2008
PRICE: US $11.99
The Johnny’s Entertainment darlings top the Oricon Charts once again with their latest single, “Summer Time”!
This edition includes a special 4-page double sleeve-cover and bonus NEWS track, Baby! Be My Baby!.
BUY IT HERE NOW!
2) Aqua Timez - Niji
RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2008
PRICE: US $12.49
BUY IT HERE NOW!
3) Sheryl Nome starring May’n - Diamond Crevasse / Iteza Gogo 9 ji Don’t Be Late
RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2008
PRICE: US $13.49
4) Shuchishin - Shuchishin
RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2008
PRICE: US $11.52
BUY IT HERE NOW!
5) Seamo - Mother
RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2008
PRICE: US $12.49
BUY IT HERE NOW!
TOP 5 ALBUMS for week ending Saturday, May 17, 2008:
1) Madonna - Hard Candy (Japan Version)
RELEASE DATE: April 30, 2008
PRICE: US $26.75
Madonna, still gettin’ it done, topping the pops even in Japan! Album contains 12 tracks, including the song ‘Miles Away,’ which will also be used as the theme song for the upcoming Fuji TV drama Change, which will star Kimura Takuya from the power jpop group SMAP!
BUY IT HERE NOW!
2) Bennie K - Best of the Bestest
RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2008
PRICE: US $30.49
BUY IT HERE NOW!
3) Perfume - Game
RELEASE DATE: April 16, 2008
PRICE: US $28.75
BUY IT HERE NOW!
4) Utada Hikaru - Heart Station
RELEASE DATE: March 19, 2008
PRICE: US $28.49
BUY IT HERE NOW!
5) Leona Lewis - Spirit (Japan Version)
RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2008
PRICE: US $24.25
BUY IT HERE NOW!
[source: http://www.oricon.co.jp/]
TOP 5 SINGLES for week ending Saturday, May 3, 2008
1) Dong Bang Shin Ki (TVXQ) - Beautiful you / Sennen Koiuta
RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2008
PRICE: US $12.49
*This edition also comes with a special 12-page booklet and collector’s card!
BUY IT HERE NOW!
2) Shuchishin - Shuchishin
RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2008
PRICE: US $11.52
BUY IT HERE NOW!
3) Maaya Sakamoto - Triangler
RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2008
PRICE: US $12.49
BUY IT HERE NOW!
4) C-ute - Namida no Iro
RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2008
PRICE: US $12.49
BUY IT HERE NOW!
5) Ryu Si Won - Aishiteru
RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2008
PRICE: US $14.25
BUY IT HERE NOW!
TOP 5 ALBUMS for week ending Saturday, May 3, 2008:
1) Arashi - Dream “A” Live
RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2008
PRICE: US $30.49
BUY IT HERE NOW!
2) Bennie K - Best of the Bestest
RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2008
PRICE: US $30.49
BUY IT HERE NOW!
3) Perfume - Game
RELEASE DATE: April 16, 2008
PRICE: US $28.75
BUY IT HERE NOW!
4) HY - HeartY
RELEASE DATE: April 16, 2008
PRICE: US $25.99
BUY IT HERE NOW!
5) EXILE - EXILE CATCHY BEST
RELEASE DATE: March 26, 2008
PRICE: US $28.49
BUY IT HERE NOW!
[source: http://www.oricon.co.jp/]
I thought I should do a really small introduction since this is the first issue of my column: Hello~ My name is Niko. In this column I will cover a various range of topics: J-pop (in general), Johnny Entertainment, L’Arc~en~Ciel, and manga (but, mostly CLAMP). Yoroshiku~ 
○ JOHNNY’S ENTERTAINMENT○
Also known as Johnny & Associates outside of Japan, was formed by Johnny Kitagawa in 1963. It is an organization that trains and promotes groups of male idols in Japan. Popular groups include SMAP, TOKIO, V6, Kinki Kids, Arashi, Tackey & Tsubasa, NEWS, Kanjani8, KAT-TUN, and Ya-ya-yah. Johnny’s Entertainment, or JE, is considered the male counterpart of the popular Hello!Project. >> ♫ MUSIC
• recent releases (CD & DVDs)
└ Arashi - TIME (2007/07/11) ♥
└ Kinki Kids - 39 (2007/07/18) ♥
└ Hey! Say! 7 - Hey! Say! 7 (2007/08/01)
• upcoming releases (CD & DVDs)
└ Tackey & Tsubasa - Samurai Jacket A, B, & C (2007/08/08) ♥
└ NEWS - NEVER ENDING WONDERFUL STORY DVD (2007/08/08) ♥
└ TOKIO - Honjitsu, Mijukumo / Over Drive (2007/08/15)
└ GOLF&MIKE - Rin (2007/08/22)
└ Arashi - Happiness (2007/09/05) ♥
└ Shonentai - PLAYZONE2007 Change2Chance Dai 1 Maku OST (2007/09/05)
○L’ARC~EN~CIEL ○
After working on their solo projects, tetsu (who had started recording with a new band called ‘Creature Creature’), yukihiro (who rejoined acid android, who then, after releasing a single in early April of 2006, joined MUCC to perform two concerts in China), HYDE (who released two singles, COUNTDOWN(2005) & SEASON’S CALL(2006); an album, FAITH(2006), and composed the music for “Glamorous Sky”, the theme song for the manga-adapted film NANA), and finally Ken (who released a single entitled “Speed”) reunited on November 25th & 26th last year to do two shows at the Tokyo Dome in celebration of their 15th anniversary entitled “L’Anniversary”.Now that L’Arc~en~Ciel are reunited, they have put out a new song called SHINE (which was used as the opening song for Anime, Guardian of the Sacred Spirit ~Seirei no moribito~) and have kicked-off their “Are You Ready? 2007 Mata Heart ni Hi wo Tsukeru” tour in Japan. L’Arc~en~Ciel released their first single Seventh Heaven on 2007/05/30 and it topped the Oricon charts for 2 consecutive weeks. They also have a new song called My Heart Draws a Dream, which was used for Subaru’s latest commercial. This single will be out on 2007/08/29. Aside from this, L’Arc~en~Ciel will be releasing a number of new material, including Daybreak’s Bell to be used as the first opening for the anime Gundam 00, another single to be released in November, an album also in November and 2 DVDs in September and December (L’Anniversary Live and Chronicle 3 respectively).
So, here’s a sum-up of the Autumn line-up for those who don’t want to read through all of that:
└ My Heart Draws a Dream (AUG 29)
└ L’Anniversary DVD (SEPT)
└ DAYBREAK’S BELL (OCT 10)
└ NEW SNGLE ~title unknown~ (NOV)
└ NEW ALBUM ~title unkonwn~ (NOV)
└ Chronicle 3 DVD (DEC)
I’m sure all L’Arc fans are over-joyed with this schedule. As of now, the band is still on their tour and have just finished performing at Hokkaido Kousei Nenkin Kaikan on 2007/07/31. On a minor note, their official website was given a new look way back in June of this year. I personally like this one more than the last, much nicer.
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Leave A Message! 1 day, 10 hours ago- Mr. Z : Great job as usual Hentai, and I will get going on setting up a "photo section" of the site real soon! Thanks for the idea!
- Hentai Tenshi : Posted The Slants Live Review and a request to our readers! Please check them out! ^_^
- Mr. Z : Hentai, you are awesome! Thanks so much for the interview!
- Hentai Tenshi : Yay! The Ayabie-san interview AND Live report are both posted and ready to read! It was my first interview with anyone with notoriety! I was SO nervous!!! But Ayabie-san are really nice guys! I hope to interview them again when they return to America!
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- Pebbles : No problem Mr. Z! I think it was because i had it listed in the uncatagorized section lol. I changed and it now shows up. Your welcome!
- Mr. Z : Pebbles, sorry for late response. Everything looks OK to me, but I will get back to you on the image alignment issue soon - thanks!
- Pebbles : Mr. Z! I'm having some problems. I'm trying to post a live report for the band BLOOD but it won't show up on the main site. It is up though. Are you able to see it? And if so can you help me fix the format it's in? I want to add two pictures to it but i'm having a hard time aligning them. I uploaded both pictures to WP. 0_o
- Manila : Still working on the report. I'll definitely have it out before the month's over. Also, I'm starting on the interview. That should be done before the month's over too.
- Mr. Z : Hot new jpop reviews up! «link»
- Hentai Tenshi : Hey guys! Check out the new Pop Roxx article on one of my fav Indie's bands Metoronomu! Please read it and check out their music! ^_^ «link»
- Mr. Z : Hey minna-san, I heard from Manila earlier today (who is super-busy covering Fanime), and he wanted me to let you know that "unfortunately, I will miss questions from fans because tomorrow's (Monday's) priority is the closing ceremonies and that's why I got the way early slot." I think he is referring to the AnCafe interview! More to follow soon;)
- Pebbles : My new j-rock releases list has been updated with a bunch of new releases i managed to miss. But after a deep search into the world of j-rock i have found them!
- Mr. Z : Well, our Manila is representing us this weekend at the Fanime convention in San Jose. Manila, if you get the chance to see this, drop us a quick line and tell us how everything is going! Hope you're having a good time!
- Mr. Z : J-Pop / J-Rock Lyrics page up > «link»
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- Mr. Z : and nice review of the Miyavi show in Hollywood by the way - AWESOME job, thanks so much and welcome to Jpopexpress! *ojigi - bow
- Mr. Z : hentai - oh my god - wow - we posted messages at exactly the same time - wild!
- Hentai Tenshi : Wooo! Miyavi review is up and ready! Yay! First official post done! =3
- Mr. Z : Gambatte Mario, you are gonna do just fine, I know it
- SuperMario290 : Hello everybody! Man, i can't wait until school gets out!!! 2 more weeks baby!
- Mr. Z : OK, all of the Featured "MUSIC" and "ANIME pages are now up! To access them, just hover your mouse over 'NEWS > MUSIC / ANIME' in the main (black) menu above!
- Pebbles : You're welcome Mr. Z. And thank you so much for your kind words. They were very touching to me. I know that someday i will see Miyavi. When the time is right! I feel that in my heart.
- Mr. Z : Thank you Pebbles, appreciate your compliment. And sorry I can't fly you out for the SF Miyavi show, but we're working on that! I don't care what anybody says, I know you are Miyavi's "absolutely ICHI-BAN #1 FAN!" :p
- Pebbles : It's all looking good Mr. Z!
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