YUI - SUMMER SONG Single

After taking her previous single Namidairo to Oricon’s no. 3 spot in February, singer-songwriter Yui returns with her Summer Song. It arrives as a refreshing uptempo number, once again featuring Yui’s trademark acoustic sound. Two more songs, namely, Oh My God and the acoustic version of Laugh Away, are also on Yui’s highly anticipated Summer Song.

2008 Oricon Top 100 Singles - Half Year

Oricon has released its half year charts and here are the results:

BUMP OF CHICKEN - present from you Album

B-sides collection from Bump of Chicken includes all 12 B-sides included with the 11 singles released since the band’s major label debut. Also includes an acoustic version of the track “Ever lasting lie” included with the limited-edition release “Arue.”

初のシングル・カップリング集! メジャーデビュー以降リリースされた11枚のシングルのカップリングに収録された12曲の名曲達を豪華に収録。期間限定生産盤としてリリースされた『アル エ』のカップリング曲「Ever lasting lie」のアコースティック・バージョンも収録!

Oricon: sexy men

A recent Oricon survey took a look at the sex appeal of male celebrities, asking 500 high schoolers (both male and female) which men they considered to be sexy.

Oricon: Mother’s Day

In celebration of Mother’s Day, Oricon did a survey of who artist they like to be their mom

Oricon: Dream Song Feature

Oricon’s New Survey Feature!

Otsuka Ai - Rocket Sneaker / One x Time Single

Otsuka Ai returns with a double A-sided single. Rocket Sneaker and One x Time are the principal tracks on this follow-up to her Oricon No. 5 hit Pocket released in October 2007. Rocket Sneaker also happens to be the end title theme for the Kansai TV talk show program Samma no Mamma.

Utada Hikari - Prisonner of Love Single

Utada Hikaru is in her latest hit phase. So far her fifth best-selling album Heart Station has spawned four high-ranking Oricon single releases including the double A-sided Beautiful World/Kiss & Cry and Heart Station/Stay Gold and her No. 1 hit Flavor of Life. Now she is back with her latest single Prisoner of Love, the theme song for the Fuji TV drama Last Friends starring Nagasawa Masami, Ueno Juri, Eita, and Nishikido Ryo. Previously unreleased versions of the song have also been included on this release.

“Heart Station” = The Most downloaded album in the World

Again?! New record for Utada!

Oricon: By which artist would you like to be woken up?

One of Oricon’s latest survey asked 500 womans: “By which artist would you like to be woken up?”

Otsuka Ai New “POND’S” CM

Ai Otsuka will be the CM character for her new skin care CM that will be airing in 16 days.

YUI - I LOVED YESTERDAY Album

Yui’s new full-length album has arrived. The follow-up to last spring’s no. 1 album Can’t Buy My Love, I Loved Yesterday features such tracks as My Generation, the theme song of the TV Asahi drama Seishokun, and Love & Truth, which can also be heard in the movie Closed Note. Her latest hit theme song Namidairo, featured on the TV Asahi drama Yon Shimai Senteidan, is also on the album’s track list.

Oricon: best looking in sneakers

One of Oricon’s latest fashion surveys asked 900 people to name the male and female celebrity that looks best in sneakers.

L’Arc~en~Ciel - Drink It Down Single

L’Arc-en-Ciel can look back on a string of hit singles like New World, Killing Me, and Ready Steady Go, as well as their more recent My Heart Draws a Dream and Daybreak’s Bell. Now the band returns with their first single of 2008, Drink it Down, which is also the image song for the Capcom game Devil May Cry 4. Fans should also prick up their ears for the band’s 2008 Punk-en-Ciel work Dune. Both songs on the single are penned by vocalist Hyde.

HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR - Rock Pit Album

High and Mighty Color returns with their fourth album. It features fourteen tracks including songs like their most recent single Amazing, Rosier (from the Luna Sea Official Memorial Cover Album), and “Gambling” (Track 8). Special versions of their theme song Flashback (Track 4) and ending song Komorebi no uta (Track 14) for the manga-inspired TV anime Hero Tales have also been included on Rock Pit.

This edition comes with a DVD.