Shingo Katori, previously known as a member of the legendary boy band SMAP, will release his second studio album ‘Tokyo SNG’ on April 13, 2022. The release comes about two years after his last album, ‘20200101.’ 

The concept of the work is ‘jazz in a tuxedo.’ The band performs a wide range of jazz styles from standard style to big band, and to commemorate the release of the album, Katori and his incredible band will perform 24 shows at Meiji-za in Tokyo. 

‘Tokyo SNG’ features a total of 11 songs and includes guest appearances by Atarashii Gakko!, H ZETTRIO, Ai Higuchi, Gentle Forest Jazz Band, Takao Tajima, and WONK. Certain tracks were arranged by Yasuharu Konishi, and the English version of ‘Mack the Knife,’ a standard jazz number and 1999 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, is also covered brilliantly by Katori.

The song Tokyo SNG includes lyrics by Shutoku Mukai (ZAZEN BOYS), and Takarazuka Revue’s resident writer Takeshi Ota composed Michishirube, which also boasts lyrics written by Gekidan Hitori.

Comment from Shingo Katori

My new album ‘Tokyo SNG’ is complete! I like to play with different styles, and this time, I tried to wrap myself in jazz. I live in Tokyo, where so many things have been restricted. I wanted to try to lift people’s spirits with swing, so please enjoy it! Let’s smile together!

Japanese singer-songwriter AiNA THE END, who is also known as a member of the Japanese idol group BiSH, announced via her official Twitter page that her new single Dare Dare Dare (“Who Who Who”) will be released on music streaming and download services on February 23, 2021. The track will be used as the new opening theme for the ongoing TV Tokyo drama series Anonymous: Keishicho ”Yubisatsujin” Taisakushitsu starring Shingo Katori which began airing in January.

AiNA THE END

New Song – “Dare Dare Dare”

Dare Dare Dare is a new song not featured on AiNA THE END’s solo album THE END which dropped on February 3 this year. It is produced by Japanese music producer and arranger Seiji Kameda who also produced THE END.

AiNA teased the new single’s artwork on her official Twitter account along with a snippet of the instrumental version of the song.

A new Japanese drama series titled Anonymous: Keishicho ”Yubisatsujin” Taisakushitsu began airing on January 25, 2021. The show stars Shingo Katori in his first commercial broadcast for a drama series in five years. When the first episode dropped, the show’s name Anonymous trended on Japanese Twitter.

Earlier this week, Shingo Katori surprised everyone by releasing the main theme song for the series Anonymous (feat.WONK), which he sings, digitally on music streaming services including Spotify.

When the song was first broadcast, there was much speculation as to who the singer was on Japanese social media, with some having no idea and others saying it sounded a lot like Katori. Turns out it really was him to the surprise of fans.

When the second episode aired on February 1, the show’s official homepage went live and Katori updated his own personal social media pages with promos for the show. The song comes as his first music release in over year following the huge success of his album 20200101 which dropped on January 1, 2020 and made it to No. 1 on Japan’s Oricon charts. He wrote the song in collaboration with music group WONK. The song’s theme touches on seeing the light in a dark world and is sung in English.

Katori also released a music video for Anonymous (feat.WONK) earlier this week which is available to watch on his YouTube channel.

Amazon is set to release a new Amazon Original drama series entitled Dareka ga Miteiru (Somebody’s Watching) on Amazon Prime Video on September 18, 2020. The 8-episode series will drop worldwide in over 240 countries and territories.

The series was created by Kōki Mitani and Shingo Katori, two veterans in the Japanese entertainment industry, in collaboration with Amazon.

A new promotional video was released featuring behind-the-scenes shoot footage.

Shingo Katori and Emma Miyazawa improvise a less-than-ordinary dance number

Kōki Mitani has brought an all-new kind of entertainment to the table with this series as director. Specifically, it’s the unique way of filming that Kōki Mitani’s has delivered to the shoot. The set is put in front of an audience and any sounds that come from them is kept in scene. Having an audience behind the camera adds a level of pressure to the shoot, most of which is shot without cuts. Mitani had it so that whatever happens the shoot wouldn’t stop, giving it a live feel with raw reactions from the crowd kept in.

In the new promotional video, we see Shingo Katori and Emma Miyazawa practicing an improvised dance scene. In all the scenes up to this stage, Katori has been very flamboyant in his performance. Viewers will get to see what Katori and Miyazawa have been egged on to do by director Mitani in episode 5.

Jiro Sato sets the mood on set

Jiro Sato is playing the neighbour of Katori’s character who always stirs up trouble. His calculated performance has the staff and cast on set cracking up every episode, and we get to see his unique character in the new promotional video.

“The cast and the staff have both been nervous, in a good way, while having fun making this series,” Sato explains. “You can hear the actors breathing and feel that live performance aspect to it, so please enjoy and don’t miss an episode.”

Dareka ga Miteiru Promotional Video

Dareka ga Miteiru will launch worldwide on Amazon Prime Video on September 18, 2020.

©2020 Amazon Content Services LLC

Amazon is set to release a new Amazon Original drama series entitled Dareka ga Miteiru (Somebody’s Watching) on Amazon Prime Video on September 18, 2020. The 8-episode series will drop worldwide in over 240 countries and territories.

The series was created by Kōki Mitani and Shingo Katori, two veterans in the Japanese entertainment industry, in collaboration with Amazon.

Both Mitani and Katori appear in the series, with Mitani as we’ve never been him before and Katori bringing humour to the screen. And just before the series drops this Friday, a special new promotional video was released on Amazon Prime Video Japan’s YouTube channel.

Dareka ga Miteiru is a situational comedy centred on Katori’s character, who despite messing up all the time you still can’t hate them, and Mitani’s character, who will draw viewers in with all the happenings around him. It also stars a host of other colourful characters that only add to the madness.

Kōki Mitani’s new and unique way of filming

What needs to be highlighted when it comes to this series is the unique way of filming that Kōki Mitani’s brought to the shoot. The set is put in front of an audience and any sounds that come from them is kept in scene. Having an audience behind the camera adds a level of pressure to the shoot, most of which is shot without cuts. Mitani had it so that whatever happens the shoot wouldn’t stop, giving it a live feel with raw reactions from the crowd kept in. The show also features performances from a live band, Mitani himself warming-up in front of the audience, and more. Mitani described how they were able to get the best reactions from the crowd every time.

Plenty of silly solo performances thanks to Mitani and Katori’s trust of each other

Mitani is sure to give Katori plenty of time to shine too with solo performances. The two of them have worked together on numerous films, dramas, and theatre shows these past 20 years, during which they have built up a relationship of mutual trust.

Dareka ga Miteiru Special Promotional Video

Dareka ga Miteiru will launch worldwide on Amazon Prime Video on September 18, 2020.

©2020 Amazon Content Services LLC

Shingo Katori is an official ambassador of KitKat Japan, and he appeared in the latest television commercial for the chocolate brand which began broadcasting on March 27. The commercial was also posted on the KitKat Japan website.

Japan has the biggest KitKat market in the world. In September 2019, in an effort to reduce the amount of plastic waste, Nestlé made the decision to alter the packaging of five types of its large size KitKat chocolate bars from plastic to paper. The paper can then be used to make paper cranesーa symbol of hopes and prayers in traditional Japanese cultureーor for writing messages on to give to people.

In KitKat’s latest commercial, Shingo Katori comes together with young people to create an art piece from the paper packaging which reads, “Let’s all work hard together!” in Japanese.

See the commercial here on the Nestlé website or here on their official YouTube channel.

Shingo Katori will release his new album 20200101 on January 1, 2020ーthe title of the record itself referring to New Year’s Day. The CD covers as well as tracklist were revealed today. The album is a happy celebration of the new year, one in which the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are set to be held.

The 12-track album will include the songs 10% and Trap, both of which peaked at No. 1 on the Japanese digital music charts, and feature a wave of top artists including BiSH, Kishidan, KREVA, SALU, Scha Dara Parr, SONPUB & Mukai Taichi, TeddyLoid & Tanaka, WONK, and yahyel.

Until now, the final featured artist has been kept a secret, but it has been confirmed that it will be Keina Suda, a singer-songwriter whose popularity continues to surge, with over 67 million combined music videos views on YouTubeーincluding a self-cover of Sharuru which itself has 47 million views.

First Press Limited Edition – Miru BANG!

First Press Limited Edition copies with the subheading “Miru BANG!,” include a DVD featuring “Music Movies” for FUTURE WORLD (feat. BiSH) and Trap. “GOLD BANG!” copies include a remix of 10% by Yasuharu Konishi. Both editions are also coupled with booklets with special features. You’ll have to get your own copy to see what they are!

Katori’s third digital single Prologue (feat. TeddyLoid & Tanaka) has also been released. The song serves as the opening track to the album and features acclaimed music producer TeddyLoid and Tanaka who has worked with Boku no Lyric no Boyomi.

More information is to be announced, so stay tuned.

A new series of commercials have been released for the non-alcoholic beverage All Free from Suntory starring Japanese musician Goro Inagaki and Japanese actor Shingo Katori.

There is a 15-second and 30-second version, both of which are set to hit Japanese televisions on February 16, but you can watch them now below on Suntory’s official YouTube channel.

The theme of the videos is “non-alcoholic restoration” and sees the two celebrities promoting the drink across Japan.

Both Goro and Shingo don bright-blue haori and hakama. Each video stars different guests. The one above includes Japanese comedian Muga Tsukaji who plays their comrade and shares the same yearning for the beverages as they do.

The one below features Yūzō Kayama, a feudal lord the pair serve under.

The highlight scene is in the first commercial when Goro and Shingo sit atop a rocky mountain with the clouds behind them holding their white and blue flags while enjoying a sip of their All Free. Be sure to check both videos out!

For an 88 day period from Friday 15th March 2019 t0 Sunday 16th June, Katori’s exhibition will take place at IHI Stage Around Tokyo. This is the only theatre in Japan to have a 360-degree stage with a rotating seating platform in the centre.

“BOUM!” is the French word for “boom!” and is an onomatopoeia that can be used to describe the thudding of a heartbeat. In September 2018, Japanese artist Katori displayed his first solo exhibition called “NAKAMA des ARTS” at Carrousel du Louvre, which is located on the basement floor of the Louvre art museum in France. Here, Katori displayed more than 100 art paintings. This year, Katori will be building on the theme of breaking through the boundary of common knowledge. The exhibition will include art you can explore and experience with your bodily senses!

For Katori and those who appreciate experiencing and enjoying the aesthetics of art, this exhibition is bound to make your heart race! Those attending the exhibition will be spinning around 360 degrees, enjoying the unique, artistic atmosphere of IHI Stage ARound Tokyo – expectations are high!

Japanese musician Goro Inagaki and Japanese actor Shingo Katori are featured in the new TV commercial for the non-alcoholic beer beverage All Free. The commercial began airing in Japan on September 1. There’s a 15 second and a 30 second version.

The commercial sees the two stars having fun together at a camping ground surrounded by nature.

Inagaki and Katori crack open cans of All Free while enjoying a BBQ, flying giant 3D astronaut and whale kites, and happily singing “vacation” together.

They make the drink look so delicious you’ll want to try it yourself. Check out the video below.

The Hong Kong Tourism Board have posted a video titled #hkshingoart to promote the first piece of street art by Japanese celebrity and artist Shingo Katori.

In March this year, Shingo Katori produced a piece of street art in Central, Hong Kong as his project for Hong Kong Arts Month. The promotional video showcases the process on how the art was created, its construction as part of the scenery of Hong Kong’s streets, and the town of art and its new charms.

Many events are held in Hong Kong every March as part of Hong Kong Arts Month, such as Art Basel. Shingo Katori‘s first street art piece was created during Hong Kong Arts Month on a wall at Mid-Levels Escalators, the longest escalator in the world. It measures at 4.5m tall and over 6m across. It was drawn freehand and is part of a process to strengthen the ties between Katori and Hong Kong.

The project was decided after Katori visited the Old Town Central area during a TV shoot in 2017, after which the Hong Kong Tourism Board requested his make the piece.

Be sure to check out the promotional video to see Shingo Katori‘s piece, titled Large Mouth Dragon Boy, for yourself!