The singer’s previous song, Yakusokutte Warukunai na, was written during a difficult period in which the artist found it difficult to keep going. It quickly trended for its straightforward and relatable lyrics filled with raw emotion.

Kondo’s newest work is a heartbreaking song that features a sad piano melody and describes the seemingly pathetic and embarrassing feelings of wanting to see an ex even after a breakup. The jacket art was created by illustrator asuka and was inspired by the temperature of a sensitive and delicate heart.

Additionally, Natsuko Kondo has announced two shows for her yearly birthday event. The first will be held on the day of her birthday, July 29, at Shibuya LUSH in Tokyo, followed by a performance at Club Gessekai in Hyogo on August 6. All four consecutive tracks that Kondo has released will be performed during each concert.

[Comment from Natsuko Kondo]

“To be honest, the emotion in this song is so raw, I didn’t want to share it with anyone. I packed in everything I wanted to say–things like “I like you, I’m sorry for liking you, I miss you, I’m so stupid.” I’m sure that these painful experiences will be something I treasure someday, so I’d be happy if people who have had their hearts broken could listen to this song and find some peace.”

Video streaming service dTV will broadcast the final performance of Sakurazaka46’s first tour on October 31, 2021, at 5:30 PM. dTV members will get ¥1,000 off the general admission price of ¥3,500. For those who aren’t able to watch the live broadcast, a repeat broadcast will begin at 10:30 PM on October 31. 

Sakurazaka46 made their major debut on December 9, 2020, with the single Nobody’s fault. The group performed on Debut Countdown Live!! the day prior, and their incredible performance was aired in movie theaters across the country. 

In April 2021, Sakurazaka46 released their second single, BAN. At July’s W-KEYAKI FES. 2021, they performed in front of a live audience for the first time. Their third single will be released on October 13, and the group will perform the new tracks during this concert. Their new music video was unveiled to audiences during this tour. 

Using dTV, fans can watch the concert on their smartphone, tablet, computer, or television. 

Up-and-coming seven-member J-pop group 7ORDER is scheduled to embark on a massive winter tour across Japan! The first performance will take place in Tokyo on November 27, 2021, and the final show will be held at Yoyogi National Stadium on February 26 and 27, 2022. The 7ORDER LIVE TOUR 2021-2022 ‘Date with…….’ tour will be coming to thirteen locations nationwide. 

The group clearly isn’t interested in taking a break any time soon, with their most recent tour wrapping in September. The 7ORDER Musha Shugyo TOUR ~NICE “TWO” MEET YOU~ eight-city tour was a massive success, with over 20,000 tickets sold. 

Check the tour dates below to see if 7ORDER is coming to your city soon!

A two-disc album that includes songs from Ohtaki and Rainych’s first album, a compilation of 70s/80s City Pop, and Neo City Pop from the 90s onwards will be released on October 27 2021.

The album is the first compilation work from Sony Music Direct’s new ALDEIGHT label, who are proud to release this compilation featuring 31 remastered iconic songs, both new and old, that have garnered attention both in Japan and overseas following the growing popularity of City Pop.

Among the track list is ‘Kimi wa Tennen Iro’ from Ohtaka Eiichi’s ‘A LONG VACATION 40th Anniversary Edition,’ which was released on March 21 2021 with a music video soon expected to surpass 7 million views on YouTube. It also includes ‘RIDE ON TIME’ covered by Indonesian singer Rainych and evening cinema’s Yamashita Tatsuro, which gained huge popularity on YouTube.

Disc One is full of classic songs from the 70s and 80s, while Disc Two is full of iconic songs from between the 90s and now, that are said to have influenced the current Neo-City Pop sound. This definitive compilation represents the recent City Pop boom in just two discs.

Look forward to the release of this timeless CD which makes the perfect introduction to Japanese City Pop!

Japanese music journalist Toshi Kanazawa released Vol.6 of his ‘J-DIGS: Light Mellow City Essence’ music playlist series last Wednesday. It comes as the final installment to the series which began in July last year.

The 20-track playlist includes jazz fusion instruments, pop tunes by jazz singers, and others, all of which are compiled with urban city music vibes. The playlist is now available on major streaming and download services including Spotify.

Kanazawa’s J-DIGS project began as a way to promote the rich catalogue of Japanese record label Nippon Columbia which was established 110 years ago. The project now has its own YouTube channel, so if you love music from Japan, be sure to check it out below.

Additionally, a Chee Shimizu playlist taken from his 2013 book Obscure Sound is also available to listen to on music platforms with genres ranging from psychedelic to spiritual, experimental, cosmic, tropical, groovy, and more.

“Ask Japanese”, a channel on “WAO-RYU! TV” – an internet show aimed at foreigners – have posted a brand new video entry. The theme of the topic this time is titled “MUST-LISTEN Japanese music? Ask foreigners in Japan about their artist recommendations”.

The latest video features German talent “Cathy Cat” heading around town asking foreigners about their favourite artists. From artists well-known in Japan to others you might not expect a foreigner to know, lots of different names popped up in their answers. Check out the interview below to see what artists appeared came up. Who do you think they mentioned?

▶Video: 日本の音楽、何か知っていますか？　外国人に聞いてみました！ (translation: We Ask Foreigners What Japanese Artists They Know)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYGEJVZMh3k

■Related Article: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu hits Hawaii with her successful premium live “SKY Perfect! SUPER LIVE KPP 5iVE YEARS PREMIUM LIVE in HAWAII”!
http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/18699

■Related Article: I can’t know with just the music! What’s the fascination with Perfume & BABYMETAL, two groups gaining attention all over the world!?

http://www.moshimoshi-nippon.jp/12428

You may know Matt Bennett as Robbie from “Victorious,” a Nickelodeon show he starred in that aired from 2010-2013.  What you may not know is that Matt Bennett is a huge fan of Japan and is in possession of an encyclopaedic knowledge on Japanese music that would easily surpass one of a J-music aficionado brought up in Japan. I meet him for the first time at our office, where he quickly stands up and bows at us, introducing himself in Japanese. While this may be familiar in Japan, you don’t quite expect it from a foreigner, which leaves you at awe of how much he’s absorbed the culture (as well as how eager he is to take up on it) despite the short period he has stayed here for.

Right off the bat, you can tell he’s sweet and friendly with his welcoming smile, and his eyes gleam with curiosity as we walk into the building next door where we’re about to hold the interview, where he excitedly examines the posters and the interior. With his first album “Terminal Cases” coming out on June 10th (purchase here!) (he’s also got a track where he sings just in Japanese, read on to learn more), he’s come to speak with us on his musical influences, how Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s “PONPONPON” opened doors for him to a whole new world of Japanese artists, and his uncontainable love and hopes for living in Japan!

Getting to know Matt Bennett…

Tell us a little bit about yourself to people who are new to you on MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON!

Hi MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON, this is Matt Bennett. I’m an actor based off of Los Angeles California, and I also play music. One of the things I’m here in Japan to do right now is promote this album that I’ve recorded called “Terminal Cases.” It’s a new album that’s coming out, and on one track I sing all in Japanese and I’m very excited to have people in Japan hear it. In my spare time, I play guitar and I study Japanese, those are the two things I’m really passionate about.

If you were to describe yourself in three adjectives what would it be?

If I had to come up with three adjectives to describe myself, I’m pretty adventurous, I’m funny for the most part, some people find me funny, and uh, I like to explore. I’m an explorer.

You’re a huge fan of Japan. How many times have you been in Japan?

This is my third time in Japan. I’ve been here twice before. First time I was here for a week and a half, second time for three weeks. I wanted to stay for three months, but I had to go back because I was working on a movie back in America. So I’m making up for loss time! (laughs) I’m back and having a great time.

When was the first time you came here?

I came here in February of 2012 so it was freezing cold. I stayed in Roppongi which was frightening. Slightly frightening. Everywhere else in Japan is wonderful, but Roppongi is a little bit dangerous.

It is a bit dodgy.

It is! But in Los Angeles, every street’s kind of dodgy, so I felt right at home. (laughs)

Were you mainly in Tokyo for all three times?

For the most part. I spent time briefly in Osaka, Kyoto, I went there for a little bit, but there’s something about Tokyo that just appeals to me. The action’s here. Everybody’s here. It’s wonderful. Every little city or suburbs is just so different, so you can get lost in Harajuku for a day, you can get lost in Ginza for a day. I find that my trip ends quickly every single time! Although I’ve been everywhere, I’m always left with a feeling that I definitely haven’t seen everything in Shimokitazawa, or I haven’t had time to see a specific place yet.

Rewinding back — what got you into Japan?

I always loved Japanese culture, ever since I was a kid. I guess it started with Pokemon. I’m not a huge anime fan, but I started reading books by Japanese authors, like Haruki Murakami, Kobo Abe and Shusaku Endo, and I really started getting into the culture of it. And then I got into the music. The music just blew my mind. Older bands like RC SUCCESSION or BLUE HEARTS or Sadistic Mika Band…

I’m a historian at heart. I’m conscious of what’s going on right now and the times but I like to dig back and find old stuff. Some of the stuff that happened in Japan are more relevant now than when it happened. Some of the noise acts like MERZBOW and Boris, they’re so much more important than anything else going on in the world. I think the music scene here in Japan is vital. And then there’s Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Yasutaka Nakata — whatever he touches, I just think that guy is a genius. So every time I find a new song that’s Japanese, I have to dig in more. I have to find out more about it.

The Kiyoshiro Imawano-fronted RC SUCCESSION

Sadistic Mika Band, that came out in the 70s was the first band that Yukihiro Takahashi, widely known as the drummer for techno-pop-trio YMO, played drums for.

Collaboration of two definitive J-noise acts, “Huge” by Boris x Merzbow

You obviously listen to a variety of different music. How did you feel when you first heard Kyary Pamyu Pamyu?

Finding out about Kyary Pamyu Pamyu was eye-opening. My friend sent me a link to a video. He said “I’m going to this concert tonight” and it was a video to “PONPONPON.”

She was doing a show in a tiny back room, in a maid cafe in Culver City which is far away from anywhere in Los Angeles, and I watched it and I realized that there were things going on outside of America that were interesting and important. And I thought it was the most now thing I had ever seen. It could only exist in 2011. With the internet and everything. It wasn’t necessarily a video that would get played on TV because it’s so out there and so confusing. We don’t have an MTV anymore. So seeing “PONPONPON” and “Tsukema Tsukeru” it made me realize that the world had turned, things were different. In America, we get stuck in the same ideas. We’re recycling the 80s in America. It’s very boring. Or rap songs, they all sound the same. The idea that Yasutaka Nakata does Perfume, Capsule and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. You could always tell that it’s Yasutaka Nakata, but every act sounds so different. It’s fascinating because the more I listen to it, the more I understand this Japanese rhythm. And then I start researching the roots, like how he was influenced by this and that…it’s a whole world to unravel, it’s fascinating.

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