The smartphone game Dark Tales ~Mirror and Mad Princess~ was officially released on April 11, and the popular singer and talent Kyary Pamyu Pamyu performed the theme song for the title.

The dark RPG tells a tale of the loss of childlike innocence and was pre-downloaded over 1 million times. The theme song, Magical Mirror, was written and composed by Yasutaka Nakata.

Fans of the genre won’t want to miss out on this mysterious mobile title!

On December 4, 2021, Kizuna Ai announced that she would be going on indefinite hiatus. Prior to her ‘sleep,’  the VTuber will hold her final online live event, ‘Kizuna AI The Last Live “hello, world 2022” on February 26, 2022. For those wanting to participate in the show, applications are now open!

Ai would like the performance to be held with as many people as possible–not only those who are active as VTubers, but also those who are interested in being active in the virtual space. And, of course, those who have supported her over the past five years!

Be sure to tune in to this final performance filled with virtual talent!

The music duo CAPSULE is celebrating 20 years since their major debut, and their third new single for 2021 Virtual Freedom is now streaming. The highly-anticipated music video has also been released. 

Virtual Freedom Streaming Links

https://capsule.lnk.to/virtualfreedom

Virtual Freedom takes listeners on a trip through the history of synthesizers and submerges you in layers of interwoven soundscapes.

Virtual Freedom Music Video

https://youtu.be/ouD9PVPI1Xk

Director: KENTARO SAISHO 
3DCG supervisor: HIROMU KONNO
Production: Totte.Co., Ltd

A song-sharing campaign is also underway! Follow Warner Music Japan’s Twitter account and use the Twitter share function on Apple Music, Spotify, or LINE MUSIC to share Virtual Freedom with the hashtag #VirtualFreedomCP. 50 random people selected will receive the original cassette tape photographed for the cover of the Virtual Freedom album! 

Japanese electronic band CAPSULE is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its major debut! The group’s two members, Yasutaka Nakata and Toshiko Koshijima, have announced the release of their third new single for 2021, Virtual Freedom. The track will release on streaming platforms on December 10 and follows Hikari no Disco and Future Wave. Cover art for the song featuring an old-school cassette tape has been revealed ahead of the song’s release. 

Composer and producer for the band Yasutaka Nakata also serve as the music producer for popular group Perfume and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. 

Virtual Freedom can now be pre-added or pre-saved on Apple Music and Spotify. Be sure not to miss out on this new song when it drops later this week!

Get ready for your trip to Virtual Sanrio Puroland! For the first time ever, Sanrio is teaming up with U.S. company VRChat for an entirely virtual music festival, SANRIO Virtual Fes in Sanrio Puroland on December 11 and December 12, 2021. Guests will be able to enjoy the event using a VR Headset, a PC, or a smartphone. 

The concert space will feature both live and virtual artists (VTubers), as well as popular Sanrio characters in a massive five-story underground space beneath Virtual Sanrio Puroland. Participants will also be able to transform their avatar into the Sanrio character of their choice during the event! High-fiving other concert-goers will result in an explosion of Hello Kitty bows, and there will be plenty of surprises during the music performances, so don’t miss it!

The lineup for the event includes Kizuna AI, Hatsune Miku+PinocchioP, AKB48(Team8), CHiCO with HoneyWorks, Haneru Inaba, Kaede Higuchi, KMNZ, VALSHE, Hakushi Hasegawa, YuNi, Pasocom Music Club, Mom, Megu Shinonome, AMOKA, Yukichi Kasaku/men, LAUSBUB, and Kinu. Plenty of Sanrio characters will also make appearances, including Hello Kitty, Cinnomoroll, Kuromi, Cogimyun, and Hapidanbui. 

Who are you looking forward to seeing perform in this adorable virtual space?

©‘21 SANRIO　©’21 SANRIO　SP-M　© ‘21 SANRIO S/F・G 著作(株)サンリオ
©AKB48　©Kizuna AI　©BANDAI NAMCO Arts Inc.　 ©ANYCOLOR, Inc. Art by KEI　©Crypton Future Media, INC.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s new album Candy Racer isn’t coming until October 27, but the singer has released a new song early. Dodonpa is now available on streaming services, and a lyric video has been posted to YouTube. 

Dodonpa Lyric Video

Dodonpa is a more experimental track by the pop singer, written and composed by Yasutaka Nakata and featuring more scat and beatboxing elements. To match the catchy and upbeat percussion and fun lyrics, the new video is as vivid and colorful as it can be. We’d expect nothing less from Kyary!

An official announcement has also been made on the label’s website encouraging creators to make and upload their own videos using Dodonpa as the background music if they follow specific rules. The best videos will be selected by Kyary and her staff, and will be featured in a playlist on the official Kyary Pamyu Pamyu YouTube channel! This contest will also be appearing on other SNS sites like TikTok, so keep an eye out and get creative!

If you don’t speak Japanese, don’t worry! The lyrics themselves are nothing but fun sounds, and the video has subtitles in English, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese. Fans are also encouraged to use the song in vlogs and other creations. 

What do you think of Kyary’s exciting new track? 

Celebrating 10 years since her major debut, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu will release her fifth full-length album Candy Racer on October 27, 2021. This will mark the singer’s first full-length album release in three years, her last being Japamyu in 2018.

Limited Edition

Regular Edition

The fifth album, titled Candy Racer, will be produced by CAPSULE’s Yasutaka Nakata. It will feature 11 tracks, including the recently released single GENTENKAIHI, of which the wacky music video has amassed over 1 million views on YouTube. Previously released tracks Kimi ga LINE Kuretara and Gum Gum Girl will also be included, along with world fabrication, a cover of a pre-electronic CAPSULE track originally released in 2005.

Creation of the album brought together a number of creative minds who have worked with Kyary Pamyu Paymu over the years, including Steve Nakamura serving as art director, Ken Hanzawa acting as photographer, Kumiko Iijima returning as the singer’s stylist, and Shinji Konishi as Kyary’s hair and makeup artist. All of these individuals were with Kyary at the time of her debut, and have returned to encourage her to not only stay connected to her roots, but to move forward without hesitation.

The limited edition version will come with a special 64-page flipbook.

A number of bonuses have also been announced, from stickers, clear pouches, and mobile stand keychains. These will be available while supplies last, so fans looking to get their hands on some of this swag are encouraged to preorder the album.

Are you looking forward to hearing Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s new tracks?

From her debut in 2016 until 2021, Kizuna Ai was the most subscribed VTuber on YouTube, and the one responsible for the term ‘Virtual YouTuber.’ Now, this legendary star will be holding a concert available to fans of Japanese culture around the world, while also showing off the beauty of a Japanese fireworks festival. The event will take place on Facebook’s Oculus, on the Venues app, on September 25, 2021 in Japan. Anyone who has an Oculus Quest can view the concert for free.

Oculus Venues is a VR video platform, allowing users to enjoy a variety of concerts, sporting events, and comedy shows from the front row. There’s no need to worry about grabbing expensive tickets or dealing with crowds when you can enjoy your favorite events from the comfort of your own home!

In January 2021, Kizuna Ai announced a contract with UTA (United Talent Agency), one of the four major agencies in the United States. In April and May, she went on her first virtual US tour. Under the theme of connecting with everyone in the world, Kizuna Ai is attempting this new challenge using Oculus to get closer to fans than ever before. As a guest artist, world-renowned performers HANABI will perform, blending traditional Japanese culture with cutting-edge technological art in this one-of-a-kind DJ-directed space.

Will you be tuning in to Kizuna Ai’s fireworks concert?

2021 marks a decade since singer and model Kyary Pamyu Pamyu made her debut with PONPONPON, which quickly became a viral YouTube hit worldwide. To celebrate, her newest single GENTENKAIHI, written and composed by Capsule’s Yasutaka Nakata, is now available to stream. 

The song’s title and lyrics express both Kyary’s willingness to return to her roots, and her determination to continue moving forward, leaving the past behind and carving out a new path. 

(c)Issei Nomura I.N.Art Pro.NIPPON COLUMBIA CO. LTD.,

A teaser of the song’s upcoming music video has also been released on the Official YouTube channel and on social media. The full-length version will premiere on August 25. 

To celebrate this milestone, an official Instagram created by Kyary’s staff (@kyarystaff) is now open, where fans can see behind-the-scenes shots of the singer, as well as read staff commentary. 

Starting August 31, a limited-time campaign will begin on LINE MUSIC. Those who listen to GENTENKAIHI more than 10 times using LINE MUSIC will be entered, and winners will receive an original sticker!

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s 10th Anniversary Tour will begin on January 16, 2022 at the Atsugi City Cultural Hall. The tour will visit 28 locations across Japan, and is the first time Kyary has toured since the JAPAMYU HALL TOUR 2018. It will also be the biggest tour in the singer’s career. Tickets are currently available for pre-order for fan club members. 

What do you think of the new track? 

American singer Alaina Castillo released her debut album parallel universe pt. 1 on May 29. The Japanese release of the album includes the song down 4 u performed in collaboration with the world famous virtual YouTuber Kizuna AI.

After amassing hundreds of thousands of subscribers on YouTube, Alaina Castillo was noticed by RØMANS, the Grammy-nominated producer known for working with such artists as Alicia Keys, John Legend, Demi Levato, Lewis Capaldi, and others. Since 2019, Alaina has released a string of singles and as well as an EP. She also made it onto Spotify RADAR, an emerging artist program which helps up-and-coming artists with exposure. Her hit single just a boy was also picked up by V of BTS.

Alaina is a fan of Japanese anime and anime characters. In the music video for her single wishlist which dropped last year, Kizuna AI made an appearance. Alaina herself repaid the favour by performing as a guest at the final show of Kizuna AI’s ‘Virtual US Tour’ in New York on May 30. The two artists came together once more by performing down 4 u feat. Kizuna AI, a track sung in English and Japanese. Comments from excited fans around the world flooded into the live stream.

At the end of the show, the two danced to Kizuna AI’s AIAIAI feat. Yasutaka Nakata.

This marks Alaina’s first collaboration with another artist as well as Kizuna’s first collaboration with an artist from the US.

Alaina’s new album parallel universe pt. 1 features seven tracks including pocket locket, parallel universe, make it rain, and down 4 u.

This year marks the 20th anniversary since CAPSULE—the music unit formed of Yasutaka Nakata and Toshiko Koshijima—made their major debut. Tomorrow will also mark the first new song from the duo in six years. Titled Hikari no Disco (“Disco of Light”), the track is the newest release from CAPSULE since their last album WAVE RUNNER dropped in 2015. The band also released a new artist photo to promote it.

Hikari no Disco was written as the main theme for the anime film Sidonia no Kishi: Ai Tsumugu Hoshi (Knights of Sidonia: The Star Where Love is Spun). The film is based on Tsutomu Nihei’s Knights of Sidonia manga and will also release tomorrow on June 4. The new song can be pre-added and pre-saved on Apple Music and Spotify so it will be automatically added to your library when it’s released.

Knights of Sidonia is a mecha and space opera manga series by Tsutomu Nihei who is also known for other popular series such as Blame! and Aposimz. The series is a bestseller in Japan and has won the Kodansha Manga Award and Seiun Award. An anime adaptation by Polygon Pictures aired from 2014-2015 in line with the animation studio’s 30th anniversary. Now, the staff who worked on the anime series return for the release of the new movie tomorrow.

Hikari no Disco takes Yasutaka Nakata back to his synthesiser sound roots. The track has a laid-back driving-through-the-city feel to it. If you head on over to Warner Music Japan’s Twitter page and answer the four questions in the questionnaire, you can hear a 30 second snippet of the track before it’s released.

CAPSULE will premiere the music video for the new song on their official YouTube channel at 12:00am (JST) on June 4. A 12-hour live stream of CAPSULE’s discography is also began playing on their YouTube channel today at noon. That’s everything from their first album High Collar Girl (2001) to their 15th album WAVE RUNNER (2015).

Don’t miss the premiere of CAPSULE’s brand new track Hikari no Disco.

©弐瓶勉・講談社／東亜重工重力祭運営局

Music unit CAPSULE, which was formed by world-famous producer Yasutaka Nakata, is releasing all their albums on Apple Music and other worldwide music streaming services from July 10, 2020.

After debuting in 2001, Yasutaka Nakata has gone on to release 17 albums with CAPSULE and three albums in partnership with model Kate Sakai as the music unit COLTEMONIKHA. Nakata also produced albums for the soundtrack to the sensational drama Liar Game in which Shota Matsuda played the main role. All the above albums will also be released on subscription services.

This is just what fans across the world have been waiting for. As CAPSULE will be celebrating their 20th anniversary next year, make sure to check out their playlists.