Rock group BAND-MAID has been chosen as the opening act for THE LAST ROCKSTARS’ first live concert in the U.S., THE LAST ROCKSTARS Live Debut 2023 Tokyo – New York – Los Angeles, starting February 3, 2023.

THE LAST ROCKSTARS’ U.S. shows in New York on February 4 and Los Angeles on February 10 are sold out. Reaction to the group has been incredible, leading to an additional New York show on February 3. To make things even more exciting, BAND-MAID will perform at all three U.S. shows.

THE LAST ROCKSTARS (Paris Mix) Music Video

BAND-MAID has become overwhelmingly popular around the world. In the United States, the band recently performed at AFTERSHOCK FESTIVAL 2022, one of the largest music festivals in the country. They also served as a supporting act for GUNS N’ ROSES during the legendary band’s Japan tour in November. This year, the group will once again perform at a selection of music festivals in the states, including Sonic Temple 2023 in Ohio and Welcome to Rockville 2023 in Florida.

This time around, BAND-MAID will perform as the opening act for one of the most impressive rock bands in recent memory. THE LAST ROCKSTARS is composed of YOSHIKI, HYDE, SUGIZO, and MIYAVI, making it a superband like no other. This will be the first time the newly-formed group will perform in the U.S.

The Ariake Arena concert on January 27 was broadcast live on WOWOW and was also streamed in movie theaters throughout Japan. The February 10 show in Los Angeles will also be streamed, so be sure to tune in!

KANGDANIEL is a member of the Korean idol group Wanna One. The artist has won a number of awards since making his solo debut in South Korea in 2019, also starring in the Disney+ drama Rookie Cops. KANGDANIEL will digitally release the song TPIR (feat. Miyavi) from his long-awaited debut EP Joy Ride in Japan on August 17, and a lyric video has already been released.

TPIR stands for ‘The Pain Isn’t Real,’ and the digital single proudly features samurai guitarist Miyavi. The track reminds listeners that no matter how painful things may be, it’s not the end. Miyavi’s guitar sounds incredibly emotional, and fans will be able to see a side of KANGDANIEL they haven’t seen before. 

To celebrate this distribution, LINE MUSIC has started a playback campaign! Those listening to TPIR over 1,210 times by December 10 (KANGDANIEL’s birthday) just need to post a screenshot on Twitter, with 10 winners being selected by lottery to win an autographed photo signed by the artist himself. For more information, see KANGDANIEL’s official site.

The lyric video for the song was shot during a visit to Japan while the artist was snapping artwork for his debut EP Joy Ride in the suburbs of Tokyo. The video was shot with a smartphone in a vlog style.

KANGDANIEL will hold his first Japan tour, ‘KANGDANIEL: 1st EP Release Tour: JOY RIDE THROUGH JAPAN,’ on October 15 and 16. Fan club tickets for the shows at Zepp Namba (Osaka) on the 15th and KT Zepp Yokohama on the 16th will go on sale on August 20 at 10:00.

The fan club is also offering a special prize for those who purchase the EP Joy Ride. Those selected will win a Meet & Greet with the artist to be held during the Japan tour. By pre-ordering the EP at select stores, fans can also grab some special bonuses! These will be announced at a later date, so keep an eye out for more info.

WOWOW will be broadcasting an incredible amount of European soccer matches during the 2022-23 season, including the Spanish LaLiga starting August 13. The UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League competitions will decide who is the best on the continent, and many are ready to tune in. 

The WOWOW European Soccer Theme Song for this season will be Fearless by the globally popular performer Miyavi, known to many as the samurai guitarist.

Fearless was written by Miyavi himself. The artist formerly played soccer for Cerezo Osaka and channeled his memories of the competition and supporters into his music and lyrics. The song will begin airing during matches starting with the UEFA Super Cup 2022: Real Madrid vs. Frankfurt match on August 11. This season will be even more exciting than usual, with the World Cup scheduled to take place this November and December in Qatar.

Comment from Miyavi

“As a child, I wanted to become a professional soccer player and I practiced kicking a ball around every day. As a soccer fan, I imagined a song that would be played in a stadium and that everyone in the audience could sing along with.

I created the music and melody to inspire listeners to feel a sense of unity and to soothe the soul.

When I’m about to perform live or participate in a photo shoot, I always feel that sense of nervousness before a fight–that fear of failure before a challenge. I think that’s something everyone has felt at some point. All we need to do is put in the energy and work to overcome it. I hope you’ll sing along with the song, even at home in front of your TV.”

18-year-old trilingual singer MeiMei has released a new track, ‘Strangers feat. MIYAVI,’ in which the popular Japanese performer takes on the role of a samurai guitarist in the music video.

The killer tune blends MIYAVI’s shredding guitar and MeiMei’s strong yet fragile vocals. Curiously, MIYAVI accepted a direct offer from musical newcomer MeiMei to participate, and this song came to fruition. 

The music video was created by MeiMei, who speaks Chinese, Japanese, and English, and MIYAVI, a world-renowned guitarist. Sayaka Nakane, a LA and Tokyo-based video creator, served as director. The video itself portrays how young people will shape the future as they deal with anonymous ‘unknown adults’ who hit them with cruel words both online and in real life. 

Strangers feat. MIYAVI

MeiMei was selected to participate in the ‘Tokyo Tower Red Light-Up 2022’ diplomatic event and has served as a link between China and Japan. With the Beijing Olympics approaching, the artist is sure to find more work!

With diversity and borderlessness at the heart of her music, MeiMei aims to make music that transcends gender, age, or nationality. Listening to her voice, it’s hard to believe that she’s still a teenager!

Comment from MeiMei

During my time spent in both China and the US, I listened to MIYAVI’s music and saw his videos. I was a huge fan. It’s a miracle and an honor for me, a new artist, to be able to work with him. I still can’t believe it’s real. I’m too happy!

I learned so many things from MIYAVI, and he really inspired me. I want to become a better artist because of him. He gave me a lot of friendly advice and he feels like a big brother I can rely on. I hope that this song will inspire and give courage to those who are going through tough times. Everyone should be confident and live their life how they want. Please enjoy the song!

Hope everyone will love this song and support it, Let’s rock the world!!

Comment from MIYAVI

Music can connect people across borders, across race, and across language. 

Age and career are completely irrelevant. 

I hope that Mei’s fragile, beautiful, and supple voice will reach as many people as possible. I’m so happy and honored to be able to support her. 

The world is going through a difficult time, and I hope that this kind of music can connect people as we all make our way through it to a brighter future.

Let’s go Mei, let’s rock the world!!

Kollektion, a global platform connecting artists and fans through the sale of NFTs, will hold the ‘Month of Miyavi’ during the month of January 2022. NFTs and other items commemorating the 20th anniversary of the rock musician will be available.

MIYAVI started selling NFTs on the platform in October 2021 to positive fan response. In addition, fans who become holders of MIYAVI KLKTN Passes through the purchase of an NFT will be invited to a private Discord channel.

More details were announced during the Virtual Holiday Party on December 25, 2021. Fans from all over the world are invited to take part in this exciting sale!

1. MIYAVI KLKTN Pass
These NFTs were available for 24 hours only on January 2, 2022. Purchasing one gives fans access to over 380 MIYAVI NFT airdrops in the future. This also gives access to the private Discord channel.

2. Moments
These ‘Moments’ can only be seen in Kollektion, and include behind-the-scenes footage of MIYAVI’s music production and private life. This time, each NFT has been sorted into one of three levels of rarity: Common, Rare, and Legendary. 

3. ArtKards
These NFTs were inspired by MIYAVI’s album ‘Imaginary.’ Extremely limited and featuring a serial number, each item comes with a digital autographed photo card NFT and a raffle ticket for a personal video message NFT. 

4. Kodex
Introducing a new way to enjoy music in the modern era, cover art, lyrics, and liner notes will be included in each purchase.

5. Fender Official Guitar NFT (MIYAVI TELECASTER®)
FENDER and MIYAVI have come together to create a one-of-a-kind guitar NFT. Winners in the raffle will win a real signed guitar and other items!

6. Special Editions from the Hush Hush Music Video
A part of the limited-edition music video for MIYAVI’s song Hush Hush has been made into goods and are on sale now! Each comes with premium extras like photo cards and extra commentary.

Comment from MIYAVI
“To celebrate the 20th anniversary since my solo debut, Kollektion will be holding the ‘Month of MIYAVI!’ I want to continue to take on new challenges and use the power of technology to better connect with my fans in both directions, not just one way. Don’t miss out!”

KLKTN aims to create a new experience that deepens the connection between fans and creators, thereby increasing the enjoyment of fans and creating an environment where creators can enjoy their creative activities more.

Frontwoman MARiA of Japanese pop rock duo GARNiDELiA has announced that her second photobook collection THIS IS will be released on August 6, 2021.

MARiA has continued to grow and mature as an artist since her first photobook MARiAL hit shelves a year and a half ago. In this beautiful new 120-page collection, she dons a whole range of different outfits from a gorgeous crimson red dress to a pretty tutu dress, a traditional kimono serving the Japanese aesthetic, and more. It’s a graceful and emotional insight into both MARiA as a woman and an artist. The art direction and shoot was conceived by top Japanese photographer Muga Miyahara whose artistic work has taken him across Japan and overseas.

In 2020, MARiA celebrated the 10th anniversary of GARNiDELiA by taking charge of the artwork, lyrics, and outfits for the duo’s releases. She also became a model for numerous fashion brands in Japan and started gaining more fans overseas. On Weibo, the China’s version of Twitter, she has over 2.85 million followers, putting her in the Top 3 most popular Japanese female artists on the service.

Last month, MARiA released her hit first solo album Utamonogatari which invites many big guest musicians on board such as Masayoshi Mamazaki, Hotaka Yamashita (Ikimonogakari), Yohei Hashiguchi (wacci), and more.は

MARiA’s work doesn’t just stop at GARNiDELiA, a duo known for producing many songs for anime series. She continues to evolve, challenging herself to new forms of expression. Be sure to check out her new photobook THIS IS when it drops on August 6.

MIYAVI is collaborating with the oldest brewery in Fushimi, Kyoto to create his unique brand of sake. After meeting Tokubei Masuda – the fourth generation owner of Tsuki no Katsura – a collaboration was launched to produce a new brand of Japanese sake called MIYAVI SAKE which was released in Japan on October 29.

MIYAVI wrapped up his seventh world tour last year, and even starred in the American dark fantasy film Maleficent: Mistress of Evil as Udo which hit theatres earlier this month. Continuing to make achievements on a global scale, MIYAVI is now aiming to spread Japanese culture around the world. To get started, he met with Masuda Tokubei in November 2018 where he observed and studied the brewery’s sake-making process. From the precise recipes, making process, flavours and aroma to the care, tradition and history, Tsuki no Katsura made a grand impression on MIYAVI. Masuda Tokubei, who also shares in MIYAVI’s vision, agreed to the collaboration and they both set out on their project to get their brand out there to the world.

MIYAVI SAKE STANDARD Junmai Daiginjo-Shu: ¥4,300 (before tax)/ MIYAVI SAKE LIGHT Junmai-Shu: ¥3,200 (before tax)

After endless discussions between the two of them, MIYAVI and Tokubei Masuda carefully crafted the recipes to perfection. The MIYAVI SAKE collection consists of four types of junmai sake which are made from polished rice. This reduces the bitterness of the alcohol and creates a clearer flavour. MIYAVI SAKE PREMIUM is a junmai daiginjo-shu which is made without adding any extra alcohol or sugar and has been matured over 10 years. The MIYAVI SAKE STANDARD is infused with fruity flavours such as peach and lychee and is perfectly balanced and refined with a refreshing aftertaste. The MIYAVI SAKE LIGHT tastes like a fruity white wine and the MIYAVI SAKE SPARKLING is a sparkling wine which resembles champagne.

With the expertise of Tsuki no Katsura, MIYAVI’s sake is bound to get as much global attention as his guitar skills so be sure to check it out.

Diner is an upcoming film adaptation of author and horror writer Yumeaki Hirayama’s 2009 novel Diner directed by Mika Ninagawa and starring Tatsuya Fujiwara ー a dream tag team! The novel was said to be so good that it cannot be made into a movie…however, it was!  The movie features the fabulous actors and actresses Kanata Hongo, Masataka Kubota, Shinji Takeda, Takumi Saitoh, Eriko Sato and Nobuaki Kaneko as well as Shun Oguri, Anna Tsuchiya, Miki Maya and Eiji Okuda. For this movie, they are all playing the role of contract killers. This non-stop action film is all about pushing your instincts to the max. The movie will be released on Friday 5th July 2019.

 The main theme song for the film Senkyakubanrai by DAOKO X MIYAVI can be previewed in the trailer which has finally gone public! 

Last year, guitarist MIYAVI finished up his 7th world tour “DAY 2” World Tour 2018. The tour started in Tokyo and took place in a number of Japan’s cities, finally hitting up Seoul, Singapore, Taiwan, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, and even Europe, Russia, the US, as well as Central and South America! The release of his album SAMURAI SESSIONS vol.3 last year in December also became very popular. Recently, he was recruited by fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto and Y-3 to take part in the worldwide advertising campaign Moncler BEYOND as a model. These are just a few examples of the many varieties of collaborations that have made MIYAVI so famous. Now, he has even created a song with DAOKO!

Rap singer DAOKO and guitarist MIYAVI’s new song Senkyakubanrai will be available for digital download and on streaming services from 3rd July!

The passionate samurai spirit of guitarist MIYAVI combined with the enthusiastic rapper DAOKO is no doubt a collaboration that will reverberate throughout the entire country, sending ripples of passion through Japan. You just can’t take your eyes off DAOKO and MIYAVI for a minute!

A statement by director Mika Ninagawa

An absolute dream come true. I am so thrilled. I’ve always been a fan of DAOKO and MIYAVI separately. One day, I was on the way to the set for the filming of the movie Diner, and I heard their song play. I thought to myself; wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could work together someday? I then thought, wouldn’t it just be amazing if I could put those two in charge of the opening theme song for the movie! After that thought was in my head, I didn’t even think of considering anyone else. I asked them immediately and it’s actually happening. I just can’t express how happy I am.

Statement by DAOKO

I wanted to portray the 1v1 battle between the main characters Bombero and Kaneko in song form somehow. I was thinking of how to do this with MIYAVI when the idea crossed my mind! I challenged myself to keep to my rapping flow but to sing in a style to reflect the stubborn, strong-willed female role of Kaneko. I got really close to her personality through the lyrics and challenged myself with full power!

Statement by MIYAVI

Creating a song that perfectly describes Mika Ninagawa’s perspective was key. I thought about making something to reflect the static relationship between Bombero and Kaneko, and so I took the concept of pushing away and coming close together and worked around that. The time difference between Tokyo and Los Angeles made things a bit difficult  but DAOKO putting her heart into the lyrics really helped. I can’t wait for the world to be shaken when our song along with the film are finally released! 

©2019 “Diner” Production Committee　©2019  Mika Ninagawa / “Diner” Production Committee

Having teased it earlier this month, SKY-HI has released the full music video for What a Wonderful World!! taken from his upcoming new album JAPRISON.

The song was produced by SKY-HI himself and sees the rapper and singer take to the piano throughout. The track also features legendary Brazilian musician Sérgio Mendes performing his own piano solo. Laced together with SKY-HI’s personal and emotional lyrics and a chorus by Yuuho and Kayo of SUPER FLYERS, What a Wonderful World!! will no doubt be a standout of the artist’s first album in nearly two years.

The cage in which the music video is set can be said to be symbolic of SKY-HI’s new record. Throughout our eyes are treated to a kaleidoscope of creative and avant garde visuals. The dance between SKY-HI and the skull face painted lady serves to deepen the perspective of the song that much more.

It has also been announced that internationally renowned guitarist Miyavi as well as RAU DEF and sleepyhead will join the special guest list the finale of SKY-HI’s ongoing tour SKY-HI Round A Ground 2018 which will take place at Toyosu PIT in Tokyo on December 11 and 12. There are limited tickets left for the two-nighter at Toyosu PIT

Kazuhiro Fujita has been an active photographer over the past 20 years. In this photo book titled, TWIN ROOM, Fujita shoots the model AMIAYA, revealing the essence of his works.

The model AMIAYA was a great fan of Fujita and through a chance meeting she requested him to do some photograph work the catalogue of for her own brand “jouetie.”

The shooting of this photo book took place in her real home called “TWIN ROOM,” over a period of one year. The shots are mainly private situations and the resulting works expose such themes as “Eros and poison,” “sense of fashion and sense of Tokyo” and Fujita’s “bitter-sweet” colors burst forth in his photos. This photo book could be called a crystallization of the one-and-only world of Kazuhiro Fujita.

A book launch photo exhibition will be held between the 10^th ~ 14^th of November. On the first day of this exhibit a reception and book signing event will also be held.

Check out their world views.

The local free paper, “Tsuru to Kame’s” “grand sum” called “Tsuru to Kame Roku” (photo book) was published on the 18^th of September 2017 (Mon./holiday).

“Tsuru to Kame” is a free paper which collects photos of grandmas and grandpas from the viewpoint of HIPHOP and street culture created by the Kobayashi brothers (older brother-Tetsuya, younger brother-Naohiro) who reside in Iiyama-shi, Nakano Prefecture. The free paper was first published in August of 2013 and to date has published five editions, distributing the papers in over 200 locations including book stores, cafes and guest houses throughout Japan.

The free paper slowly gained popularity as a unique free paper. Ten thousand copies (each edition) are always distributed and the papers are gone very soon after distribution starts. Phone calls and emails requesting for back numbers then flood the editorial office and distribution stores. Therefore, they decided to publish a “grand sum” photo book of the series called “Tsuru to Kame Roku.” The content of the photo book includes the re-edition of the past series and many special features which could not be included in the free paper.

The photo book includes street snaps chosen from the 1^st edition～2^nd edition and new photos. Popular features such as “pill research,” “report RE mysterious establishments,” “punch lines,” and “fashion pages” have been newly edited and are included in this “grand sum” photo book. Also, they interviewed famous people who love their grandparents.

Let’s read the photo book and feel the breeze of “street culture” from the cool photos of grandmas and grandpas!

It’s been announced that internationally renowned guitarist MIYAVI will perform the official theme song for the stage adaptation of “TOKYO TRIBE,” set to begin at the end of September at TSUTAYA O-EAST in Toko before moving to Nagoya and Osaka. This first-ever stage show of the manga series, a story wrapped in conflict in a “Tokyo a little different from the real one” with rival gangs or ‘tribes’ including Shibuya Saru, Bukuro Wu-Ronz, and the Harajuku Jingus.

The original manga, “Tokyo Tribe-2,” a continuation from the first volume, has been translated into different languages and maintains a worldwide following. Miyavi, aka the “Samurai Guitarist,” has been chosen to become part of that world by writing the theme song. The song, entitled “Gemstone, was written together with Mitsuhiro Hidaka, known as a member of AAA and for his solo project SKY-HI.

Miyavi is famously known around the globe for his unparalleled slap-guitar skills. He has performed over 300 times in almost 30 countries and has successfully complete 6 world tours.

▶︎Comment from Miyavi

“I am honoured to be working with “TOKYO TRIBE” as it’s a series that I read and loved when it was being serialised. This is my first time writing a song for on stage. I am excited to see how ‘Gemstone’ which I wrote together with SKY-HI will be used in the production.”

One month remains before the show begins, but the song is already being played on air, and more songs are to make an appearance too.

A special promotional video for the stage adaptation of “TOKYO TRIBE” is already available to watch, featuring an original rap by rapper KEN THE 390, a talk with actors Ito Imagine and Hiroyuki Yashiro, and of course a teaser of the theme song “Gemstone.”

The hype is growing fast for the stage adaptation of “TOKYO TRIBE.” Have an early listen to the official theme song by Miyavi and SKY-HI!