Born in Niigata and living in London, international singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama released her second album Hold The Girl on September 16, 2022. Her Japan-based Hold The Girl Tour saw successful shows in Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo, with Sawayama generating plenty of buzz. During the final show on the tour, the singer surprised the audience with a cover of Hikaru Utada’s hit songFirst Love. The video of this incredible performance is now available to watch on YouTube!

First Love – Rina Sawayama (Hikaru Utada Cover, Tokyo Garden Theatre)

Prior to the Tokyo show, Sawayama took to Instagram, posting a comment for fans. “Since this is the biggest show I’ve ever done, I think I should cover a special Japanese track to commemorate the event,” she said. The singer had previously asked fans to share the songs they’d most like to see performed.

“Without this artist and without this song, I probably wouldn’t have become a musician or an artist. I heard this track when I was around six years old, and I remember dancing for my parents who were sitting on the sofa. This artist also celebrated her 40th birthday yesterday. This is my first cover, but I think it’s the perfect way to commemorate this special event. Please enjoy,” Sawayama concluded.

The audience responded to this surprise with a chorus of excitement, and this was surely an unforgettable night for many fans.

Rina is currently on the Hold The Girl Tour in Europe. At the end of March, she will make her Hollywood debut in the fourth John Wickmovie.

Sheena Ringo’s song Missing was written by the legendary singer for Ado to perform. The track has been chosen as the theme song for the upcoming film Karada Sagashi, which will be released in theaters on October 14, 2022.

The producers of the film chose Ado to perform the song, which is no surprise–the artist became an instant sensation following the release of her song Usseewa in 2020. Ado then asked Sheena Ringo, one of her biggest influences, to write a song for the project. 

Karada Sagashi Trailer

Comment from Ado

“It’s a dream come true for me to perform a song written by Ringo Sheena. I’m so happy. This song is filled with her charm. To me, she’s a true star–I admire her. She’s a massive influence on the way I sing, and I have so much respect for her. I have to wonder–is this experience even real? Is this a mirage or a joke? I’m honored to perform this song, and also honored to be performing the theme song for Karada Sagashi. I feel like my luck must eventually run out given all of these incredible opportunities.

The recording itself was directed by Sheena. I was worried about whether I’d be able to respond to her instructions properly, but she gave me a lot of advice and I learned a lot. It was a valuable experience for me to discover how to sing in an entirely new way, and the song turned out so well. I can’t wait for everyone to hear it!”

Comment from Sheena Ringo

“The first time I heard Ado sing, I couldn’t help but feel like she had the ideal voice. If she had been around 25 years ago, I would have chosen her to perform my debut album Muzai Moratorium. All these years I’ve continued as a creator, I feel like things would have turned out even better if I had been able to do that. Ado is incredibly skilled with her wild cries, but she is wise enough to know how to control her voice. I love that about her. She feels as though she’s lucky that I wrote this song for her, but I’m the lucky one. I’m excited to announce the song Missing, something I wrote with no holds barred. It’s something Ado sings without holding back as well, so I hope you listen to it and enjoy.”

The trailer for the film, released on August 18, includes snippets of the song. A collaboration visual drawn by ORIHARA, Ado’s image director, has also been revealed!

Japanese music streaming site RecoChoku has announced the top song and album rankings for January 2022!

In the Single Ranking category, Aimer’s Zankyosanka was ranked #1 for the second consecutive month. The song is the opening for the newest Demon Slayer anime arc which began airing on December 5, 2021.

The ending theme for Demon Slayer, Asa ga Kuru, was released on January 10, and quickly climbed the ranks. Aimer is currently celebrating the 10th anniversary of her debut, and this is a powerful start to the year for this talented singer.

As for the Album Ranking, the top spot was clear for January. Ado’s 14-song debut album ‘Kyogen’ sits in the top spot, and includes many of her smash hits. From Usseewa to Aitakute, the album also contains seven new songs which are steadily gaining popularity. Six days after the album’s release, it was ranked #1 for the month of January.

Ado’s 8th single ‘Kokoro to Iu Nano Fukakai’ also ranked 5th on the Single Ranking. Written and arranged by Mafumafu, the song is the theme for the drama series Doctor White starring Minami Hamabe. Ado will also be holding her first solo concert at Zepp DiverCity on April 4, 2022!

Japanese cosmetic company Shiseido, sold in 88 countries around the world, has released a new conceptual video for its global “POWER IS YOU” campaign.

The short video features a star-studded cast of ambassadors from a variety of fields, including Megan Rapinoe, co-captain of the U.S. women’s national soccer team, known for her advocacy and creative style that defies stereotypes. The athlete has commented on her inclusion in the “POWER IS YOU” campaign, proud to show her authentic self and inspire others to live their truth.

Comment from Megan Rapinoe

“Shiseido makes so many of the products I use in my daily life, so when I was invited to collaborate on this new campaign, I didn’t even have to think about it. Partnering with such a great company means a lot to me. I deeply believe in the individual power of every human being, and I think that anyone has the power to change the world. “POWER IS YOU” represents the power each of us has to alter the world for the better, which is something that resonates with me personally. I want young people especially to know that it is possible to change things. I hope they do, and I hope that this campaign helps to inspire more people to feel the same.” 

Conceptual Videeo

The song used for the campaign is Utada Hikaru’s Find Love. The singer also appears in the video as an ambassador. 

Comment from Utada Hikaru

“The source of all power is believing in yourself.

It takes courage to know yourself, but being honest with yourself is the key to finding that inner beauty. Courage is beautiful.” 

Finally, Ursula Corbero, who gained international fame for her role in the Netflix series Paper House, appears as the final ambassador. The actress is an avid philanthropist and has long supported a number of causes including breast cancer awareness, childhood cancer awareness, and climate change awareness. She is also the founder of Ymas, a company of artists allowing people to attend movie premieres and special behind-the-scenes events. 

Comment from Ursula Corbero

“Inner beauty comes from positivity.
Tap into your individual energy, and if there’s something you want to do, do it!
It’s okay to make mistakes. Life is not perfect, and those imperfections make it beautiful.” 

Tokyo Jihen released their new album Ongaku (“Music”) on June 9, which is now featured on Spotify Japan’s playlist series Liner Voice+ where bands read the liner notes of their record and talk about it.

In Tokyo Jihen’s episode for Ongaku, Ringo Sheena, the frontwoman of the rock band, discusses the 13 songs on the record. She is interviewed by Masaki Uchida who has the singer dive deep into the recording of the album and other insights that you won’t hear anywhere else. Liner Voice+ is an opportunity for artists and fans to connect with one another and support each other on a deeper level.

Spotify isn’t just a place for streaming your favourite songs or having the service personalise your listening. It’s also a chance to hear from the artists themselves with such projects as this, learn about concerts in your area, and offers other useful tools for music lovers too.

Have you heard Tokyo Jihen’s Ongaku yet?

Japanese rock band Tokyo Jihen reunited in January this year after 8 years with the release of their new EP News. Today, a curated selection of 23 live performances from across all of their live DVD and Blu-ray releases was posted on the official Tokyo Jihen and EMI Records YouTube channels.

Tokyo Jihen Official YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqoUKpMpv8hz64ckrRWBbUw

EMI Records Official YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcuijrCs22iiS27d4avHR6A?view_as=subscriber

Live Video Clip Line-Up

“Marunouchi Sadistic” from Chin Play Kou Play

“Ikiru” from Bon Voyage

“Oishii Kisetsu” from Bon Voyage

“Gunjō Hiyori” from Bon Voyage

“Seishun no Matataki” from Bon Voyage

“Himitsu” from Discovery

“Onna no Ko wa Dare Demo” from Discovery

“Zettaichi Tai Sōtaichi” from Discovery

“Atarashii Bunmei Kaika” from Discovery

“Dempa Tsūshin” from Ultra C

“Zettai Zetsumei” from Ultra C

“Nōdōteki Sanpunkan” from Ultra C

“Superstar” from Ultra C

“Sweet Spot” from Ultra C

“Senkō Shōjo” Ultra C

“Fukushū” from Spa & Treatment

“Kabuki~OSCA” from Spa & Treatment

“Kingyo no Hako” from Spa & Treatment

“Shōjo Robot” from Just Can’t Help It.

“Mirror Ball” from Just Can’t Help It.

“Blackout” from Just Can’t Help It.

“Dynamite” from Just Can’t Help It.

“Koi no Urikomi” from Dynamite out

Ringo Sheena released her first greatest hits album Newton no Ringo ~Hajimete no Best Ban~ on November 13, which dominated Japanese music charts at No. 1.

Now, the Japanese singer-songwriter has announced that she will release several new entries to her The Sexual Healing seriesーa collection of her music videos on DVD and Blu-ray. The Sexual Healing Parts 5-7 will feature all of her music videos produced from 2014, while The Sexual Healing Total Care Course 120min will include her entire music video catalogue (Parts 1-7). The Sexual Healing Total Orgasm Experience will include all of this plus bonus content.

To promote her album and this new DVD/Blu-ray release, Ringo Sheena will hold a talk and performance at United Cinemas Aquacity Odaiba on December 7. There will also be a 70-minute screening of her music videos edited by Yuichi Kodama who has directed many of Sheena’s music videos.

Ringo Sheena’s greatest hits album Newton no Ringo ~Hajimete no Best Ban~ finally dropped last Wednesday, and has made it to No. 1 on Oricon’s Weekly Album Charts and Weekly Digital Album Charts. This makes it her first release where both the CD and digital version have peaked at number one simultaneously.

It is also her third digital album to hit No. 1 since Gyakuyunyū: Kōkūkyoku hit shelves back on December 18, 2017.

Her first ever greatest hits album in her 22 year career, Newton no Ringo ~Hajimete no Best Ban~ also made it to No. 1 for real time sales on major e-commerce websites including Amazon and Rakuten. It also shot up to No. 1 on eleven digital music charts including iTunes, Recochoku and LINE MUSIC.

Regular Edition copies include 28 tracks while First Press Limited Edition copies have 30 tracks. Both also feature two new tracks. Featured songs include a mix of singles and songs often performed live like Kabukicho no Joou, Honnou, and Nagaku Mijikai Matsur, as well as Kouzen no Himitsu, which is used as the main theme for the TV Asahi Friday night drama Jikou Keisatsu (Time Limit Investigator), and Roman to Soroban LDN ver. featuring Hikaru Utada.

The album is produced by recording engineer Uni Inoue, with updated mixes of select songs that retain their familiar sound while making them sound seamless alongside her Sheena’s more recent hits.

Ringo Sheena’s greatest hits album Newton no Ringo ~Hajimete no Best Ban~ is finally set to hit shelves next week on November 13. This will be her first-ever greatest hits album release since her debut 22 years ago.

There’s a lot going on right now for Ringo Sheena fans. The music videos for her newest song Kouzen no Himitsu, which is used as the main theme for the TV Asahi Friday night drama Jikou Keisatsu (Time Limit Investigator), and Roman to Soroban, featuring Hikaru Utada, have already amassed over 2 million views together. But the fun doesn’t stop there, as a trailer has just dropped to tease her forthcoming greatest hits album. Check it out below.

A spot promo was also released. Check that out below too.

The official Japanese liner notes for the album were also released on the special site set up for the release. In them, Ringo talks about the conception of the new songs.

The booklet included with the album features an AR marker. When purchasing the CD at a store in Japan, a leaflet will be given explaining how to use it.

To commemorate the release of the album, fans can enter for a chance to win the prizes listed below when purchasing the CD at select stores.

• A Prize: Acrylic Paper Weight
• B Prize: T-Shirt
• C Prize: Paper Bag
• Runner-Up Prize: Bookmark

For info on which stores are participating on which days, please check the following website: https://sp.universal-music.co.jp/ringo/news/191108/ (Japanese)

Ringo Sheena is set to release her first-ever all-time greatest hits album Newton no Ringo ~Hajimete no Best Ban~ on November 13, 2019, to wrap up celebrations of 20 years since her debut. New details have dropped on a brand new song that will be featured on the record.

The song in question will be the first song on disc one, and it titled, Roman to Soroban LDN ver. (“London Version”). It will feature a guest appearance from Hikaru Utada.

Sheena and Utada both debuted from Toushiba EMI (now EMI Music Japan) in 1998. This collaboration will mark their first together since Nijikan Dake no Vacance, featured on Hikaru Utada’s 2016 album Fantôme.

The lyrics, composition and basic track for Roman to Soroban LDN ver. were carried out by Sheena while the wind and string instruments arrangement was done by Yoichi Murata. On piano is H ZETT M and on 5-string bass Keisuke Torigoe. The song also features music by the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Utada and Sheena are close friends. The song itself was released today (November 2), along with the music video, ahead of the album.

Speaking about the new track, Ringo Sheena commented: “It was such a fun program. I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone again: to the great Yoichi Murata, everyone on instrumentals, and of course Hikaru Utada. Thank you so much.”

“Whenever I go to make new material, I always try to do something new,” she explains. “I didn’t go for sensational like I always do. Instead I paid close attention to editing the harmony, melody, pretty much everything. I wanted a song that mixed well with Hikaru’s voice, like ingredients such as water and oxygen. I would hope people catch the mellowness of the track, something which I don’t normally do.”

She continues: “I also challenged myself a little with the lyrics to this one. One day, Hikaru said to me, ‘If it’s you, Yumi [Sheena Ringo], let’s write something sweet.’ We had exchanges like that, and talking with people you know about things is the theme of Roman to Soroban. Since hearing that about half a year ago I’ve continued to go all out with it, and the result is this song. And although I sing, I’m kind of shy [about this one].”

She wraps up by explaining: “I’ve been stubborn these past twenty years about having a particular style, so I want to be more free in my writing from now on. I ask for your continued support in my endeavour.”

Hikaru Utada also commented: “This will be my third duet with Ringo. Before this we’ve done a cover of a song by The Carpenters, and another where she featured on my song, so I was very happy to be a part of her world this time around in both the song and music video. I had so much fun and laughed a lot during the music video shoot. The entire thing was a luxury for me. I’m looking forward to the release.”

On November 13, Ringo Sheena will release her first ever all-time greatest hits album entitled: Newton no ringo Hajimete no Best Ban. 

The album is full of songs ranging from her debut in 1998 to her brand new song Kouzen no himitsu, which was written for the TV Asahi October season Friday night drama Jikou Keisatsu (Time Limit Investigator). Ringo has just dropped the music video for Kouzen no himitsu and it is bound to steal your gaze. 

The song perfectly reflects the feelings of main character Mikazuki, who is played by Kumiko Hiramaru. In the video, Ringo Sheena is dressed as a bittersweet cinnamon policewoman who leads the dance as the ring leader of two darkside police members. This project was created with cinnamon squad: the wind ensemble to which song arranger Youichi Murata belongs, and midnightoutlaw, who often perform at Ringo Sheena’s live performances and recording sessions. The result: an intense video that one might even think is part of the Jikou Keisatsu series. 

One member of the darkside police force is AYA SATO, who left a grand impression on viewers after her striking performance as three different characters in Ringo’s previous music video Gate Of Living. The second member of the dance duo is MIKEY from Tokyo Gegegay. AYA’s thrilling choreography consists of her characteristic hand movements which will imprison your attention in no time. 

The music video’s director Hiroshi Usui has been the man behind Ringo’s most iconic music videos and most of her live performance videos since her debut. Being very familiar with Ringo and the performers, Usui’s masterpiece brings out the full potential of all the performers. 

A Statement by Hiroshi Usui

“You have just witnessed the almighty power of this performance supergroup. It would be a crime not to see it. You will spot something that amazes you each time you watch it. There’s no Time Limit on your investigation. Please, enjoy!

Hikaru Utada’s 2018 Laughter in the Dark Tour was released on DVD and Blu-ray today. The tour―which was her first nationwide tour in Japan in 12 years―was held to celebrate 20 years since her debut.

The DVD and Blu-ray was released in Limited Pressing Edition packaging and was also released across several streaming platforms including Netflix.

On day one of its release, the video shot up to No. 1 in downloads on the iTunes Live Video section. It has also been warmly received by foreign fans for its posting on Netflix.

Fans in Japan can also now watch it at several Sony Store branches in high resolution as part of the Sony Store Days event. At the event, fans can see the outfits that Utada actually wore on stage during the shows as well as watch Anata and Play A Love Song using Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, the latest in immersive music reproduction that brings listeners closer the artists than ever before. You must book in advance to experience this latest cutting-edge technology however.

As well as this, 13.1 channel multi-speakers will be used so that fans can enjoy the live experience together with the mix by Utada’s recording engineer Masahito Komori.

Fans can also experience Hikari and Chikai on PlayStation®VR and more. The event will begin at the Umeda branch of the Sony Store in Osaka on July 4. Full details below.

Cameraman: Teppei Kishida (岸田哲平)