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!

The popular female rock band BAND-MAID will perform for the first time at KNOTFEST JAPAN 2023, scheduled for April 1 and April 2 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba.

 

KNOTFEST was begun by the American heavy metal band Slipknot, and the festival has been held yearly since 2012. BAND-MAID will perform on Day 1 along with headliners Slipknot, Trivium, and MAN WITH A MISSION.

 

Tickets for the May shows to be held in the United States as part of the BAND-MAID 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR are none on sale. The group managed to bring in over 20,000 fans during their solo U.S. tour in 2022. In addition to performing at Pointfest 2023, Welcome to Rockville 2023, and the Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival, BAND-MAID will also perform six solo shows. With some venues selling out instantly last year, you’ll want to snag tickets while you can!

 

Japanese indie game label Yokaze will exhibit many anticipated upcoming titles at the 2023 Taipei Game Show. The event will be held in Taiwan from February 2 until February 5, 2023.

 

ghostpia

ghostpia's visuals mix warm, delicate art that would be fit for an illustrated children's book with glitch and noise effects, for a strangely nostalgic visual novel vibe. The story takes place in a snowy town where immortal "ghosts" live. When Sayoko, a girl who doesn’t belong, meets Yoru, a newcomer to town, her world begins to change. Her thoughts begin to drift outside of the town, and certain events bring her back to a lost friendship. Filled with mystery and a bit of violence, this title is being touted as a movie you can read on PC.   Developer: Chosuido Release Date: 2023 Platform: Nintendo Switch™/Steam, etc. Website: https://ghostpia.xyz/  

Recolit

Recolit is a pixel art mystery adventure game where players explore a strange town by following trails of light. After your spaceship crash lands in a mysterious place, you’ll have to help the residents of the town as you explore and progress through the story.   Developer: Image Labo Release Date: 2023 Platform: Steam/itch.io (Others planned) Website: https://image-labo.com/recolit/ 

Kitsune: The Journey of Adashino

Kitsune: The Journey of Adashino is a 3D adventure game set in a mysterious version of Japan. One day, a fox girl and her frog friend find themselves on a mysterious island shrouded by darkness but for a few floating lights. Torii gates, food stall lanterns, and neon signs give light and color to the island. Something is lurking in the shadows, inching ever closer. Kitsune can use light to temporarily blind these demons, giving her enough time to find safe routes and hiding places. Be sure to enjoy this curious tale when it releases in the future!   Developer: Rias Release Date: TBD Platform: Nintendo Switch™/Steam (Others planned) Website: https://www.foxandfrog.net/

The card game SCOUT, designed by Kei Kajino and developed overseas by Oink Games, was nominated for the Spiel des Jahres Award in Germany on May 23, 2022. The yearly award is given to a card or board game and is known as the highest honor in the world of tabletop games. This is the second time in seven years that a Japanese-designed game has been nominated. The Spiel des Jahres Award has been given out each year since 1979. There are three categories: Game of the Year, Kids’ Game of the Year, and Complex Game of the Year. Three board or card games are nominated from among those released in Germany in the previous year, and one is awarded the grand prize. The last Japanese game to be nominated was Machi Koro, a board game that has become extremely popular among Western audiences. The grand prize winner will be announced on July 16.

What is SCOUT?

You have suddenly been appointed as the leader of a circus. Using the members of your circus you must put together a show that will beat out your rivals. Everyone on your team has a specific role. To fill in the gaps on your team, try to scout members away from other circus groups! With the addition of just one extra person you may set off an incredible chain reaction that helps you create a show that no other circus will be able to surpass. Will you battle with your current members? Or will you wait it out and try to recruit different ones?   You will feel amazing when you make the right choices in this speedy card game! A new version has just been released for players purchasing the game from outside of Japan. In Japan, the original version was released by One More Game.

Initial D The Arcade is the tenth game in the Initial D series. Released in February 2021, one particular song from the title has struck a chord with fans. After a long wait, SCRAMBLE EYES by MOTSU vs A-One, has finally been released on streaming services starting May 25! SCRAMBLE EYES is a fast-paced track blended with sharp vocals and engaging rap. The speedy song is perfect for Initial D, bringing to mind being behind the wheel and driving at top speed. Fans have called the song addictive, and even those who aren’t a fan of the game have been applauding the track across social media.  MOTSU and A-One have both provided comments following the song’s release. 

MOTSU

The name SCRAMBLE EYES was inspired by the bright headlights plowing through the darkness during a particular stage in Initial D The Arcade.I’d be so happy if the listeners could get the same tingling sensation I felt when I met A-One for the first time.  

A-One

I’m so thankful to be able to create music for Initial D, a series that brought me so much joy as a child.And collaborating with MOTSU? I absolutely adore him, so I put all of my energy into this track.If you work hard and don’t back down, your dreams will come true.But one of my dreams hasn’t come true yet–playing this song live!MOTSU, let’s do it someday!Please enjoy this track and really feel the speed and excitement as you race towards your goals! In 2023, an anime adaptation of MF Ghost, the sequel to Initial D, is scheduled to premiere. The series takes place in the 2020s, when self-driving cars are normal Japan, and focuses on Kanata Livington, a Japanese driver who goes back to Japan after graduating at the top of his class at a racing school in England.

On May 18, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu traveled to Chiba to take a ride on the Kyary Train, a collaborative train currently in operation on the Choushi Electric Railway! The collaboration is part of the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project, launched to energize Japan by marketing the appeal of regional towns and cities. The singer also attended a special event celebrating the redesigned Kannon Station with Choshi mayor Shinichi Koshikawa and Choshi Electric Railway president Katsunori Takemoto in attendance.    In January, Kyary began the largest tour of her career, ‘Kyary Pamyu Pamyu 10th ANNIVERSARY JAPAN TOUR 2022 CANDY WAVE,’ with the artist performing 30 shows across Japan. In conjunction with the nationwide tour, the LOCAL POWER JAPAN Project was launched, which aims to bring attention and support to local industries and to inspire more tourism to rural areas impacted negatively by the pandemic. In April, Kyary announced a collaboration with Chiba’s Choushi Electric Railway. The railway President is known for his self-deprecating jokes, noting that the railway has seen a serious lack of ridership over the last decade. Fittingly, the collaboration is based on Kyary’s hit song Mondai Girl (Problem Girl). The Kyary Train began operations on the first day of Golden Week, attracting a huge crowd. Surprisingly, the singer herself took time out of her tour to ride the train herself!   Upon arrival at the Choshi Dentetsu platform, the Kyary Train appeared, decorated with the collaboration design on the first car. Kyary, seeing the train in person for the first time, greeted it with a happy wave. Upon boarding, the interior was decorated with pink, yellow, and blue balloons inspired by the music video for Mondai Girl. “It’s so cute,” Kyary exclaimed. Other decorations placed in the train also pull from the video, including triangular accents based on Kyary’s outfit and spikes inspired by the male dancer’s hairstyles. The in-train ads feature “problematic” confessions from riders, citizens of Choushi, and Kyary herself. After a while, the departure sound plays, incorporating the phrase Mondai Girl, and the train departs. During the 21-minute ride, Kyary guided riders through the many stations, with announcements playing as the train passed by notable locales.    After the trip, the ‘Mondai ga Aru’ (There are Problems) event took place to show off the new interior of Kannon Station. Broken glass has been replaced and the interior features a light pink paint job, complete with an image of Kyary. Choshi mayor Shinichi Koshikawa and Choshi Electric Railway president Katsunori Takemoto expressed their gratitude.    “Choshi Electric Railway is often the butt of jokes, but I think it takes courage to make those jokes. It’s because the railway is so honest that people are willing to come out and help,” Kyary said. “I’ll do my best so that my music and this railway will both be loved for 100 years.”    A photo booth pulling inspiration from the press conference scene in the Mondai Girl music video has been also been added. Kyary took a seat to share details of a certain moment during Coachella that made a huge impact on her. During the second weekend performance, Kyary performed alone for the first time in her decade-long career after her dancers suffered from a sudden illness.   President Takemoto also spoke about a “problem”--too many people showed up to ride the Kyary Train during Golden Week, and the company ran out of its popular products halfway through the week! He also announced a new song, Choushi Mondai Girl, which he performed on guitar.   “If there’s a problem, this is a good opportunity to solve it. If we can overcome our problems, we can move on to the next stage. I hope that Choushi Electric Railway will continue to do its best,” Kyary said at the end of the event, inspiring warm applause from the crowd.   Be sure to check out the collaboration this spring and summer!   Mondai Girl Music Video