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!

Seven years after release, Mizuki Tsujimura’s popular novel about struggles in the anime industry Haken Anime! is getting a live-action film in May 2022. Along with the big news, a teaser visual and cast comments have been released, along with a teaser trailer.

The story focuses on Hitomi Saito, who has entered the anime industry and is making her directorial debut. She is competing for the title of Haken (supremacy) with the star direction she previously idolized, Chiharu Ouji. Together with a peculiar producer and a unique group of friends and colleagues, the novel shows the more difficult parts of creating a successful anime series. As anime has become more popular around the world, this film is sure to attract plenty of international attention. 

The film’s talented cast includes Riho Yoshioka, Tomoya Nakamura, Tasuku Emoto, and Machiko Ono. Yoshika plays the lead role of Hitomi Saito, a rookie director who believes in the incredible power of animation. While she’s dedicated to her goals, she’s clumsy and seems to hit a new wall each and every day. Even still, the character is loveable and inspiring, as she tries to overcome each and every struggle. 

Nakamura passionately plays Chiharu Ouji, a genius director known for producing plenty of smash hits. Emoto plays Satoru Yukishiro, a talented producer, while Ono plays Kayako Arishina, a famous producer who puts her job on the line for the best possible work. 

The film will be directed by Kohei Yoshino, who also participated as a CG creator in Makoto Shinkai’s 2016 hit anime film Your Name. He has also worked on many music videos and commercials. Toei Animation will supervise the film. The animated teaser trailers were created by popular studio Production I.G, and both are actually the anime being created in the film. They were released prior to the announcement of the live-action film and caused quite a stir online with over 100,000 views on YouTube in a week. 

“Soundback -Kanade no Ishi” Teaser Trailer: 

“Unmei Sensen Liddell-Light” Teaser Trailer: 

“Soundback -Kanade no Ishi” is the first film directed by Hitomi Saito in Haken Anime!, and “Unmei Sensen Liddell-Light” is Chiharu Ouji’s new film. A teaser trailer was also released, showing the main character with a serious expression, claiming that ‘animation can grant power stronger than any magic.’ 

Teaser Trailer

https://youtu.be/oKbiGKBjibQ

The new teaser visual shows the four main characters with the taglines ‘Surpass yourself’ and ‘Grab the Supremacy!’ Will you be watching this film when it releases in your region?

Comment from Riho Yoshioka

I play the role of Hitomi Saito, originally a government worker who decides to become an anime director. The film shows the steps involved in making an anime series come to life, and the incredible struggle of the animators. Anime is one of Japan’s treasures, but behind the scenes, there is so much hard work that goes into making each series–more than you can ever imagine.

Animators work day and night, making storyboards, drawings, videos…Their talent is unbelievable. Every day while filming, I had these realizations. I had never thought so deeply about anime creators, and now, each time I see an anime series I am so incredibly moved. 

I hope you enjoy the film!

Comment from Tomoya Nakamura

I’m Tomoya Nakamura, and I play the role of Chiharu Ouji. As I read the script, I found myself continuously nodding my head in agreement as I saw how much my character has that creative fever that’s so unique to this kind of profession. I’m truly blessed to play the role of Ouji, a man who has so many worries, but still holds his head high. I want those seeing the film to be inspired to do their best in their everyday life after seeing these characters put their heart and souls into anime. Please look forward to this incredible film by Kohei Yoshino!

Comment from Tasuku Emoto

I went into this thinking that Yukishiro was a man with a strong personality, but also someone capable of showing kindness. The director has a small voice and strange idiosyncrasies, but also a stubbornness and incredible masculinity that you’d never guess from his appearance. I was inspired by that for my character. Haken Anime! is both light-hearted and incredibly deep, so please look forward to it!

Comment from Machiko Ono

While filming, I found myself in an incredible story filled with hopes, dreams, and a path to follow. I fell in love with it instantly. It was such an incredible experience, and I can’t wait to see how the story connects with the audience. 

Comment from Director Kohei Yoshino

I was very fortunate to be offered the chance to direct this film, as it was a project I had loved for a long time prior. My memories of being a new director are still fresh in my mind, so this was a chance to put those thoughts and feelings on screen. I’m also lucky to have worked with such a wonderful cast and crew. I hope everyone enjoys this unique work that includes several distinct genres, and I hope that those wanting a career in the industry learn from this film and are inspired to take a shot. May this film be the dream come true to many as it was for me. 

Comment from Original Writer Mizuki Tsujimura

Out of all the novels I’ve written, I thought Haken Anime! would be the most difficult to put on the big screen, as two different anime series appear in the work. I had given up the idea of it ever being adapted, given how long it takes to create anime of good quality. But this time, with the help of this wonderful staff and cast, it’s really happening. My characters Hitomi, Chiharu, Satoru, and Kayako have come to life, and their anime is real. I can’t wait to see them on the big screen!

©️2022 映画「ハケンアニメ！」製作委員会

Since 2019, musical duo YOASOBI has taken Japan and the rest of the world by storm. Producer and songwriter Ayase, along with singer-songwriter Ikura, base their tracks on short stories, bringing books to life. Their debut single, Yoru ni Kakeru, was released on December 19, 2019, and spent three weeks at the top of the Oricon charts. Their first EP, ‘THE BOOK,’ was released in January 2021, and now, ‘THE BOOK 2’ is less than two weeks away. The duo will also be performing in this year’s Kouhaku Uta Gassen New Years’ special. In February 2021, YOASOBI held their first solo concert at the KEEP OUT THEATER in Shinjuku. 

‘THE BOOK 2’ will release on December 1, and the pair’s first face-to-face one-off concert, titled Nice to Meet You, will take place at Nippon Budokan from December 4 to 5. 

‘THE BOOK 2’ will be a limited edition-only release, and the CD will come in a ring binder package. The album will also be available to stream. To commemorate this new release, the group’s first album will be getting a second run starting November 30. 

Publisher Kawade Shobo Shinsha will release two coming-of-age novels on October 14! To promote both The Last Dance of the Time Keepers and Home on the Night of the Star Festival, an anime PV created by the staff of the 2016 anime series Pop in Q and directed by Naoki Miyahara (Digimon Adventure, Dragon Ball Z) has also been released! There are also some pretty famous voice actors featured, so see if you recognize any!

Senya Mihagi, the author of both full-length novels, is an up-and-coming talent, winning the Kadokawa’s Da Vinci Story of Books Award in 2014. The original character designs and cover illustrations for each novel were created by Kouhaku Kuroboshi, who has worked on a number of popular anime works, including Kino’s Journey, Fate/Grand Order, and Sword Art Online Alternative. The PV includes voice actors Asami Seto, Shiori Izawa, Atsumi Tanezaki, Ari Ozawa, and Tomoyo Kurosawa. The music was produced by Yuki Tsujimura, who has collaborated with a number of popular Japanese artists in the past. 

To commemorate the release of the novels, five original postcards featuring art of each main character will be available from Amazon, Kumazawa Books, TSUTAYA, and Miraiya Books. You’ll get a different character depending on where you buy, so double-check beforehand!

Synopsis

The Last Dance of the Time Keepers

Isumi Kominato, a high-school freshman, moves to Tokyo from Kochi Prefecture and forms a new dance unit with her classmates. Behind the scenes, however, strange things are happening–power outages, disappearances, amnesia? Isumi, Aoi, Konatsu, Asahi, and Saki must use the power of dance to help return the world to normal. 

Home on the Night of the Star Festival

Satoshi, known as a child prodigy from the time he was an infant and like a sibling to Iori, died suddenly at the age of twenty-one. Iori, unable to accept his death, runs away to attend college in Tokyo, but three years later, she begins to receive strange e-mails after Satoshi’s belongings, including a smartphone, are given to her. What was he researching before he died, and why was a global IT company involved? What is the truth behind his mysterious death? 

YOASOBI, a unit who turns short novels into music, made their debut in November 2019 with ‘Running into the Night,’ a song which exploded in popularity upon release and swept the number one spot in the music charts and went viral internationally. The monumentum was unstoppable, taking number one on the 202 Billboard JAPAN song and streaming charts, and even featuring in the 71st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen. 

On January 6 of this year, the group released their first EP ‘THE BOOK,’ which was made with the concept of “a short story turned into music.” The EP was well received, garnering attention for its release as a “reading CD.” It won first place in the Oricon Digital Album Ranking for five consecutive weeks, while the seven songs each ranked in the Apple Music TOP15 Chart and the Billboard Japan 2021 Ranking for the first half of 2021 in June. Their latest song ‘Sangenshoku’ was featured in the Billboard JAPAN TOP Artist ranking, jumping straight to 34th upon release. Their monumentum never seems to stop.

The teaser video for new song ‘Taishō Roman’ was uploaded to YouTube by YOASOBI on September 15 2021. The new song is based on the novel ‘Taishō Roman’ by NATSUMI. The short novel won the ‘YOASOBI Contest Vol.2,’ a competition held by monogatary.com and Futabasha in July 2020, with 2,086 entries overall.

The full novel was released in YOASOBI’s first EP ‘THE BOOK,’ allowing fans to enjoy the upcoming song. The CD jacket visual was also released just before the MV teaser. The teaser previews a retro atmosphere, reflecting the song title. You can also hear an excerpt of the novel as read by vocalist ikura. At the end of the video, a preview of the song is played, raising expectations for the full song even higher! Be sure to check it out.

Japanese music streaming site RecoChoku has announced the top song and album rankings for August 2021!

RecoChoku Monthly Music Award – August 2021

Single Ranking

1st Place: Love Letter – YOASOBI (Released digitally August 9, 2021)

2nd Place: Suiheisen – back number

3rd Place: Dry Flower – Yuri

4th Place: SMILE ~Harewataru Sora no Youni~ – Keisuke Kuwata

5th Place: Apoptosis – Official Hige Dandism

Album Ranking

1st Place: Editorial – Official Hige Dandism (Released digitally August 18, 2021)

2nd Place: THE BOOK – YOASOBI

3rd Place: Belle Original Soundtrack – Various Artists

4th Place: Magia Record 2nd Season Theme Song Collection – ClariS, TrySail

5th Place: Senko Hanabi – Sandaime J SOUL BROTHERS from EXILE TRIBE

YOASOBI’s Love Letter took the top prize in the single ranking. Written as a collaborative project with the SUNDAY’S POST radio show on TOKYO FM, the song was inspired by a letter sent in by a sixth grader, Hatsune-san, expressing gratitude for music. The Osaka Toin High School Brass Band, after impressing the nation at the SING YOUR WORLD event last month, also performed on the track. As the title would imply, it truly is a love letter written to music itself. Resonating with audiences, it reached the top of the weekly chart upon release on August 11.

The music video for Love Letter was released on August 31, and channels the love and appreciation for music found in Hatsune-san’s letter. Since release, it has continuously trended on social media, and has over 4 million views on YouTube. YOASOBI will release their next track, Taisho Rouman, on September 15.

Official Hige Dandism took the top spot in the Album category, with their long-awaited second album Editorial containing popular tracks like I LOVE…, Laughter, and Cry Baby. This 14-song release comes almost two years after their last album release. On RecoChoku, it was #1 for two consecutive weeks. Official Hige Dandism began a nationwide tour on September 4.

September 25 this year will mark 30 years since the debut of Fuyumi Ono’s fantasy novel series The Twelve Kingdoms. To celebrate, bookstores across Japan will begin the ‘The Twelve Kingdoms 30th Anniversary Fair’ at the end of September.

30th anniversary pin

30th anniversary pin

Map of The Twelve Kingdoms

The first entry in the novel series, The Twelve Kingdoms: Sea of Shadow, was published by Kodansha in Japan in 1992. The series continues to be enjoyed in Japan 30 years later, with over 12 million copies in circulation. A 45-episode anime series also aired between 2002-2003.

As part of the fair, fans can get their hands on exclusive anniversary pins featuring new chibi illustrations of the characters drawn by Akihiro Yamada, the original illustrator of the series. There are 10 pins available at different stores. A collection of stamps will also be released on the Japanese messaging service LINE. Other events surrounding the fair are planned to take place too and will be revealed throughout the year.

UNIQLO’s UT collection is a line of tees created in collaboration with other brands, anime, shows, and more. On July 2, UNIQLO is teaming up with the Japanese music duo YOASOBI to release an exclusive new collection.

YOASOBI, which is comprised of Ayase and ikura, made their debut in 2020 with their hit song Yoru ni Kakeru. Since then, their music has continued to top charts in JApan.

The collection is a fusion of fashion and music in women’s and kids designs featuring stills taken from seven of the duo’s iconic music videos including Yoru ni Kakeru, Halzion, Tabun, Gunjo, Haruka, Encore, and their new track Sangenshoku.

The Line-Up

Women’s Tees | 7 Designs | ¥1,500

Kids Tees | 5 Designs | ¥990

To promote the collaboration, YOASOBI will also hold a free YouTube livestream on July 4 2021 at 6pm (JST). The online event is called “SING YOUR WORLD” and will see them perform live.

©藍にいな ©ラビットマシーン ©すばこ舎・山中琴美・村山辰徳・細矢祐輔 ©南條沙歩 ©しなの ©牧野惇
©古塔つみ ©むつき潤
©伊豆見香苗・すばこ舎・山中琴美・村山辰徳・細矢祐輔 ©文・すばこ舎・山中琴美・村山辰徳・細矢祐輔

Japanese music streaming site RecoChoku has revealed the top song and album rankings of artists for April 2021 who earn the site’s RecoChoku Award for the month. Taking the number one spot for the monthly single charts is YOASOBI with Mou Sukoshi Dake (‘Just a Little More’) which released on May 10 as the theme song for Fuji TV’s Mezamashi TV.

RecoChoku Award Monthly Music – May 2021

Single Charts

1st Place: “Mou Sukoshi Dake” – YOASOBI (Released May 20, 2021)
2nd Place: “Kaitou” – back number
3rd Place: “Kirari” – Fujii Kaze
4th Place: “Butter” – BTS
5th Place: “Cry Baby” – Official HIGE DANdism

Album Charts

1st Place: “ZZ’s II” – Momoiro Clover Z (Releasing May 17, 2021)
2nd Place: “THE BOOK” – YOASOBI
3rd Place: “Kimi Shika Katan (Special Edition)” – Hinatazaka46
4th Place: “Butter” – BTS
5th Place: “LADYBUG” – LiSA

YOASOBI’s Mou Sukoshi Dake is inspired by the novel Meguru. by Chiharu and first hit the air on March 29 as the main theme for the weekly Japanese news show Mezamashi TV. Excited words of praise flooded social media in Japan when it played on the show. The single’s cover art was created by hmng and captures a scene of a schoolgirl bathed in light. This girl also appears in the novel, giving a peek into its story as well as the feeling of the song itself. Mou Sukoshi Dake has ranked number one two weeks in a row for RecoChoku’s weekly rankings on May 12 and 19 and has now taken the monthly spot.

YOASOBI’s success doesn’t stop there however as it was recently announced that band member ikura is receiving her voice acting role in Studio Chizu’s upcoming anime film Belle which is set for release this July. 

Momoiro Clover Z’s compilation album ZZ’s II is set to release on May 17 in celebration of the group’s 13th anniversary. The tracks were re-recorded by the current four members. There are 10 songs in title including Nippon Egao Hyakkei -ZZ ver.-, Saraba Itoshiki Kanashimi-tachi yo which features arrangement and guitar work by Tomoyasu Hotei, and more.

Momoiro Clover Z have been posting videos of songs from the album on their official YouTube channel. The album came in at number one on the daily charts and that has continued in the weekly and monthly charts.

Japanese music streaming site RecoChoku has revealed the top song and album rankings of artists for April 2021 who earn the site’s RecoChoku Award for the month.

RecoChoku Award Monthly Music – April 2021

Single Ranking

1st Place: “Take a Picture” – NiziU (Released digitally March 29, 2021)
2nd Place: “Renegades” – ONE OK ROCK
3rd Place: “Film out” – BTS 
4th Place: “Yoru ni Kakeru” –  YOASOBI
5th Place: “Usseewa” – Ado


Album Ranking　

1st Place: “THE BOOK” – YOASOBI (Released January 6, 2021)
2nd Place: “Take a picture/Poppin’ Shakin'” – NiziU
3rd Place: “BAN (Special Edition)” – Sakurazaka46
4th Place: “Walpurgis” – Aimer 
5th Place: “Ketsu no Paradise” – Ketsumeishi

In 2020, NiziU took home the Newcomer Ranking award for RecoChoku Yearly Ranking 2020. The girl group takes first place once again in April 2021’s song charts with Take a picture which is taken from Take a picture/Poppin’ Shakin’, their first double A-side single which released on CD on April 7, 2021. The leas track was released digitally on March 29 for a Coca-Cola commercial. It placed at No. 3 in its first week of release. It climbed to No. 2 the following week, and by its third week it hit No. 1 thanks to its CD release and the group performing it live on Nippon TV’s Sukkuri, NHK’s SONGS, TV Asahi’s Music Station 3 Hour Special, and more. The double A-side’s other track, Poppin’ Shakin’, placed at No. 2 on its release but also climbed to No. 1.

The four-track Take a picture/Poppin’ Shakin’ even made it to No. 2 on RecoChoku’s monthly album charts. And on April 30, NiziU released their new “NiziU Scout” content on their official YouTube channel which broke one million views on the same day. 2021 is looking to be a big year for the group.
 

YOASOBI take the No. 1 spot on the Album Ranking for their EP THE BOOK for the fourth month in a row. They are a Japanese music duo formed of composer and Vocaloid producer Ayase and singer-songwriter ikura whose music turns novels in songs. Their popularity grew online with the release of their first song Yoru ni Kakeru in November 2019. The track peaked at No. 5 in the RecoChoku Yearly Ranking for 2020. YOASOBI performed on NHK’s annual New Year’s Eve television special Kōhaku Uta Gassen in the same year. When the new year opened, the duo released their first EP, THE BOOK, on January 6, 2021 which included Yoru ni Kakeru as well as Ano Yume o Nazotte which adapted Sota Ishiki’s novel Yume no Shizuku to Hoshii no Hana, Tabun which adapted Shinano’s novel of the same name, Harujion which was used in with food product and film promos, Gunjo which was used in Bourbon’s Alfort Mini Chocolate commercial, Encore which was used for a Google Pixel commercial, and more. The track Harujion in particular has helped with downloads of the albums after it was used in a Nintendo Switch television commercial.

YOASOBI’s new song Mou Sukoshi Dake was released digitally on May 10. The song serves as the latest theme song for the Fuji TV show Mezamashi TV. The track hit No. 1 on RecoChoku’s Single & High Res Single Ranking.

Japanese illustrator Cotoh Tsumi is now holding a solo exhibition of her iconic artwork at the atmos propeller street branch of Japanese sneaker select shop atmos in Tokyo. The exhibition, which is themed on girls wearing sneakers, is running until May 9.

Cotoh Tsumi became well-known for creating the visuals for the Japanese music unit YOASOBI. They also created the main visual for the atmos con Vol.8 event held last month and even released a capsule collection. Now, their “q” exhibition is being held at atmos propeller street’s Anicoremix Gallery. The subheading for the exhibition reads, “You understand surface-level cuteness, but if you say you know anything about me, you’re a liar.” The exhibition brings together illustrations from the artist’s archive.

Exclusive merchandise will also be sold such as t-shirts and posters

The Japanese streaming service “d Hits® powered by RecoChoku,” which is managed by NTT DOCOMO, has published its ranking for the most streamed artists of February 2021. The list sees YOASOBI coming in at number one.

YOASOBI is a Japanese music duo formed of composer and Vocaloid producer Ayase and singer-songwriter ikura. The band have enjoyed much success since their formation in 2019, making it to No. 1 on Billboard Japan’s song charts as well as streaming charts in Japan. They released their first song Yoru ni Kakeru in November 2019 which blew up on Japanese social media and saw the track hit No. 5 in RecoChoku’s yearly charts for 2020 and subsequently No. 1 in d Hits’ artist charts in January this year. They released their first EP, THE BOOK, on January 6, 2021, which introduced a unique concept of turning novels in songs, effectively creating a ‘CD that you can read.’ The record reached No. 2 on Oricon’s Weekly Album Rankings and Digital Album Rankings. The duo performed their first live stream concert “KEEP OUT THEATER” in February which was viewed by 40,000 people.

YOASOBI’s success continues as the “YOASOBI Artist Playlist” on d Hits clocks in at No. 1 on the streaming site’s most listen-to playlists for the second month in a row – both January and February. The playlist includes their hits Yoru ni Kakeru, Gunjo, and Encore, as well as all tracks from their THE BOOK EP, and their new tracks Kaibutsu and Yasashii Suisei which are used as the opening and ending themes for the anime series BEASTARS. It also includes their set list from their “KEEP OUT THEATER” live stream show.

Additionally, Japanese high school singer Ado’s song Usseewa made it to No. 1 on d Hits’ most streamed songs of February 2021. The track was down at No. 11 in January, making it a huge jump up the list. The song talks about Ado’s feelings towards society and was written when the singer was still in middle school.  She appeared on Music Station on January 22 where she was interviewed on the phone and also performed live for the first time. This saw the media has picking up on her in February, which help spread the word about her, leading to her making it to No. 1.

Ado | Comment

“It still doesn’t feel real, but I am over the moon that ‘Usseewa’ has been heard by so many people. I will continue to put my all in as a singer for syudou who made this song for me, for all the Vocaloid producers that have supported me, and to everyone that has listened to the song. I especially want to express thanks from the bottom of my heart to all the singers and everyone in the Vocaloid community who were the reason that I began my career. I’m still a novice, but I will continue working hard.”