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 Trailerhttps://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 KeepersIsumi 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 FestivalSatoshi, 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 2021Single 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.