Artist and model MANON released her new song GALCHAN MODE on May 26. The track is produced by Lil'Yukichi and is an anthem-like tune centred on hyperpop and the gyaru culture of Shibuya.

GALCHAN MODE

MANON

MANON is a rising star of hype youth culture in Japan. She collaborated with dodo last year on WORLD'S END. She also released a remixed version of the KM-produced track 18 which was remixed by Hiroshi Fujiwara who also worked on WORLD'S END. She was also invited onto the YAHI exhibition match curated by Reiji Okamoto.   GALCHAN MODE comes as MANON's first release of 2021.

The new track marks a departure from her usual light, bopping rap tunes and instead fuses trance and rave-like elctronic and pop music as a nod to the hyperpop movement, something she has expressed admiration for. It's produced by Lil'Yukich, a big name in the Japanese rap scene, and is a song of praise about gyaru culture with lyrics written by MANON. It features fully autotuned vocals and is the perfect part tune. Its music video was created by Japanese creative unit tsuchifumazu and features MANON herself as an avatar in a digital world of Tokyo and outer space.   MANON has been gaining much attention both in Japan and overseas since last year via her TikTok. If you've yet to check out this growing artist, who is part of the hyperpop scene which has a deep affinity with aspects of Japanese subculture like anime and games, be sure to give her a listen.

Momo Mashiro made her solo major debut today (February 12) with the release of her digital single Onegai Sequencer.   Momo Mashiro is a Japanese singer who won the Lawson Dream Artist Audition, an audition run by the convenience store chain Lawson to give women working at Lawson a cool image. The song was written by famed Japanese music producer and DJ Yasutaka Nakata. Mashiro actually feated on his song Jump in Tonight, a track included on his solo album Digital Native.   Onegai Sequencer has a 'kawaii' dance music and sound laced with fantastical lyrics. It is the embodiment of fantasy and has a computer sound to it.   Momo Mashiro - "Onegai Sequencer" Music Video

  The song was released together with a music video today. The video was produced as an official collaboration with Lawson. Mashiro works as an employee at the convenience store in the video, which turns into a dreamy pastel-coloured game world. The entire store becomes a huge arcade to the tune of the foot-stomping beat. It was shot over the course of an entire day, which includes stop motion scenes of each item on the shelves. It's a wondrous mix of reality and fantasy and a must-see.   The song is available to listen to on music streaming and download services, including Spotify by entering Mashiro's name or the song title in Japanese

Springtime this year saw MANON move her work to Tokyo where she is now based. Her new song WORLD'S END feat.dodo is a graduation track that was recorded at the end of her time at high school. It's a bittersweet pop number, and an emotional one that sings of love. The song invites the easygoing and chill 'nerd' rapper dodo on board whose popularity continues to surge. His song im was released last year and has almost 4 million views on YouTube. WORLD'S END feat.dodo sees two worlds clash together: the cute and stylish MANON admired by girls of her age, and rapper dodo, whose style is based around looking unpopular. Music Video

Japanese musician, producer and designer Hiroshi Fujiwara, who is big in the Harajuku street culture scene, has also provided a remix of the track. He's laid down a luxurious ground beat and melded in a melody that's both an homage to funky disco and includes plenty of new classic vibes.   The original song is produced by YUPPA (HNC) who has worked on all of MANON's tracks before this. The CD cover for the original version is drawn by illustrator mako arai who also directed the music video that is being released together with the song. The CD cover for the remix version was designed by Hiroshi Fujiwara himself.

Studio Ponoc, formed by former Studio Ghibli lead film producer Yoshiaki Nishimura, is releasing its next animated movie after their debut release Mary and the Witch's Flower (2017).   Modest Heroes is a three-part anime anthology film set for release in Japan on August 24. Several composers including DJ, record producer, songwriter Yasutaka Nakata (Capsule, Perfume, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu) have been unveiled to have worked on the movie's soundtrack. The film is split into three parts with different directors. Kanini & Kanino is a fantasy short directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi―who also directed Mary and the Witch's Flower―and follows two crab brothers on a big adventure. Life Ain't Gonna Lose is a drama short directed by animator Yoshiyuki Momose, a great talent who worked under the late Isao Takahata of Studio Ghibli. It's based on a true story and tells a tale of love between a mother and a young boy. The final part, Invisible, is directed by veteran animator Akihiko Yamashita who is known for having worked on Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle. It focuses on the struggles of a lonely invisible man. Modest Heroes features a voiceover cast of well-known actors and actress such as Joe Odagiri and Fumino Kimura. The soundtrack is composed by three huge names in music: film composer, pianist and singer-songwriter Takatsugu Muramatsu, music producer and keyboardist Masanori Shimada, and Yasutaka Nakata. Which film short are you most looking forward to from the anthology?    

An army of Japanese pop culture leaders signed to ASOBISYSTEM attended ASOBIEXPO at Shinkiba STUDIO COAST on July 21, 2018 to celebrate the company's 10th anniversary, including Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Yasutaka Nakata, Sebastian Masuda and more. Close to 100 music artists, models, DJs and others attended the festival, which was split into two slots: ASOBIFES!!! was a free invitation-only concert and show event, and ASOBINITE!!! was a club event which was attended by some of Japan's representative artists. Beginning the show was none other than MANON, ASOBISYSTEM's 16-year-old leader of the new generation of youth. She captivated the crowd with her soft and relaxed rapping and edgy lyrics with tracks like xxFANCYPOOLxx and COCO BOI ROMANCE. Next to hit the stage was 4-member pop dance and vocal group TEMPURA KIDZ. They rolled out a string of infectious pop tunes that made you want to dance and gave a performance so foot-stomping you'd think it was the climax of the event already. A number of guests and dancers joined them on stage from Tamura in Fukushima Prefecture where TEMPURA KIDZ held workshops as part of a project to revitalise the region. Sashaying onto the stage next was a list of models signed to ASOBISYSTEM for a special fashion show. The first theme was 'urban mood' which saw names like Shiho Takechi and Rinko Murata take over the runway. The second theme was 'Tokyo Street Vintage Mix' where Saki Shibata, Yuri Suganuma and others walked the walk. After the fashion show, it was to change things up. Natsume Mito stepped onto stage followed by 6 others. They read aloud the children's picture book Mumu written by Natsume Mito herself which was accompanied with acting, music and lighting to bring the story to life. After the performance she announced a sequel to the book, Mumu ~Shima-chan no Otanjoubi~. Things changed up again when Atarashii Gakkou no Leaders came on to fire everybody up again. They gave an electrifying vocal and dance performance during the Showa-style number Koi Shadanki feat. H ZETTRIO. The members also spoke about their recollections with ASOBISYSTEM and said, "Congratulations on 10 years! Let's keep working hard together!" They then performed Saishuu Jinrui. Their set was full of love for ASOBISYSTEM. Now it was time to pull the big guns out. CAPSULE graced the stage, opening with Another World to get people pumped before hitting them with MORE MORE MORE, JUMPER and Hero. The crowd were pulled into the CAPSULE galaxy with the on-screen space visuals and giant mirror ball overhead for Starry Sky. CAPSULE vocalist Koshijima shouted out softly, "Thank you for today! Congratulations on 10 years, ASOBISYSTEM. Have fun until the very end!" Their set concluded with a fantastic groove that shot the crowd into the stratosphere. The final act of the night, and ASOBISYSTEM's representative artist, was of course Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. As the audience waited with smiles on their faces, four dancers dressed in black appeared to the tune of KPP On Stage. Kyary subsequently stepped out wearing a rough outfit―something much different to what she usually wears―to perform her hit tune Invader Invader.   "Thank you! Is everyone at ASOBIEXPO having fun? Congratulations on 10 years, ASOBISYSTEM. I have been with ASOBISYSTEM for 7 years. 7 years have passed since I met the company president, Army. Yasutaka Nakata has continued to make my songs, so I am always indebted to ASOBISYSTEM. Thank you so much!" Kyary performed her mature-sounding hit Kimino Mikata before wrapping up the first slot of the festival, ASOBIFES!!!, with Harajuku Iyahoi. The room was left with a festive, feel-good atmosphere and bright lighting. It was then time for the party - ASOBISYSTEM's flagship event ASOBINITE!!! A whole host of ASOBISYSTEM artists graced the stage including RAM RIDER, 80KIDZ, TeddyLoid, DJ KYOKO, Licaxxx, not to mention Yasutaka Nakata, amongst others. A line-up of guests also joined the event including SHINICHI OSAWA (MONDO GROSSO), TOMOYUKI TANAKA (FPM), ☆Taku Takahashi (m-flo, block.fm), DAISHI DANCE, and banvox. Everybody worked to cement ASOBISYSTEM's 10th anniversary into history.   ASOBIEXPO was an entire day of Japanese pop culture. ASOBISYSTEM continue to seek working as the architects of next-generation culture and will advance onto the world stage. This is the feeling that was left in the venue on this memorable day.   Text: Fukuryuu (Music Concierge)  

DJ Nobunaga is a new action and puzzle game for smartphones with music produced entirely by Yasutaka Nakata. The game is teaming up with Final Fantasy XV which will see Yasutaka Nakata remix music that will be put in the game. The remixed track can be enjoyed during a limited time event in-game from July 19. A website explaining the collaboration as well as a promotional video have also been posted.   Collaboration Video

The game is set during the Sengoku period of Japanese history where all the warring state military commanders ('busho') have become DJs. Together with your ally busho, your mission is to go into DJ battles to unify the whole country. In this action battle game, you must trace "Inspiration" that appears onscreen with your busho DJ while inside a club DJ and fight with enemy busho as you collect more power. With just one finger the game is super easy to play and highly addictive. All of the music in the game was created by music producer, artist and DJ Yasutaka Nakata who is known for producing the music for some of Japan’s biggest artists including Perfume and Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The characters were created by Tanaka Hideyuki who is responsible for having created many different character designs for anime series such as OH! Super Milk Chan and Generations Koukou TV. The game design was made by Reisuke Ishida who has worked on games such as Groove Coaster and Space Invaders Infinity Gene. DJ Nobunaga will be released on July 12, so be sure to play it for yourself!