Link to previous week's newsHot 100-
Teshima Aoi's "Ashita e no Tegami" (trans. "Letter to Tomorrow") held steady in CD sales and downloads, leading it rise from #2 last week to #1 this week in the JAPAN Hot 100
-- Teshima Aoi (28) is a voice actress and singer best known for singing and voicing in the Ghibli movies "Tales from Earthsea" and "From up on Poppy Hill"
-- "Ashita e no Tegami" is the theme song to Fuji TV's Monday evening drama "Itsuka Kono Koi wo Omoidashite Naiteshimau" (also known as "Love That Makes You Cry"). The story as Fuji TV puts it is: "
'Love That Makes You Cry' follows the story of love, friendship and growth of six young men and women who move from countryside to the big city of Tokyo, each with their own dreams and aspirations. Among them is Oto Sugihara (Kasumi Arimura) and Ren Soda (Kengo Kora). After her mother died, Oto was raised by adoptive parents in Hokkaido. Although she has given up on having any high hopes or big dreams for her future, she still remains positive and faces life with optimistic attitude. One day, she finds out the fact that her adoptive parents are planning to marry her to the wealthy man in town in order to solve their financial debt. Ren Soda was raised by his grandfather in Fukushima. Ren works hard on one job after another in order to earn the money to buy back his grandfather's land so that they can start farming again. By chance, Oto and Ren meet in Hokkaido and they decide to move to Tokyo to find new life to change their fate and future. However, as soon as they arrive Tokyo, they get separated in the crowds…"
Trailer for "Love That Makes You Cry":"Ashita e no Tegami" by Teshima Aoi:-
Kobushi Factory's "Sakura Night Fever" (trans. "Cherry Blossom Night Fever") came out on top in CD single sales this week with a little under 40,000 sold but lacked in the numbers in downloads and other avenues to push it to number 1 on this week's charts.
-- Kobushi Factory (also known as "Magnolia Factory") is an 8 member group that is under the Hello! Project umbrella of idol groups that was formed in 2015. They won the New Artist Award at 2015's Japan Record Awards, making them one of this year's idol groups to look out for.
"Sakura Night Fever" by Kobushi Factory (
the music video is the fever ver since it was harder to find the normal version):
Hot Animation-
A Ou P's "Zenryoku Batankyuu" (trans. "Going Out Like a Light" or "Falling Asleep ASAP" etc.) rose from number 2 last week in the Hot Animation Charts to number 1 this week while the previous opening theme they did for "Osomatsu-san", "Hanamaru Pippi wa Yoi Ko Dake" (trans. "The Hanamaru Whistle is for Good Kids Only"), still remains on the charts at number 7. This week marked the release of the audio-drama CD for the "Osomatsu-san" franchise as well so look for it in next week's album charts.
-- A Ou P is a girl group that was formed in 2013 under the premise put forth by Nikkei Entertainment and anime-focused channel "Anime Theater X" of "Let's put girls together that love anime." Their full name is "Anime wo 'Katte ni' Ouen Project" (rough trans. "Self-propelled anime cheerleading project"). There are 6 current members and 4 former members.
-- "Zenryoku Batankyuu" is the second opening theme to popular anime "Osomatsu-san.""Osomatsu-san" is a popular anime blah blah go look it up if you're interested.
"Zenryoku Batankyuu" by A Ou P (short promo):"Osomatsu-san" 2nd OP:Misc.- Late Japanese composer Asahina Takashi and the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra's "Anton Bruckner's Symphony No. 7 in E major" live recording took this week's top spot in the Top Classical Albums Charts. Ozawa Seiji & the Saito Kinen Orchestra's Grammy-winning "L'enfant et les sortilèges" album unfortunately fell to number 3.
- It's predicted that next week will see Arashi's new single "Fukkatsu LOVE" (trans. "Revived Love") hit the top of the charts.
-- Arashi is a five member male idol group that is basically the face of Japan at this point since they star in several dramas, host several variety shows, and have tons of hit singles and albums. They appeal to all ages and are used in many campaigns to promote Japan across the globe. Part of the Johnny's Entertainment empire that basically almost has a monopoly on male idol groups in Japan.
"Fukkatsu LOVE" by Arashi:New music announcements: - GLAY HISASHI (Hisashi from the band GLAY) will write the theme for mech anime "Kuromukuro"
- Oda Kazumasa is releasing a compilation album called "Ano Hi Ano Toki"
- Horigome Yasuyuki announced his first solo album since leaving the band KIRINJI
- B'z will record a new song for the upcoming Detective Conan movie
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