The lovely ladies at AKB48 have graced us with another single entitled Iiwake Maybe. This new song is all about the healing power of… bicycle races? Yeah, I’m confused too. Regardless, a catchy tune and cute Japanese girls make for another winning music video from our favorite theater group. (Note: The song starts at around 1:55.)
Yamamoto Yutaka, the famous director of the first Haruhi season, as well as his studio Ordet, have announced that they are producing an “anime project” for the Vocaloid song Black Rock Shooter. Although the format of the project is unrevealed, speculation is leaning towards an animated music video for the song. The anime is due for release next April, although a “pilot version” will be released on September 30th. This pilot release, which includes a CD single and a booklet with anime artwork, also includes a DVD (or Blu-ray) that may contain a preview of the anime.
Here are some screenshots from the project, which can also be viewed on the Black Rock Shooter website.
This Miku MAD, which features an emo version of everybody’s favorite vocaloid, has been gaining popularity on Nico Nico Douga recently. The visuals are particularly impressive, putting most recent live-action JPop videos to shame.
–Via Sankaku Complex
Here’s a bright note in an otherwise dismal Haruhi day. Aya’s overly cute, the music is excellent. The video itself … I’ll let you be the judge.
Morning Musume’s new single, Nanchatte Ren’ai, was released today. The music video comes in both a “Close-up Version” and a “Dance Shot Version”, the latter of which you can watch below.
The last few weeks have seen the release of some very enjoyable JRock live concert videos. My particular favorite is a collaboration between Beat Crusaders and Melon Kinenbi entitled “Don’t Say Good-Bye”.
K-On!’s most recent release, Hōkago Teatime, has become the first character album ever to top the Japanese charts, selling 67,000 copies since its release last Wednesday. With Maddy Caddy set to release in a few weeks and hype at an all-time high, K-On! looks set to fill the void left in otakus’ hearts by Endless Eight…
–From ANN
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A new milestone for our favorite anime series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was reached after the release of Aya Hirano’s new single Super Driver on Wednesday. Since the release of the first single Bouken de-show de-show? in 2006 the franchise has officially sold over 1 million CD’s across 25 releases. This includes the most popular release of the lot, Suzumiya Haruhi no Tsumeawase, which to date has sold over 200,000 copies and includes personal favorites such as Aya’s God Knows! and Lost My Music.
The latest offering, Super Driver, is certainly catchy in OP form but until I hear it in full length without an animated sequence I cannot judge. This CD should also contain the full length version of Tomare!, the theme to the ED containing the voices of Minori Chihara and Yuko Goto alongside Aya.
–From ANN
Japanese theater/pop group AKB48 recently appeared on Music Fighter, and did a live version of their new single Namida Suprise. Although the singing isn’t quite as good as the PV version, it does feature some nice dancing… and lots of cute girls.
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Additionally, there is now a version of Namida Suprise with poorly done subtitles, which can be found here.