Tokyo's Coolest Sound

A new single from Readymade International's beautiful Nomoto Karia is coming! The single will contain the opening and ending themes of a new anime TV series, both sung by Karia and of course music written/arranged/produced by Konishi Yasuharu.
This release is very special as it's both Karia's first time to sing an anime theme, and also apparently Konishi-san's first time to produce one (an opening theme, that is)!

The children's anime in question is called "shugashugaru-n" (English title "Sugar Sugar Rune"), based on the manga of the same name by Anno Moyoko, who also wrote both songs' lyrics.
Konishi-san says it's only the second time he writes music to go with someone else's lyrics (the first time having been in 1988, "hana no yobu oda" from the compilation "Solid Record Dream Album").

The single will be on sale in August, but the songs can be heard early on the series starting on July 2 on TV Tokyo... though only if you can wake up at 7am on a Saturday.

shugashugaru-n official site (to open soon)
Fan site/blog

Nomoto Karia "Chocola ni muchū / tsuki no mukō no sekai"
野本かりあ 「ショコラに夢中／月の向こうの世界」

1. Chocola ni muchū (Chocola à la folie)
2. tsuki no mukō no sekai (Ailleurs vers la lune)

Starchild KICM-3109
Out 8/3, ¥1143 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon

shugashugaru-n, the original manga (Japanese)
シュガシュガルーン
by Anno Moyoko / 安野モヨコ

Kōdansha
ISBN #1 4063348598 #2 4063349306 #3 4063720144
Out now, ¥440 ea.
Order at Amazon: #1 #2 #3

Sugar Sugar Rune #1, the English translation by Moyoco Anno

Del Rey, ISBN 0345486293, 208 p.
Out 9/27, $10.95 USD
Order: Amazon Japan, Amazon U.S.

The Denki Groove × Scha Dara Parr frenzy isn't over! There will be a remix 12", containing tracks available on the two first maxi-singles, "Twilight" and "Saint☆ojisan".

Denki Groove × Scha Dara Parr "Twilight / Saint☆ojisan Remix" (12")

A1. Twilight
A2. Twilight (Cornelius Remix)
B1. Saint☆ojisan
B2. Saint☆ojisan (YSST RMX 2005)

File SYUM-0286
Out 7/14, ¥1165 (excl. 10% tax)
Order:

Denki Groove × Scha Dara Parr "Saint☆ojisan"
Track list added: Remixes by Sunahara Yoshinori and Cornelius!!

PlasticSex "Here comes SEX education"
Artwork added

Update (2005/7/19 12:09): Delayed 2 months (8/30)!! The included chewing gum's ingredients were written in a font too small on the package..! I wish they'd stop including candy, it's not like anyone really cares. Though not including candy could perhaps have impact on distribution in conbinis.
Those who can't wait can already find some on Yahoo! Auctions though, as some people were able to pre-order boxes from wholesale suppliers before the product got banned.

This new series of cheap 8cm DVDs to be sold at conbinis seems interesting. Each is ¥399 and contains 20 minutes of selected scenes from episodes of a specefic hero, all of which are absolutely unknown to me.

There will be a total of 10 DVDs (a random one in each box, with a delicious gum stick) including a secret one, which sums up to a total of over 3 hours for ¥4000 (if you're lucky and don't get too many doubles!), a standard DVD price, not bad. Plus it's always a lot of fun for me to collect and trade these things!

densetsu no Hero-tachi official site
QuickTime trailer

densetsu no Hero-tachi
伝説のヒーローたち
English name "Legend of Japanese Heroes"

1. gekkō kamen (1958)
     "Moon Beam Mask", adorning a turban
2. Silver kamen (1971)
     Sticking to basics
3. Triple Fighter (1972)
     After he kicks your ass, you'll see three of him
4. Rainbow Man (1972)
     Reviving the turban hero style, his costume is a combination of all colors, therefore white
5. Iron King (1972)
     A Silver kamen upgrade?
6. majin Hunter mitsurugi (1973)
     Beetle in armor (some captures)
7. ryūsei ningen Zone (1973)
     Meet "Meteor Human Zone"...
8. Super Robot Red Baron (1973)
     Can he move?
9. Super Robot Mach Baron (1974)
     Not to be confused with Super Robot Red Baron™
10. ???

Media Factory
Out 6/28 8/30, ¥399 ea.
Buy at your conbini

Two analog releases from Escalator at the end of June: Yukari Fresh's excellent "Me" in a 12" edition (CD here) containing 8 songs including a bonus instrumental track, and a 7" single from Harvard introducing the lead track from their upcoming album "Oracle".

Yukari Fresh "Me" (12")

Side A
1. C.L.I.J.S.T.E.R.S. -vs Bumblebeez
2. YKR PLYS TH GTR & DRMS -vs Dirty Leopard YOOX
3. DEAD -vs Datarock
4. NEW JERSEY -vs Perfect Productions
5. YKR PLYS TH GTR & DRMS -INSTRUMENTAL
Side B
1. C.L.I.J.S.T.E.R.S./EXCELLENT PARTYTIME -vs Avenue D
2. SAY WHEN -vs Punks Jump Up
3. BREAK -vs Headman

Escalator ESLP-047
Out 6/24, ¥2100
Pre-order: Escalator

Harvard "Looks Like Chloe" (7")

A. Looks Like Chloe
B. Unholy

Escalator ESC-068S
Out 6/24, ¥1050
Pre-order: Escalator

I'm not yet familiar with Rei Harakami, but I'll have to check out this 4th album of his, on the shelves today.
Konishi Yasuharu recommended this artist, I think saying it's currently the best techno pop, to friend Per at the Groove Room event (at Shibuya Soft on April 1st).

Rei Harakami "Lust"

1. Long Time
2. Joy
3. Lust
4. Grief & Loss
5. Owari No Kisetsu
6. Come Here Go There
7. After Joy
8. Last Night
9. Approach
10. First Period

Sublime IDCS-1014
Out 5/25, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

Sindbad has a first full-length album coming. Expect happy breakbeats and club sounds. Guests include Your Song Is Good and Torikabuto, and also a Halfby remix.
Just in time for summer.

Sindbad "Sindbad"

1. Gage
2. Dumb Found
3. Gauche
4. Live In Idleness
5. B/Boy Stance
6. Klutz
7. Revellion
8. A.W.O.L.
9. Improvise
10. A Bright Handless Man
11. Gauche (Sindbad Awkward Remix)
12. Dumb Found (Your Song Is Halfby Mix)
13. Sindbad
14. Boozer

High Contrast HCCD-9510
Out 6/15, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

I'm putting these two together as they're CD re-releases of recently out great 12"'s from Crue-L Records. These come in a paper sleeve, certainly mimicking Crue-L's 12" sleeves.
Essential for CDJs, and Crue-L fans without a turntable.

Crue-L Classics Series for CDJ
Crue-L Grand Orchestra "Spend The Day Without You"

1. Spend The Day Without You (EYE Remix #1)
2. Spend The Day Without You (Original Exteded/New Remastering)

Crue-L CLCL-1208D
Out 6/25, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon
(12" release this way)

Crue-L Future for CDJ
Takuji aka Geetek "Rock"

1. Rock
2. Rakuen feat. G.Rina & MC Cardz
3. Midnight Jungle

Crue-L KYTHMAK0961D
Out 6/25, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

Second 7" single by Ebisu Tenement's owner Ino Hidefumi, artist highly recommended by the likes of Konishi Yasuharu and Sunaga Tatsuo.

His first single, released in January, featured two Michael Jackson covers, "Never can say goodbye" and "Billie Jean". This time we get covers of "Love Theme From Spartacus" by Yusef Lateef, and William DeVaughn's "Blood is thicker than water".

Ino Hidefumi "Spartacus / Blood is thicker than water" (7")
猪野秀史 「Spartacus / Blood is thicker than water」

A. Spartacus
B. Blood is thicker than water

Innocent IREP-0002
Out 5/20, ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set,

Usagi-chang Records's 3rd "mini" night will feature all regular DJs and a macdonald duck eclair mini live. MDDE will perform some new songs from their upcoming album.

Aprils' Imai Kentarō won't be present this time because he's off to Taiwan as a support member of Hazel Nuts Chocolate! Details at Grass Fest.

Usagi-chang "Mini" Night vol.0003

On 5/28 (Saturday) at Sangenjaya Chrome
From 23:00 until 5:00
Price: ¥2000 (2 drinks)

DJs: YMCK, MissWonda, Micro Mach Machine,
Aki (Sonic Coaster Pop/Usagi-chang), Consumers, Pyokn, Magnaroid, Inocchi☆ (frottage), Furuya (shiryō)
VJs: panoramagic, high_land, Tōjō Heihachirō
Mini live: macdonald duck eclair
Talk show: Sano Tomohiro (Micro Mach Machine), Inocchi☆, Furuya (shiryō), Ishikawa Kei (Young Tongue)

Metalchicks, the new unit of suGar Yoshinaga (Buffalo Daughter) and Yoshimura Yuka (ex-DMBQ), will be playing with Ikebana (moOog Yamamoto (Buffalo Daughter) and friends) and other bands this weekend.

Rhythm of Fear 5/22
Shinjuku Loft 6th anniversary

Live:
Wrench
Zoobombs
Nirgilis
Metalchicks (pictured)
Ikebana

DJ: L?K?O, DJ Ayashige
VJ: 10K is gone...

On 5/22 (Sunday)
At Shinjuku Loft (map)

Opens and starts at 17:00
Price: adv. ¥2800, door ¥3300
Tickets: Pia 194-769 (can be bought at FamiliMart)

Official page

PlasticSex "Here comes SEX education"
Track list added! Apparently no Plastics covers!

Denki Groove × Scha Dara Parr "Denki Groove toka Scha Dara Parr"
Track list added!

"Fugō Keiji" (5 DVDs)
DVDs will contain bonus footage and interviews

In need of some travel counseling?
Nomiya Maki is one of seven "travel directors" at the Resort Travel Agency, an art project being held for a week at Aoyama Spiral!

Entrance is free, and cool RTA goods such as passport covers and pins are being sold there.

Resort Travel Agency

Your travel directors:
Minagawa Akira
Nakamura Tetsuya
Marc Newson & Nick Wood
Nomiya Maki
Whiteman
Yanagimoto Kōichi

From 5/10 until 5/18
Opening hours: 11:00 - 20:00

At Aoyama Spiral
5-6-23 Minami-aoyama 1F, Minato-ku, Tokyo (map)

Although her solo works hadn't quite caught my attention so far, ex-Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her Higurashi Aiha's new album seems like it will be a winner!
Producers include Sunahara Yoshinori (ex-Denki Groove), Oyamada Keigo (Cornelius), Asa-chang, Hatori Miho (ex-Cibo Matto), Nakamura Kōji (ex-Supercar), Aoki Yū (downy) and Zak.
There will be a limited edition.

Also, Higurashi Aiha will be performing live at Marquee Night vol.4.

Sound samples of most songs here

Higurashi Aiha "Platonic"
日暮愛葉 「Platonic」

1. YUMEMITAI
2. Platonic
3. Living source
4. Naked Sun
5. till the time comes
6. Secrets
7. evergreen
8. Joy
9. fall apart
10. mermaid
11. Silly Girl (Album ver.)
12. Dead Horse
13. Good Morning Everyone

Ki/oon KSCL-825
Out 5/25, ¥2914 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

This may be a nice one, a m-flo "two A-side" single including a song featuring Emyli & Yoshika, and another one with Wada Akiko ("Hey!").
"Hey!", which is being used as some baseball ending theme on TV, is said to sample other Wada Akiko songs.

m-flo "Loop In My Heart / Hey!"

1. Loop In My Heart
2. Hey!
3. Let Go (Reggae Disco Rockers Remix)
4. Loop In My Heart (Instrumental)
5. Hey! (Instrumental)
6. Let Go (Reggae Disco Rockers Remix) (Instrumental)

Rhythm Zone (Avex) RZCD-45229
Out 7/13, ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

Aired earlier this year, the fun detective TV series "Fugō Keiji" featuring Fukada Kyōko is being released on DVD. The series will be available both as a boxed set and as 5 separate DVDs containing 2 one-hour episode each.

Unfortunately it's quite high-priced, as it was to be expected, so even though I loved the series I'll probably be skipping this one.

"Fugō Keiji" (5 DVDs)
富豪刑事
(Region 2 NTSC)

DVD 1
#1 - 富豪刑事の囮 (Decoy)
#2 - 美術館の富豪刑事 (Museum)
DVD 2
#3 - 密室の富豪刑事 (Secret room)
#4 - 富豪刑事のキッドナップ (Kidnapping)
DVD 3
#5 - ホテルの富豪刑事 (Hotel)
#6 - 富豪刑事の遺体捜索 (Corpse search)
DVD 4
#7 - 富豪刑事の古美術品騒動 (Antique)
#8 - 富豪刑事の要人警護 (Bodyguard)
DVD 5
#9 - 学園の富豪刑事 (School)
Final - 絶体絶命の富豪刑事 (Desperate situation)

Each DVD contains two 90 min. episodes, "making" footage, deleted scenes, interviews, etc.

DVD Boxed set (5 DVDs)
Warner SD-78
Out 8/5, ¥18953 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon (pre-orders 20% off!!)

Individual DVDs
Warner DL-89661~5
Out 8/5, ¥3980 ea.
Order: Amazon 1 2 3 4 5 (pre-orders 20% off!), HMV 1 2 3 4 5, Tower 1 2 3 4 5

One week after the release of their second single, "sei☆ojisan", comes out a full-length, 13-track album!
Both a limited and regular edition will be released at the same time. The limited edition contains a bonus DVD for only ¥300 more.

Denki Groove × Scha Dara Parr official site

Denki Groove × Scha Dara Parr "Denki Groove toka Scha Dara Parr"
電気グルーヴ×スチャダラパー 「電気グルーヴとかスチャダラパー」

1. Saint☆ojisan
2. Numbers
3. Twilight
4. ANI vs Taki
5. Taki vs ANI
6. eisū/kana
7. kizaiya Rock'n'Roll
8. mokugekisha!!!!
9. Midnight Connection
10. Love Love Session
11. B. A. P.
12. hitsujitachi no Elegy
13. Machine shōjo Tam Tam ~ owari no uta

Limited edition (with bonus DVD (probably region 2 NTSC))
Ki/oon KSCL-844
Out 6/29, ¥3200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon

Regular edition (CD only)
Ki/oon KSCL-846
Out 6/29, ¥2914 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

After the great "Twilight", I'm definitely looking forward to a second single from Denki Groove and Scha Dara Parr!
Includes remixes by none other than ex-Denki Groove Sunahara Yoshinori, and also Cornelius!

Denki Groove × Scha Dara Parr "Saint☆ojisan"
電気グルーヴ×スチャダラパー 「聖☆おじさん」

1. Saint☆ojisan
2. Saint☆ojisan (YSST RMX 2005)
3. Twilight (Cornelius remix)

Ki/oon KSCL-835
Out 6/22, ¥1165 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon

I'm very much looking forward to the next album by Saint Etienne!
I'm especially eyeing this limited edition, which comes with a bonus CD said to be intended for their fans' kids... I think I'll try to enjoy it myself for the time being.

Saint Etienne "Tales From Turnpike House"

Disc 1
1. Sun In My Morning
2. Milk Bottle Symphony
3. Lightning Strikes Twice
4. Slow Down At The Castle
5. A Good Thing
6. Side Streets
7. Last Orders For Gary Stead
8. Stars Above Us
9. Relocate
10. Bird Man of EC1
11. Teenage Winter
12. Goodnight

Disc 2
1. You Can Count On Me
2. Barnyard Brou Ha Ha
3. Lets Build A Zoo
4. Excitation
5. Bedfordshire
6. Night Owl

Sanctuary SANDD-271
Out 6/14 (13?)
Order (Japan): Tower (cheapest), HMV, Amazon
Order (U.S.): Amazon