This week's Japanese Song of the Week is Ai Deshita by Kanjani8, which has debuted at number 1 on the Japanese J-pop Oricon charts.
Kanjani8 (関ジャニ∞) is a seven member boy band from the Kansai region of Japan. They are one of the many artists from the famous Johnny's Entertainment group, which includes Arashi.
The name Kanjani8 is broken up to mean Kan for Kansai, jani for Johnny's and 8 for the Kansai TV Channel 8.
The group formed in 2002 and made their CD debut in 2004. Their music is a mix of pop and rock, which is typical of the artists in the Johnny's stable.
This is the groups 20th single and the song is very upbeat and touching.
This week's Japanese Song of the Week is Your Eyes by Arashi, which has debuted at number 1 on the Japanese J-pop Oricon charts.
Arashi (嵐) which means storm in Japanese is a five member group from the famous Johnny's Entertainment group. Their musical style ranges from Pop to R&B and Hip-Hop with a bit of Rock thrown in for good measure.
The group debuted in 1999 and this is the group's 39th single. The song is very touching and typical of Arashi.
Dream Morning Musume (ドリーム モーニング娘) is a Japanese female pop group made up of 10 former members of the popular idol group Morning Musume. The group was formed in 2011 and managed by Up-Front Agency and produced by Morning Musume super producer Tsunku.
The group debuted in April 2011 with the release of their album Dreams 1, which ranked 10th in the Oricon Jpop Album charts.
The group’s first single is “Shining Butterfly” which you can watch below and was released on February 15th 2012.
This week's Japanese Song of the Week is Manatsu no Sounds Good! (真夏のSounds Good!) by AKB48, which has debuted at number 1 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon charts.
This week's Japanese Song of the Week is 1,000,000 Smile by SUPER GIRLS, which has debuted at number 5 on the Japanese Jpop Oricon charts.
SUPER GIRLS are a twelve member all girl group from Japan signed to the famous Avex Trax label. The group made their stage debut in 2010 and released their first single in 2011.
This is the group's 4th single and is old fashioned candy pop that is very upbeat and happy.
Watch the music video for the single 1,000,000 Smile by SUPER GIRLS
This week's Japanese Song of the Week is Makeoshimi Congratulations (負け惜しみコングラチュレーション) by SDN48, which has debuted at number 2 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon charts.
SDN48 which is short for Saturday Night 48 is a Japanese idol girl group formed in 2010.
This is the group's 25th single and is very happy and upbeat. The 18 selected members for the single actually spent six months learning how to play their instruments, so they could perform it live.
Watch the music video for the single GIVE ME FIVE! by AKB48
This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is Junjou U-19 (純情U-19) by NMB48, which has debuted at number 1 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon charts.
NMB48 is an all-girl Japanese idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. They were formed as a sister group of AKB48 based in Namba, Osaka. The group performs at NMB48 Theatre in Namba, Osaka with the name of the group “NMB” coming from “Namba” in the Minami district in Osaka.
This song is the group's 3rd single and is very happy and upbeat.
Watch the music video for the single Junjou U-19 (純情U-19) by NMB48
This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is Chotto Matte Kudasai! by S/mileage, which has debuted at number 6 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon charts.
S/mileage (スマイレージ,) is a Japanese girl group under the Hello! Project umbrella. The group made their major label debut In 2010, and won the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist in 2010.
This song is the group's 9th single and is very cute, upbeat and happy.
Watch the music video for the single Chotto Matte Kudasai! by S/mileage
This week's Japanese Song of the Week is Kata Omoi Finally by SKE48, which has debuted at number 1 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon charts. SKE48 are an all-female idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. They debuted in October 2008 and perform in the newly built studio at Sunshine Sakae in Nagoya every Saturday. This is the groups 7th single. The song is very upbeat and happy and this is a live version of the song.
Watch the music video for the single Kata Omoi Finally by SKE48.
This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is MAMORE!!! by IDOLING!!!, which has debuted at number 2 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon charts.
IDOLING!!! (アイドリング) is a Japanese female idol group created by Fuji TV. The concept of the group was to watch the girls grow as idols and experience various things. They have a weekly variety show on TV and release albums, singles, DVD specials and perform live. They debuted in 2006, and have gone through many generation changes with the 5th generation of the group due in February 2012. This is the groups 17th single. This song is in the style of that other famous idol group AKB48 and is very upbeat.
Watch the music video for the single MAMORE!!! by IDOLING!!!
This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is Pedicure Day by No Sleeves, which has debuted at number 2 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon charts.
No Sleeves (ノースリーブス) often shortened as no3b is a unit consisting of three members from the idol group AKB48 team A. They debuted in 2008, and have had three J-Pop Oricon top 10 singles to date. This song is very cute, upbeat and happy. Watch the music video for the single Pedicure Day by No Sleeves
This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is Ue Kara Mariko by AKB48 which has debuted at number 1 on the Japanese JPop Oricon charts. AKB48 is a popular all girl idol group, which you can read more about here. This is AKB48’s 5th number 1 single of 2011 and they have dominated the Japanese JPop Oricon charts with the top 5 selling singles of the year in 2011.
2011 JPop Oricon Yearly Ranking Singles
1. Flying Get - AKB48 (1,587,229) 2. Everday Kachuusha - AKB48 (1,586,840) 3. Kaze wa Fuiteiru - AKB48 (1,418,888) 4. Ue Kara Mariko - AKB48 (1,198,864) 5. Sakura no Ki ni Narou - AKB48 (1,079,460)
This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is Love me Back by Koda Kumi, which has debuted at number 6 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon charts.
Koda Kumi (倖田 來未) is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Kyoto known for her sexy image and urban and R&B songs. She has been called the Christina Aquilera of Japan. You can read more about Koda Kumi here.
This song is short, upbeat and very sexy, which is typical of Kumi Koda.
This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is Saisho no Mail by French Kiss, which has debuted at number 1 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon charts.
French Kiss (フレンチ・キス) is a Japanese pop trio unit formed from the popular idol group AKB48. The subunit is also signed to the Avex Trax label.
The single Saisho no Mail is the group’s fourth single and has been released in four different versions. The mood of the song is very happy and bright.
This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is Busu ni Naranai Tetsugaku by Hello! Project Mobekimasu, which has debuted at number 4 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon chart.
This is Hello! Project Mobekimasu’s Debut Single, and was released on November 16, 2011, in 7 Editions Regular & Limited A~F.
The group is a collection of the Hello! Project groups and includes Morning Musume (Mo), Berryz Koubou (be), C-ute (ki) Mano Erina (ma) and S/mileage (su) to form “Mobekimasu”.
The title of the song “Busu ni Naranai Tetsugaku” means “A Philosophy of Not Becoming Ugly”. The song is very cute and energetic.
This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is SPICE by Perfume which has debuted at number 2 on the Japanese Jpop Oricon chart.
Perfume (パフューム) is a Japanese all girl pop/techno trio from Hiroshima, Japan. They debuted locally in 2001 and made their major label debut in 2005 as an electropop act. SPICE is Perfume's 11th single.
The group formed in 2000 and named themselves Perfume as all three members had the Japanese character for fragrance (香) in their names. In 2011 their song “Polyrhythm” was chosen for the Pixar movie, Cars 2 soundtrack.
Watch the music video for the single SPICE by Perfume
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