Source: Warner Bros. Pictures Japan Official Site: dancewithme (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE If you watch, you`ll want to sing and dance! Warner Bros. Pictures Japan has provided information and photos from DANCE WITH ME (????????, Dansu Wizu M?), the musical comedy that won the Audience Award at Montreal`s 23rd Fantasia International Film Festival. Shinobu Yaguchi of SWING GIRLS (?????????, Suwingu Garuzu, 2004), HAPPY FLIGHT (????????, Haapi Furaito, 2008) and WOOD JOB! (WOOD JOB????????????????, Wood Job! Kamusari Nana Nichijo, 2014) served as original story author, screenwriter and director for this comedy about the travails of a heroine who hates musicals. STORY Hypnosis has left Shizuka Suzuki (Ayaka Miyoshi) with a body that sings and dances whenever she hears music. Shizuka loses both job and boyfriend after singing and dancing at inopportune moments, and she strives to get her former self back only

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Famed Japanese Soca Reggae Artist Will Perform At Otakon 2019 Source: MediaLab press release Official Site: minmi.jp (Japan) Special Thanks to Erik Jansen Pioneering Japanese hip-hop, soca, reggaeton musician, and singer/songwriter MINMI returns to the music scene with 2 updated digital tracks released today of one of her best-known singles -- "Shiki No Uta" -- which was originally featured as the closing theme song to the acclaimed anime series, SAMURAI CHAMPLOO (??????????, Samurai Chanpur?, 2004-05). In addition to a fresh recording of the original track, "Shiki No Uta" also debuts for the first time featuring English lyrics sung by MINMI. "Shiki No Uta" is now available digitally on leading music platforms including Spotify, Amazon Music and iTunes. Spotify Amazon

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Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site: precure-miracleuniverse.com (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE Toei has provided information and high-res images from PRETTY CURE MIRACLE UNIVERSE THE MOVIE (????????????????, Eiga Puri Kyua Mirakuru Yunib?su), the twenty-sixth feature film in the PRETTY CURE series that celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2018. The adventures feature Star Twinkle Precure from the new series set in space, as well as Hug! Precure and Kirakira Precure a la Mode. PRETTY CURE MIRACLE UNIVERSE THE MOVIE will open in Japanese theaters on March 16th. Story Hikaru Hoshina and three other Star Twinkle Precures gaze at the sky and end up warping to the Miracle Planet. There they meet Piton and get swept into an uproar over the Miracle Light. Credits Japanese Theatrical Release: March 16, 2019 (Roadshow) Run Time: 70 Minutes Voice Cast Cure Star/Hikaru Hoshina:

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Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: lovelive-anime.jp (Japan) A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE I`m sure it will shine tomorrow! "Idols" in "School"! The youth school drama about nine girls is finally made into a movie!! Distributor Shochiku Co., Ltd. has provided information and images from LOVE LIVE! SUNSHINE!! THE SCHOOL IDOL MOVIE OVER THE RAINBOW (????????????!!The School Idol Movie Over the Rainbow, Rabu raibu! Sanshain!! The School Idol Movie Over the Rainbow), the second feature film in the anime franchise. STORY The Aqours idol group from Uranohoshi Girls` High School has won the final "Love Live!" championship. Before transferring to their new school, the second and first year students repeatedly face unexpected troubles. Furthermore, the third year students heading for a graduation trip have gone missing! What is going on? The girls only begin to realize their importance to each other when they are separated. What

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Source: Third Window Films press release Special Thanks to Adam Torel and Claire Marty In 1985, Macoto Tezuka (son of the great manga artist Osamu Tezuka) met musician and TV personality Haruo Chicada who had made a soundtrack to a movie which didn’t actually exist: “The Legend of the Stardust Brothers”. At the time Macoto was just 22 years old, a film student with many short experimental films under his belt, but yet to make a feature debut and -- of course -- had the pressure of the TEZUKA name. With Chicada as producer, Tezka then adapted this “fake sountrack” into the real musical story of “The Stardust Brothers”. With inspiration from PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE and ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, Tezuka assembled a cast of some of Japan’s most famous musicians of the time, including such greats as Kiyohiko Ozaki, ISSAY, Sunplaza

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Source: Azoland Pictures press release Special Thanks to Erika T. Wright Azoland Pictures announced today that BanG Dream! 5th?Live Concerts will be screened in select U.S. and Canadian theaters in September 2018. "Poppin` Party Happy Party 2018!" is scheduled to be shown on September 8th and "Roselia -Ewigkeit-" on September 15th (September 16th for Canada). The concerts will be shown with English subtitles except for the singing performances. The concerts took place at Makuhari Messe on May 12 for "Poppin` Party Happy Party 2018!" and May 13 for "Roselia -Ewigkeit-" in Japan. They were filmed in high definition and broadcasted live via satellite to cinemas in the countries that are close to Japan`s time zone including Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Korea. This time, the scale will be expanded to the largest extent and will be

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Dynamic All-Girl Band Tours In Support Of 8th Album “HONEY” And Performs In New York, San Francisco, Anaheim And Dallas As Well As 2 Shows In Mexico In September; Tickets On Sale Now! Source: ROOFTOP, Inc., MediaLab press releases Special Thanks to Erik Jansen Tokyo, Japan, July 16, 2018 – Japanese all-girl rock act and Epic Records Japan recording artist, SCANDAL [JP], has announced a series of live concert dates that will see the band performing in select cities in the U.S. and Mexico later this summer. The news was announced today by the group’s management company, ROOFTOP, Inc. SCANDAL [JP] is one of Japan’s most popular rock bands, epitomizing the “J-Rock” aesthetic. The 4-piece unit adeptly blends pop, rock and alternative music sensibilities with hip and contemporary fashion sensibilities and unstoppable girl

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Website Is Designed To Connect International Music And Licensing Professionals As Well As Event And Concert Promoters With The Top Echelon Of Japanese “Ani-Song” Artists Source: PROMIC, MediaLab press release Official Site: japan-animemusic.com Special Thanks to Erik Jansen PROMIC, the leading Japanese entertainment industry foundation to support the growth of Japanese music internationally, has announced the launch of the Japan Anime Music Lab. (JAM LAB.). The website, located at japan-animemusic.com serves as an official information hub to connect international audiences and entertainment and music industry professionals with the top echelon of Japanese “ani-song” artists and their respective official representatives. The scope of the JAM LAB. website will continue to evolve and expand and PROMIC aims to also add a variety of established artists from the genres of J-Pop and J-Rock in the future. The JAM LAB. website is available in English (as well as in other languages

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Funimation Films Will Debut Animated Global Pop Culture Phenomenon in Both English-Language Dub and Japanese with English Subtitles Source: Funimation Films press releases Official Site: kiminona.com (Japan), funimationfilms.com/movie/yourname (US) Special Thanks to Scott Barretto Funimation Films will open Makoto Shinkai’s animated blockbuster and global pop culture hit YOUR NAME. (?????, Kimi no Na wa., 2016) in North American theaters on April 7, 2017. The film will be released in both English-language Dub as well as the original Japanese-language with English subtitles. Written and directed by Makoto Shinkai (5 CENTIMETERS PER SECOND, THE GARDEN OF WORDS), YOUR NAME. has already received critical acclaim and commercial success overseas, dominating the burgeoning Asian box office to quickly become the fourth highest-grossing film of all time released in Japan -- behind only SPIRITED AWAY, TITANIC and FROZEN. YOUR NAME. has also since become the second highest-grossing Japanese animated film released

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Author: John DeSentis Source: akiraifukube.org, project120chicago.org Tickets: ifukubetenthmemorial.brownpapertickets.com Special Thanks to Erik Homenick and Reiko Yamada Just a reminder that the AKIRA IFUKUBE 10th ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL CONCERT will take place at Nichols Hall located at the Music Institute of Chicago this Saturday. If you are a Chicago area Godzilla fan, this great performance is not to be missed. Pianist and Ifukube student Reiko Yamada will lead a group of talented musicians through pieces culled from the composer’s repertoire of classical and film music. Of greatest interest to Godzilla fans will be a two-piano reduction of SYMPHONIC FANTASIA No. 1, which contains some of his classic and most recognizable themes. Reiko recently sat down at the piano for the KBR (Kevin Brown Room) Sessions at Overneath Recording Studio as part of their “Steinway Sessions” series of videos. There she recorded the “Bon Odori” movement

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Author: John DeSentis Source: akiraifukube.org, project120chicago.org Tickets: ifukubetenthmemorial.brownpapertickets.com Special Thanks to Erik Homenick and Reiko Yamada On Saturday, December 17th, 2016, The Akira Ifukube 10th Anniversary Memorial Concert will take place at Nichols Concert Hall at The Music Institute of Chicago. The ten year anniversary mark of an individual passing away is of significant cultural importance in Japan and there were certainly many that were performed this year in honor of Mr. Ifukube, who passed away in 2006. This one will be the final of it’s kind in 2016. The concert is sponsored by Project 120 Chicago and fully supported by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chicago. One such memorial concert which took place in Japan this past summer featured the incredibly talented Reiko Yamada, who brought down the house with her always blistering performance of Ifukube’s “Ritmica Ostinata”. She

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Set For Release Next Year Source: VIZ Media, MediaLab press releases Official Site: pokemon.com, VIZ.com/Pokemon Special Thanks to Jane Lui and Erik Jansen VIZ Media, LLC, a premier company in the fields of publishing, animation distribution, and global entertainment licensing, expands its critically acclaimed art book and POKÉMON collection with the acquisition of the North American publishing rights for the Pokémon Adventures 20th Anniversary Illustration Book: The Art of Pokémon Adventures. A first-of-its-kind release, The Art of Pokémon Adventures is scheduled for a print release in Fall 2017 and celebrates two decades of POKÉMON with a vividly illustrated collection of work by the beloved manga series artist, Satoshi Yamamoto. Latest VIZ Media Publishing Acquisition: Pokémon Adventures 20th Anniversary Illustration Book: The Art of Pokémon Adventures Available Fall 2017 Beautiful full-color art from the Pokémon Adventures graphic novel series, sketches and storyboards never seen before, four pull-out

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Premiere Japanese Pop Culture Event Announces Exciting Slate Of Top Japanese Pop/Rock/Electronica/Dance Artists Source: MediaLab press release Official Site: J-POP.com Special Thanks to Erik Jansen J-POP SUMMIT 2016, one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, has announced an exciting and diverse first line-up of music artists set to perform this year. This summer’s festival will be highlighted by an exciting 3-day slate of live music from a wide range of top Japanese pop idol, ani-pop (anime pop), electronica, and rock artists that will complement an extensive roster of attractions, participants and exhibits, and other live programming. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, May 6th at J-POP.com. J-POP SUMMIT 2016 starts with “Kyary Pamyu Pamyu LIVE at J-POP SUMMIT OPENING NIGHT - KPP 5iVE YEARS

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Festival Welcomes Return Of Edgy Pop Singer For Special Live Concert Performance Source: MediaLab press release Official Site: J-POP.com Special Thanks to Erik Jansen J-POP SUMMIT 2016, one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, proudly presents pop princess -- Kyary Pamyu Pamyu -- for a very special live concert performance in San Francisco at the Regency Ballroom on Friday, July 22nd to kick off the weekend-long J-POP festivities. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, May 6th. KPP Concert Ticket BASIC and PREMIUM packages, along with KPP + J-POP SUMMIT Combo Tickets, will be available for purchase at J-POP.com. The Regency Ballroom is located at 1290 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is one of Japan’s biggest pop and fashion stars and represents

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The Team Behind the Incredible “Ifukube 100: A Legacy of Monster Music” Needs YOUR Help for a Brand New Show! Author: John DeSentis Official Site: kickstarter.com/symphonic-fury-the-music-of-japanese-monsters On July 12th, 2014, hundreds of Japanese Tokusatsu (special effects) fans descended upon the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge, IL for "IFUKUBE 100: A LEGACY OF MONSTER MUSIC". This historic concert was a celebration of the music that maestro Akira Ifukube wrote for Toho`s Godzilla film series. The Rondo Award-nominated event was met with praise, accolades, and recognition from Chicago to Tokyo. Friends and fans were in awe and left wanting more. The time has come to deliver just that, and John DeSentis and Chris Oglio need your help once more. One of the biggest requests by the fans was to hear some of the themes that Mr. Ifukube wrote for non-Godzilla Toho films such as ATRAGON, THE MYSTERIANS and WAR

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Group Supports Latest Album With North American Concerts in Chicago, Los Angeles and Anaheim Source: Epic Records Japan, MediaLab press releases Official Site: scandal-4.com Special Thanks to Erik Jansen Epic Records Japan recording artist, SCANDAL (???????, embarks next month on its most extensive world tour to-date in support of the release of the band’s 20th single -- “image” -- from its latest album Hello World. SCANDAL is one of Japan’s most popular rock acts, capturing millions fans with an astute mix of power driven pop-rock. The all-girl, four-piece band also has garnered substantial fan bases across North America, Europe and Asia. Mixing the melodic styles of pop, rock and alternative music with hip fashion sensibilities and unstoppable girl star power, SCANDAL is at the forefront of the burgeoning “J-Pop” and “Japan Cool” global

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Original Soundtrack to Feature the Music of Composer Hiroyuki Sawano Source: Aniplex of America press release Official Site: aldnoahzero.com (Japan), aldnoahzerousa.com (US) Special Thanks to Joanna Metoki Aniplex of America has announced their plans to begin distributions for the ALDNOAH.ZERO Original Soundtrack (IMPORT) on February 10th. Fans can now enjoy the powerful music from this science-fiction anime series even on the go with this album of original songs. Pre-orders are now being accepted on the official homepage and through official retailers. Aniplex of America has also confirmed that this product will be available at a very limited amount and will be sold only while supplies last. The ALDNOAH.ZERO Original Soundtrack will feature the unique sounds of Hiroyuki Sawano, who is in charge of the music for the anime series. Sawano’s one-of-a-kind composition style has captured the hearts of many fans since the series premiered last summer

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Author: Tim Eldred, Cosmo DNA Source: Shochiku Co., Ltd. Official Site: yamato2199.net World-famous violinist Taro Hakase has participated in the theme song for the anime movie SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO 2199: THE STAR-VOYAGING ARK (???????2199 ?????, Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199 Hoshi Meguru Hakobune), which will be released December 6th. The film is based on the 2012 television series, and is a completely new story in the hit SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO 2199 franchise. SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO 2199: A VOYAGE TO REMEMBER (???????2199 ?????, Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199 Tsuioku no Kokai) was released in theaters on October 11th, a special compilation of YAMATO 2199 episodes 1-7 told from a new perspective. In addition to Taro Hakase`s contribution to the main theme for THE STAR-VOYAGING ARK, the music label HATS -- for which Hakase acts as General Music Director -- will release a cover album of YAMATO

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Source: Live Viewing Japan, MediaLab press releases Official Site: larcenciel2014lvj.com Special Thanks to Erik Jansen Live Viewing Japan, a famous distribution company dedicated to introducing Japanese artists of various genres globally, is very pleased to share the spectacular stage presence of world-famous Japanese rock juggernaut, L’Arc~en~Ciel, with 10 major cities all over the United States, in the form of a delayed satellite broadcast of their long-awaited L`ARC~EN~CIEL LIVE 2014 AT NATIONAL STADIUM. Chosen as the venue for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, the iconic National Stadium only played host to four most influential Japanese music bands’ performances as of 2012, with L’Arc~en~Ciel included. Being the band’s second time to play at this enormous venue as well as their very first show since the last world tour, the significant

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Festival to Showcases the Best in Modern Japanese Film, Food, Fashion, Music and Entertainment Source: MediaLab press release Official Site: j-pop.com Special Thanks to Erik Jansen NEW PEOPLE, a dynamic entertainment destination bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, and the J-POP Summit Festival Committee have announced the dates for the 2014 J-POP Summit Festival. The popular annual celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, art, anime, fashion, and film will return to San Francisco’s Japantown and will also present another special J-Pop concert in Union Square the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, July 19th and 20th, 2014. The J-POP Summit Festival is the Bay Area’s premier annual Japanese pop culture celebration featuring a variety of live bands and artists, pop culture panel discussions,

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