Gackt holds record-scale nationwide tour for the first time in 3years

Recommended reading. Natalie reports that Gackt will be holding a 43-city tour of Japan, his first tour in three years. Holy crap! How many of us can even name forty-three cities in Japan?

First line-ups unveiled the year’s end annual COUNTDOWN JAPAN.

Natalie has a look at the bands confirmed to be playing at this end-of-year event. Among the familiar names in the line-up are Elephant Kashimashi, Kimura Kaela, Chatmonchy, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Base Ball Bear, and Rize.

Natalie - Miliyah Kato is ready to release her 20s first single

Natalie takes note of Kato’s next release, which is at the end of September, noting it’s the first since she’s entered official adulthood.

Kumi Koda’s new danceable R&B tune is coming up
EXILE’s 2nd single this year and CM appearance

Natalie has the details on new releases from Kuu-chin in early October and EXILE in late September. I find it mildly amusing that Kuu-chin names her new single “TABOO” since she apparently broke one she didn’t know about, earlier this year…

the GazettE to release a new single “LEECH”

Natalie takes note of a new release from the band, scheduled for November, and wonders if it will improve on the strong showing from their last single.

SPEED is coming back! Reunited show at 24HOUR TELEVISION (Natalie)
SPEED gets back together (Tokyograph)
SPEED reunites! (Nekocafe’s World)

Recommended reading. Some more information and reactions on the SPEED reunion. Apparently, they’ll be part of the 24 HOUR TELEVISION charity event and there’s a personal stake for Eriko, whose son suffers from an auditory disorder.

Also, it looks like they’re reuniting for more than just the show, making plans into next year. That means Perfume will finally have some real competition in the current girl group arena.

melody.’s first greatest hits with her whole singles

Great news for fans of the singer, as she gets the now-standard treatment for these things: all her singles on CD and a DVD with all her PVs. Also, she looks pretty hot on the covers.

Natalie - DIR EN GREY hits 22 US cities in this winter

TOSHI remarked "I’ll shout instead of the natural world"

Recommended reading. Natalie breaks news on Dir en Grey’s return to the States on what looks to be a sizeable tour. Meanwhile, X Japan’s Toshi’s new project has its first live and Toshi talks about the group’s intentions. Yoshiki apparently called to give his support, but no word on whether he collapsed on the way to the phone. And as usual, a tidbit about Shinya and how charming he is had made me think of Ayappe and wonder if she was backstage with the kids…

THE BACK HORN to release a shocking album

Natalie brings news of a new album from this rock group, their first in 16 months. Whether or not it will actually be shocking is up to them!

Thelma, HALCALI, and IKIMONOGAKARI added to GIRL POP FACTORY

Natalie has news on the latest additions to GIRL POP FACTORY, the yearly female-fronted concert at Zepp Tokyo. It’s too bad tickets are already sold out, because so far this sounds like one hell of a show!

Natalie - Daily J-POP News from Tokyo

Hey look at this site. I think it is very cool.