New School Kaidan Japanese idol appreciation

Perhaps a bit long time in coming we have the great album track from Shiritsu Ebisu Chuugaku. Right from the tempo establishing stick clicks “Donten (曇天)” is unexpectedly “un-idol” in its sound: a band arrangement that straddles between indie rock and pop in the best way possible. Guitars fuzz and …

The final product from Produce48, IZ*ONE, is set for their Japanese invasion (or re-importation?) with their new promotional video and debut release “Suki to Iwasetai (好きと言わせたい)”. The Korean/Japanese supergroup get their choreography under under an unbelievably gorgeous sky on a painted blacktop. The colors are everywhere: on the chalked asphalt, …

Here with their 20th release, NMB48 get up to the bar with their first offering sans Yamamoto Sayaka. “Tokonoma seiza musume (床の間正座娘)” puts the girls under laser lights for a eurobeat influenced arrangement complete with an infectious line dance. The “Uh, Ha!” chants seem tailor-made for fan participation, and I …

“Potsuri to (ポツリと, Solitary)”, the emotional second side of Juice=Juice’s triple A-side release, finds the girls exploring loneliness. A monochromatic look seeps into the both the sets and the outfits perhaps to underscore the sentiment of the song. Songwriter/Composer Nakajima Takui expresses the loneliness with long lines with nary a …

The latest single from former AKB48 member Itano Tomomi finds the former idol in a scene of domesticity in “Suki. to Iukoto (すき。ということ). The 11th Tomochin single has our girl living in bliss with her boy in comfortable beachside residence. The couple brush their teeth together, prepare breakfast together, embark …

New from Codomomental and it’s galaxy of alt idols is the fledgling idol group Seireki13ya (星歴13夜) and its debut promotional video “Oyasumi Mirai to Koiotome (おやすみ未来と恋乙女). Despite its affiliation with (probably) the most badass assemblage of non-conformist idol acts, Seireki13ya doesn’t toe the line very much. The group of young …

The latest EGFamily release in their 5 consecutive digital releases to start 2019 is Flower and their sensual new song “Kurenai no dress”. It’s difficult no to use that word (sensual) when describing this release: Reina sings it soft and delicate while the choreography opens up like, well … like …

STU48 get their boat! You’ll remember that the concept for the group had them aboard a floating theater in the Setouchi. For this coupling track to their 2nd release “Kaze wo matsu”, the girls get to making their place seaworthy with STU48 look actually excited to see their ship (nice …

Very seriously, Kamiyado come to us with the theme to the mental health / addiction campaign “Tough Love (タフ♡ラブ)” with a song of the same name. Formatted to fit cell phone screens, “Tough Love” frames each girl in their casual (but still cute!) wear. Kamiyado appear at odd angles, and …

The collaboration between Ebichu and Negicco continues today with the release of “Baby EBINegi Pop!”. You might remember the last collaboration “All right” in commemoration of their January 2017 joint live. This time, the groups are getting together for a series of THREE lives at Zepp Tokyo on January 24, …