Nogizaka46 announces second documentary

Mega idol group Nogizaka46 revealed they will be dropping their second documentary titled Itsunomanika, Koko ni Iru Documentary of Nogizaka46 which will drop December 25. The first documentary that the group released was back in 2015. This new documentary will focus on the graduation of Nanase Nishino and feature interviews with various members regarding her graduation. Itsunomanika, Koko ni Iru Documentary of Nogizaka46 is being released in four editions total: a two-disc DVD edition, a two-disc Blu-ray edition, a four-disc DVD complete edition, and a four-disc Blu-ray complete edition. The complete editions also come with a photobook and five individual photos, their own unique slipcases, and a random bookmark. Pre-orders are up and posted below.

Two-disc DVD Edition

Two-disc Blu-ray Edition

Four-disc DVD Complete Edition

Four-disc Blu-ray Complete Edition

Nogizaka46 says goodbye to another member

On September 1 Nogizaka46 held its final stop for their 2019 live tour titled Nogizaka 46 Midsummer Tour 2019 which was also the final performance for long-term member Reika Sakurai. Per usual, it was a somber affair filled with tears and a level of camaraderie shining through as fellow members wished Sakurai one final goodbye. In the encore of the show Sakurai addresses the audience and discusses her emotions as she leaves the group. She expresses how much the group has meant to her but mentions she has a dream and feels that in order to achieve her dream she needs to branch out on her own. Akimoto, owner of the Nogizaka46 brand, came out on stage to recall some of the good times with Sakurai. Reika Sakurai will be the center of the upcoming single “Yoakemade Tsuyogaranakutemoii”, her last, which is already out on YouTube (you can check it out for yourself below). “Yoakemade Tsuyogaranakutemoii” is currently available for pre-order and will be posted below. We wish Sakurai the absolute best in her future endeavors.

Standard Edition

Limited Edition Type A

Limited Edition Type B

Limited Edition Type C

Limited Edition Type D

Nogizaka46 announces twenty-fourth single

Mega female idol group Nogizaka46 announced they will be releasing their twenty-fourth single which will be released September 4. So far, the title and center have yet to be revealed. The untitled single will be released in a total of five editions, a standard edition that will be CD-only and four limited editions that will be CD + Blu-ray. Each edition will come with its own unique cover and inside the packaging there will be a randomly selected photo of one of the members along with an event ticket only valid in Japan. Pre-order links are posted here.

Standard Edition

Limited Edition Type A

Limited Edition Type B

Limited Edition Type C

Limited Edition Type D

You can check out Nogizaka46’s last number one single “Sing Out” below.

Billboard Japan drops Top 10 list for first half of 2019!

With the arrival of June, Billboard Japan dropped rankings for the first half of 2019. The particular rankings were taken from the Billboard Japan Top 100 Chart and somewhat different from what we usually cover on the show with the Oricon, but they’re pretty similar in some regards.

#1 Aimyon

#2 Kenshi Yonezu

#3 Queen

#4 back number

#5 ONE OK ROCK

#6 TWICE

#7 Gen Hoshino

#8 Nogizaka46

#9 BTS

#10 DA PUMP

Surprising no one, vocalist Aimyon takes number one Top Artist. With thirty-one tracks on the Japan Hot 100 and four releases charting on the Japan Hot Albums list, it’s no surprise she’s the face of Japan’s Top Artists this year. What’s even more impressive is that she was only rank sixteen on last year’s chart. Not too far behind her is predecessor Kenshi Yonezu who took this past year’s Top Artist of NHK’s Kohaku, bearing twenty-five tracks on the Japan Hot 100 list and four releases charting on the Japan Hot Albums list. It’s no question, then, that Yonezu will remain in the top three. With the upcoming release of “Umi no Yurei”, Yonezu is hoping to overtake Aimyon to take the number one spot overall. With the success of “Bohemian Rhapsody” fever hitting Japan, Queen rounds out the list at number three.

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#1 Yonezu Kenshi「Lemon」

#2 Aimyon「Marygold」

#3 DA PUMP「U.S.A.」

#4 Aimyon「Konya Kono Mama」

#5 Yonezu Kenshi「Flamingo」

#6 Kiyakizaki46「Kuroi Ushi」

#7 back number「HAPPY BIRTHDAY」

#8 Hinatazaka46「Kyun」

#9 Nogizaka46「Kaerimichi wa Tomawari Shitaku Naru」

#10 Aimyon「Kimi ha Rock wo Kiganai」

Strangely enough for the Hot 100 list, the top two artists swap with each other; “Lemon” continues to dominate from last year’s Hot 100 list with it also wrecking this year’s download charts. Overtaking last year’s impressive point count at 219,288.49, Yonezu is looking to become a mainstay in the industry for Reiwa. Running in at 155,429.37 points, Aimyon’s “Marygold” takes number one Top Streamed song and ninth Top Downloaded. Rounding out the list at number three is DA PUMP’s “it song” “U.S.A.“

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#1 Gen Hoshin『POP VIRUS』

#2 ONE OK ROCK『Eye of the Storm』

#3 Nogizaka46『Ima ga Omoi Detani Narumade』
#4 Queen『Bohemiam Rhapsody Official Sound Track』
#5 back number『MAGIC』
#6 Aimyon『Shukanteki Six Sense』
#7 Kobukoro『ALL TIME BEST 1998-2018』
#8 TWICE『#TWICE2』
#9 Kenshi Yonezu『BOOTLEG』
#10 GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE『BEST GENERATION』

Surprisingly, none of the top three artists above have taken the Hot Albums list, with Gen Hoshino’s POP VIRUS taking the number one spot for both CD sales and downloads overall. Selling an impressive 281,000 copies since the album’s release back in December of last year with downloads over 26,000, Hoshino outdid himself with this album. Not too far behind him, popular rock band ONE OK ROCK took the number two spot with their album Eye of the Storm, taking fourth in CD sales with an impressive 288,000 copies sold and third in downloads with over 53,000. The idol community not to be forgotten, Nogizaka46’s album Ima ga Omoi Deni Naru took third.

We at Ongaku to You would like to congratulate all of the artists for their achievements thus far and look forward to their future releases this 2019.

Nogizaka46 goes big for sixth birthday

It was revealed that mega idol group Nogizaka46 is looking to celebrate their sixth year anniversary in a big way. Fans of the mega idol group will get to celebrate alongside them. Not only will Nogizaka46 be releasing a compilation of the first day of the celebration concert, but the second and third day are also getting independent releases. However, if you want all three days you can pick up the bundle pack. The official name of the release is 6th Year Birthday Live.

The giant celebration is being released in both a DVD format and a Blu-ray format. The bundles are being referred to as limited editions and will not only feature all three concerts but also a deluxe photo book and a clear file. You can pre-order your copy of 6th Year Birthday Live here.

Limited Edition DVD

Day 1 Blu-ray

Day 2 Blu-ray

Day 3 Blu-ray

Limited Edition Blu-ray

You can check out Nogizaka46’s newly released single “Sing Out”.