Kiyoe Yoshioka's First Solo Anime Opening Theme Song will be for “A Couple of Cuckoos”!

©Miki Yoshikawa・Kodansha/a Couple of Cuckoos Production Committee

Kiyoe Yoshioka, who is the vocalist of Ikimonogakari, is going to singing the opening theme song for the TV animation series, A Couple of Cuckoos, airing on TV Asahi from April in 2022. She sings the opening theme song for the TV anime as a solo act for the first time.

A Couple of Cuckoos is a manga series telling a love story which started from the incident that babies switched at birth, written and illustrated by Miki Yoshikawa, who also created Flunk Punk Rumble, and Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches.

When the first comic book in this manga series was published on the 15th of May 2020 by Kodansha, it quickly sold out in every book shop. This is an extremely popular manga series which required 10 editions in the shortest amount of time in the history of the publisher Kodansha. It has been announced that the manga is going to be adapted into a TV animation airing from April 2022, and the opening theme song will be Kiyoe Yoshioka’s “Dekoboko”.

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“Dekoboko” Jacket Cover

This new song “Dekoboko” is created by Haruko Nagaya from the band Ryokuoushoku Shakai. Haruko Nagaya is very close to Kiyoe Yoshioka both as friends and also in business as they are often on TV programs together. This song has an authentic pop sound with a very charming feeling. It blends with the world of the anime A Couple of Cuckoos”to show many different exciting feelings.

The song “Dekoboko” will be available for streaming and download on various music platforms from Sunday the 17th of April 2022. The cover art of the song “Dekoboko” and new artist photograph have been revealed as well. The artwork was done by Mr.HARU (koe Inc.) who also worked on Kiyoe’s last single “Massara”. He creates a pop feeling as if he took the color and brightness from the song itself.

Furthermore, the main PV of TV Anime A Couple of Cuckoos has been released on KADOKAW Anime YouTube Channel. You can listen to some parts of the song “Dekoboko” there.

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Akari Kito who voiced Erika Amano in the anime A Couple of Cuckoos made a comment about the song “Dekoboko” by Kiyoe Yoshioka being the opening theme song. Amari Kito said, 

“I was so thrilled to find out that Kiyoe Yoshioka will sing the opening theme song for the TV anime A Couple of Cuckoos. Since I am a part of her generation, I am so excited!! It is an awesome song with Kiyoe Yoshioka's pure voice and melody and lyrics reflecting the freshness of the work, full of the sweet and bitter feelings of love.”  

Kiyoe Yoshioka has commented below. 

“I am so honored to be a singer for the song “Dekoboko” which is the opening theme song of A Couple of Cuckoos. “Dekoboko” is an amazing love song created by Haruko Nagaya. It will definitely make people excited! Everyone from the band, Ryokuoushoku Shakai, took part in playing the music. I am so glad!! I would be so happy if I could be able to support the main characters in the anime, who are pushed by destiny, as well as the entire animation of A Couple of Cuckoos!! Please enjoy the anime and the song “Dekoboko”!”

Singing Cosplayer Hikari Works Out with Nakayama Kinni-kun for A Cover of "Muscles Please!"

“Muscles Please!” Jacket Cover!

Nakayama Kinni-kun is a comedian, bodybuilder and also YouTuber who has 1.39 million subscribers on his YouTube channel called, “The Muscle TV”. He covered the song “Muscles Please!” with a collaborator and made a music video on Wednesday the 26th of January. The song is the opening theme song of the TV anime, How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? The music video of this original song is a popular anime song worldwide and has been viewed over 241 million times.  He collaborated with Singing Cosplayer Hikari who is a global cover singer, a YouTuber and also a TikToker. She started her activity on social media on New Year's Day of 2021. She has released 23 anime and vocaloid cover songs in 2021 and her songs have been viewed over 8 million times and 97.4％ of the viewers are from the outside of Japan. Her vocaloid cover song, ‘Yume To Hazakura’, which was released in April 2021 has been viewed over 2.45 million times and was ranked No.1 on the J-POP charts of 14 countries.

Nakayama Kinni-kun & Singing Cosplayer Hikari’s cover song, “Muscles Please!” ‘will been released as a song and music video to the entire world on January 26. The artist and the album cover photo has been revealed today. This song is going to be on air as the ending theme of the nationwide TV program “Doyou wa nani suru?!(What will you do on Saturday!?)” on both Kansai Telecasting Corporation and Fuji Television Network. The music video will be on air for 30 seconds every Saturday for 3 months. This is a great opportunity for them. This music video was shot at GOLD’S GYM at Makuhari Chiba ANNEX. While Nakayama Kinni-kun taught how to do the exercise, TikToker Singing Cosplayer Hikari choreographed the dancing. She hit upon the choreography one day before shooting day and they practiced it together right before shooting the music video. The key part of their collaboration movie was released today on Singing Cosplayer Hikari’s TikTok today. Please check it out!

FEMM Follow Up Billboard Hit with New Album ‘Tokyo Girls Anthem’ Out Now! Along with New Music Video!

From the release of their breakthrough girls’ empowerment anthem “Fxxk Boyz Get Money” in 2014, mannequin rap duo FEMM have built a loyal fanbase of music fans and influencers in the West, pioneering a new era for women in the rap scene. Later, their debut album, Femm-Isation, reached the Top 10 of the Billboard World Albums chart in the United States, while also being featured in the Best Indie Albums section at HMV stores across the United Kingdom.

On Friday, December 17, 2021, this unique duo followed their hit debut release with their second full-length album, Tokyo Girls Anthem physically and across all digital music streaming platforms. As the title suggests, it is an album packed with exciting tracks “by girls, for girls”.

A music video for the title track “Tokyo Girls Anthem” will get a YouTube Premiere release on December 24 at noon Japan time. The video was directed by style icon Babymary, director of fashion brand FALINE TOKYO, who is a pioneer of Japan’s girls’ fashion scene and who is beloved by fans all over the world.

Tokyo Girls Anthem Jacket Cover

FEMM have an even larger audience in Europe than in Japan, and the new album features collaborations with European producer Boys Noize, known for his work with A$AP Rocky and Frank Ocean, as well as Rina Sawayama cohort Danny L Harle and DaBaby/Lil Uzi Vert collaborator Star Boy. From Japan, producers KM and LISACHRIS also feature, while Duke of Harajuku, Elle Teresa and Yup’in appear as guest artists.

The album jacket is illustrated by K2, a rising artist who gained widespread attention in the scene for his impressive cover artwork for Young Thug’s No.1 album PUNK. This striking illustration shows the faces of FEMM members RiRi and LuLa blending poisonously yet beautifully into one.

The members also announced that even more music videos are coming soon, revealing the following release schedule on social media:

December 24, 2021: “Tokyo Girls Anthem”

January 7, 2022: “Mental Health feat Yup’in”

January 14, 2022: “Lolly”

Date TBD: “ID:T1G3R”

Keep a lookout for more FEMM news soon!

Singing Cosplayer Hikari Teams Up with French rapper, Suzuya!

Suzuya

Singing Cosplayer Hikari has been singing covers of anime and vocaloid songs, as well as cosplaying since the new year of 2021. Her 22 music videos of cover songs on YouTube have been viewed so far over 7 million times.
Her cover song of,  “Yume To Hazakura”, which was released on the 20th of April to music streaming and downloading services, was ranked highly on Apple Music J-Pop charts across 36 countries and became No.1 in 14 countries. She gained popularity especially in France and became No.1 5 times for the J-Pop Daily chart on Apple Music France. Also, she joined the event in the UK called, HYPER JAPAN ONLINE 2021, as a singer, cosplayer and model.

Hikari is going to join the album Là où les cœurs se pendent by French rapper Suzuya.This album will be released from E.47 Records today 3rd of December. Hikari voiced a Japanese female devil who, in disguise, tried to steal Suzuya’s soul. She was talking for 14 seconds at the beginning of the song “Voleuse d'âme” (soul thief) which is the 10th song of the album.

Suzuya has released many songs which were inspired by Japanese anime and games. The name Suzuya is taken from the character, Juuzou Suzuya, in the anime, “Tokyo Ghoul”. The album cover was done by illustrator Takato Yamamoto. His illustration is called “the Ukiyo-e Pop style” and “Heisei estheticism style” and he is well known worldwide. The 1st and 12th songs are created by Akira Yamaoka who created music for games such as, Silent Hill series. The female rapper from Kyoto, Edward(我), joined for the 5th song. And the 11th song was composed by Yow-Row. He is from the electro rock band GARI and he does vocals, programming, lyrics, composing, and arrangement. So many talented Japanese artists have got together for this amazing album.

Please check the album of Suzuya here and also check out Singing Cosplayer Hikari’s global success.

XANVALA Strikes Back with Latest Single!

“Seisen” Jacket Cover

Five-member alternative rock band XANVALA keeps building momentum and brings out a fighting spirit with a new striking single titled “Seisen”. As a result of constantly battling all the obstacles that the pandemic brought to the musical scene, XANVALA has developed a challenging attitude and solid resilience to keep moving forward. This approach is reflected in “Seisen”, which means ‘holy war’ or ‘crusade’. “Seisen” is a thrilling song with a strong beat and fiery vocals that manifests the everlasting fight that life is.

In addition to the title track, the single features the aggressive track “LEGAL” and the emotional ballad “Kuchinashi”. It includes a live DVD with footage from their concert at Takadanobaba AREA that took place on August 26th.

Although the official release date was set for October 18th, the single will hit stores all over Japan on November 3rd, 2021. “Seisen” is already available to pre-order online. There is also a special bundle sold exclusively through their official store that offers access to an autograph session via Instagram on November 2nd and 3rd.

This single follows the sophisticated EP Gayoku no maku and the thunderous single “Janome” released this year. In the meantime, XANVALA has been able to tour successfully within Japan with safety guidelines in place. This has given the band and fans the hope of reaching more areas and enjoying in-person concerts as before.

It is clear that the commitment of XANVALA to fight against all odds is strong. Moreover, it’s paying off as they are getting attention from more and more people in Japan and other countries.

Gear up and join XANVALA on the battlefield and check out the music video for “Seisen” below!