Tak Matsumoto News

Tak Matsumoto has released a message regarding the 25th anniversary of ZARD. ZARD singer Izumi Sakai passed away in 2007 and this year would’ve marked her 25th anniversary since her debut as a musician.

Message from Tak Matsumoto

Happy 25th anniversary, ZARD! I wish you were here…
The last time we’ve met was when I had her sing 「Ihoujin」 on the cover album　「THE HIT PARADE」 I was producing.
She had a very charming and yet somehow sad voice, truly making it one of a kind in the world of Japanese pop music.
Almost 9 years have passed since she passed away, but the wonderful works she has left behind continue to enrich our daily lives.
Unfortunately, there won’t be any new works by ZARD, or by Izumi Sakai, but her works will live on for generations to come and will also be listened to by people in the future.

Via: ZARD 25th Anniversary Website

Koshi Inaba News

Koshi Inaba has announced today that his signature blues harp model made by German musical instrument manufacturer Hohner is going to be sold exclusively to fanclub members at the price of 15700 Japanese Yen. Koshi Inaba is the first Japanese artist and the fifth artist to have a signature model made by Hohner. Hohner’s signature artists are Jean Jacques Milteau, Bob Dylan, Steven Tyler and John Lennon. The blues harp comes in a special casing that features an exclusive picture and a special inlay that presents the signature blues harp in an elegant way, making it a great object to put on display aside from the harp’s musical capabilities.

The fanclub exclusive online shop is taking orders from today until March 31st, 12:00 PM JST. Every order is limited to 4 pieces per person. As this is a build to order item, shipping will not take place until November 2016 to allow for manufacturing.

Feature

Over two years have passed since the home video release of B’z LIVE-GYM Pleasure 2013 ENDLESS SUMMER -XXV BEST-. The band has had their share of singles, albums, and solo works in the interim, but it is with the recently-released B’z LIVE-GYM 2015 -EPIC NIGHT- that the band makes their big return to the live stage on DVD and Blu-ray.

Today, we have for you an exhaustive review and report on the band’s latest release. Please be advised that this review is written to be mostly as spoiler-free as possible with regard to the specific surprises of the show, but the song inclusions and beat-by-beat moments are discussed at length. Additionally, translations and summaries of Koshi’s dialogue with the band and the audience are included for those seeking clarification.

Read on to see exactly what awaits in the band’s latest home video offering and feel free to offer your own thoughts as well.

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Tak Matsumoto News

Tak Matsumoto has at long last revealed details regarding his forthcoming album 「enigma」. Following the reveal of its title and its rough release date on WOWOW’s broadcast of this year’s Grammy Awards, the full details have been released today. 「enigma」 is Tak Matsumoto’s eleventh studio album and contains 14 original instrumental tracks. Additionally, a reworked version of the iconic 「#1090 ~Thousand Dreams~」 which served as the theme to TV Asahi’s 「Music Station」 for years is included as a bonus track, making up for 15 tracks in total.

Among the 14 included original tracks are the previously untitled main theme to TBS’ show「The WORLD Heritage」 titled 「Vermillion Palace」 as well as the previously untitled ending theme to the same show titled 「Mystic Journey」. Furthermore, the album includes the previously announced tie-in song 「Ups and Downs」 which serves as the theme to an upcoming Ukiyo-e exhibition in Tokyo.

The new album comes in two flavors: regular edition (CD only) or limited edition (CD+DVD or CD+Blu-ray). The limited edition includes the full live performance of the tour finale of Tak’s 2014 solo tour 「Tak Matsumoto LIVE 2014 -New Horizon-」 at the BLUE NOTE Tokyo. The performance is available in standard definition (DVD) as well as high-definition (Blu-ray).

A special campaign to tie in with the release of Tak’s new album is also planned and will be announced in the near future.

New Album 「enigma」 2016.04.06 release

Regular Edition: 2,800 yen / Limited Edition: 5,000 Yen

[Track list]

1. enigma
2. Vermillion Palace
3. Step to Heaven
4. Ups and Downs
5. Rock The Rock
6. Drifting
7. The Voyage
8. Hopes
9. Under The Sun
10. Dream Drive
11. The Rock Show
12. Roppongi Noise
13. Mystic Journey
14. enigma ~epilogue~
＜Bonus Track＞
15. #1090 ~Million Dreams~

CD & DVD / CD & Blu-ray Limited Edition:
Tak Matsumoto LIVE 2014 -New Horizon- at BLUE NOTE TOKYO

1. New Horizon
2. Take 5
3. BLUE
4. Hana
5. Tokyo Night
6. Shattered Glass
7. Gakuseigai no Kissaten
8. Island of peace
9. That’s Cool
10. Tsuki no Akari
11. Reason to be…
12. GO FURTHER
13. #1090
14. The Moment
15. Rodeo Blues

Koshi Inaba News

Koshi Inaba has just announced that he will be guest on NTV’s morning news program 「ZIP!」 on March 4th, 2016. He will most likely talk about his current live tour and about the recently announced live streaming of his tour finale through Hulu.

Via: B’z Official Website

News

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Early morning newspapers as well as NTV news show “Oha!4” (see video above) have revealed that B’z will provide the theme song to the 20th Detective Conan movie 「The Darkest Nightmare」, which is scheduled to hit theatres on April 16th, 2016. The medium tempo rock ballad is titled 「Sekai wa Anata no Iro ni Naru」(The world will become your color) and B’z is quoted as saying “This movie focuses a lot on the darker parts of Conan’s story and thus we made the theme song with a different feeling.”. Series creator Gosho Aoyama further commented: “The movie is pitch-black and it depends on you what color your feelings are after you’ve seen the movie”.

Furthermore, Tak Matsumoto will play the guitar part of the Detective Conan main theme in the movie. This marks the first time an artist gets to play the guitar part of the main theme.

A CD release for「Sekai wa Anata no Iro ni Naru」has yet to be announced. A full trailer featuring the movie’s theme song has also been revealed today. You can check it out below.