Tag Archives: Tie-ins
New Song “Tsuwamono, Hashiru” Featured in Rugby World Cup Ad
News The latest song from the to-be-revealed 2019 B’z Studio Album has been announced with the title “Tsuwamono, Hashiru” (or “Soldier, Run”). It is currently featured in a Lipovitan D energy drink ad campaign for the 2019 Rugby World Cup to be held in Japan.
The song will be found on the album to be released in the first half of next year along with “WOLF” and “Majestic“.
New Song “WOLF” Featured in Suits Japan Remake
News Another all-new B’z song titled “WOLF” will be used in the Japanese series Suits as the theme song. The drama, a remake of the U.S. series by the same title, had its first airing October 8 on Fuji TV with the song playing at the end.
No release date is announced for the song but it should appear on the 2019 studio album announced weeks ago.
New Song “Majestic” Featured in Pocky Commercial
News An all-new B’z song entitled “Majestic” is now serving as the theme to a new Glico Japan Pocky commercial, depicting the parent-child relationship of the fictional Akai family, with Pocky as its main focus. The commercial will begin airing in Japan from September 4, 2018.
An Instagram account has also been created, showcasing the daily life of the Akai family.
Shorter 15 second and 30 second versions of the commercial are also available for viewing below.
New Tak Matsumoto Les Paul in June & Koshi Harmonica Reissued
News 
Tak Matsumoto Gibson Les Paul Reissue Inbound
As hypothesized previously, it has today been announced that the Gibson Custom Tak Matsumoto Les Paul Standard Canary Yellow 2018 is being released as part of the thirty B’z 30th Year promotions. The guitar is a reissue of his very first produced by the prestigious Gibson Custom Shop from 1999, which at the time made him the first artist from Asia to be bestowed a signature instrument from the company. Both Custom Shop and Gibson USA versions of the original guitar were produced but were in time supplanted by the “Tak Burst” finish of the same guitar. More recently, Tak has been seen with a large number of Double Cutaway signatures that have seen both private and public varieties prepared.
The 2018 revision will feature the same neck profile as the 2016 True Historic 1959 Tak Matsumoto replica as well as a pair of Gibson Custom Bucker pickups, both styled with zebra bobbins. The original guitar featured a combination of Gibson Burstbucker 2 & 3 pickups, which has been used in numerous Tak signatures in recent years. As with most others produced for him, the guitar features black binding and a rosewood fretboard.
With regard to the reissue, Tak commented:
“Almost twenty years later, the Canary Yellow appears again. I used a prototype during the “LIVE DINOSAUR” tour, which this time features a lightweight chambered body and a tight neck. It can cope with a wide variety of sounds, from the heaviest to cleanest of tones. I am very pleased to have my first signature model reissued in commemoration of the B’z 30th Anniversary Exhibition.”
The limited run guitar—with only 150 to be made—is set for release in June 2018 at a premium price of 678,000¥ ($6,360 USD) not including tax. Additionally, an autographed version will be available to purchase as part of a lottery program at the upcoming SCENES exhibition.
Hohner Koshi Inaba Signature Harmonica Reissued for 30th Anniversary
Those that missed the B’z PARTY fanclub-exclusive Koshi Inaba harmonica will have a second chance, as a B’z 30th Year-labeled version will also be made available.
Koshi Inaba Signature Blues Harp Sold Exclusively to Fanclub Members
Burnout Paradise Remastered To Feature English B’z Song “FRICTION”
News 
Racing video game Burnout Paradise by Electronic Arts will soon be re-released in remastered form for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The original version of the game, released ten years ago in January 2008, featured a celebrated soundtrack that included “Paradise City” by Guns N’ Roses as its opening theme. Portions of the soundtrack for the original release were sourced from an earlier game in the series titled Burnout Dominator for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable in March 2007. Both games and the latest version feature an original English song by B’z entitled “FRICTION” which was written specifically for the 2007 edition.
Notably, “FRICTION” became one of the relatively few B’z songs available on international iTunes store fronts though it has since been delisted. It was also later utilized as a second B-side for the fall 2007 single “SUPER LOVE SONG“. A revised version would be featured on the 2007 album ACTION.
Burnout Paradise Remastered will be available worldwide March 16, 2018 for $39.99.
B’z 30th Year Beginning with Tokyo Exhibition, Anniversary Tie-ins
News 
To commemorate their thirtieth year on the music scene, a large-scale B’z exhibition titled “SCENES” will be held in Tokyo and feature memorabilia spanning their entire career. The exhibition will be split into two halves: a first term covering 1988-2002 and a second half covering 2003-2018. In addition to original stage costumes worn at the time, Tak’s favored guitars as well as photographs and images being seen for the first time will be shown. Various treasured belongings of the members will appear as well.
In 2006, the band held an exhibition at LIVE-GYM venues titled “Treasure Land”. This included clothing and props used throughout their various tours to that point. The “SCENES” exhibition will be the first time in which such an event is open to the public.
Additionally, as part of the “B’z 30th Year” promotions, the band will be involved in thirty separate tie-in promotions with thirty different companies, including a B’z-themed version of The Game of Life board game which celebrates its fiftieth year in Japan next year. Others include B’z specific items from apparel brand New Era and American leather outlet Schott.
