Looks like Aska isn’t the only J-pop artist in trouble for drug use. Kosuke Oba, a composer who has worked with idol groups like AKB48 and on anime like Prince of Tennis and Steins;Gate , was recently arrested for using stimulant drugs. Police were clued …Read more »
The 2014 J-Pop Summit Festival announced another addition to its lineup with Tomomi Itano—formerly of idol super group AKB48—joining the event as a guest of honor. Itano will be making her first-ever US concert appearance to launch her new release and will perform a special …Read more »
Pop idol unit TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE is making an appearance and putting on their U.S. concert debut at this year's J-Pop Summit Festival and J-Pop Live at Union Square show, and they also have something else cooking in the form of a crowd-funding campaign. The …Read more »
Japan has voted, and the results are in. No, not for prime minister – we’re talking about the sixth annual AKB48 elections, in which fans trade yen for votes by buying AKB’s latest single, each copy of which contains one ballot used to vote for …Read more »
It was about a week and a half ago that two members of idol group AKB48 and one of the group’s staff members were attacked at a meet-and-greet handshake event, receiving cuts and fractures to their hands and fingers. Since then, more information has come …Read more »
The talents of AKB48 member Yui Yokoyama aren't restricted to the stage, studio, and screen. As it turns out, the young pop star can also tear it up in the wrestling ring. The smackdown occurred on a recent episode of Japanese comedy show Mecha Ike …Read more »
Anna Iriyama (left) and Rina Kawaei (right) In a piece of news so grisly and odd it sounds almost made up, it was reported Sunday two members of phenomenally successful idol group AKB48, plus one member of their staff, were seriously injured by a man …Read more »
Shigeki Miyazaki, better known as Aska from the J-pop duo Chage and Aska, was arrested Saturday for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and MDMA (also known as ecstasy). Chage and Aska (right). Universal Music, which releases Chage and Aska's music, responded by halting shipments of the duo's …Read more »
Popular Japanese lifestyle site MyNavi Woman held a poll recently to determine the 10 most popular manga series involving music among working women aged 22-34. Oddly specific, but the results are fascinating and might just give you a few ideas about what manga series to …Read more »
San Francisco's J-Pop Summit Festival 2014 announced a new addition to its lineup with Japanese rock singer May'n as an official Guest of Honor. May'n will be appearing at J-Pop Summit as part of her 10th Anniversary "Dots and Lines" World Tour. The J-Pop Summit …Read more »
There's a scene in the none-more-otaku gag anime Lucky Star where the anime-obsessed American exchange student Patricia Martin is being asked about her taste in music. She stuns her friends by rattling off a surprisingly diverse list of Japanese pop artists, before it's revealed that …Read more »
Do you love massive idol group phenomenon AKB48? How about Sega light-gun arcade classic The House of the Dead ? Well, Bandai Namco Games must have sensed a market demand for those two great flavors going together, because they totally just made it happen: Sailor …Read more »
Every now and then we like to extend a special offer to you fine folks who join us online. That includes those who read the website, follow us on Twitter and Facebook , and subscribe to the newsletter. In other words… YOU! This year our …Read more »
San Francisco's 5th annual J-Pop Summit Festival is getting ready to take place July 27-28 across Japantown, and the lineup that's been trickling out over the past months is full of live music, films, and more. Now that the programming has been detailed, it's time …Read more »
San Francisco's 2013 J-POP Summit Festival continues to add more attractions, and the latest is a real treat for J-pop fans. Harajuku girl Kyary Pamyu Pamyu—who really blew up when her top-selling single "PON PON PON" made its debut—will be putting on a special live …Read more »
Matt Schley
Joseph Luster
Jason Moses
Ian Martin
Otaku USA Staff
