<![CDATA[A-to-J Connections

<![CDATA[A-to-J Connections - Idol]]>Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:33:41 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[PassCode Unveil Jacket Art for Upcoming Single “WILLSHINE”]]>Fri, 16 Aug 2024 09:38:16 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/idol/passcode-unveil-jacket-art-for-upcoming-single-willshine

PassCode, the all-female dance and vocal group, recently announced the release of “WILLSHINE,” the theme song for the second season of the currently airing TV anime Shy. The song is set to release on September 11, and all the latest details can be found below.

Following recent announcements of their label change and upcoming Asia tour across eight cities, the group has now released details about “WILLSHINE,” including the jacket design which can be found at the top of this article.

In addition to the title track, the new single also includes the coupling song “Specter.” The Limited First Edition comes with a Blu-ray featuring all eight songs from their passionate live performance at Zephyren 10th Anniversary A.V.E.S.T project Kodou at National Yoyogi Stadium First Gymnasium this past February. It also includes a deluxe 64-page full-color live photobook with unpublished and behind-the-scenes photos from their performances in the first half of 2024. Both the Limited First Edition and the Regular Edition include one of eight exclusive random trading cards.

To coincide with the start of their nationwide tour, a video of their performance of “ONE STEP BEYOND” from the Zephyren 10th Anniversary A.V.E.S.T project Kodou—also included in the Limited First Edition—has been released on YouTube. Don’t miss this chance to see them in action!

PassCode - "WILLSHINE" Sample:
https://lnk.to/LZC-2838

Product Information
Title: WILLSHINE
Release Date: September 11, 2024

Limited First Edition (CD+Blu-ray)
Product No.: LAMR-34034
Price: ¥6,600 (incl. tax)
Tracks:
1. WILLSHINE
2. Specter
3. WILLSHINE -Instrumental-
4. Specter -Instrumental-

Blu-ray
Zephyren 10th Anniversary A.V.E.S.T project Kodou at National Yoyogi Stadium First Gymnasium
1. GROUNDSWELL
2. Ray
3. MYTH
4. FLAVOR OF BLUE
5. Seize Approaching BRAND NEW ERA
6. ONE STEP BEYOND
7. Club Kids Never Die
8. Clouds Across The Moon

*PassCode LIVE PHOTOBOOK from First Half of 2024 (full color, 64 pages)

Regular Edition (CD only)
Product No.: LAMR-4034
Price: ¥1,430 (incl. tax)
Tracks:
1. WILLSHINE
2. Specter
3. WILLSHINE -Instrumental-
4. Specter -Instrumental-

Online Release Event
To commemorate the release of “WILLSHINE,” the opening theme for the second season of SHY, PassCode will be holding an online autograph session.
For customers who purchase the product from Limista, PassCode will sign your copy during the livestream!

Date & Time / Performers
Sept 9, Night 3, from 19:00
Minami & Ogami: PassCode YouTube Channel
Takashima & Arima: Limista YouTube Channel
For more details: https://limista.jp/projects/5188

Date & Time / Performers
Sept 10, Night 4, from 19:00
Minami & Takashima: PassCode YouTube Channel
Arima & Ogami: Limista YouTube Channel
For more details: https://limista.jp/projects/5189

Profile
PassCode consists of four members: Nao Minami, Kaede Takashima, Hinako Ogami, and Emily Arima. They have a versatile repertoire based on a band sound, punctuated by their distinctive shouts and screams, and have performed at numerous major festivals such as SUMMER SONIC and ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL, earning broad support from both rock enthusiasts and idol fans.

After making their major debut in 2016, they released their first international album Ex Libris PassCode in America, Europe, and Canada under the UK’s JPU Records in October 2018. The track “Ichikabachika” from their 2019 album CLARITY was selected as the opening theme for the TV drama Kakegurui season 2 and the movie Kakegurui. In 2020, their single “STARRY SKY,” which was chosen as the theme song for the drama 182 Days Left, earned them their first-ever No. 1 on the Oricon Weekly Single Chart and Billboard JAPAN Weekly Single Chart. They also made their debut appearance on Nippon Broadcasting System’s All Night Nippon 0.

In February 2022, they held their first concert at Nippon Budokan. In 2023, they embarked on their first US tour, “PassCode US / JAPAN TOUR 2023 -GROUNDSWELL-,” which included stops in Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York, as well as 11 cities and 12 venues in Japan.

Official Website: https://passcode-official.com
Official Fan Club “Linkage” Website: https://fannect.jp/passcode-linkage/

X: https://twitter.com/passcodeo
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PASSCODE0000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PassCodeOfficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passcodeo/

]]><![CDATA[Japanese Boy Band LIL LEAGUE Release First Album: "TRICKSTER"]]>Wed, 28 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/idol/japanese-boy-band-lil-league-release-first-album-trickster

Japanese boy band LIL LEAGUE recently released their first full-length album, titled "TRICKSTER", and you can check it out via the links below. Additional details on this release and more can be found below as well.

The album "TRICKSTER" includes the song "Lollipop", which began advance streaming on February 5, and whose music video is fast approaching 4 million views, as well as the up-tempo song "FeiLong", which became a fan favorite at concerts and a much-requested release. The album also includes "15 Minutes" and "Okay", both of which were unveiled during the group’s LIL LEAGUE LIVE TOUR 2023 "LIL GATEWAY" hall tour held in Japan last summer, as well as new bonus tracks "Tungsten" and "I don’t care".

"Tungsten" was performed by the group’s senior vocalists Sena Iwaki and Tatsuhiro Nakamura as a duo. The song’s title refers to tungsten metal, which is so hard it can only be cut by diamonds. In a world where it can be so difficult to show individuality, the song expresses how we can overcome the barriers in society if we have determination and bonds as tough as tungsten. "I don’t care" was sung by group members Kodai Yamada, Matora Okao, Haima Momoda and Sora Namba. Over a piano and cowbell accompaniment, the members recount a time when they were forced to overcome feelings of hopelessness and apathy, creating a vibe that is different from LIL LEAGUE’s previous poppier, more upbeat songs. The song was written by Yusuke Saeki, who has provided songs for many different artists, and British hitmaker Kevin Charge.

The "LIVE" version of the album includes a Blu-ray packed with footage from the Tokyo performance of LIL LEAGUE LIVE TOUR 2023 "LIL GATEWAY", as well as a behind-the-scenes movie from the tour, while the "MV" edition includes the music video for "Lollipop" and behind-the-scenes footage from the video shoot, along with music videos for other LIL LEAGUE singles to date.

LIL LEAGUE made their debut in January last year and won the Best New Artist Award at the 65th Japan Record Awards, while their debut single "Hunter" ranked No.1 on the Oricon Chart and No.2 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart. LIL LEAGUE were also selected by respondents in the Next Trend Prediction poll for the second half of 2023, based on the choices of 120,000 Generation Z voters.

The results of the poll can be seen here (in Japanese): https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000090.000020799.html

After a whirlwind debut year that included holding a headline hall tour of Japan just six months after their debut, LIL LEAGUE are moving into a new phase – and anticipation for their upcoming first full-length album is reaching fever pitch.

"TRICKSTER" Download & Streaming Links:
https://lilleague.lnk.to/TRICKSTER

"TRICKSTER" CD Purchase Links:
https://lilleague.lnk.to/0228_1stAL

LIL LEAGUE Official Links:
https://linktr.ee/lilleague

]]><![CDATA[Da-iCE Celebrate 10th Anniversary of Major Label Debut with First Digital Single: "A2Z"]]>Fri, 16 Feb 2024 19:07:58 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/idol/da-ice-celebrate-10th-anniversary-of-major-label-debut-with-first-digital-single-a2z

Japanese boy band Da-iCE recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of their major-label debut with the release of new song "A2Z", their first ever digital single. Released on Valentine's Day, you can find out all about the song below!

"A2Z" was written by Da-iCE member Sota Hanamura, with lyrics cowritten by his bandmate Taiki Kudo. The lyrics are filled with wit, with memorable phrases throughout, making it a song to listen to closely. The track also features as the new opening theme song for Teikou Penguin, a YouTube anime channel with 1.43 million subscribers.

Following the digital single release, the group also released an Official Dance Practice video for "A2Z". For the song’s choreography, Da-iCE member Hayao Wada collaborated with KAZtheFIRE(Rht.), following their previous work together on ‘Naimononedari’. The dance moves are based on hip-hop steps while expressing the letters of the alphabet, in reference to the song’s lyrics. The Dance Practice Video for "A2Z" can be found below.

"A2Z" Download & Streaming Links:
https://Da-iCE.lnk.to/A2Z

About Da-iCE
Da-iCE are a five-piece boyband with twin vocalists who boast an impressive four-octave singing range.The members are vocalists Yudai Ohno and Sota Hanamura, and performers Taiki Kudo, Toru Iwaoka and Hayate Wada.

Released in November 2020, their song "CITRUS" became the first song by a Japanese male dance and vocal group to surpass 100 million streams, and won an award at the prestigious 63rd Japan Record Awards in 2021. Their song ‘Star Mine’, which was also featured on the album ‘SCENE’ released last year, has become a long-running hit, with over 600 million plays on TikTok.

For More Information:
Website: https://da-ice.jp/en/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/da_ice_staff/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Da_iCE_STAFF
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DaiCECH
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@da_ice_official

]]><![CDATA[Bringing VTubing Into the Future: An Interview with Serina Maiko & Abi Kadabura of V4Mirai]]>Wed, 31 Jan 2024 17:28:57 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/idol/bringing-vtubing-into-the-future-an-interview-with-serina-maiko-abi-kadabura-of-v4mirai

(Left: Abi Kadabura, Right: Serina Maiko)

V4Mirai is a Virtual YouTuber agency who is also the first English-language project from Japanese company, Brave Group. Bringing together members & talent from around the world, V4Mirai strive to spark something new within the world of VTubing by creating their own future, or "mirai". They recently attended Anime Los Angeles as guests of honor, and they held a special live concert on one of the evenings. We were lucky enough to sit down with first generation "Crystalis" members Abi Kadabura and Serina Maiko. We discussed their start in VTubing, the recent live concert, V4Mirai's plans for the future, and lots more! Whether you're already a fan of theirs, of if you're hearing about them for the first time, you'll want to read on and check out her social media via the links at the end!

A-to-J: Thank you for joining us today! Can you give us a brief introduction about yourselves?
Serina: Of course! Thank you for having me, I’m from V4Mirai’s first generation Crystalis. My name’s Serina Maiko, and I’m the Dancing Princess because I dance a lot and I act like a princess!
[Laughs] I have a very music-focused creation style, and I really want to do more music going into 2024. I’m really excited to bring R&B and jazz, and I guess the more subtle music genres into VTubing. I think it could be a really cool crossover to see. Especially because when I debuted, I debuted with an original R&B song, and I did not expect it to do as well as it did. It really motivated me and encouraged me to do more R&B because I’ve always been trying to adapt to what’s more popular like J-Rock, anime-style music. I’m excited!
A-to-J: Awesome! Thank you, and then, Abi?
Abi: Hi hi! I’m Abi Kadabura. I’m also from Gen 1 Crystalis. I am the stand-up comedy idol of V4. I’m excited to be here! I had a great time at the concert, and I’m so excited to talk to you guys!

A-to-J: Thank you so much! Perhaps we can start with you guys telling us what got you into VTubing.
Serina: For me, I’ve always been interested in idol culture. Growing up I’ve always wanted to be a singer, and then when I got into middle school/high school, I got really into K-Pop and so I wanted to be in a dance group. And then I got really into streaming, and VTubing was kinda like all of that plus a whole new magical world I could create. So I was really excited to become a VTuber. I kinda just stumbled across it. There wasn’t really any big moment where I was like: “This is it!” It was more like I had a bunch of different dreams that I wanted to do, and then VTubing gave me the option to do all of them. Because I was like: “Oh. I don’t wanna have to choose between doing music, or just streaming, or going into voice acting, or just focusing on dance.” I could just do everything as a VTuber. Of course I would also like to be an IRL idol, but with VTubing I feel like I could reach more people which is my main goal: To share my music, and my performing creativity, with as many people as possible. Of course, there’s also the added character building and worldbuilding. Just making a world where people can escape to is a really important part of it for me, and I think having animation and all the flashy colors, character development, and creation is a really big part of that.
Abi: For me, I’ve been kind of idol-trained since a very young age. I probably started my first ballet and acting classes when I was three. I’m from Brazil where there’s very little arts. I wanted to find a place where that was the case. I’m a big gamer as well. It’s been like the anime and gaming community has given a home. I love that, I also love performing, and I also have really bad stage fright. I’m pretty talkative, but I am a huge, huge introvert. I’ve always tried to find communities that would take me in. I love making people feel accepted, and feeling accepted as well. Like in school, I would find the people in the corners, and I would assemble us all together so no one would be alone. That’s kinda what VTubing feels like to me. I get to do everything that I love in a space that I’m much more comfortable in. It helps me a lot and I also get to not only find a home for myself, but also make a home for others. I'm also really interested into bring comedy and stand up to the VTubing space. I think there is a lot of potential in comedy that is not reached, and comedy in the anime culture is so, so special and so hilarious, and the VTubing is so hilarious. I love trailblazing like back home there’s no arts, and I kinda created a space for artists and performers and comedians. I kinda want to keep doing this here as well, like see what people love; whether it’s comedy like I love, or whatever they love that they feel like there isn’t room for, and help them push the walls and keep expanding within this amazing unique community.

A-to-J: Well, on that note, since you guys are really big performers and you love spreading your joy to everyone, how was it doing your concert at the convention?
Serina: It was so much fun! I know I mentioned before that I wanted to be in a dance group. I love group activities so, so much. I did also think about being a soloist one day, but for me I think I’ll always choose group stuff over solo activities any day. I don’t know... It made my heart swell getting to be onstage and dance and interact with the girls. That feeling of unity. Doing a concert together, you really connect with each other in a way that you’ve never really experienced before. I really, really enjoyed it. I loved every second of it. I was really happy, especially when you see the penlights, which was really, really exciting, on the monitor. It was a really good time. I’m really happy. I grinded a lot both vocally and choreography-wise. I was practicing the choreography up until the day of the concert just over and over and over again. It like haunts me now. I can’t listen to the music without dancing to it.
A-to-J: That’s awesome.
Abi: For me, it was so, so, so special. I’ve been working a lot on believing in myself and just seeing how many people were there and excited for all of us. It was so, so nice. I have a lot of stage fright. I’ve been idol-trained since I was three, but it’s very hard for me to actually perform live, so I have all of this... honestly, technique that I can’t show the world. It was so nice because it was the first time that I felt really enthusiastic. I was telling our CEO: “From now on, the world is my oyster,” because I feel like after accomplishing that, I have the support of V4 and all the girls and I feel like: “Wow! I love where I’m at. I love my community. I love these girls. I can actually enjoy this and do this.” It was a pivotal moment. It was like my change, like it’s my protagonist arc. I’ve now crossed over that bridge and it’s exciting. The world is different.

A-to-J: That really great to hear! So, V4Mirai is a group focused on the future. What does that mean exactly to you? What do you think the future looks like?
Abi: I love that question.
Serina: To me, the future is more diversity, not just in creators, but also the type of content that we do. As it is right now, VTubing is getting very, very popular, and a lot of what you’d more commonly see in VTubing would be J-Rock or anime music or J-Pop, stuff like that. I know I mentioned it before, but something that’s really important to me is not only introducing new genres, or like fusing new genres into that, but also being here as a Black corporate VTuber and standing out for them; representing that community in a space that I haven’t seen a lot of others. There are a lot of other Black VTubers, especially in the independent scene, but when I look at corporate VTubers, there’s definitely a much smaller percentage than there is of other types of VTubers. For me V4Mirai is about pushing boundaries, trying new things, showing that you can grow even if you’re not the same as everyone else, showing that you don’t need to do what’s like “VTuber meta." Regardless of how fast or slow that you grow, you should stick by it because I see VTubing as only ever getting bigger and bigger, and more popular. And the more popular it gets the more people are gonna want to do new things and take more risks. I think it’s entirely worth it.
Abi: I love, love, love this question. V4Mirai is a Japanese company so we have great roots in the tradition of VTubing and management that is an expert in so many aspects; all of it. Something that we admire and we study. Our goal coming here to the US and abroad is really to just keep pushing boundaries, and I think supporting each other in our dreams. I think it’s very easy to distance yourself from creators who are doing different things because you don’t necessarily want to be associated with pushing boundaries; like it’s hard. I think that us all supporting each other and reaching our dreams toghether is super important to me. When Serina wants to bring her new music and anything she wants to talk about, being there for her is super important to me because that’s what the organization is about: supporting each other in our dreams and pushing boundaries.
Also, personally, I really do wanna bring comedy to this space, and I am really cherishing that. I am from Brazil, and I have a good Brazilian following, and VTubing is even newer there so kind of just helping spread that around and bring more joy to different people is super important to me. E-sports and gaming has been getting huger in favela [Brazilian working-class neighborhoods], as in Brazil, and it’s been a great way for people to escape their current circumstances, and find hope in a place where a lot of things can seem hopeless. The education in those places can be weaker and it can feel like the world is not your oyster, but it should. There are so many talented, amazing people. So I think that continuing to spread the culture, push boundaries with my genmates, push boundaries in comedy, but also push boundaries for my Brazilian followers I think, is super important to me. Bring VTubing to new people, bring VTubing to new spaces, and bring new opportunities through VTubing to everyone who desires them.

A-to-J: As Gen 1, did you feel nervous about becoming senpai and being good role models for your kouhai when Gen 2 was announced?
[Abi laughs]
Serina: Yeah. I feel like, especially with how soon everything happened, I was like: “I was just born! Now I’m a senpai? I don’t know how to mentor people. I don’t know anything. I’m still figuring out half of this stuff myself. I can barely get Vtube Studio running half the time.” [Everyone laughs] I was very nervous especially coming into this as someone who has a very, very different perspective on VTubing, and a very different goal and expectation for my personal content. It does feel like there are some times where I can’t be as helpful to them as they might either expect or need me to be just because of how different I am, but regardless, senpai, kouhai, whatever, we all get along really well. I think that’s the most important thing; just being able to work together. Especially because I know our goal right now is that we really wanna try to combat gen division as much as possible. That’s why we have the sub-units for the concerts, which are kind of mixed up between Gen 1 and Gen 2. I kinda just see us all as just a six-member group right now. I try not to worry too much about my senpai duties, and it has nothing to do with me not knowing what my senpai duties are... I swear.
[Serina laughs and then Abi laughs]
Abi: Yeah, It’s different because we’re the youngest so it’s interesting. We want to be respectful as well, so we’ve been trailing it very mindfully. That is the outcome of our organization. Part of pushing the boundaries is us having just one big group that is supporting each other, rather than just sub-units. Mainly considering Serina and I are a two-person generation. So as much as we can all feel like a big family, it gives us all a greater sense of home, so it’s been scary. Also, again my content is very particular. I am very focused on comedy, and I have huge bilingual Brazilian content, so I could teach them that. But we’re all just supporting each other, and I think the emotional support is a huge chunk of it. Just having someone to talk to at any hour of the day to be like: “Oh, I’m dealing with this or I’m excited about this,” and knowing someone is there, it’s less of a responsibility, more of a delight that we have more people to share that with now.

A-to-J: This question is for Serina: I know you’re more comfortable on stage than you are in a castle. What did you have to do to escape your princess duties in order to be able to perform for everyone?
Serina: Y’all, a lot of people died! [Everyone laughs] So basically, what happened... There was a demon army that attacked my village. It was very sad so I got sent to V4 Academy to cope with it, but also to really get to express myself. You know, I grew up the youngest of four. I’ve always been kind of like sheltered, and like it gets kind of stuffy. I didn’t really have anybody to perform for. Things kind of just fell into place for me which makes me really happy. I’m really, really grateful to V4 for all the opportunities they give me and I’m very excited because they’re always learning new things about me. [Laughs] They’ll always be like: “I didn’t know you dance. I didn’t know you do that. I didn’t know you do this,” and I’m just like: “Yeah. I have a lot of things I’ve never really got to show anybody before,” so it’s a really big opportunity for me.

A-to-J: This question is for Abi. I noticed that you have an incredible buff model. I’m very impressed with your hard work! Can I ask what your workout routine is like to be able to maintain that physique?
Abi: [Pants] Okay. I’m gonna be honest with you. I’ve just been a dancer and a gymnast since I was a very young kid. This is such a horrible answer. The way I grew up, I developed a lot of muscle. I used to be bullied for my abs in like middle school. At this point, all I do is kind of maintain it. Cringe Honesty: You’ve gotta overload yourself. If you don’t go ‘til failure, your muscles won’t grow. Eat well. Rest well. Creatine. That’s not steroids. A lot of it is dancing. Dancing surprisingly keeps you very strong. In ballet training, arms are out for hours. I would take like nine hours of ballet. Those big boys are there. Yeah. No steroids. Natty.

A-to-J: Awesome! Thank you. In honor of the new year, what are some of your goals and resolutions for 2024?
[Error 404: Serina Not Found]
Abi: Thank you for your questions! They’re really great questions!
[Serina reconnects]
Serina: I really, really, really wanna do more music. My goal is to do something musical at least monthly, but I don’t wanna like oversell and underdeliver so if it doesn’t happen, that’s on me. I really want to do significantly more music. I wanna do both high effort, low effort, just anything even if it’s just a one take Live2D karaoke thing. [Laughs] I really just want to show off my voice more. This one’s a little bit more difficulty accessibility-wise, but I want to do more dancing stuff. 3D is scary, but I really want to be able to do more dance stuff. I wanna do more dance covers. I gotta figure out a way to do that in a way that’s a little more efficient. For me, it’s mostly more performing stuff. The biggest thing for me... I guess not to get like emotional, but I really want to talk about being Black more, like being a Black creator. I feel, when I first debuted, I was very intimidated talking about it. I was kind of under the impression that there would be people who consume my content and just convince themselves that I’m just tan, or I’m just gyaru, because that’s the only way that they would accept it. As I get more confident in myself and my content and my creations, I feel more accepted with the girls and the community that I do have. I feel like I don’t really need to worry about it as much. I was scared that I was like: “Oh, if I talk about being Black, my numbers’ll go down because people don’t want to consume that, or they don’t want to think about it. It ruins things for them,” and I’m like: “Honestly, if me being Black ruins VTubing or anime for them, then I don’t need that community.” I wanna be more open about it. I want other Black creators to feel being open about it as well.

A-to-J: Yeah, that’s a really great point. Abi, how about you?
Abi: Oh my god. Goals for 2024? I was just so excited by Serina talking I forgot the question. For 2024, my goal is to get to do a standup comedy special as a VTuber. I am hard at work on it. There’s a lot that goes into doing it. To do a good stand-up set, you basically have to run it a million times, and run it with different audiences. How you do that when the tech doesn’t allow you to see your audience, and stand up involves crowd work so heavily, so that is something we’ve been working on, ever since debut really, trying to figure out how to optimally do it in a way that the essence of VTubing is still there, as well as the essence of stand-up comedy. Because it’s very close to streaming. They are very tightly knit, but the matter of seeing people's reactions and calling them out with lags and all of that is a fine art to tune. Perfecting that in the next year is super important to me. I really do love comedy, and I really desire to do that. I will also be doing more comedic covers in the next few months. I think it’s a nice way to merge my idol ambitions and my comedy ambitions. I will keep trying to do at least once a month “A Poorly Portuguese Stream.” I have subtitles on my stream and I really try to switch up. I’m from Brazil. I just moved here and a lot of the Brazilian followers have been super supportive of me and really trying to help me out. I wanna make sure that I don’t go like: “Oh my gosh! Thank you for helping me grow. Goodbye!” I want them to feel appreciated every step of the way, whether it’s helping them learn English so they can consume more different content, whether it’s just helping other VTubers from Brazil reach worldwide demographics, or just doing my best to do more Portuguese streams and just bringing their culture abroad. I wanna make sure I’m grateful for how kind they have been to me. Also, you know, Brazil-mention. Whether it annoys people or not, I would love for my culture to be more meta in the online space. It is. We all know about it, but there are still many cool things that I still wanna share. Those are my main goals, but also for us, it’s so important that the V4 girls help each other out, so another goal is just to make time to also help my fellow creators, not prioritize myself so much and my goals that I can’t be there for them.

A-to-J: We are just about out of time, but would you guys like to give a short little goodbye to your fans?
Serina: Abi, you should go first. I’ve gone first every question so far.
Abi: You know I love it when you go first. You’re doing this to me on purpose! [Laughs] Okay, I’ll do it. I’ll do it. I’m so grateful to all of you whether you came, whether you’re watching the concert later on, you’re just reading this interview, you just comment a sticker in chat every two months, I love all of you guys. I really appreciate your support. I hope I bring you joy and please, please check out all of the girls. Every one is so unique and special. Serina is my best friend for life, but so are all the other ones. I love every single girl, and they’re so unique so please, if you enjoy our content, check us all out and share us with your friends. Help grow the V4 family.
A-to-J: And Serina?
Serina: For me, I just want to say thank you so, so much. Not just to my community but also the V4 staff, all the V4 girls. Like Abi said, we’re besties but I also really, really like the second gen girls as well. They’re all so, so sweet and they’re so different in their own ways. I love getting to like squeal with them if that makes any sense, and do late night karaoke, and hang out with them, and share our interests. I just want to say thank you so much to the community for making me feel so comfortable and accepted. I know how much I gush about the company all the time, and how much I love being in V4. The management’s also so, so, so accommodating, and they’re always so welcoming and it makes me really happy. Because I know that not a lot of Black people working, especially in corporate jobs, can say that they feel genuinely like they’re equal with everybody and that they feel genuinely really comfortable. It’s little things like when we’re getting art done , and one of the managers will call out: “I think Serina’s looking a little light. Can we take her a couple shades darker?” They just do so many little things to make me feel genuinely seen and cared about and it makes me really happy. I know this is supposed to be a thank you to the community so yes, thank you to the community as well. Because they also make me feel so comfortable being myself and feel so accepted being myself, and I hope that we can tap into that and we can really expand the community, not just in VTubing, but just in streamer culture in general. I really wanna reach out to like the IRL viewers especially the people that like watching other Black streamers. I really wanna tap into that community so if you’ll have me, I’m on my way.
Abi: They will have you.
A-to-J: Awesome! Thank you guys so much for the interview!

We'd like to thank Abi Kadabura, Serina Maiko, and V4Mirai for the interview and we strongly encourage everyone to check them out via the links below. As always, keep an eye out for more from V4Mirai in the future! Also, special thanks to Anime Los Angeles for this opportunity!

For More Information:
V4Mirai Site: https://v4mirai.com/
Abi Kadabura Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbiKadabura
Abi Kadabura YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AbiKadabura
Serina Maiko Twitter: https://twitter.com/SerinaMaiko
Serina Maiko YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SerinaMaiko

The above interview was conducted by Megan Smith. Transcription by Jeffery Kelly. Photography by Ivan Aburto.

]]><![CDATA[Anime Meets Tarot Cards: An Interview with Aozora Sorano of ARCANA PROJECT]]>Wed, 08 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/idol/anime-meets-tarot-cards-an-interview-with-aozora-sorano-of-arcana-project

ARCANA PROJECT is a 5-member vocal unit by DEARSTAGE and Lantis. DEARSTAGE is the entertainment agency to which “Denpagumi.inc” and “Niji no Conquistador” belong, while Lantis is a music label specializing in anime songs. The five members of this group are Usa Sakurano, Hana Hanamiya, Shion Aida, Aozora Sorano, and Hikaru Amano. With a worldview based on tarot cards as its motif, the group expresses various genres of music with each member's unique vocals and performance. We recently had the opportunity to discuss ARCANA PROJECT with The Wheel of Fortune herself, Aozora Sorano! Check it out, and then be sure to give their music a listen via the links at the end of the interview!

Aozora Sorano

A-to-J: ARCANA PROJECT has a pretty unique history and theme. Can you tell us about your formation and about how tarot cards are incorporated into your image?
A-to-J: ARCANA PROJECTにはかなりユニークな歴史とテーマがあります。その成り立ちとタロットカードがどのようにグループのイメージに組み込まれているのかを教えていただけますか？
空野青空: 最初「タロットカード」がテーマと聞いた時はびっくりしました。更に、オーディションの案内バナーやサイトが招待状のようなデザインでとても可愛いく、ロマンチックな印象を受けました。タロットカードがモチーフになった楽曲もいくつかあり、私個人としてはタロットカードで占いをする生配信を行ったりしています。
Aozora Sorano: When I first heard that the theme was "tarot cards," I was surprised. Furthermore, the audition banner and website were designed like an invitation card, which gave me a very cute and romantic impression. There are several songs with tarot card motifs, and I personally have been doing a lives in which I tell fortunes using tarot cards.

A-to-J: Each member has their own image and personality, can each of you give us a bit about your individual backgrounds and how you got into music?
A-to-J: 各メンバーはそれぞれ独自のイメージと個性を持っています。それぞれの経歴と音楽を始めたきっかけを教えてください。
空野青空: わたしは富山出身です。アニメソングを歌いたいけれど、芸能が盛んな東京へ突然上京して夢を追いかけられるほど経済的な余裕もツテもありませんでした。そこで、まずは芸能に近いお仕事から始めようと、ご当地アイドルのオーディションを受けて合格。ここからアイドル、シンガーとしての人生が始まりました。ご当地アイドルとしての活動を終えて、単独戦闘型アイドル（いわゆるソロアイドル）をはじめたのですが、ここでアニメソングに携わっている作家さんや大好きなガンダムに関わる仕事ができて、かなり夢に近づいた気がします。ソロアイドルとしては王道アイドルなPOPSからハードスタイルまで、様々な音楽に挑戦して声とサウンドのギャップを楽しんでほしいという裏テーマもありました。その後ARCANA PROJECTに出会い改めてグループとしての音楽作りを改めて知りました。ユニゾン、ソロパートでの際立たせ方、コーラスワーク等も充実させていきたい、常に探究心を持って音楽ができています。
Aozora Sorano: I am from Toyama. I wanted to sing anime songs, but I did not have the financial means or contacts to suddenly move to Tokyo, where the entertainment industry is thriving, to pursue my dream. So, I decided to start with a job similar to performing arts, and passed an audition for a local idol group. This was the beginning of my life as an idol and singer. After finishing my activities as a local idol, I started my career as a solo idol and I was able to work with writers involved in anime songs and Gundam, which I love. As a solo idol, my underlying theme was to enjoy the gap between my voice and the music sounds by challenging myself with a variety of music, ranging from traditional idol pops to hard styles. Then I met ARCANA PROJECT and learned anew how to make music as a group. I want to enhance the unison, the solo parts and the chorus parts. I'm always working on music with a sense of novelty.

A-to-J: ARCANA PROJECT's music has been used in several TV anime like Monster Girl Doctor, Redo of Healer, and SYNDUALITY Noir. Are you fans of anime? Particularly the ones that you've been involved with?
A-to-J: ARCANA PROJECTの音楽は、『モンスター娘のお医者さん』、『回復術士のやり直し』、『SYNDUALITY: Noir』などのテレビアニメで使用されていますね。みなさんはアニメはお好きですか？ARCANA PROJECTが携わったものの中で特に好きなものはございますか？
空野青空: アニメソングを歌うという夢を抱いてアイドルになるほど、アニメソングが好きで、その根本がアニメにあります。大好きです。携わらせていただいたアニメの中で特にお気に入りは「白い砂のアクアトープ」です。故郷である富山県のアニメ制作会社「P.A.WORKS」さんのアニメに関われることが嬉しかった記憶があります。時には海の波に身を任せてたゆたってみてもいいんじゃない？というメッセージも作品に込められていて、ついつい肩の力を入れすぎてしまう自分にはとても刺さりました。
Aozora Sorano: I love anime songs so much that I became an idol with the dream of singing anime songs, and the root of my love is anime. I love it. Among the animations I have been involved in, my favorite is "The Aquatope on White Sand". I remember I was happy to be involved in the animation of "P.A.WORKS," an animation production company from my hometown in Toyama Prefecture. "Sometimes it's okay to let the waves of the ocean wash over you" was the main message of this song. This really stuck with me, as I tend to put too much stress on my shoulders.

"Eureka" MV

"Koigoromo" MV

A-to-J: You recently released your latest single "Eureka". Can you tell us a bit about it?
A-to-J: 先日、最新シングル「ユリイカ」をリリースしましたね。その曲について教えてください。
空野青空: アニメの退廃的な世界観と人とAIの絆が構築されていく様をミドルテンポかつ優しいサウンドで表現しています。コーラスワークも多い曲なので、ソロだけでなくメンバー同士の声の重なりも楽しめる1曲です！身近にいる大切な人の尊さに気づけるのではないでしょうか。
Aozora Sorano: The decadent world of the anime and the bonds that are built between people and AI are expressed in a mid-tempo and gentle sound. The song has a lot of chorus work, so you can enjoy not only the solos but also the overlapping of the members' voices! It is a song that will make you realize the preciousness of your loved ones around you.

A-to-J: This release also marks an upcoming one-man show. How would you describe an ARCANA PROJECT concert for those who have not yet been able to attend one?
A-to-J: 今回のリリースに加えて、ワンマンライブの開催も決定していますね！ARCANA PROJECTのライブにまだ足を運んだことのない人たちに、ライブの雰囲気について教えてください。
空野青空: 思ったよりアツい人達なんだなって思われるかもしれませんね…(!?)1曲入魂が20曲くらい続くワンマンライブでした。できることなら舞台セットやわたしたちのパフォーマンス力など、どんどんパワーアップさせていって、ひとつのミュージカルをみている感覚になるライブにしていきたいです。がんばりますよー！！
Aozora Sorano: You might think they are cooler than you expected...(!?) It was a live performance of about 20 songs. If possible, I would like to improve the stage set and our performance so that the audience would feel as if they were watching a musical. I promise to give my all.

A-to-J: What are some of the future goals for the group? Do you hope to perform overseas soon?
A-to-J: グループの今後の目標は？近いうちに海外でパフォーマンスしたいですか？
空野青空: 海外でのパフォーマンスは常々視野に入れています！自分たちだけの力では現実にすることはなかやか難しいですが、いずれは日本のアニメ文化を発信していく広告塔のような存在になりたいです。私個人としてはコスプレも好きなので、その点も存分に活かして活動していきたいです！
Aozora Sorano: We are always looking at performing overseas! It is difficult to make it a reality on our own, but eventually we would like to become a group that is able to promote Japanese anime culture. As for myself, I also like cosplaying, so I would like for everyone to see that aspect of myself too.

A-to-J: Is there any message you’d like to give your overseas fans?
A-to-J: 海外のファンにメッセージをお願いします。
空野青空: 好きなものが同じ海外の方にお会いしてヲタトークを繰り広げたいという野望があります（例えばガンダムや鬼滅の刃等）ARCANA PROJECTとしては音楽やアニメを通して色んな方々と仲良くなれたらいいなと思います。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします！
Aozora Sorano: I want to meet people from overseas who like the same things I like and engage in otaku talk! (like Gundam and Demon Slayer). As for ARCANA PROJECT, we hope to make friends with many people through our music and anime.

We're very grateful to ARCANA PROJECT for taking the time to answer our questions, and you for checking it out! Be sure to check out their music, as well as all their social media, both linked below!

For More Information on ARCANA PROJECT:
Streaming Links: https://lnk.to/arcanaproject
Official Site: https://arcana-project.com/
X (Twitter): https://x.com/arcanaproject
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arcana_project/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@arcanaprojectofficialchann6708
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arcana_project

]]><![CDATA[Walküre to Release “FINAL LIVE TOUR 2023 〜Last Mission〜” Concert Blu-ray & DVD]]>Mon, 25 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/idol/walkure-to-release-final-live-tour-2023-last-mission-concert-blu-ray-dvd

It was recently announced that “Walküre FINAL LIVE TOUR 2023 〜Last Mission〜”, which took place from May to June this year, will soon be available on Blu-ray and DVD. This much anticipated release is a perfect send off for the much loved group, and you can read more about this upcoming release below.

Kicking off on May 20 at Tokyo Ariake Arena, followed by performances at Maruzen Intec Arena Osaka and Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Halls 1-3, “Walküre FINAL LIVE TOUR 2023 〜Last Mission〜” marked the first-ever six-performance arena tour in Macross history, entertaining a total of approximately 74,000 attendees. The final show witnessed fierce ticket competition, with numerous fans eagerly anticipating a video release. This product, which captures the excitement and enthusiasm of the live venues, will be released in five different formats.

The limited-edition “Mission Complete Edition”, exclusively available on Blu-ray, includes approximately 10 hours of footage, featuring Tokyo Ariake Arena Day 1 & Makuhari Messe Day 6 performances, Tokyo Ariake Arena Day 2 & Makuhari Messe Day 5 encore segments, and an in-depth documentary offering an inside look into all six performances. Additionally, it comes in a special collector’s case accompanied by a lavish 68-page photo book.

The standard edition will be available in four different formats, each containing the tour's opening day and final show on both Blu-ray and DVD. “At Tokyo Ariake Arena (Day 1)” comprises footage from the Day 1 performance at Tokyo Ariake Arena and backstage documentary footage from both Tokyo shows. “At Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Halls (Day 6)” similarly features footage from the Day 6 performance at Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Halls 1-3 and backstage documentary material from both Makuhari performances. All Blu-ray versions offer a dual sound mode, with 5.1-channel surround and 2-channel stereo, to faithfully reproduce the overwhelming energy of the massive stages. (Note that the DVD and documentary are available in 2-channel stereo only.)

The cover features an original illustration drawn by Chisato Mita (CAPCOM), the character designer for MacrossΔ. This striking illustration portrays the Walküre members adorned in their pristine white live outfits, evoking the theme of “departure”.

"FINAL LIVE TOUR 2023 〜Last Mission〜" will be available on December 20, 2003

Macross Website: https://macross.jp/

]]><![CDATA[Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu Releave Music Video for New Single: "Kawaii Memorial"]]>Sun, 24 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/idol/cho-tokimekisendenbu-releave-music-video-for-new-single-kawaii-memorial

Japanese idol group Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu recently completed their Heart Lock-on Hall TOUR 2023, ending with a performance at Hitomi Memorial Hall at Showa Women’s University in Tokyo. This was their longest tour to date, and ended in success. Following this, the group has released a music video for their latest single, "Kawaii Memorial". Details on this MV, and the single itself, can be found below!

The single "Kawaii Memorial" is set to release on September 27, with the MV now being available on their YouTube channel. The music video was shot in Indonesia, which is the country where Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu’s breakout hit single "Suki! ~Cho ver~" topped the Spotify Viral Top 50 chart when it was released in November 2021. This hit spawned a huge fan base for TokiSen in Indonesia, and it was determined to be the perfect place to shoot their latest MV following a successful performance at the Impactnation Japan Festival 2023 in July.

The word “kawaii” means “cute” in Japanese, and the video is stuffed to bursting with cuteness. The song has a bright, sparkling melody that is sure to soundtrack anyone's “kawaii memorial” day, and the video suits this vibe perfectly. The song was used in Season 2 of the drama series "Minato Shouji Coin Laundry", and a video for the "Minato Shouji Coin Laundry ver." edition of the song was shot on the location of the drama series and released on July 26.

The new MV for "Kawaii Memorial" can be found below.

For More Information:
Official Website: http://toki-sen.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPO-HYS3fdDIKlMMgpcCzdg
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokisen_official
X: https://twitter.com/sendenbu_staff
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokisen_sd/

"Kawaii Memorial" Download & Streaming Links:
https://cho-toki-sen.lnk.to/230925sg_st

]]><![CDATA[Japanese Idol Group Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu Release New Song: "Kawaii Memorial"]]>Thu, 20 Jul 2023 14:07:02 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/idol/japanese-idol-group-cho-tokimekisendenbu-release-new-song-kawaii-memorial

It was recently announced that Japanese idol group Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu will release a new song, titled "Kawaii Memorial", as a CD single on Wednesday, September 27! Details on this release, and Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu themselves, can be found below!

Based on a manga series written by Yuzu Tsubaki and illustrated by Sawa Kanzume, and published on the free manga website Gene pixiv, the drama series Minato Shouji Coin Laundry was originally broadcast in 2022. Season 2 continues the heart-pounding love story that transcends age differences, and following on from the first season, Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu have once again been selected to provide the theme song. This summer, Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu will shake up Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 2 with a theme song that is way too cute!

In the new song "Kawaii Memorial", the repeated use of the word “kawaii” is sure to be addictive to fans everywhere. And with lyrics that translate as “I want your super-cuteness all to myself” sung to a bright and glittering melody, Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu deliver an explosion of ♡cute♡ you won’t want to share.

"Kawaii Memorial" Download & Streaming Links:
https://cho-toki-sen.lnk.to/kawaiimemorial

Additionally, a "Kawaii Memorial" campaign is being held on TikTok to celebrate the broadcast of the drama series! Videos posted to TikTok during the campaign period that use the official "Kawaii Memorial" track will be eligible to win prizes in a variety of categories.

How to enter
① Create a video and link it with the official ‘Kawaii Memorial’ track on TikTok
② Include the hashtag #kawaiimemorial
③ Mention the official Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu TikTok account (@tokisen_official)
★ Winners will be selected from eligible videos posted during the campaign period, with winners in the categories listed below!

Categories
1) The video with the highest number of “likes”
1st prize: Amazon Gift Card (5,000 yen value), Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu plush keyholders (full set), autographs from the group members
2nd-4th prize: Amazon Gift Card (5,000 yen value)
5th-10th prize: "Kawaii TokiSen" instant photo (member picked at random) with winner’s name on it
11th-20th prize: "Kawaii Memorial" original smartphone ring

2) 30 winners selected by lottery from all posted videos (posts with more “likes” have a higher chance of winning)
A special not-for-sale promotional "Kawaii Memorial" glitter sticker (random stickers will be autographed!)

3) Six special winners selected by the members of Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu
Original mobile battery featuring that group member
* For example, the winner of the Kanami Award will win a Kanami Tsujino mobile battery

Campaign Period:
00:00 JST on Wednesday, July 5 through 23:59 JST on Sunday, October 22

* Entrants may post an unlimited number of times during the campaign period
* Winners will be contacted via direct message on TikTok
* In the unlikely event that there is no reply, the prize will be revoked
* Resale or transfer of prizes is prohibited
* Videos may be excluded at staff’s discretion regardless of number of “likes”
* Videos are posted at entrants’ own risk, and we assume no responsibility from any issues that occur
* Personal information obtained will be used for purposes such as communication with winners and shipping prizes. All personal information obtained will be managed by our company and will not be disclosed or provided to third parties other than outsourcing contractors without the consent of the entrant (unless disclosure is required by law)
* We will be unable to contact entrants who have disabled direct messages on their TikTok account, so entrants are requested to enable direct messages. Please also follow the official Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu TikTok account to ensure that messages can be received
* Prizes will be sent from November to December 2023, subject to change
* The 5,000 yen Amazon Gift Card will be adjusted to the equivalent currency of the country where it is redeemed

Official Website: http://toki-sen.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPO-HYS3fdDIKlMMgpcCzdg
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokisen_official
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sendenbu_staff
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokisen_sd/

]]><![CDATA[Japanese Idol Group Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu Release New Single: "LOVE IYAIYA KI"]]>Fri, 19 May 2023 07:00:00 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/idol/japanese-idol-group-cho-tokimekisendenbu-release-new-single-love-iyaiya-ki

It's been a whils since Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu released their viral hit single, "Suki! ~Cho ver~", and the six-member group have just released their first single of 2023, titled "LOVE IYAIYA KI". A new MV was also released, and everything you'll want to know about the single, including some links to listen to it, can be found below!

“Iyaiya ki” is the Japanese term for the terrible twos. The song title refers to that frustrating feeling when the desire to be loved can bring on a major hissy fit. It’s an experience we can all relate to: When we fall in love with someone, we demand their affection and approval, begging them to “Tell me you love me!” “Message me more!” “Have eyes for no one but me!” ‘LOVE IYAIYA KI’ packs this concept with the kind of fun melodrama we love to see from Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu, resulting in a cute and poppy song about the desire for that special someone’s approval. In the music video, the members of Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu pull irritated “iyaiya ki” faces, which are as drop-dead adorable as you’d expect.

To mark the release of "LOVE IYAIYA KI", the members of Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu posted a set of comment videos in Japanese, English and Korean on YouTube which cann all be found below!

Release Comment (Japanese): https://youtube.com/shorts/byxA0dXhdAM
Release Comment (English): https://youtube.com/shorts/OIAOxjPcXvU
Release Comment (Korean): https://youtube.com/shorts/y8IjIKnP1dE

Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu recently celebrated their third anniversary, and on April 7, they began starring in their own broadcast TV series on TV Tokyo. The explosive TikTok success of their single "Suki! ~Cho ver~" won fans of all ages around the world, and the group have announced an upcoming appearance at Indonesia’s largest Japanese culture festival in July. In 2024, they will perform a headline concert at Yokohama Arena, as Cho Tokimeki♡Sendenbu continue to attract attention from fans in Japan and all over the world.

The music video for "LOVE IYAIYA KI" can be found below.

Download & Streaming Links:
https://cho-toki-sen.lnk.to/loveiyaiyaki_st

Official Website: http://toki-sen.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPO-HYS3fdDIKlMMgpcCzdg
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokisen_official
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sendenbu_staff
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokisen_sd/

]]><![CDATA[Walküre to Release Macross Delta Live Best Album: “Absolute LIVE!!!!!"]]>Sun, 19 Feb 2023 03:44:36 GMThttp://a-to-jconnections.com/idol/walkure-to-release-macross-delta-live-best-album-absolute-live

We're always excited to hear anything new from Walküre and during the recent Macross 40th anniversary YouTube livestream, members Minori Suzuki and Nozomi Nishida made a big announcement: the release of a MacrossΔ Live Best Album, titled “Absolute LIVE!!!!!”

Since their debut in 2016, Walküre, the tactical music unit from the TV anime "MacrossΔ" ("Macross Delta"), has achieved numerous milestones in the world of anime music. They won the Japan Gold Disc Award for Animation Album of the Year, and their singles and albums have ranked #1 on the Oricon and Billboard Japan weekly charts. They've even hosted several concerts overseas. However, Walküre’s activities will soon come to an end, as they prepare for their final live tour in May 2023. Everyone can look forward to the long-awaited live best album, set to be released ahead of this tour.

This album features the best takes of each song from their past five live performances, starting with “1st Live in Zepp Walküre Attack!” in 2016 and ending with “Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~” in 2022. In addition to 50 songs arranged in the same order as their original albums, this 4-CD album includes rare and unreleased songs, as well as special arranged versions performed only at live events, including a performance by Yami_Q_ray from “Macross Delta the Movie: Absolute LIVE!!!!!!”

This album will be released in three different forms: a Limited First Edition, a Standard Edition, and a First-Run Limited Production Edition (only available at the Victor Online Store). The Limited First Edition includes a bonus Blu-ray featuring six previously unreleased music videos, from their debut song “Ichido Dake no Koi Nara” to “Walküre wa Akiramenai.” Additionally, the First-Run Limited Production Edition will include “Walküre Reborn! End-of-Year Party at Victor Studio,” a special limited-time distribution that was shown on the official FlyingDog YouTube channel on December 26, 2022, for just five days. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy this fantastic footage!

In a first for the Macross series, the jacket visuals for “Absolute LIVE!!!!!” will feature photographs taken by the Walküre members themselves, reflecting their immense popularity. The jacket visual is set to be released at a later date, so keep an eye out for more information.

Release Information
Title: MacrossΔ Live Best Album “Absolute LIVE!!!!!”
Release date: May 17, 2023

Tracklist:
Disc 1: LIVE from “Walküre Attack!”
1. Love! Halation THE WAR ~without Freyja~ (1st Live in Zepp Walküre Attack!)
2. Ichido Dake no Koi Nara (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)
3. Giritic♡BEGINNER (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)
4. Fukakuteisei☆COSMIC MOVEMENT (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)
5. Bokura no Senjou (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)
6. NEO STREAM (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena/Day 2)
7. AXIA ~Daisuki de Daikirai~ (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)
8. GIRAFFE BLUES (Live Tour 2020-2021 ~Walküre wa Akiramenai!!!!!~ at Zepp Haneda (Tokyo))
9. Walküre Attack! (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena/Day 2)
10. Rune ga Pika tto Hikattara (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena/Day 1)
11. Ikenai Borderline (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena/Day 2)
12. Love! Halation THE WAR (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)

Disc 2: LIVE from “Walküre Trap!”
1. Absolute 5 (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)
2. Zettai Reido Θ Novatick (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)
3. Onya no Ko☆girl (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)
4. LOVE! THUNDER GLOW (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)
5. Silent Hacker (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena/Day 1)
6. Hametsu no Junjou (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)
7. Hear The Universe (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)
8. Namidame Bakuhatsuon (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena/Day 2)
9. Walküre no Birthday Song (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)
10. God Bless You (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)
11. Kaze wa Yokoku Naku Fuku (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
12. Ai Oboete Imasu ka (Live 2017 Walküre ga Tomaranai at Yokohama Arena)

Disc 3: LIVE from “Walküre Reborn!”
1. Kuchibiru no Toushou (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
2. Mirai wa Onna no Tame ni Aru (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
3. Mugendai DRIVE (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
4. Kikiwakenai! (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
5. Madamania (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
6. Kizuna→Spiral (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
7. Aishiteru (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
8. Tsurami Genzai Shinkokei (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
9. Walküre wa Akiramenai (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
10. ALIVE ~Inori no Uta~ (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
11. Uchuu no Kakera (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
12. Rune ga Pika tto Hikattara (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)

Disc 4: LIVE from Others
1. Youkoso! Walküre World e (Live 2017 “Walküre ga Tomaranai” at Yokohama Arena)
2. Namidame Bakuhatsuon ~with Claire~ (Live 2017 “Walküre ga Tomaranai” at Yokohama Arena)
3. Seikan Hikou ~with Claire~ (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena/Day 2)
4. Fukakuteisei☆COSMIC MOVEMENT ~Walküre meets Ranka~ (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena/Day 2)
5. Diamond Crevasse ~Mikumo meets Sheryl~ (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena/Day 1)
6. Bokura no Senjou ~Walküre meets Sheryl~ (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena/Day 1)
7. GIRAFFE BLUES ~Kaname Solo Requiem~ (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena/Day 1)
8. Glow in the dark (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
9. Diva in Abyss (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
10. Kirei na Hana niwa Doku ga Aru (Live 2022 ~ Walküre Reborn ~ at Makuhari Messe)
11. Walküre ga Tomaranai (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena)
12. Walküre ga Uragiranai (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena)
13. Change!!!!! (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena/Day 2)
14. Dancing in the Moonlight (Live 2018 Walküre wa Uragiranai at Yokohama Arena/Day 1)

Bonus Blu-ray (Limited Edtions Only)
Music Videos
1. Ichido Dake no Koi Nara
2. Zettai Reido Θ Novatick
3. Walküre ga Tomaranai
4. Walküre wa Uragiranai
5. Mirai wa Onna no Tame ni Aru
6. Walküre wa Akiramenai

First-Run Limited Production Edition (limited to Victor Online Store)
In addition to the six music videos in the Limited First Edition, the First-Run Limited Production Edition includes “Walküre Reborn! End-of-Year Party at Victor Studio,” a special limited-time distribution that was shown on the official FlyingDog YouTube channel on December 26, 2022.

Distribution Information
Available on streaming services and major download sites such as the iTunes Store, RecoChoku, and mora from May 17, 2023.

Walküre Profile
The Macross series will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. Together with Gundam and Evangelion, Macross is one of the big three popular robot anime series in Japan. The tactical music unit Walküre appeared in Macross Delta, the latest installment of the series that has been highly popular both at home and abroad. It is the first five-member group in the history of the Macross series, which has produced various divas such as Mari Iijima, Chie Kajiura, May’n, and Megumi Nakajima. JUNNA, the series’ youngest diva at the age of 15 at the time of the 2016 TV broadcast, and Minori Suzuki, who successfully won the role of the heroine from about 8,000 people at the Macross Audition, are the front vocalists, and together, the five of them deliver exceptional chorus work. Apart from JUNNA, all four of them also voice the characters.

Their debut single, “Ichido Dake no Koi Nara,” has been viewed more than 19 million times on YouTube. Their 1st album “Walküre Attack!” sold 200,000 CDs, ranked 1st on the Billboard Weekly Album Chart, 2nd on the Oricon Weekly Album Chart, and won Animation Album of the Year at the 31st Japan Gold Disc Awards, taking the anime music world by storm. In their five-year career, they have released four singles, two albums, one mini-album, and two live video products. Their latest single "Mirai wa Onna no Tame ni aru," which was released last year, reached No. 1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart. Featuring strong melodies that pay homage to the songs of the Showa era, their high-brow music is based on a variety of sounds, including rock, progressive rock, electronica, and drum ’n’ bass, and has received tremendous support.

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