 Ever since the Nakisou Sunday single release, bi bi bi bi bi has been one of the most hotly anticipated events in BILLIE IDLE's (admittedly short) history. It also serves as the group's first full release without the much-beloved Yasui Yuuhi, and in turn somewhat of a proving ground for her replacement Akira. I'm happy to say that bi bi bi bi bi smashes all expectations to take its rightful place in BILLIE IDLE's discography.
 Only a week after re-recording some classic BiS tracks, the new BiS are back with another song, this time something totally new!
 Though I adore callme’s music, I admittedly was out of touch with their recent releases due to the hectic nature of my trip to Japan. It came as a surprise to me when I walked into the Tower Records in Shibuya and discovered that callme’s third single, ‘Confession’, was on display in the idol section. When I finally came home and got to pop it in, I couldn’t have been happier. Much to my delight, the headlining song of the release, ‘Confession’, has a heavy piano motif. I always get really excited whenever they use piano motifs in their songs like this. It has a very smooth beat that helps to make the listener relax while enticing the senses with just the right amount of exciting sound. To help accentuate this are the soft vocals that really helps to make the music itself standout. Following that is the song ‘Take my time’, which is a deeply calming song that throws a constant barrage of soothing sound at you to help drown out distractions. Every time I hear this song I honestly feel at peace, which is likely the goal they were going for when creating it. It’s not entirely unique, but is very solid. ‘Summer of love’ is the final song on this release. The song title actually best describes the song in a nutshell. It sounds like a fun, sunny, bright and endearing song. It’s especially nice that callme manages to take some simple song concepts and beats and successfully blends them together to form something different yet familiar and fun yet soothing. ‘Summer of love’ is the culmination of this concept. The whole release clearly is set around the theme of love coupled with the carefree nature of summer. Being a summer release, this makes complete sense and fits quite nicely. ‘Confession’ released on June 29th and is available at cdjapan for order in three editions. Type A includes a DVD with the music video for ‘Confession’; Type B includes a special DVD with some production content; Type C is the only version that includes the song ‘Summer of love’ and it’s instrumental. Be sure to get your copy! - Teepu 
New BiS has been a tough subject for me. While I'm glad that one of my favorite idol groups is back, the live performances with the new members have been... not so good. The wait for new studio material has been frustrating at best! This morning, though, that wait has come to an end. BiS released a ton of redone versions of old songs right onto their Soundcloud account!
Reknowned idol group, BiSH, recently released a new PV titled "本当本気 (Hontou Honki)". Which translates to "really serious". This new PV's video is very vibrant with a fast pace.  The newest member of the group "AYUNi D", got the spotlight as well! Congrats to her! This PV was fun, well-paced , and had a touch of goofiness. The girls in the group are running through the streets of what seems like Tokyo with a shopping cart that has lights attached to it while at the same time Momo has a megaphone and is yelling at the top of her lungs! Things get more interesting when we see Chittiii come by on roller skates, skating through the city with the rest of group. The fun doesn't stop there, the intensity keeps up with Aina dancing in the hallway for pretty much the entire music video, adding more vibrant colors and fast pacing since her dancing style for the PV is very over-exaggerated and wild. LASTLY the big thing that had fans dying and blowing up the comment section is the kiss that happens in the PV! If you pay close attentuon there are actually TWO kisses.
The main kiss being Aina and Chittiii. For the second kiss it is Momo kissing AYUNi D on the cheek! With every new PV comes great music! The actual song itself featured very fast electric guitar playing and big, fast, wild drumming with a touch techno music in-between. This song also has its slow transitions into the chorus while at the same time slowing down the PV itself to match the music atmosphere created. The team over at AVEX sure do know how to give people what they want! My overall thoughts? It was both refreshing and fun to watch! The main thing for me, was that i could not stop staring at AYUNi D and Atsuko the whole time! They're just too cute! I loved the fun they were having running around like chickens with no heads in a shopping cart! It shows the girls are great friends and are very comfortable with each other. Be sure to give the video a watch and subscribe to avex for more videos like these not only from BiSH, but other artists as well! -光る BiSH - Hontou Honki  Having had the pleasure of travelling to see various idols perform, I had never gone to the popular ‘Naruchika’ events that Hello! Project started back in 2013. I finally had the opportunity to go during my most recent trip to Japan (specifically to a Morning Musume。‘16 Naruchika concert in Shunan), and I can speak from personal experience on why they are as amazing as fans make them out to be. First thing’s first though: what does ‘Naruchika’ even mean? Naruchika is a shortening of the phrase ‘Narudake Chikakude’, which essentially means ‘being as close as possible’, which is what the concert revolves around. While it is completely normal and expected to be able to go to small venues in small towns and see indie idols perform, it’s not exactly the case when it comes to major idols such as AKB48 or Morning Musume。‘16. More than anything it ends up being a logistical issue. There’s much more money to be had in big venues, which is important considering the heightened costs that come with more popular idol groups. It’s an unfortunate but understandable situation.  The general idea behind Naruchika is to kind of re-capture that feeling that we get when we go to small indie lives. The closeness you feel by being in a live house or small venue, where it’s easier to interact, be noticed and overall experience everything that is happening. Not only that, but this movement was designed to cater to some of the smaller towns where fans may not necessarily be close enough to larger areas like Tokyo or Kyoto where they may not be able to afford the trip to the bigger cities or may merely not have the time to make that kind of a trek. As a result, these places which have fans who would like to support their groups in the same way as fans in the big cities end up being left out. Thus they get to deliver to the small-town where people don’t have as easy access to the idols they love. This all turns into a multi-faceted situation where more people get to experience the idols they love and everybody is happy. The concept kicked off with a °C-ute and S/mileage crossover concert tour in 2013 that hit smaller locations within areas like Hokkaido, Gifu and Kochi. Unsurprisingly, these were very successful and as a result have continued every year with various groups, the most recent of which being Morning Musume。‘16.  So now that I got to experience one, was it all it was cracked up to be? You bet! Having only been to Tokyo in my trips to Japan, I decided to give this a go. I made the long trek south to Yamaguchi Prefecture via the Shinkansen. It was about 6 hours when I finally arrived in the town of Shunan, which is almost at the southern tip of the main island of Japan. With my minimal communication skills, I was able to manage my way around. I got up early the next day and went to the venue to discover a lot of local fans who I tried to chat with, along with fans from all over the country who made the long trip for the idols they love. Interestingly enough, I was the only foreigner that I was able to spot. The concert itself was really cramped, but really charged. The most exciting part of the whole experience was that everyone could clearly see the group and everyone could get noticed by the group. When it comes to idols, oftentimes those are the most important things. It was a very personal experience and I enjoyed it thoroughly (even if I didn’t win any of the raffle). Incidentally, if you’ve gone to any of the overseas Hello! Project performances then you have an idea of how a Naruchika is, since these concerts tend to be modeled in that way.
So if you’re a fan of Hello! Project groups, I can’t recommend enough that you do your best to make it out to a Naruchika concert at some point. With the rare exception like Berryz Kobo going to Bangkok in 2015, Naruchika concerts are held exclusively in Japan. It’s a very endearing experience from a fan’s perspective and also opens opportunities to see areas of Japan you may not go to normally! - Teepu First of all, let me just say that this is my first review at A-To-J Connections despite being on the team for a year. I’m not the best at describing sounds and song genres but I felt like writing a review so here it is. This new song by ANGERME, “Ai no Tame Kyou Made Shinkashitekita Ningen Ai no Tame Subete Taikashitekita Ningen” which in English means “Humans that have evolved for love Humans that have degenerated everything for love”. Ok, what is up with that title? It is horribly long and hard to say. I wonder how fans are going to shorten it? (Something to look forward to) This is the first song to feature Momona Kasahara, who just recently joined right after Meimi Tamura had left. Even though she doesn’t have the most lines, she got some key lines to showcase herself.  Momona Kasahara getting the first line of the song Just like recent other Hello!Project single releases, this is one of the 3 songs in their triple A-side single which also includes the songs “Umaku Ienai” (Can’t Say It Well) and “Wasureteageru” (I’ll Forget For You). The song itself has EDM qualities to it and the lyrics are very futuristic. It is about humans in a futuristic world that have convenient gadgets and technology but they still have trouble finding love. The dance also reflects the lyrics and has a robotic feel to the movements. All the moves look sharp and cool just like the past couple of ANGERME dances. It really shows how much they have stepped up their game! Now the MV… Per usual for H!P songs, the MV is a simple studio shoot with a couple of backgrounds, lip-synching scenes, and a dance shot. Hearts show up in the MV signifying the love they are yearning for.  Leader, Ayaka Wada and 4th gen member, Moe Kamikokuryou standing next to the heart Even though it is simple, I personally think it shows off the girls more with the cool tone colors and the almost post-apocalyptic setting. The costumes are also simple and the asymmetric dresses are a nice touch. I feel like I’m watching a Morning Musume MV from when they were more EDM heavy in their songs since it has a similar feel to the music and dance. I can’t keep my eyes off of Ayacho because she is a total beauty and has matured quite a bit now!  Ayaka Wada and her surprise wink in the MV I have nothing really to complain about in this song and MV to be quite honest. Lines are nicely distributed, there are cute scenes in there, and the dance looks stunning as usual. I actually didn’t the MV too much when they showed the short preview on Hello! Station but after seeing the full version, I’m a complete fan. I look forward to the lives for this song and the MVs for the other songs! Also hoping to see a dance shot for this song… (I’m sure I’m not the only H!P fan out there that misses Dance Shots for every song!!) The single comes out October 19th, 2016 so make sure to pick it up and support ANGERME for more awesome content! -Tiffany Fujii
ANGERME - "Ai no Tame Kyou Made Shinkashitekita Ningen Ai no Tame Subete Taikashitekita Ningen" MV  For the first time in my life, I had the pleasure of attending Tokyo Idol Festival this year. While I had a couple of vague tips from friends, I mostly went in blind. Rather than forcing you all to do the same as me, I’m here to give you guys an idea of what to expect and to tell you what the experience is like. First of all, what is Tokyo Idol Festival? If you’ve ever been to an outdoor music festival, you already have an idea of what to expect. Tokyo Idol Festival (or TIF) is an outdoor festival where a ton of different idols perform over a weekend for the satisfaction of us, the fans. They set up stages around a designated area (usually Diver City in Tokyo) where various idols will go up to perform throughout the day. Being set up in Diver City means that there is a nice shopping mall with good food, free water, air conditioning and lots of shops to help relax in.  2016 Map About half of the stages can be accessed without paid entry, but to get the best experience you’re going to want to purchase admission. They sell tickets just for foreigners online and even have a special booth at the festival to pick up your wristband (make sure you have your passport and a printout of your receipt). There is also a goods area where there are booths setup for all the idols selling their goods. Oftentimes handshakes and cheki events are held here at a greeting area with some more potential events. It’s important that you take a good look at the schedule before you go, and come up with a game plan of what you want to see. I was warned that often things don’t run on time, but everything was on schedule when I went. When creating your own plan for every day that you’ll be there, you want to make sure you account for the distance between stages. Walking from one end to the other can take upwards of 10 minutes or even more. Some of the stages (Hot Stage and Sky Stage) will usually have a long line for entry. Speaking of Sky Stage, a beautiful location on the roof of one of the buildings, even without a line, going up the elevator and walking the few flights of stairs can take some time. So be wary of locations and logistics if there are any performances you want to see back to back at different stages.  If there is an idol you are particularly a fan of, it’s a good idea to arrive at the stage early so that as other performances are finished and people leave, you can slowly push yourself to the front. Even with all this planning, be prepared for the inevitable truth that you won’t be able to see everything you want. You may get tired, you may get lost or you may just get sidetracked by another event you didn’t know was happening like a handshake or even get caught up buying goods. Speaking of which, be sure to come with plenty of cash, because you will spend money. You will spend lots of money. Don’t forget that this is in early August usually, when summer is at its worst. Be smart. Dress appropriately, carry plenty of water and drink plenty of water. Wear sunscreen and don’t be afraid to go inside the mall to relax and cool off. It’s better you miss a performance or two rather than go to the hospital because of heat stroke or fail to enjoy yourself due to being uncomfortable.  Despite all of these things there are three very integral points that should be followed no matter what: be respectful of others, follow the rules and have fun! TIF is an idol fan’s dream come true, and it is every bit as amazing as it sounds. Despite being exhausted (I stayed there from 9am-11pm one day, even with a 1.5 hour commute to my hotel) all the time, sweaty, hot and oftentimes lost, I can confidently say that it was one of the best idol experiences I had ever had. Experiment, hang around for idols you don’t know and discover something new! Every fan of idols should make it a point to try and attend TIF at least once. I felt like a little kid who was going to Disneyland for the first time. Trust me, you won’t regret it, though your wallet may. - Teepu Official Site: http://www.idolfes.com/  This is what we've been waiting for! Punk idols BiSH have returned with their major label debut, and it's everything you could want from a BiSH album. KiLLER BiSH technically hasn't been "released" yet (physical is out in October!) but I was able to pick it up during the one-day digital sale, and it's been blowing me away ever since. KiLLER BiSH opens with a redone version of "DEADMAN", featuring Ayuni D in Hug Me's place. While I prefer the Hug Me version, it's still a solid punk song. Easily the most hardcore idol song I've ever heard! "First Kitchen Life" is another pummeling punk piece where speed is king. The second single from KiLLER BiSH, "Orchestra", is one of the prettier songs they've done. Backed by a string orchestra (fittingly), it's a deeply emotional love ballad. The accompanying video is absolutely heartbreaking as well. On KiLLER BiSH, BiSH is beginning to slip some metal into their punk formula. The best example of this is probably "Stairway to me", a massive metal piece in the vein of Stairway to Heaven. What starts off as another pretty ballad builds up to a noisy instrumental breakdown which would make BABYMETAL hang their heads in shame. Another high point is "IDOL is SHiT", a tribute to BiS' own "IDOL". Where "IDOL" was a pretty wild song, even by BiS standards, "IDOL is SHiT" takes that notion up a few hundred notches with a perfect contrast between catchy hooks and thickly distorted screams, heavy guitar feedback, and digital hardcore breakdowns. Now all we can hope for is an MV mirroring the original BiS track! My personal favorite song on the album is "summertime", a cute pop punk piece in the style of Western bands like Weezer. The lyrics, written by BiSH's own Momoko Gumi Company, are completely in English. While the style isn't really anything new for BiSH, it's a super catchy song, and just... very cute. The chorus is the catchiest thing BiSH has ever put out, by far. I'll defend this song to the death, seeing as it's a bit of a point of contention for other fans. KiLLER BiSH has some of BiSH's heaviest songs ("IDOL is SHiT", "Am I FRENZY??", "Hey gate", etc...), as well as some of their prettiest and most heartfelt ("Orchestra", "Ikite te Yokatta Toyuu no Nara"). While a major label album means BiSH and company are less open to experimentation, they're still able to put together a fantastic album. As with their previous albums, this one isn't my favorite yet. It's gonna take a little getting used to, but there are some absolute gems on here. It's not perfect, but you'd be hard-pressed to find anybody who does this brand of metal-infused hardcore pop-punk better than BiSH. They've really come into their own, no longer living in the shadow of their predecessors. -Justin Here’s the low-down on one of Johnny’s Entertainment’s younger groups: Hey! Say! JUMP. The nine-member boyband has had an extensive history despite all of the members currently ranging from their early to mid-twenties.  Left to Right: Kota Yabu, Yuto Nakajima, Kei Inoo, Keito Okamoto,Ryosuke Yamada, Yuri Chinen, Hikaru Yaotome, Yuya Takaki The group debuted in late 2007, officially releasing their first single in September of the same year. Originally a ten-piece idol group, former member Ryutaro Morimoto was suspended in mid-2011 after a scandal regarding underage tobacco usage, to which they proceeded to release new music soon despite the situation. The Johnny’s group continues to flourish, and now has 6 albums, 17 singles, and 6 different concert films to date. Topping the Oricon rankings? Not too unusual for JUMP. Through the course of their nine years, there’s been some undeniable variability within their music. They’ve produced songs ranging from bubblegum pop to rap to funk rock. Live Performance of "Kimi Attraction" (2015) Youngest member Yuri Chinen, 22, is the son of famous gymnast Takashi Chinen; as a result, it may not be much of a surprise to see him do acrobatics in their performances. Yuto Nakajima, 23, is the group’s second youngest member. His face is commonly seen plastered amongst the cover of magazines and televisions, continuously increasing his own popularity as a model and actor. Kei Inoo, Keito Okamoto, and Kota Yabu are some of the few Johnny’s to have attended secondary education following high school (despite it not being a requirement of the agency). Inoo is the main MC for the group, having hosted an impressive number of variety shows in the past years. Okamoto is the group’s overseas representative - he is the only member to speak fluent, conversational English thanks to his time spent abroad in England. Yabu, the oldest of the nine members, is the leader of the rowdy boy group.
 Daiki Arioka and Hikaru Yaotome are the comedians and rappers of the group, the latter of which being arguably the most active in regards to dancing. Like Inoo Kei, Yuya Takaki is a frequent show host, also possessing some acting experience in TV dramas.
Center member Ryosuke Yamada, 23, is the only member with his own solo career, setting several records and topping the Oricon charts with his debut singles ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Mystery Virgin.’ Aside from that, he’s also received recent awards for his performance as Nagisa Shiota in the live action films for Assassination Classroom. Only months ago was it announced that he would also play the leading role in the upcoming live action film Fullmetal Alchemist, portraying the beloved hot-headed alchemist Edward Elric. The group may almost be moving too fast to keep up with, as shown by the steady flow of announcements regarding each individual member’s activities. As a group, Hey! Say! JUMP also released an album entited ‘DEAR’ in late July, and are currently embarking on a tour of the same name. Please keep an eye out for their activities! -Dia |
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