J-pop News: Staff version of an AKB48 music video reaches 2.4 million views on youtube

The music video AKB48's new single "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie" (The Fall-in-Love Fortune Cookie) featuring the only the staff of Japan's biggest idol group was uploaded to their official youtube channel. Originally meant as a in-joke to begin with, in the space of 2 weeks, the video has had more than 2.4 million views and growing by the day.

Japan Music News: 75 fans fall ill at Johnny's group NEWS's concert

On July 27th, the Japanese boy idol group of the Johnny's talent agency "NEWS" held an outdoor concert at the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, with approximately 35 thousand fans attending.

The band that used to have Tomohisa Yamashita and Ryo Nishikido...

Unfortunately, due to heavy rain and thunderstorms, the concert was cut short after 1 hour and 45 minutes. On top of the cancellation, several fans called for paramedics seeking attention to their health. Nearly 45 paramedics arrived on the scene with 75 fans being treated for illness and 7 fans having respiratory troubles.

Japan Music News: Mariko Shinoda "graduates" AKB48

After 7 and a half years, the oldest member of AKB48 Mariko Shinoda (27) has officially calls it quits and has "graduated" AKB48. Her final show was at her home town of Fukuoka, in front of 32 thousand fans.

Now she can finally stop wearing a school uniform!

The concert lasted 4 hours with fans cheering "Mariko!" throughout. In the finale, she made a speech thanking the fans and other members for the opportunity, claiming "If I am reborn, I will still choose AKB48".

In a time that Japanese Idols are on average 15 years old, Kudos to you Mariko for proving the entertainment industry that age is no longer a barrier for success.

J-pop News: Nana Mizuki's First Concert Overseas "NANA MIZUKI LIVE CIRCUS 2013+"

The Japanese singer/actress Nana Mizuki will be performing at the Legacy Taipei in Taiwan on November 23rd and 24th. This is the first time in her career that she will performing her solo concert overseas.

J-pop News: Perfume perform in London

On July the 5th, the J-POP trio Perfume performed at the O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire in front 2000 local fans. The live was also streamed live with over 30,000 viewers Worldwide.