This week, popular Japanese convenience store chain Family Mart rolled out a special campaign celebrating five years of Hatsune Miku. She’s a character attached to a popular line of vocaloid software (a computer program allowing people to create digital vocals) and probably better known in the Western world as the hologram pop star that pre-dated…
Well, the summer just zipped by and here we are…September. Unlike half the world, I wish summer could keep on going. Alas it can’t, and I only have this week’s Music Station to console me. And it’s a really short Music Station to! Let’s mourn summer by seeing what music the Japanese kids dig. Mai…
Arashi “Troublemaker” – A college friend of mine once told me Arashi was her favorite Japanese boy band because they debuted the same year she started junior high in Japan. After spending more time with Arashi’s music and the current-day junior high school girls who adore them (I’m a teacher, gutter-minded people), everything suddenly makes…