Arashi to release special limited single

Both cdjapan and Johnny's net have just updated to announce that Arashi will be once more releasing a single.

The CD is only one track, the title track To Be Free, with a karaoke track of it and it comes with a DVD for the PV. It will be released on July 7th. The single will only be this one version and it's listed as being a limited release so I suggest you hurry to pre-order before it sells out. Though I'll assume it may not sell out as much as the usual LE sells out for Arashi seeing that this is the only edition of the single this time around.

I'm really curious about what Johnny's is thinking. MatsuJun has an upcoming drama for the summer season and I can't see the theme song for that going to anyone else but Arashi but they are also due for a long awaited original album. It'll be interesting to see what the next CD release from this group will be.

New Matsumoto Jun drama

I forgot about this piece of news with my excitement with finally having a release date for the Hey! Say! JUMP album.

But it has been announced that Matsumoto Jun will be starring in a new drama for this upcoming summer season. It is titled Natsu no Koi wa Nijiiro ni Kagayaku and will air on Fuji TV.

Tokyo Graph article. (English)

PLAYZONE 2010 announced and Summary wonderings

Well Johnny's net had a lot to update with in the latest update, not only does Hey! Say! JUMP now have an album section in their discography section (though no complete track listing is up yet) they have the dates for this year's PLAYZONE.

This year's production will star Imai Tsubasa with Tomoyuki Yara, A.B.C.-Z, Morimoto Shintarou, They Budou, M.A.D., Johnny's Jrs with special appearances by Nakayama Yuma. The Tokyo run will be from July 9th to August 1st and then it will have an Osaka run from August 14th to August 22nd.

Of course seeing the cast list does raise some questions as Summary runs from July 19th to August 29th so it overlaps the PLAYZONE dates. I'm sure Yara, They Budou, M.A.D. and most likely A.B.C.-Z will be PLAYZONE only and forgo any Summary appearance but I can't imagine Summary without any MoriShin and Yuma. Though as Yuma is only down for special appearances they could have him go back and forth while PLAYZONE is in Tokyo and if MoriShin's part is small enough they can do the same for him. Of course once it goes to Osaka they lose that option so it will be interesting to see if those two go with PLAYZONE there or get replaced with Kansai Juniors so they can do Summary. I guess things won't clear up on this matter until Summary starts up on July 19th.

But I guess it can be guessed that it will be mainly the younger Juniors with Hey! Say! JUMP at Summary. The older groups (minus Question? though who knows where they will end up with all the summer concerts) will be busy with other productions as not only do you have those doing PLAYZONE but Kis-My-Ft2 will be with KAT-TUN for their world tour so they won't be at Summary either. So I think for Junior groups for Summary it will be B.I. Shadow, Mis Snow Man, Hip Hop Jump and if Johnny's wants it Snow Prince Gasshoudan though they could just as easily create a new group or two with Summary this year for those younger Juniors. Either way it looks like it's a good summer for the Juniors as they will be busy for so much of it.

Jump No. 1 !

Just got an update from cdjapan and it's the one I've been waiting for what seems like years. Hey! Say! JUMP's debut album is set to come out on July 7th and will be titled Jump No.1.

The album has two editions though from the cdjapan listings it looks like the only difference will be the jacket cover and the booklet that each will come with. That's a bit disappointing, but they also list that there should be 17 tracks in total so at least there will be a good amount of new music. Plus I know this will save me some money as I'll only be getting the regular edition.

EDIT:

I've been checking everywhere for any more information and have found a bit with the Japanese version of the cdjapan listing. It will be the five single tracks (which means no Bouken Rider even though that was also supposed be an A-side for the Your Seed single) and Jounetsu JUMP and Memories will be on the album. So that gives us seven of the seventeen songs. Hopefully Johnny's net will update and have the full listing when they do.

I'm really happy about Memories getting a CD version as I have loved the song since first listen. And I think Jounetsu JUMP is one of the better volleyball songs so I'm glad it's on the album as well. I do hope there are a few brand new songs though as well as a few more of the older ones. Not to mention at least have one song each for the two sub-units. But I guess we'll find out soon enough about all that.

Tegomass & Matchy to appear at Jingu Outer Gardens Fireworks Festival 2010

Tegomass and Kondo Masahiko will be making appearances at Jingu Outer Gardens Fireworks Festival 2010. The event will take place on August 19th, 2010 and Matchy and Tegomass are listed as guests for the event.

Nikkan Sports article. (Japanese)

Yokoyama Yu's mother passes away

It was reported this weekend that Yokoyama Yu's mother passed away recently. From the news report it was very sudden as she was not suffering from any known illness and is suspected to be from a heart attack.

Yokoyama has decided to not cancel any of this work obligations so he will still perform his solo concerts and be part of the promotion for Kanjani8's upcoming single, Wonderful World.

Arama They Didn't entry. (Japanese & English)

Like everyone else I feel like I need to express my condolences for him and his two brothers for their loss. She was a single mother and worked hard to raise her children so I'm sure the loss is great for them. Though I also understand why he would still want to continue to work other than just not wanting to disappoint his fans, as it gives him something to focus on other than the loss. I truly wish him well and hope the love and support of his friends and fans will help him get through it.

Kanjani8 new single Wonderful World!!

Well it looks like Johnny's has decided to do the smart thing and will be releasing a new single for Kanjani8 on June 30th, which works well as NEWS can't really do anything with Yamapi busy filming for a movie. The single is for the Wonderful World!! song that is being used for one of their current variety shows.

The single will have three additions, two LEs and a RE. The RE will have two tracks that will be on all three additions of the single as well as "PUZZLE" Remixes of the songs Wa Ha Ha and Rolling Coaster and the karaoke tracks for the first two tracks. The A type version of the LE will have the PV for the title track and the B type has what is listed as Prologue of Bachi #1-4 on the DVDs each come with.

The singles are up on cdjapan for pre-order but the listings don't have the usual track information for some reason, though it is up on Johnny's net.