Japan's sailor-uniformed quartet ATARASHII GAKKO! is heading to Latin America for the first time in December 2026. The tour spans Santiago's Teatro Caupolicán, a debut at Brazil's Primavera Sound São Paulo, and a 6,800-capacity solo show at Mexico City's Velódromo Olímpico — their largest overseas headline date yet. A look at how the 88rising-signed group went from Coachella to Interlagos.
Number_i — Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji, and Yuta Kishi, three former members of King & Prince — will hold their first-ever fan meeting in Osaka in July and Tokyo in August 2026. While expanding globally with Coachella appearances and a WME deal, the trio continues to find creative ways to deliver love to their fans, known as iLYs.
Kenshi Yonezu's 'Peace Sign'—the My Hero Academia Season 2 opening theme—was certified Gold by the RIAA in May 2026. Following 'KICK BACK' (Gold + Platinum), this is his third RIAA certification, making him the only artist ever to receive three certifications for Japanese-language songs. We unpack the milestone, its overlap with MHA's 10th anniversary, and the 2025 JUNK world tour that drew 440,000 fans.
YOASOBI's debut song "Yoru ni Kakeru" (Into the Night) has crossed 1.3 billion cumulative streams on Billboard JAPAN — the first Japanese song ever to hit that mark. Released in December 2019 and based on a Japanese short novel, the track has now outlasted hits, sequels, and even the duo's own anime megahits. As YOASOBI heads into their biggest-ever North American tour, here's why this song refuses to fade.
Creepy Nuts will join The Weeknd's record-breaking After Hours Til Dawn Stadium Tour as special guests across five Asian dates, starting September 20 at Japan's Belluna Dome. The tour has grossed over $1 billion globally — the highest-grossing tour ever by a male solo artist — and this is the Japanese hip-hop duo's biggest international stage to date.
SEGA and RGG Studio just dropped the theme song for STRANGER THAN HEAVEN, and the lineup is wild: Snoop Dogg, Ado, Official Hige Dandism's Satoshi Fujihara, and Tori Kelly on a single track. We break down Ado's record-breaking Hibana world tour (500,000 fans across 33 cities), Higedan's anime-fueled global rise via Spy x Family and Tokyo Revengers, Snoop Dogg's long history of collaborating with Japanese artists, and how international gaming and music communities are reacting to this Pacific-spanning collision.
Japan's wolf-masked rock band MAN WITH A MISSION — known worldwide for anime theme songs from Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, and Seven Deadly Sins — has announced three consecutive monthly digital single releases starting August 2026. Frontman Jean-Ken Johnny made the surprise reveal on stage at VIVA LA ROCK 2026 on May 5, just weeks before their Americas/Europe world tour. We break down what this means, the band's history of 3-month release campaigns, and what international fans should expect next.
North West, the 12-year-old daughter of Kanye West, sampled Kikuo's Vocaloid track 'Aishite Aishite Aishite' on her debut EP N0rth4evr, released May 1. Kikuo replied: 'of course it's approved, and welcome even unauthorized.' A close read of why this is structurally unprecedented for Vocaloid in American hip-hop.
Japanese 7-piece group XG will become the first Japanese act ever at Capital's Summertime Ball, performing at Wembley Stadium on June 6, 2026 — and the first Japanese artist group to take the stage at the 80,000-capacity venue known as the home of football. Joined by Niall Horan, Calvin Harris, RAYE and more.
On June 14, 2026, Japan's six-member boy group BE:FIRST joins pop icon Janet Jackson at K-Arena Yokohama for a special stage collaboration where they will share vocals on the same song. A look at this historic crossover and BE:FIRST's growing global footprint following their first world tour across 12 cities.
Kenshi Yonezu has written 'Karasu' (Crow) as NHK's 2026 World Cup soccer theme. Combined with Ado's 'Kira' (adidas Japan uniform song), ORANGE RANGE's DAZN anthem, and JI BLUE's 'Keshiki' (JFA official theme), Japan's top J-pop artists are forming an unprecedented multi-platform soundtrack for FIFA World Cup 2026.
