Ado, the anonymous Japanese singer who conquered the world without showing her face, has released "Vivarium," a song she wrote and composed herself, alongside her autobiography. For the first time, her single cover carries a real photograph of her. From closet recordings to sold-out arenas, this is the biggest turning point yet in the 23-year-old's career.
KID PHENOMENON, a seven-member dance & vocal group from LDH JAPAN, has been selected to perform at SXSW 2026 in Austin, Texas, the legendary festival that launched Billie Eilish, Ed Sheeran, and Kendrick Lamar. Discover how their "TOKYO NEO POP" concept is charting a new path for Japanese artists going global.
Eve, the voice behind Jujutsu Kaisen's viral hit "Kaikai Kitan," teams up with Yorushika vocalist suis for "Kaze no Anthem," the opening theme of TV anime Witch Hat Atelier (premiering April 2026). It is their third collaboration. Here is why this Eisner Award-winning manga adaptation drew so much attention outside Japan.
Hatsune Miku V6, the latest AI-powered vocal synthesis software, launches April 14, 2026. Supporting trilingual singing in Japanese, English, and Chinese, it marks a giant leap in natural vocal expression. Explore the 19-year evolution from the original 2007 Miku to today's AI-driven Vocaloid culture and what it means for the future of music creation.
Hatsune Miku's European tour "MIKU EXPO 2026 EUROPE" is set for November 2026, visiting 7 cities starting from London's The O2. With a steampunk theme and 120 shows across 50 cities behind her, Japan's virtual singer keeps widening what a live act can be.
SKY-HI's D.U.N.K. Showcase 2026 added Filipino acts SB19, BGYO, and Cup of Joe plus Thailand's BUS to its fourth-wave lineup, with BMSG TRAINEE opening DAY 3. The three-day run at K-Arena Yokohama was the largest edition of the cross-agency project yet.
XG's "HYPNOTIZE" topped Billboard JAPAN's country-by-country Japan Songs chart in seven markets at once for the week of February 6-12, 2026. Their debut album "THE CORE - 核" reached the Billboard 200, and their world tour opened with three sold-out nights and 60,000 fans in Yokohama.
BABYMETAL will perform at Summer Sonic 2026 in both Tokyo and Osaka, curating the SONIC METAL STAGE on one day at each venue. It is a convergence of two anniversaries: BABYMETAL's 15th and Summer Sonic's 25th. Fresh off their Billboard 200 Top 10 debut, Japan's kawaii metal pioneers continue to reshape the global metal landscape.
Kenshi Yonezu's "IRIS OUT" has achieved 21 consecutive weeks at #1 on YouTube and Oricon streaming charts, setting the all-time solo artist record in Japan. With a peak of #5 on the Billboard Global 200, the highest ever for a Japanese-language song, and a sold-out world tour drawing 440,000 fans, we explore how Japanese artists are reshaping global music streaming.
Japan-born global HIP HOP/R&B group XG has been named Coca-Cola Japan Ambassador for FIFA World Cup 2026, appearing in limited-edition soccer jerseys in a new web movie. From closing Coachella's Sahara Stage to a 47-show world tour, here is the record that made a music group the face of a World Cup campaign.
PPAP sensation Pikotaro had a surprise encounter with world-famous DJ Steve Aoki at Tokyo's iconic Kaminarimon gate in Asakusa. Aoki approached Pikotaro first, sparking fan excitement and collaboration speculation. With Pikotaro's PPAP 10th anniversary project underway and Aoki's deep Japanese heritage, could this chance meeting lead to an epic crossover?
