Metal band DAZZLE VISION recently uploaded a new video onto HUMAN NOISE record’s Official YouTube channel, showing fans their take on the famous PRINCESS PRINCESS song “Diamonds“!

DAZZLE VISION’s version of the song gives “Diamonds” new life as a hard metal song. It transforms one of the band’s most popular songs from an 80’s pop song to a metal one, with the use of autotune, screaming, and DAZZLE VISION’s unique touch.

Listen to DAZZLE VISION’s version of the song below!

Thanks to RESONANCE Media for the tip!

Drama Prime Time Report – May 18th~May 20th

The ratings for the weekend dramas have mainly been positive over the past weekend.

Friday drama ‘Mou Ichido Kimi ni, Propose‘ (TBS) finally broke out of the 8.3% rhythm and fortunately it wasn’t for the worse. It gained 0.7% eventually reaching 9.0%, which is a new personal best after all those 8% ratings.

‘Toshi Densetsu no Onna‘ (TV Asahi) also improved again after last weeks season low and recorded a rating of 9.5% (+0.9%). Meanwhile, morning drama ‘Umechan Sensei‘ (NHK) reached a new personal best with 21.4% that morning.

On Saturday, drama special ‘Haiiro no Niji‘ starring Shiina Kippei, Tsukamoto Takashi, and multiple top class actors took over prime time with 15.6%. Luckily it didn’t affect the regular drama ‘Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri‘ (NTV) that much, which only lost 0.5% (now 12.4%).

‘Mirai Nikki -ANOTHER:WORLD-‘ (Fuji TV) barely improved by 0.3% compared to last week. Late-night drama ‘Shiritsu Bakaleya Koko‘ (NTV) remained unchanged.

Sunday featured a big rise and a big fall. Of course it was ‘Taira no Kiyomori‘ (NHK), which recorded a big fall. It barely escaped recording a new personal low with a rating of 11.8% (-2.9%). NHK hoped for the second arc to become the shows savior, but it looks like it takes a lot more effort to get back the viewers from the first couple of episodes – if that’s even possible at all.

Between ‘ATARU‘ (TBS) and ‘Kazoku no Uta‘ (Fuji TV), it’s probably not that hard to figure out which one experienced the big rise. ‘ATARU’ recorded its second best episode with 17.4% this season, which was achieved with a 2.9% improvement compared to last week. ‘Kazoku no Uta’ improved as well, but only by 0.5%, which wasn’t even enough to escape the <4% ratings.

You can check out all of the ratings and more details below!

(Screencaps might contain spoilers!)

===

05/18 – Friday

morning slot
?? – 08:00-08:15 – 21.4% Umechan Sensei

10:00 pm slot
01 – 21:00-22:52 – 12.3% Yamamura Masa 4-Week Suspense Series (03)
02 – 21:54-23:10 – 11.6% Hodo Station
03 – 22:00-22:54 – 09.0% Mou Ichido Kimi ni, Propose (05)
01 – 21:00-22:54 – 08.7% Sex and the City 2

11:00 pm slot
01 – 23:15-24:15 – 09.5% Toshi Densetsu no Onna (06)
02 – 23:00-23:30 – 08.5% another sky
03 – 23:00-23:30 – 08.4% Kika Knight F

midnight slot
?? – 24:12-24:53 – ??.?% Clover (06)

late-night slot
?? – 24:53-25:23 – ??.?% Koisuru Maison. Rainbow Rose (06)
?? – 25:23-25:53 – ??.?% D×TOWN Part 2 (03)

Info:
> ‘Mou Ichido Kimi ni, Propose‘
Cast: Takenouchi Yutaka, Wakui Emi, Yamamoto Yusuke, Kurashina Kana, and more

> ‘Toshi Densetsu no Onna‘
Cast: Nagasawa Masami, Mizobata Junpei, Takenaka Naoto, Hirayama Hiroyuki, and more

> ‘Clover‘
Cast: Kaku Kento, Miura Takahiro, Suzunosuke, Aoyagi Sho, Arimura Kasumi, and more

> ‘Koisuru Maison. Rainbow Rose‘
Cast: Kang Jiyoung, Park Geonil, Lee Sang Yeob, Mizusawa Erena, and more

> ‘D×TOWN Part 2‘
Cast: Suzuki Hiroki, Uno Shohei, Takanashi Rin, Kishii Yukino, and more

Caps:
Mou Ichido Kimi ni, Propose

Toshi Densetsu no Onna

Clover

—

05/19 – Saturday

morning slot
?? – 08:00-08:15 – ??.?% Umechan Sensei

9:00 pm slot
01 – 21:00-23:11 – 15.6% Haiiro no Niji
02 – 21:00-23:10 – 12.7% Sentouchu ~battle for money~
03 – 21:00-21:54 – 12.4% Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri (06)

11:00 pm slot
01 – 23:20-24:14 – 09.4% SmaSTATION!
02 – 23:00-23:30 – 07.2% Kokoro Yusabure! Senpai ROCK YOU
03 – 23:10-23:55 – 07.0% Mirai Nikki -ANOTHER:WORLD- (05)

late-night slot
?? – 24:50-25:20 – 03.0% Shiritsu Bakaleya Koko (06)
?? – 25:55-26:10 – ??.?% Muse no Kagami (17)

Info:
>>> ‘Haiiro no Niji‘
Cast: Shiina Kippei, Tsukamoto Takashi, Fukikoshi Mitsuru, Hoshino Mari, and more

> ‘Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri‘
Cast: Aiba Masaki, Fujiki Naohito, Okura Tadayoshi, Omasa Aya, and more

> ‘Mirai Nikki -ANOTHER:WORLD-‘
Cast: Okada Masaki, Gouriki Ayame, Hongo Kanata, Fukuda Mayuko, and more

> ‘ Shiritsu Bakaleya Koko‘
Cast: Johnny’s Jr. and AKB48

> ‘Muse no Kagami‘
Cast: Sashihara Rino, Ikeda Narushi, Hirano Aya, Mizusawa Nako, and more

Caps:
Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri

Mirai Nikki

Shiritsu Bakaleya Koko

—

05/20 – Sunday

8:00 pm slot
01 – 19:58-20:54 – 15.9% Sekai no Hate Made Itte Q!
02 – 19:58-20:54 – 13.5% Daikaizo!! Gekiteki Before-After Season II
03 – 20:00-20:45 – 11.8% Taira no Kiyomori (20)
04 – 19:58-20:54 – 10.7% Bakusho! Dainippon Akan Keisatsu

9:00 pm slot
01 – 21:00-21:54 – 17.4% ATARU (06)
02 – 21:00-21:54 – 13.5% Gyoretsu no Dekiru Horitsu Sodanjo
03 – 21:00-23:10 – 10.8% Predator
04 – 21:00-21:54 – 03.8% Kazoku no Uta (06)

late-night slot
?? – 25:25-25:55 – 02.2% Kurohyo 2 (07)

Info:
> ‘Taira no Kiyomori‘
Cast: Matsuyama Kenichi, Mikami Hiroshi, Toyohara Kosuke, Matsuda Seiko, and many more

> ‘ATARU‘
Cast: Nakai Masahiro, Kitamura Kazuki, Kuriyama Chiaki, and more

> ‘Kazoku no Uta‘
Cast: Odagiri Joe, Yusuke Santamaria, Kanjiya Shihori, Muro Tsuyoshi, and more

> ‘Kurohyo 2: Ryu ga Gotoku Asyura Hen‘
Cast: Saito Takumi, Sato Yuki, Yagami Ren, Okamoto Rei, and more

Caps:
ATARU

Kazoku no Uta

—

NHK, TBS and TV Tokyo usually don’t disclose the ratings for their shows on a regular basis, therefore they won’t be included in the list below. Certain dramas or drama specials that aired on those channels and might lack ratings are still included with a ??.?% rating. This doesn’t mean that the ratings were too low to recorded.

Improvements and declines will be illustrated with the use of several icons. The colors and the numbers indicate how much the ratings have changed.

An orange color means almost no change, while a red color means the ratings dropped, and a green color means the ratings improved.

===

Drama Overview (Spring 2012):

Previous: [Spring 2011] [Summer 2011] [Fall 2011] / [Winter 2012]

===

Average Ratings (Spring 2012):

16.06% – Kagi no Kakatta Heya
15.57% – ATARU (+0.37)
-
14.27% – Taira no Kiyomori [taiga drama] (-0.12)
13.60% – 37-sai de Ishani Natta Boku
13.18% – Mikeneko Holmes no Suiri (-0.16)
11.74% – Legal High
11.08% – Hancho 5
11.06% – Shin Omiyasan 9
10.12% – Answer
-
09.55% – Toshi Densetsu no Onna [11:00 pm drama] (-0.01)
09.50% – W no Higeki
09.45% – Kaeru no Oujo-sama
08.95% – Papadol!
08.54% – Mou Ichido Kimi ni, Propose (+0.11)
07.68% – Cleopatra na Onnatachi
07.10% – Mirai Nikki –ANOTHER:WORLD- [11:00 pm drama] (-0.03)
-
04.45% – Tempest
03.90% – Kaitakushatachi // Finished
03.88% – Kazoku no Uta (-0.03)
03.41% – Taburakashi [midnight drama]
03.18% – Shiritsu Bakaleya Koko [late-night drama] (-0.04)
01.90% – Kodomo Keisatsu[late-night drama]
01.75% – Hokago wa Mystery Totomoni [midnight drama]
01.66% – Kurohyo 2 [late-night drama] (+0.06)

(The average ratings are based on the episode ratings listed above. There can be differences between the calculated averages and the official announcements at the end of each season.)

Ninomiya will play a man who is confined to a wheelchair and can never walk on his own for the rest of his life.  He was a delinquent since junior high school, and he became paralyzed on the lower half of his body after some trouble with a punk.  Reportedly, Ninomiya dyed his hair to blond to match with the role.

As announced previously, Arashi has been chosen as the main personality for this year’s “24Hour Television” which will mark the third time for them to be the main personality for the program.

“24Hour Television 35 ‘Ai wa Chikyuu wo Sukuu’” will be broadcasted on August 25th ~ 26th.

Source: Sanspo

On May 22nd, Calpis launched the CM for their new milky lactic-acid drink ‘Calpis Water Zero‘ – starring actress Nagasawa Masami – online.

The name of the new CM is “Poolside” and it fittingly describes the whole concept of the clip in one word. Set at a swimming pool under the clear blue sky, Nagasawa is enjoying the summer and a bottle of Calpis Water Zero. Of course it nonchalantly features both, her trademark smile and her trademark beautiful legs to the fullest. At the end she uses her whole body and some awkward hand movements to express how delicious this zero-calorie drink must be.

Nagasawa had been the 9th generation ‘Calpis Water‘ image character from 2005 until 2008. Now she gets to promote the new ‘Calpis Water Zero’ and it seems like she’s enjoying the new drink.

She commented, “The feeling of it going down your throat is very refreshing. The taste is incredible, too!”

On TV, the new CM will start airing on June 1st, but you can already check it out below!

-

Source: Sanspo

Visual kei band Ayabie’s vocalist Aoi has announced that he will be launching his new solo project, ‘168 -one sixty eight-‘. He will hold his first live on July 29th at Akasaka BLITZ, and will also release his debut single, “Setsugekka“, on August 8th.

Aoi was active in Ayabie until 4 members left the band in August of 2010. Since then, he started his solo career ‘Aoi from Ayabie‘, and formed the unit ‘Aoi & Ryohei‘ with the guitarist from Megamasso.

168 -one sixty eight- is a band that will feature participation by various support members. The debut song, “Setsugekka”, has already been picked up as the theme song to the upcoming film, ‘Happiness in Little Place‘, set for release this fall. The film also stars Aoi as the barkeeper.

Ticket pre-reservations for 168 -one sixty eight-’s concert will be available via Lawson Ticket starting June 1st. It will go on sale to the public on June 16th.

Source & Image: Oricon

On the May 22nd broadcast of TBS‘ new music program, ‘Kayou Kyoku!‘, AKB48 gave a lively performance of their latest single, “Manatsu no Sounds good!“.

“Manatsu no Sounds good!” will be released on May 23rd.

Check out their performance below!

BIGLOBE is back with another ranking from Twitter. This time, they have opened their very own “The Best Idol General Election Site”. The site includes 23 groups, including AKB48, SKE48, Momoiro Clover Z, KARA, and Shoujo Jidai (SNSD / Girls’ Generation), with a total of 421 idols to be chosen.

The ranking is in realtime and idols are moved up or down based on how many tweets they receive. The service counts how many time the idol’s name or nickname is used to come up with the ‘total ranking’. The special rankings are chosen with the name or nickname is used in collaboration with words like: cute, pretty, and cool. The idol with the most tweets is then moved up and can achieve the center position!

Below are the results for the year up until May 22nd (JST).

==

[Best Idol]

1. Sashihara Rino (AKB48)

2. Itano Tomomi (AKB48)

3. Watanabe Mayu (AKB48)

4. Kashiwagi Yuki (AKB48)

5. Sasaki Ayaka (Momoiro Clover Z)

6. Kang Jiyoung (KARA)

7. Tamai Shiori (Momoiro Clover Z)

8. Takahashi Minami (AKB48)

9. Tsugunaga Momoko (Berryz Koubou)

10. Seohyun (SNSD)

–

[Cutest Idol]

1. Kang Jiyoung (KARA)

2. Watanabe Mayu (AKB48)

3. Sashihara Rino (AKB48)

4. Seohyun (SNSD)

5. Kashiwagi Yuki (AKB48)

6. Tamai Shiori (Momoiro Clover Z)

7. Itano Tomomi (AKB48)

8. Takahashi Minami (AKB48)

9. Kojima Haruna (AKB48)

10. Sasaki Ayaka (Momoiro Clover Z)

–

[Prettiest Idol]

1. Kang Jiyoung (KARA)

2. Seohyun (SNSD)

3. Sato Amina (AKB48)

4. Park Gyuri (KARA)

5. Itano Tomomi (AKB48)

6. Sashihara Rino (AKB48)

7. Shinoda Mariko (AKB48)

8. Tsugunaga Momoko (Berryz Koubou)

9. Jung Nicole (KARA)

10. Taeyeon (SNSD)

–

[Coolest Idol]

1. Kang Jiyoung (KARA)

2. Seohyun (SNSD)

3. Jung Nicole (KARA)

4. Watanabe Mayu (AKB48)

5. Sasaki Ayaka (Momoiro Clover Z)

6. Ariyasu Momoka (Momoiro Clover Z)

7. Itano Tomomi (AKB48)

8. Tsugunaga Momoko (Berryz Koubou)

9. Takahashi Minami (AKB48)

10. Taeyeon (SNSD)

In addition to the total rankings, the site has also added a weekly category for the “Divine 8”; the best girls of the week in each category. They may have had a cute photoshoot, or a cool TV performance, but the WEEKLY rankings of the top 8 are below for the week of May 15-May 22nd.

==

[Best Divine 8]

1. Matsui Rena (SKE48)

2. Watanabe Mayu (AKB48)

3. Shinoda Mariko (AKB48)

4. Itano Tomomi (AKB48)

5. Kashiwagi Yuki (AKB48)

6. Park Gyuri (KARA)

7. Kojima Haruna (AKB48)

8. Takahashi Minami (AKB48)

–

[Cutest Divine 8]

1. Kang Jiyoung (KARA)

2. Watanabe Mayu (AKB48)

3. Hyoyeon (SNSD)

4. Takahashi Minami (AKB48)

5. Sasaki Ayaka (Momoiro Clover Z)

6. Ariyasu Momoka (Momoiro Clover Z)

7. Kashiwagi Yuki (AKB48)

8. Itano Tomomi (AKB48)

–

[Prettiest Divine 8]

1. Park Gyuri (KARA)

2. Kang Jiyoung (KARA)

3. Shinoda Mariko (AKB48)

4. Sasaki Ayaka (Momoiro Clover Z)

5. Kojima Haruna (AKB48)

6. Masuda Yuka (AKB48)

7. Ariyasu Momoka (Momoiro Clover Z)

8. Miyazaki Miho (AKB48)

–

[Coolest Divine 8]

1. Kang Jiyoung (KARA)

2. Park Gyuri (KARA)

3. Jung Nicole (KARA)

4. Shinoda Mariko (AKB48)

5. Yokoyama Yui (AKB48)

6. Taeyeon (SNSD)

7. Masuda Yuka (AKB48)

8. Shimazaki Haruka (AKB48)

==

Source: BIGLOBE/Twipple

It’s been revealed that the memorial service for Dragon Ash’s bassist IKUZONE will be held on June 6th at SHIBUYA-AX.

As previously reported, IKUZONE passed away on April 21st due to acute cardiac insufficiency. The memorial service will be held for fans to bid their last farewell to IKUZONE. Within the venue, an altar will be prepared for flower placement.

There will be no entrance fee or applications to attend the service. There will also be no performance by Dragon Ash. Important notes regarding attendance is available through the band’s official website.

Source: natalie

Ziyoou-Vachi has announced that they will be holding their second nationwide tour, ‘Kuja Koushin‘, this fall!

The tour will coincide with Ziyoou-Vachi’s upcoming album, “Hebihime-sama“, which will be released on May 23rd. It will kick off on September 1st at Sendai Rensa, and will wrap up on October 12th at Shinkiba STUDIO COAST, after a total of 9 performances.

Prior to general ticket sales, pre-reservations will be available to those who purchase “Hebihime-sama”. More details will be enclosed in the album.

Additionally, on June 1st, the band will hold their one-man live, “Kujaku Fujin Tsuika Kouen ‘Kamen no Utage Dainiya’“, at SHIBUYA-AX. Tickets are on sale now.

Check out the tour dates for ‘Kuja Koushin’ below!

===

<Kuja Koushin>

Saturday, September 1st – Sendai Rensa (Miyagi)
Friday, September 7th – Niigata LOTS (Niigata)
Sunday, September 9th – Sapporo FACTORY HALL (Hokkaido)
Friday, September 21st – Namba Hatch (Osaka)
Sunday, September 23rd – Hiroshima CLUB QUATTRO (Hiroshima)
Friday, September 28th – Fukuoka DRUM LOGOS (Fukuoka)
Sunday, September 30th – Okayama CRAZYMAMA KINGDOM (Okayama)
Saturday, October 6th – Nagoya E.L.L. (Aichi)
Friday, October 12th – Shinkiba STUDIO COAST (Tokyo)

Source: natalie