In Live from Tokyo, American director Lewis Rapkin takes us on a kaleidoscopic journey through Tokyo’s bustling underground music scene. Set within the backdrop of the modern Japanese megalopolis, the film explores Tokyo’s eccentric music culture, and how a combination of global information, media-saturated urban areas, and cutting edge innovation has impacted it.

Beginning Sunday, June 5, Yoshiki Radio will air the first Sunday of every month at 9:00 pm ET. Yoshiki Radio will offer an eclectic mix of East meets West, and will include Yoshiki’s personal favorite music tracks, and music from artists that have influenced him

For three decades the Brooklyn Botanic Garden has been home to the Sakura Matsuri festival, a two-day festival comprised of both traditional and contemporary Japanese arts and culture, including dance, costume play (“cosplay”), workshops, demonstrations, and guided tours of the Garden’s Japanese plant collections.

Playing raw, energy-infused melodic rock music, Eriko (guitar and vocals), Akiko (bass), and Kumiko (drums) have been making a buzz all across Japan since their 2005 major label debut. Now, with their latest Oricon chart-topping album “Kokuhaku” (Confession), they’re ready to infect North American fans with their catchy take on girl-rock power.

Japan’s young masters of the ancient tsugaru-shamisen, are back with a new album, Prism. The aptly-named release reflects their long-standing commitment to traditional Japanese folk music, refracted through modern musical sensibilities, incorporating elements of pop, rock, and world music sounds.

The first thing everyone noticed when they hit the stage was the interesting face-paint/mask sported by Stipe around his eyes, as if to hide his eyes from the audience.

“I think the band is without a fucking doubt a million times the best it’s ever been. As long as people get off on coming to the concerts, I’ll forgive them for not buying the records.” Liam’s cheeky arrogance may seem disproportionate to the band’s success stateside, but to the 500 thousand people who immediately bought tickets for their concerts the day they went on sale, Oasis is still the dog’s bollocks.

Drifting (ドリフト走行, dorifuto sōkō?) refers to a driving technique and to a motor sport where the driver intentionally oversteers, causing loss of traction in the rear wheels through turns, while preserving vehicle control and a high exit speed.

“My parents had made up their minds before I was even born that I was to take up music because they’re such great fans of music. The even gave me a musical name. Kanon, is actually taken from canon (and also written as ‘sound of flowers’ in Japanese).” Thus at the urging of her parents, Kanon, who started playing the cello at age 3, found herself pulled deeper and deeper into the world of music as she grew older

The album is all about originality. In the song “Nobody”, Roshin raps “I was just a little crony/ tryin’ to kick it like my favourite rappers/ just a lil’ phony/ I was busy tryin’ to go party/ ten years later I don’t sound like nobody.” Songs like “Lifelines” and “Yellow and Grey” tell of the importance of NOTES’ resilience and stability, the group’s moving forward against immeasurable odds.

Over two decades have passed since Rock and Rap music first collided when a young Run DMC covered Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” off their 1975 album, Toys In The Attic. At the time, Rock music was flourishing; whereas, Rap music was still trying to make a name for itself in the music industry. The two [...]

HYDE is offering his first greatest hits self-titled album for digital download from iTunes and other online music stores. The album features 17 songs from his previous 3 albums and 7 singles including the hits HELLO, COUNTDOWN, and SEASON’S CALL and an English version of GLAMOROUS SKY (theme song for the film “Nana”).