An Interview With Tomoyasu Hotei! This time, we'll introduce the video "Tomoyasu Hotei- MATERIALS (HOTEI LIVE IN LONDON)" (布袋寅泰- MATERIALS（HOTEI LIVE IN LONDON)), released by Tomoyasu Hotei's official You Tube channel. "HOTEI LIVE IN LONDON Electric Samurai - Live at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire-" introduced in the video, is a live tour that was held in London in 2013. Tomoyasu Hotei released his first solo album "Guitarism" in 1988, and he is still active mainly as a solo artist. The interview video contains plenty of Tomoyasu Hotei's current thoughts and future prospects after 25 years of a solo career. What Kind of Musician Is Tomoyasu Hotei? The History and Current Life of the Famed Guitarist Source :YouTube screenshot Tomoyasu Hotei is 6'2" tall. In 1981, as a guitarist for BOØWY, he made his debut with Kyosuke Himuro, Tsunematsu Matsui and Makoto Takahashi and they were a hit. After the dissolution of BOØWY in 1987, he continued his musical activities with COMPLEX, alongside Koji Kikkawa. In the UK and Germany, he has released several albums under the name "HOTEI." He married Miki Imai in 1999 and has one daughter. He currently lives in London and continues to perform a wide range of musical activities. Listen to Tomoyasu Hotei's Cool Songs! Source :YouTube screenshot Some of Hotei's hit songs include "thrill," "POISON," and "bambina." Tomoyasu Hotei is also known for a wide range of activities, such as providing music to other musicians and composing music for movies. In 2003, he composed the main theme of the American movie Kill Bill, directed by Quentin Tarantino, making his name known around the world. The appeal of Hotei's music is his sharp guitar sound. You can also see Tomoyasu Hotei's awesome guitar skills at 0:46 in the video. There are songs that you can enjoy with pop lyrics as well, so you're sure to find something you like. Check out Hotei's official YouTube channel to see the many PR videos for his music. Summary of Tomoyasu Hotei Source :YouTube screenshot "HOTEI LIVE IN LONDON Electric Samurai - Live at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire-" introduced in the video, is a popular live DVD released in 2014. The interview from 1:21 in the video talks about his life in London. If you like the cool sounds of Tomoyasu Hotei's rock n' roll soul, be sure to check out his DVD. Also take a look at Hotei's official Instagram where you can see him playing on Instagram live. 【Official Website】Tomoyasu Hotei http://www.hotei.com/en/

Jazz Pianist Hiromi Uehara This video, titled "Hiromi Uehara・The Trio Project feat. Anthony Jackson & Simon Phillips" is a YouTube video introducing jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara's latest work "MOVE," released in 2012. First, let's check out the video, released by Universal Music Japan, to see the trio's incredible performance! Jazz Pianist Hiromi Uehara Source :YouTube screenshot Hiromi Uehara is a jazz pianist born in Shizuoka, Japan and currently resides in the United States. Hiromi Uehara is a jazz pianist born in Shizuoka who currently resides in the United States. She was born on March 26, 1979. In Japan she just goes by "Hiromi." In 2007, she married designer Yasuhiro Mihara. The Music of Jazz Pianist Hiromi Uehara Source :YouTube screenshot Hiromi Uehara started playing the piano when she was a kid and has been successful in many Yamaha competitions. Hiromi Uehara has been playing jazz since she was eight years old, and after moving to the United States, she graduated at the top of her class at the Berklee College of Music with a degree in jazz composition. After making her international debut as a jazz pianist in 2003, she has been touring the world and giving concerts that have taken the jazz world by storm. What's Hiromi Uehara up to These Days? Source :YouTube screenshot Jazz pianist Hiromi Uehara has performed at many venues in Japan, including Kanazawa and Okinawa. She has also collaborated with Akiko Yano and performed with the Japanese music unit "Rexi." Her activities were also featured on the TV show "Jonetsu Tairiku." In 2020, she performed a solo rendition of "Sukiyaki " on Instagram, attracting a lot of attention. Summary of Jazz Pianist Hiromi Uehara Source :YouTube screenshot This video shows the amazing quality of Hiromi Uehara's jazz performances, so you can relax and enjoy the sounds. At the end of her intoxicatingly powerful performance, the audience gave him a standing ovation. This is shown at 11:01 in the video. If this article about Hiromi Uehara has you interested in her music, consider checking out her single "Kaleidoscope" or her piano album "Spectrum." If you want to experience one of her performances, be sure to do some research and find yourself a ticket! 【Official Homepage】Hiromi Uehara Official Site https://www.hiromiuehara.com/s/y01/?ima=0000

About the DVD and Blu-Ray of the Musical "Touken Ranbu" This is a promotional video published by "PRIME CAST." The title of this video is "Shibuya no Oto Presents the Musical 'Touken Ranbu' - From 2.5D to the World ＜Special Edition＞ Blu-ray & DVD Launch Announcement Video" (シブヤノオト Presents ミュージカル『刀剣乱舞』 -2.5次元から世界へ- ＜特別編集版＞ Blu-ray&DVD 発売告知動画). This DVD/Blu-ray was released in June, 2019. This DVD/Blu-ray closely covered "Touken Ranbu - Atsukashiyama 2018" in Paris, France. It also contains unreleased footage of Touken Ranbu performed at the music show "Shibuya no Oto." In addition, bonus videos, including stage footage from the performances "MUSIC JAPAN" and "Shibuya no Oto," which can be seen at 1:36 in the video, the special medley performance at "SONGS OF TOKYO" (2:16), and the live performance in 2018 at the Japanese traditional New Year’s eve music show "Kohaku Uta Gassen (2:45) are also contained in this DVD/Blu-ray. This article will introduce the musical "Touken Ranbu" alongside the video. Check out the video to get a feel for the 2.5-dimensional world of Touken Ranbu. About the Musical, Touken Ranbu Source :YouTube screenshot Toukenranbu is a very popular online game released in 2016 as a smartphone app from DMM Games. It's a sword training simulation game in which players collect "sword boys" by anthropomorphizing famous Japanese swords to fight their enemies in historical battles. Due to the popularity of the game, famous Japanese swords have attracted attention and have been exhibited in museums, shown at musicals, used in theatre, appeared in animations and movies, have had events made about them and have even had products made available for sale. The 2.5-dimensional work refers to the space between the two-dimensional game and the three-dimensional real world. The musical "Touken Ranbu" is a 2.5-dimensional musical action play in which actors recreate the world of the game on stage. Touken Ranbu -From 2.5D to the World ＜Special Edition＞ Source :YouTube screenshot The musical "Touken Ranbu" is still being performed and has many different programs. This DVD/Blu-ray contains a program called “Atsukushiyama 2018,” a story about sword men preventing historical revisionists from altering the history of Yoshitsune Minamoto and Musashibo Benkei. This DVD/Blu-ray closely covered the backstage at this musical performed in Paris, France. Other programs include “Bakumatsu Tenroden” and “Three Hundred Years of Lullaby,” while "Bakumatsu Tenrouden 2020" (幕末天狼傳2020) and "Sword Dance: Paradise of the Sea of Tranquility" (刀剣乱舞 ～静かの海のパライソ～) are scheduled to be performed in 2020. The musical will be divided into two parts: the first part is a musical and the second part is a live performance where the audience can enthusiastically support their favorite characters. The main cast of “Atsukashiyama 2018” is led by Mario Kuroba, Ryo Kitazono, Tsubasa Sakiyama all of whom have appeared in the musical Prince of Tennis. A behind-the-scenes look at the performance, including Ryo Kitazono's voice only appearance due to a doctor's stop just before the Paris show (0:45) are included in the DVD/Blu-ray. Summary of Touken Ranbu - From 2.5D to the World ＜Special Edition＞ Source :YouTube screenshot The Musical “Touken Ranbu” will be performed again in fall, 2020. Please check the official website for ticket information. The CD album “Token Danshi team Sanjo with Kiyomitsu Kashu” is also on sale and has become very popular, especially among women. If you're interested in the musical, be sure to watch the announcement video, which shows the charm of the musical Touken Ranbu! 【Official Website】Musical “Touken Ranbu” https://musical-toukenranbu.jp/

Introducing Itasha! Have you ever heard the word "Itasha"? In this article, we'll introduce the Japanese pop culture "Itasha" alongside the video, titled "OTAKU CAR HEAVEN 痛車天国2019," produced by "Rescue the Princess!" The video is an introduction to the Itasha event "Odaiba Itasha Heaven 2019" held at the Odaiba outdoor special venue in 2019. Itasha is a form of otaku culture, and is a car with an exterior designed with an anime or game theme, featuring beautiful girl characters or heroines. The name "Itasha" (痛車) comes from the characters "痛" (pain) and "車" (car), literally meaning "painful car," as some people find them painful to look at. Source :YouTube screenshot There are small itasha with stickers on the hood, doors and other parts of the body, as well as fully-wrapped cars with film affixed to the entire car. You can see a number of Itasha throughout the video. In the past, "otaku" culture used to have a somewhat negative image, but now, with the popularity of Japanese anime and manga overseas, "otaku" are respected as authorities and professionals in their field. Fully-wrapped vehicles and airplanes have also appeared in public transit agencies such as airplanes, trains, buses, and motorcycles, and they are very popular with young children and in the otaku community. These vehicles, which are derived from the Itasha and wrapped with characters, are called "Itansha" (motorcycles) and "Itadensha" (trains). In addition to Itasha, you can see a custom bicycle (Itacheri) at 0:22 and a scooter bike (Itansha) at 1:02 in the video. Making Itasha Source :YouTube screenshot Since Itasha designs are based on characters that appear in other works, they are copyrighted. However, since the character Hatsune Miku, which often appears in videos, is a free license, there is no copyright issue if you design your own vehicle with Hatsune Miku. Also, each vehicle can be designed however the owner wants it to be, but if you're a hardcore otaku, you can make your own design with paint and cutting sheets. Recently there are even companies that specialize in Itasha design. Even if you're not an otaku, you can just get a professional to do it for you. In some cases, companies produce itasha by advertising and collaboration, and collaboration itasha, such as Evangelion and Re:Zero, (Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World) were also a hot topic. As for Shinkansen, there is an Evangelion train called "Type EVA" vehicle, and the interior even uses the colors of Evangelion's first mech. Some manufacturers have asked for image collaborations with luxury cars for popular works. In particular, anime and games such as Gundam, Macross, and Super Mario prove the importance of Japanese culture through Itasha. Event Information and Summary of Odaiba Itasha Heaven 2019 Source :YouTube screenshot This video shows cosplay models in a variety of poses, dressed in gorgeous cosplay to add to the appeal of the Itasha. As you can see from 3:21 in the video, there's also a talk show with songs and voice actors on the event stage, so you can see that this isn't just an event to look at the cars. More than 1,000 Itasha participated in the event, the largest of its kind in Japan, in Odaiba that day. Otaku culture, which originated in Akihabara, has now taken off from Japan and is attracting attention around the world. In other words, Itasha Heaven is the largest exhibition of Itasha in the world. As long as there is anime and manga culture in Japan, so too will there be an Itasha culture! Itasha are also known as "Moesha" (cute cars) among otaku, and to otaku "cute" is justice!

Tokyu Kabukicho Tower" in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Video Introduction Photo：Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, Shinjuku This video, titled "Tokyu Kabukicho Tower: A Hotel and Entertainment Complex Aimed at International Tourists" (【東急歌舞伎町タワー】インバウンド需要狙い　ホテルとエンタメの複合施設), was uploaded by "NTV News24" (日テレNEWS). The video introduces the entertainment facilities of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, which opened in April 2023. The video is full of exciting images, such as the flashy food hall Shinjuku Kabukicho Hall, where guests can enjoy sampling cuisine from different regions of Japan, and the movie theater, where every seat is a premium seat. [Video] 0:48 - All Premium Seats [Video] 0:57 - The Flashy Food Hall What is Tokyu Kabukicho Tower in Shinjuku, Tokyo Photo：Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, Shinjuku On April 14, 2023, an entertainment complex tower that allows visitors to play, watch, eat, and stay opened in Kabukicho in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The 225-meter-tall skyscraper complex stands majestically on the former site of the sadly closed Shinjuku Milano-za Theater. Its name is Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. The exterior of the tower is extremely stylish, and the skyscraper, designed in the image of a fountain, has a strong presence in Shinjuku's Kabukicho district. The concept of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower is to "pursue your passions." Admission to Tokyu Kabukicho Tower is free, and anyone can enter. The tower houses restaurants, cafes, an evolutionary food court in the style of an alleyway you'd find in Tokyo, live music clubs, cinemas, theaters, and accommodations, offering a variety of experiences within a single building. In addition, reflecting the diversifying society, gender-less restrooms have been introduced on the 2nd floor. The revolutionary restrooms, which can be used by both men and women, have been quite the controversy on social media. Experience Japanese Festival Culture and Delicious Food on the 2nd Floor at Shinjuku Kabuki Hall Photo：Shinjuku Kabuki Hall, Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, Shinjuku Shinjuku Kabuki Hall is a flashy food hall with a Japanese festival theme. Located on the 2nd floor of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, the interior combines the glitz and glamour of Kabukicho with authentic alley-way-style areas that Tokyo is known for. Delicious foods from all over Japan and cuisine from the neighboring country of Korea can be enjoyed here as well. Hours for Shinjuku Kabuki Hall are from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. the next day. Events are held every night on the stage set up inside the food hall, adding to the festive nighttime atmosphere of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. [Shop Information for the Food Hall] ●Hokkaido Food Festival (北海道食祭) Visitors can enjoy local delicacies of Hokkaido, such as ramen, zangi (a special type of fried chicken), Tokachi pork bowls, Muroran yakitori (pork and onions skewers), and various seafood products. ●Tohoku Food Festival (東北食祭) A restaurant where you can try beef tongue from Sendai, a major city in Japan's Tohoku region, Morioka reimen (cold noodles), Hinai Jidori chicken characterized by its firm texture and umami flavor, and Fukushima enban gyoza (disc dumplings) beautifully arranged in the shape of a frying pan. ●Kanto Food Festival (関東食祭) Kanto Food Festival is popular for its sushi platters and Edo tempura rice bowls, which allow visitors to enjoy Edomae techniques, motsuyaki (grilled beef offal) from Shibaura, Sano ramen from Tochigi, and Tochigi gyoza (dumplings). ●Yokohama Chinese Food Festival (横浜中華食祭) A restaurant where you can enjoy popular dishes from Yokohama Chinatown in a casual atmosphere. ●Chubu Food Festival (中部食祭) Here, visitors can enjoy dishes such as Nagoya's classic miso pork cutlet and chicken wings, dishes made with Japanese glass shrimp, the jewels of Toyama Bay, and Hanton Rice from Kanazawa, which has become a popular tourist destination since the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen bullet train. ●Kinki Food Festival (近畿食祭) Visitors can enjoy "B-class gourmet" foods such as Osaka's okonomiyaki and kushikatsu, as well as Kyoto's udon noodles and obanzai (traditional Kyoto-style cuisine), famous for their elegant soup stock. The lineup also includes first-class Japanese beef dishes, such as Kobe Beef and Omi Beef! ●Chugoku-Shikoku Food Festival (中四国食祭) This restaurant focuses on fresh ingredients sent from the regions that produce them, such as bonito (dried skipjack tuna flakes) shipped directly from the remote Okinoshima island in Kochi, oysters shipped directly from Hiroshima, and noodles from a long-established Sanuki Udon noodle store in Kagawa that attracts large crowds of customers. ●Kyushu-Okinawa Food Festival (九州沖縄食祭) A restaurant where you can try Hakata's yakitori ramen, torikawa (chicken skin) skewers, and tetsunabe gyoza (a special type of dumpling). You can also try chicken dishes made with Miyazaki jidori chicken, goya chanpuru (Okinawan bitter gourd stir-fry), rafute, and more. Enjoy a combination of foods together with shochu and awamori. ●Korean Food Festival (韓国食祭) From Korean dishes like cheese dakgalbi, sundubu, and samgyeopsal, which are very popular in Japan, to sweets from Korean food stalls, you can enjoy a wide variety of Korean food here. ●KABUKI CAFÉ A casual Italian restaurant that can be enjoyed as a café or a bar. The Arts at Tokyu Kabukicho Tower! Theater, Cinema, a Live Music Club and More! Source :YouTube screenshot No matter how rewarding the tourist attraction or wonderful the live performance is, if your accommodations are far away or if you have to travel by crowded train, you won't be able to enjoy it as much as you'd like... With that said, we recommend utilizing the accommodations inside Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. Tokyu Kabukicho Tower has two hotels opening on May 19, 2023. They are "BELLUSTAR TOKYO, A Pan Pacific Hotel," a facility that offers one of the most luxurious lodging experiences in Japan, and "HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU, A PARKROYAL Hotel," which features pop-style guest rooms with art and music inspired by Shinjuku. After a long day of fun at Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, an entertainment complex tower, you can return to your hotel room at the press of a button! You're sure to have an enjoyable time if you do so! Tokyu Kabukicho Tower is also connected to airports via a direct limousine bus service. If you're looking for a base to explore tourist attractions around Tokyo, this is it! Tokyu Kabukicho Tower: An Entertainment Facility & Hotel in Shinjuku, Tokyo Photo：Tokyu Kabukicho Tower at night, Shinjuku Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, an entertainment complex and tower, combines a state-of-the-art theater, movie theater, and a live music hall. Located on the 6th, 7th, and 8th floors of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, THEATER MILANO-Za has been opened, taking the name of Shinjuku Milano-za, a beloved movie theater that was open in Shinjuku for 58 years, as a live entertainment theater. It offers a top-notch stage for artists, not only for plays, but also for seated live music performances and visual events. 109 Cinemas Premium is located on the 9th and 10th floors. The viewers-only lounge, which can be used one hour before a movie starts, has a relaxing atmosphere and is decorated with artwork inspired by Shinjuku's Kabukicho district. All seats are premium seats, and the design of the sound system was overseen by Ryuichi Sakamoto. Zepp Shinjyuku (TOKYO), located in the basement of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower from B1F to B4F, can accommodate 1,500 people standing, making it one of the largest live music halls in Shinjuku. Equipped with the latest video equipment, it offers a special live performance experience in a luxury venue where music and video are fused together. Tokyu Kabukicho Tower Floor Guide Photo：Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, Shinjuku Tokyu Kabukicho Tower has 48 floors above ground and 5 floors below ground for a total of 53 floors. Of the 53 floors, 45 floors are accessible by the public. Below is a floor guide for Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. BELLUSTAR TOKYO, A Pan Pacific Hotel (39-47F) A luxury hotel at the top of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower with a panoramic view of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. The hotel has 97 rooms and 5 penthouse suites where you can enjoy an unforgettable stay. Floors 45-47 feature a bar and restaurant that can be used by all visitors to the hotel. HOTEL GROOVE SHINJUKU, A PARKROYAL Hotel (18-38F) A hotel with a view of Tokyo with fancy furnishings and unique art installations. The hotel has 538 rooms that come in a variety of styles. From suites, to rooms with tatami flooring, and rooms designed by artists, there's something for everyone here. JAM 17 DINING & BAR (17F) JAM 17 DINING & BAR features an Italian restaurant with an open kitchen and fresh vegetables from Japan's Kanto region. The restaurant also features a rooftop terrace where you can enjoy dinner with friends or a romantic night out with your special someone. The bar is a great place to relax after enjoying other facilities in the tower, and features guest bartenders, original cocktails, and a tasteful ambience. 109 Cinemas Premium (9-10F) A movie theater with completely premium seating inside Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. THEATER MILANO-Za (6-8F) Carrying on the name of the former Shinjuku Milano-za, this theater is used for plays, live performances, etc., and seats up to 907 guests in relatively spacious seating. EXSTION (5F) EXSTION is a members-only wellness club located inside of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower with a relaxing atmosphere. It features a lounge, sauna, gym, pool, restaurant, art gallery, and other facilities. THE TOKYO MATRIX (4F) A real-life dungeon based on the story of Sword Art Online. Players will have to use sword skills, and critical thinking to solve puzzles and collect items for a chance to face off against Kirito and Asuna. namco TOKYO (3F) Namco TOKYO is an arcade located inside of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower. The arcade features 250 gachapon machines, a variety of games, as well as food and drinks with which to enjoy a break between fun. Shinjuku Kabuki Hall (2F) Shinjuku Kabuki Hall is a café inside of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower with 10 restaurants all offering a different style of cuisine from somewhere in Japan, and even with Korean food. Tourist Information Center (1F) The first floor is where you can get father tourist information if you're visiting the area, but also houses a Starbucks, a burger and taco restaurants, and a variety of other facilities. Zepp Shinjuku/ZEROTOKYO (B1-B4) The basement floors are home to Zepp Shinjuku, a live music hall with state-of-the-art video equipment for live performances that can accommodate up to 1,500 guests, and ZEROTOKYO, a club where you can enjoy music, DJs, scenography, and all kinds of awesome performances. Summary of Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, a Flashy New Tourist Attraction in Shinjuku Photo：Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, Shinjuku Tokyu Kabukicho Tower is a new type of entertainment complex that is raising the bar for quality entertainment in Japan. You can experience the Japanese spirit of hospitality, which is to make your stay comfortable and enjoyable, together with endless entertainment and state-of-the-art facilities. 【Official Website】TOKYU KABUKICHO TOWER