Night one of Coachella had the back to back combo of YOASOBI and Hatsune Miku. Coachella, out in the deserts of Indio, California, has been bringing over a number of Japanese talents for the past few years. Previous years have featured Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Perfume, Joji, Utada Hikaru, and more.

SiM, who we last saw live at Crunchyroll Expo in 2022, is embarking on a world tour in support of their latest album, the PLAYDEAD World Tour.  They'll be spanning the United States starting on April 19 in Seattle, WA, and ending on May 24 in Boston, MA.  

ClariS, the renowned vocal duo, unveiled their latest single, "Andante", available for download and streaming today. This track serves as the ending theme song for the highly-anticipated new anime adaptation of Spice and Wolf, airing its first episode on the same day. "Andante," meaning "a walking pace" in musical terms, aptly captures the essence of the anime with its comfortable tempo and emotive contrasts.

April is becoming a little crowded. We have SiM and Crystal Lake on tour, Babymetal with two dates in San Francisco, and now, YOASOBI.

The Nippon Budokan is one of Japan's storied venues.  Originally built for the 1964 summer Olympics, it has also functioned as a concert hall for many famous names.  The Beatles, KISS, X Japan, Mariah Carey, and many others have played upon its stage.  And now?  Nemophila.  

NEMOPHILA's third album, EVOLVE, has arrived, and just in time for their Budokan show next month. Cram it into your head because at the very least we'll be hearing "Night Flight," if not other songs.

It's been a good last two days. I've just returned from Los Angeles after catching NEMOPHILA's show at the Echoplex for their Seize the Fate tour. The day prior, I also attended the San Francisco show at the Great American Music Hall. I spent just over a day in Los Angeles before heading home, and here I am, typing away. I very rarely do a back-to-back sprint during the same tour but in my opinion, NEMOPHILA is worth it.

Ren Nagase, a member of the Jpop duo King & Prince, will star in his first Netflix Original film, titled Drawing Closer (余命一年の僕が、余命半年の君と出会った話). The film, directed by Takahiro Miki, follows the story of aspiring artist Akito Hayasaka (Nagase), who is diagnosed with a cardiac tumor and has less than a year to live. During his difficult time, he meets Haruna Sakurai (Natsuki Deguchi), who also has a limited lifespan. Together, they find solace and color in each other's presence.