J-Pop Top 100 Songs Of 2011

27 12 2011

It’s that time of year again when I compile a list of the best 100 J-Pop songs I’ve listened to during the year. IMO 2011 was slightly better than 2010 in terms of great music coming out in Japan. It was tough as it always is in doing this countdown but overall I’m satisfied with what I picked.

Anyway, give me a shout about what you think of the chart.

100 EXILE – Each Other’s Way
99 AAA – Daiji na Koto
98 9Nine – Shining Star
97 Negoto – Charon
96 Aqua Timez – Mayonaka no Orchestra
95 Mai Kuraki – Your Best Friend
94 Idoling!!! – Yarakai Heart
93 Ayahi Takagaki – Takaramono
92 SDN48 – Ai, Juseyo
91 Nana Mizuki – Scarlet Knight
90 Maximum The Hormone – Greatest The Hits 2011~2011
89 Mika Nakashima – Dear
88 Yui Horie – Presenter
87 You Kikkawa – Kikkake wa You!
86 Kana Nishino – Distance
85 Buono! – Zassou no Uta
84 SDN48 – MIN MIN MIN
83 Kie Kitano – Kizuna
82 Happiness – Wish
81 Nana Mizuki – Junketsu Paradox
80 FLOWER – Still
79 YUI – Green a.live
78 SCANDAL – Haruka
77 Angela Aki – Hajimari no Ballad
76 JASMINE – ONLY YOU
75 YGA – Jounetsu Heroine
74 KAT-TUN – Ultimate Wheels
73 JUJU – Kono yoru wo Tomete yo
72 Sphere – Hazy
71 Morning Musume – Only You
70 KARA – Jet Coaster Love
69 miwa – 441
68 Tokyo Girls Style – Limited Addiction
67 Eri Kitamura – Be Starters!
66 ClariS – nexus
65 KARA – Winter Magic
64 PASSPO – Vivi Natsu
63 SCANDAL – Pride
62 Afterschool – Diva
61 Koda Kumi – Pop Diva
60 YUI – Hello~Paradise Kiss
59 Super Girls – MAX! Otomegokoro
58 May’n – Scarlet Ballet
57 Perfume – Spice
56 Superfly – Ai wo Kurae
55 Tohoshinki – Why? (Keep Your Head Down)
54 4Minute – Heart To Heart
53 Aoi Teshima – Sayonara no Natsu
52 SCANDAL – Love Survive
51 L’arc En Ciel – Good Luck My Way
50 Infinite – BTD
49 NMB48 – Zetsumetsu Kurokami Shoujo
48 Perfume – Laser Beam
47 Supercell – My Dearest
46 EXILE – Rising Sun
45 Kis-My-Ft2 – Everybody Go
44 4Minute – WHY
43 Girl Next Door – Silent Scream
42 no3b – Answer
41 French Kiss – If
40 DiVA – Cry
39 Idoling!!! – Don’t think. Feel!!!
38 Kaoru to Tomoki, Toma ni Mook – Maru Maru Mori Mori
37 Not yet – Shuumatsu Not yet
36 Bump Of Chicken – Tomodachi no Uta
35 Namie Amuro – Love Story
34 Meisa Kuroki – Wired Life
33 French Kiss – Kakkowarui I Love You!
32 Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 – Hettapi Wink
31 FictionJunction – Stone Cold
30 Atsuko Maeda – Flower
29 2NE1 – Go Away
28 French Kiss – Saisho no Mail
27 Arashi – Lotus
26 no3b – Kuchibiru Furezu
25 Namie Amuro – Fight Together
24 JASMINE – ONE
23 Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 – Valentine Kiss
22 SKE48 – Pareo wa Emerald
21 DiVA – Tsugi no Uragawa
20 B’z – Don’t Wanna Lie
19 Tomomi Itano – Fui ni
18 AKB48 – Ue kara Mariko
17 AKB48 – Sakura no Ki ni Narou
16 Not yet – Pera Pera Perao
15 Atsuko Maeda – La Brae Ave
14 NMB48 – OH MY GOD!
13 SKE48 – Banzai Venus
12 Not yet – Naminori Kakigoori
11 AKB48 – Everyday Kachuusha
10 AKB48 – Kaze wa Fuiteiru
09 AKB48 – Flying Get
08 SKE48 – Okey Dokey
07 Watarirouka Hashiritai 7 – Kibou Sanmyaku
06 Koda Kumi – Ko-so ko-so
05 Shoudo Jidai – Mr Taxi
04 Namie Amuro ft Afterschool – Make It Happen
03 Tomomi Itano – Dear J
02 AKB48 – Seishun to Kizukunai Mama
01 AKB48 – Gondola Lift





French Kiss Finally Achieve Their First Ever No.1

29 11 2011

It’s been a long time coming but 4 singles down the line, French Kiss have finally achieved their first ever no.1 hit on the Oricon Chart. Their latest song ‘Saisho no Mail’ managed to shift 134,000 copies during it’s first week on release and capture pole position on the chart. Sales for French Kiss has been steadily increasing since their debut and this song managed to sell an extra 22k on top of what they achieved with ‘Kakkowarui I Love You!’ during it’s first week.

French Kiss become the 4th AKB48 sub-unit after WH7, Not yet and Team Dragon to achieve a no.1 hit. High time for DiVA to get a no.1 single too.

Congratulations to Yukirin, Mocchi and Akicha.





French Kiss 4th Single Radio Rip

9 10 2011

The trio of Yukirin, Mocchi and Akicha better known as French Kiss will release their 4th single called ‘Saisho no Mail’ on November 22nd. A radio rip of the song has been uploaded on Youtube. Check it out below.

There’s not much details about the other tracks that will appear on this single. We do know is that there’s going to be 4 versions coming out (Limited Edition A, B, C + Regular) and there’s going to be a trading card included in each version. There’s a possibility that there will be a very special event ticket also included in which you can take a picture with your favorite French Kiss member which will be limited to 300 buyers of the Limited Edition versions. I would love to have my photo taken with Yukirin.

I really like the song ‘Saisho no Mail’. The radio rip unfortunately does have French Kiss interrupt after the first chorus to talk about the song. I’ll try and look for a better version with no interruption.





French Kiss PV’s

17 05 2011

Take a look at the PV’s below for French Kiss’ new single which was released last week and it’s done incredibly well for them saleswise with over 100k sold so far. I’m not sure if they’ve gained the no.1 spot in the Oricon charts but we’ll see  tomorrow if that’s the case. Congratulations to all 3 girls and thoroughly deserved too as French Kiss are fantastic. Yukirin looks her usual hot self in both PV’s!!

No need to worry about these 2 videos being deleted off Youtube as they’ve been uploaded by AVEX themselves.

“Kakkowarui I Love You!”

“Kimi Nara Daijoubu”





French Kiss CM For 7Net Shopping

15 04 2011

The trio of Yukirin, Mocchi and Takajo recently made a CM for “7Net Shopping” and now it’s been uploaded to Youtube for you all to see.

The CM sees the three girls being urged by the annoying fat comedian who always seems to be eating on Japanese TV – Hidehiko Ishizuka to use 7Net to buy their stuff.

Check out the CM by clicking the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O08gJsyTtgU





French Kiss Become Radio Hosts

24 03 2011

The trio of Yuki Kashiwagi, Aki Takajo and Asuka Kuramochi better known as French Kiss will have their own radio show next month on TOKYOFM. The three have been lobbying for a radio show of their own to give the people that have been hit hardest by the Tohoku earthquake something to cheer about.

It is not known on what day or what time the show will be on. Fans have been sending name suggestions for the radio show with the deadline ending tonight.





French Kiss – Fire Fighting Ambassadors For The Day

2 03 2011

Yesterday saw the trio of French Kiss become ambassadors for the day for the Tokyo Fire and Disaster Management Agency’s Fire Fighting School.

In quite horrible conditions outside, the girls watched firefighters train on how they deal with emergencies.  March 1st is the start of Spring fire prevention exercises in Tokyo which I didn’t know and it was the trio’s intention to make people more aware where they make fires.

Take a look at this video below:





AKB48 Request Hour Set List Best 100 2011

25 01 2011

The annual 4 day concert at Shibuya AX “AKB48 Request Hour Set List Best 100 2011” came to an end last weekend. Which song came out on top as favourite amongst the fans? There’s been many grumblings on some forums that the casual new fans that AKB48 have attracted during the course of last year have destroyed this year’s Top 100 with many old favourite tunes being pushed down the countdown or even not on it and replaced by newer songs. I don’t know what the fuss is about myself.

Here’s how the Top 100 looked:

100. Kioku no Dilemma (H2)
99. Jibun rashisa
97. Kisu no Ryuusei (no3b)
97. AKB Sanjou (A5)
96. Seishun no Flag (Watarirouka Hashiritai)
95. Seishun no Komorebi (no3b)
94. Shiroi Tulip (Watarirouka Hashiritai)
93. Aru Aki no Hi no Koto (French Kiss)
92. Koi wo Kataru Shijin ni narenakute (SKE48)
91. Mokugekisha (A6)
90. Blue Rose (K2)
89. Kokoro no Hane (Team Dragon)
88. Okami to Pride (SKE48)
87. Boku no Yell
86. Dear My Teacher (A1)
85. 16nin Shimai no Uta 16 (K4)
84. Sakura no Shiori
83. Bingo
82. Tane (no3b)
81. Tonari no Banana (H2)
80. Kuroi Tenshi (A5)
79. Higurashi no Koi (H1)
78. Nonai Paradise (K3)
77. Omoide Ijo (SKE48 S3)
76. Sakura no Hanabiratachi
75. Sougen no Kiseki (K3)
74. Yasai Sisters
73. 3 Seconds (no3b/Persona)
72. Gyu (Watarirouka Hashiritai)
71. Aozora Kataomoi (SKE48)
70. Kokoro no Hashi no Sofa (K6)
69. Namida no Seesaw Game (Undergirls)
68. Tenshi no Shippo (B3)
67. Arashi no Yoru ni wa (B5)
66. Seventeen
65. Honest Man (B5)
64. Mayu no Tame ni (Watarirouka Hashiritai)
63. Sasae (K4)
61. Yuuhi wo Miteiru ka?
61. GAGAGA (SDN48)
60. Baby!Baby!Baby!
59. Majisuka Rock ‘n’ Roll
58. Junjou Shugi (B3)
57. Tengoku Yarou (B4)
56. Nakeru Basho (DIVA)
55. Relax! (no3b)
54. Tsundere! (A5)
53. Korogaru Ishi ni Nare (K2)
52. Nagisa no CHERRY (A2)
51. Theater no Megami (B5)
50. Boku Dake no value (Undergirls)
49. Gyakuten Oujisama (K6)
48. Kuchi Utsushi no Chocolate (B4)
47. Kataomoi no Taikakusen (B4)
46. Mushi no Ballad (K5)
45. Only Today (A4)
44. End Roll (K5)
43. Lucky Seven
42. Kanpeki Gu~none (Watarouka Hashiritai)
41. Aitakatta (A2)
40. Miniskirt no Yousei (A6)
39. MARIA (K3)
38. Majijo Teppen Blues
37. Seifuku Resistance (K6)
36. Enjou Rosen (A6)
35. Kimi to Niji to Taiyou to
34. Kanojo ni Naremasu ka? (K6)
33. Kiseki wa Ma ni Awanai (K6)
32. Gomen ne, SUMMER (SKE48)
31. Choose Me! (Team YJ)
30. Temodemo no Namida (B3)
29. Bird (A3)
28. Kimi ni Tsuite (MINT)
27. Zutto Mae Kara (French Kiss)
26. RESET (K6)
25. Itoshisa no Accel (A6)
24. 1234 Yoroshiku (SKE48)
23. Pioneer (A6)
22. Kareha no Station (Rena Matsui)
21. Shonichi (B3)
20. Namida Suprise
19. Anata ga ite kureta kara
18. Uhho Uhhoho (K6)
17. Kimishika (no3b)
16. First Love (Mayuyu)
15. Candy (B5)
14. RIVER
13. 10nen Zakura
12. Yokaze no Shiwaza (B5)
11. Oogoe Diamond
10. Enkyori Poster
09. Heart Gata Virus (A5)
08. Nakinagara Hohoende (K3)
07. Itoshiki Natasha (B4)
06. Kimi no Koto ga Suki Dakara
05. Team B Oshi (B5)
04. Iiwake Maybe
03. Ponytail to Shushu
02. Beginner
01. Heavy Rotation





A French Kiss Surprise For Pupils At An All-Girls School

19 01 2011

With promotion for French Kiss’ 2nd single If already underway with it being released today – what better way for the trio of Yukirin, Mocchi and Akicha to draw attention to their new single than to hold an event for 400 lucky pupils at an all-girls junior high school. They performed two songs from their upcoming single but also held a Q&A session with the pupils about love or lack of it due to the restrictions on being idols. The trio were given various love problems from the audience to give advice about but they’re hardly the best ones to give advice if they’re not even allowed to date and even if some of AKB48 are secretly dating it would be unwise of any of them to spill the beans!

It was apparent that the audience and French Kiss had enjoyed the event immensely with Yukirin chipping in that she would like to do more events exclusively for females only every time they release a CD.





PV Preview of French Kiss’ 2nd Single “If”

24 12 2010

Mezamashi TV recently gave AKB48 sub-unit French Kiss fans a PV preview of their upcoming 2nd single “If”. The storyline for the PV somehow involves some kind of conflict between the trio interspersed with some dancing of the girls in Winter outfits. I quite like the song.