PassCode’s Long-Awaited New Single “WILLSHINE” Chosen as 2nd Season OP Theme of TV Anime Shy!

“WILLSHINE” Jacket Cover

PassCode is a four-member vocal and dance group that has performed at major festivals such as SUMMER SONIC and MEGA VEGAS. In September last year, they completed their first US tour, performing in Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York. Riding the wave of these successes, they have announced that “WILLSHINE,” their first new song in approximately one year, will be released on music streaming sites on July 9, followed by a CD single release on September 11.

“WILLSHINE” has been chosen as the opening theme song for the second season of the TV anime Shy. The original manga is currently serialized in Weekly Shonen Champion and has exceeded a cumulative circulation of 1.4 million copies! This marks PassCode’s first anime tie-up since “Ray” approximately six years ago.

Furthermore, they have announced a live tour this August. The tour title is “PassCode Undo→Step TOUR 2024.” Please keep an eye on their activities this year!

HARU NEMURI Embarks on North America Tour 2024 'Flee from the Sanctuary'!

Popular vocalist HARU NEMURI has announced her triumphant return to North America with six live dates kicking off September 28 in Seattle, High Dive up-to Chicago, Reggies Rock Club.

HARU had captivated audiences last year in North America with her talked about epic tour performances and shows at SXSW including her appearance at the Dr. Martin’s showcase where she was reined “one of the best performances” writers saw that year. Returning to Japan, she had completed her Shunka Ryougen Tour at the Liquid Room in Tokyo with Shinsei Kamattechan, appeared at Summer Sonic 2023 Festival, and immediately had gone on tour completing her long-run tour in the UK and Europe with appearances at various festivals to close the night. Her mix of emotion, passion, energy, and guttural screams on stage have left those who see her in awe and wanting to find out more about the Japan based singer, songwriter and poetry rapper.

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The tour is in support of Haru’s newest EP release, ‘INSAINT’, out now. The album was heralded by publications like The Fader, Everything Noise, noting, “Haru continues to abide by the riot grrrl and overall punk ethos in ways that continuously captivate, complementing them with songs that are justifyingly rowdy, absolutely entertaining, and above all, genuine all the way”. ‘INSAINT’ is available to stream in full at this link:

HARU NEMURI comments "When I felt that being myself was more shameful and miserable than anything else, there was a night when I thought that once I leapt out of that 'safe home,' I might never be able to return to 'normal' again. Still, I had no choice but to jump out. Such nights can sometimes maybe visit others too. As one of the places where those of us who have had to leap out from sanctuaries in the past/present/future gather, I want to strive so that Haru Nemuri's live performances exist."

HARU will perform live in major cities including Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Brooklyn, and Chicago. A full list of upcoming tour dates can be found below. Tickets are on sale now at the following link.

Be sure to check out the music video for the track ‘Destruction Sisters’ below as well!

Interview: MORISAKI WIN

MORISAKI WIN is an actor, singer, voice actor, and performer, born in Myanmar but moved to Japan when he was in fourth grade. MORISAKI WIN started his career as a musician/performer when he was in his second year of junior high. In 2008, he joined the boy group, PRIZMAX as its main vocalist, which later disbanded in March 2020. He then made his major label debut as “MORISAKI WIN” on July 1st with the single “Parade”, which was used in the commercial for the Suzuki Sorio Bandit, that garnished much attention.

MORISAKI WIN proceeded to release his first album titled Flight on May 26, 2021, which ranked No. 1 on five several distribution services. In 2022, MORISAKI WIN released a series of singles with international writers, sang the theme songs for Avataro Sentai Don Brothers, and has showed his diverse range in his performances. In 2023, he released his long-awaited album, Baggage, and the movie tie-in “Dear” and “DAY1” from the TV drama, Ya Boy Kongming.

MORISAKI WIN is not only a talented musician, but he is also an established actor. He starred as ‘Daito’ in Stephen Spielberg’s hit film “Ready Player One”; Kousuke in Humanoid Monster Bela; and Junichi Sato in Sherry to name a few. He has been featured in several musicals, such as Tony in the second season of West Side Story; the lead role as Jamie in Jamie; and recently starred as the leading role in Broadway sensation “Pippin” at the Tokyu Theater Orb.

I had the honor to sit down and Interview MORISAKI WIN at Anime Central. Please see below! He was a kind, funny, and genuine person. You can also check out MORISAKI WIN at his official website, X, and Instagram!

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Luna: What was it like doing the opening and ending for Avataro Sentai Don Brothers?

MORISAKI WIN: Since the Japanese Sentai series has such a long history, it was quite an honor to be taking part of it. At the beginning I was nervous as if I really had deserved it.

Luna: Were you a fan of Super Sentai growing up?

MORISAKI WIN: Yes, of course! Power Rangers! I grew up watching the Power Rangers version of Super Sentai in Myanmar.

Luna: What is your favorite Super Sentai series that you’ve seen?

MORISAKI WIN: I would be the most fond of Power Rangers but I did do the songs for Don Brothers. Has Don Brothers made it to the States yet?

Luna: Not yet.

MORISAKI WIN: I hope Don Brothers makes it to US and gets incorporated into Power Rangers. Since the story is great and very chaotic. It’s enjoyable for grown up as much as kids.

Luna: For international fans, how they usually find out about J-pop is through anime. First, do you watch anime, and if so, what would you say is your favorite?

MORISAKI WIN: I really love anime. Some of my favorites are Kaiju No. 8, Mushoku Tensei, and Dungeon Meishi (Delicious in Dungeon ). I enjoy the Isekai and reincarnation shows too. A few that I’ve watched and currently watching on Netflix are Reincarnated as a Farmer, Monster, Re: Zero, Uncle form Another World, Steins; Gate, 7 Seeds, Hunter x Hunter and Time Patrol Bon (T-P Bon). Time Patrol Bon is new, its by the creator of Doraemon.

Luna: Is there a venue that you performed at that you will never forget? Also, is there a dream venue that you’d like to perform at?

MORISAKI WIN: Dream venue in Japan would be Budokan. One of the venues would be a ballroom in a certain Hyatt Hotel. It was just two nights ago (May 17th), I didn’t know if there would be any turnout, but there was. And the audience was great. It was a great experience.

Luna: It was a fun experience. Thank you very much!

Luna: How did you come to work on Ready Player One? What was that experience like?

MORISAKI WIN: In Japan, the first one was a video audition. I then got a call back, I got called to LA for a second audition. Then I waited about eight months for an answer and I found out I got the role. Then we went to London (outside of London), England to shoot at the studio. It took about four months. It was a big experience, it was my first Hollywood movie. It was like a dream. We were shooting in 2016, we waited for about two years and it came out in 2018. At the time, my life had changed. Including my life in Japan, after Ready Player One was released. People who didn’t notice me before, started noticing me. At the actual filming, the stage was so lavish, it was a unique experience. Not only that, The Stephen Spielberg is right in front of you and he’s telling you, ‘Win, it’s not like that’ giving you all the directions. In retrospect, it was quite the experience.

Luna: I saw that movie in theaters, day 1. I remember when it came out.

MORISAKI WIN: For real? Thank you! How did you feel for the first time?

Luna: I loved it and wanted to see it again afterward. It was so much fun, energetic. I loved every character.

Luna: As you made your major debut musical career during the pandemic, what were some of the difficulties you encountered and how did you overcome them?

MORISAKI WIN: The biggest weirdness was that there was no live performance of any sort until then. If you made your debut you were supposed to start touring all over the country to promote yourself and performing in front all of the people. But there was no telling if my music was actually reaching anyone. I realized that during the pandemic that was a time period of endurance I had to go through. When I finally got to perform to an audience and watching the reaction of a live audience is different. Normally a Japanese audience is more reserved, but I did get a reaction out of them.

Luna: Do you have a message for your international fans?

MORISAKI WIN: I hope everyone get to find my music on Spotify, AppleMusic, Amazon, and any other platforms in the States. And then when you get to know my music, I’ll come back here and perform again. I hope to see you again at my concert. Thank you!

Luna: Thank you so much MORISAKI WIN!

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Girl Group SWEET REVENGE Makes A Splash With Debut Music Video "Might Just"!

“Might Just’ digital Jacket Cover

New Asian-Pop band SWEET REVENGE has released today a music video for their debut single “Might Just.” The trio came together by competing in a global audition process to find the next pop sensation from entertainment powerhouse, LDH JAPAN. As part of the “Global Vocal Battle Auditions,” one of the international judges and world renowned producer AFROJACK was impressed with the group’s stand-out vocal and dance performances. Through their musical journey priming to launch – reminiscent of superstars BLACKPINK – they created their identity SWEET REVENGE, evoking a sweetness backed by femme fatale energy. Now, after four years of honing their skills, the girls are making their official debut into the J-Pop world with their colorful new music video for “Might Just.”

SWEET REVENGE is a multi-ethnic group, with ASAMI hailing from Japan, AGNES who is Dutch and West African, and LARISSA, a native of the Netherlands. In “Might Just,” each of the members show off their unique aura and style before coming together to create a bouncy hook, backed by a dreamy production style. The track is produced by GRAMMY award-winning producer group The Stereotypes, whose plucky synths and energetic hi-hat drums give the song a cotton candy atmosphere.

The “Might Just” music video, directed by Los Angeles-based Amber Park, features the bright performers with their own animated digital avatars. The character designs were made by Shinsei Galverse illustrator Ayaka Ohira and the avatars shown in the music video were created by creative studio Active Theory. The artists wore motion-capture bodysuits to record and track the choreography, all done by the LDH DIGITAL team to breathe life into their anime-friendly/kawaii-esque mascots. This single will appear as the opening theme in the upcoming anime series, "The Girl Downstairs.” The program is originally a popular Korean webtoon that was adapted into a Chinese anime series, and is now set to air on Japanese TV on July 3, 2024. 

Be sure to check out he music video for “MIGHT JUST” below along with the streaming link for the track here!

Multicultural Music Icons MONKEY MAJIK x Def Tech release collaboration song ‘O.G. Summer’, out now!

Known for their music that mixes Japanese and English lyrics, MONKEY MAJIK and Def Tech, two of Japan’s most iconic multicultural artists, have collaborated together on a new song. The single ‘O.G. Summer’ is out now, along with a music video.

Created as a collaboration between MONKEY MAJIK and Def Tech, this new song was first performed on May 9 during the encore during a performance on the Def Tech “Double Up” Tour 2024. As a rare team-up between two such legendary acts, the news immediately sent music fans into a frenzy. This powerful, high-tempo party tune expresses the two bands’ members’ perspective as older men and their feelings as summer hits – and with its cool flow and catchy pop melody, it’s sure to take summer by storm.

Be sure to check out the music video for ‘O.G. Summer’ below, along with the streaming link here!