Tokyo International News Agency

UHA Mikakuto has announced the nationwide release of "Genta-meshi: Genta Soda Flavor," an officially endorsed new product created in collaboration with Travis Japan's Genta Matsuda, who serves as the commercial face for the popular gummy candy series "Ninja-meshi." The product will hit shelves at supermarkets and convenience stores across Japan starting Monday, August 24. Following the announcement, "Genta-meshi" quickly trended on social media, sparking widespread excitement among fans. "Genta-meshi" is a special project packed with Matsuda's passion, as he has long been an outspoken fan of "Ninja-meshi." The product features a playful design based on blue—his official idol group member color—and a custom "Genta Soda" flavor perfected after numerous trial batches. The collaboration came to fruition following remarks Matsuda made during concerts and behind-the-scenes moments on set, turning his personal dream into a ta...

Major convenience store chain Lawson has sparked a frenzy on social media by announcing a special Christmas cake collaboration with the wildly popular rock band Mrs. GREEN APPLE. Pre-orders are set to begin on September 15 at Lawson stores nationwide as well as through the official Lawson app. Despite the intense midsummer heatwave continuing across Japan, the early reveal of holiday news brought a wave of delight and excitement to fans on X (formerly Twitter). Fan reactions flooded the platform with comments like, "My Christmas cake choice for this year is officially decided!" and "I got an instant taste of winter in the middle of a brutal heatwave!" creating an early buzz for the upcoming holiday season. In addition to the Christmas cake reveal, Lawson simultaneously announced details for an upcoming "Ichiban Kuji" prize lottery and various related promotional campaigns. The flurry of announcements left fans thrilled, prompting social media comments such...

In the opening game of Day 6 at the 108th National High School Baseball Championship at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, Miyazaki Prefecture's Nichinan Gakuen secured a dramatic 2–1 walk-off victory over Kochi Prefecture's powerhouse Meitoku Gijuku to advance to the second round. Traditional powerhouse Meitoku Gijuku took an early 1–0 lead in the top of the first inning, setting the stage for a tense, low-scoring battle. Nichinan Gakuen managed to level the score at 1–1 in the bottom of the seventh. Then, in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and no runners on base, Nichinan Gakuen staged a miraculous rally with three consecutive hits. Second-year player Toyomaru delivered the game-winning walk-off RBI single to left field, bringing the thrilling contest to an end. With this victory, Miyazaki Prefecture earned its first win at Koshien in the Reiwa era across both spring and summer tournaments. This historic milestone means that representative high schools from all 47 prefectures in ...

The Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) announced its Gold Disc certifications for July 2026 on the 10th. This month's announcement recognized numerous works by highly popular domestic and international acts, triggering a wave of congratulatory messages from fans across social media. Leading the July certifications, K-pop group SEVENTEEN achieved Million status with their Japanese best-of album, "ALWAYS YOURS." Meanwhile, idol group Nogizaka46's single "Zahi ni Oyobazu" and FRUITS ZIPPER's "Power of Love / Sensation" earned Triple Platinum certifications. Double Platinum certifications—awarded for shipments of 500,000 units or more—were granted to Aぇ! group's single "Dekoboko Life" and Snow Man's concert video release "Snow Man Dome Tour 2025-2026 ON." The achievements reflect the strong momentum of both groups, drawing enthusiastic reactions from their fanbases. The Platinum category (250,000 units) featu...

Popular voice actor Kenji Nojima has been announced as a live-action cast member in the upcoming film Bayside Shakedown N.E.W.: Dash Through the Metropolis! , scheduled for release on September 18, sparking a massive reaction across social media. In the film, Nojima plays the Chief of the Secretariat at the National Police Agency (NPA). He is joined by an all-star lineup of veteran voice actors filling top executive roles: Fumihiko Tachiki as Commissioner-General, Kenjiro Tsuda as Deputy Commissioner-General, and Tomokazu Seki as Deputy Director-General. Fans are eagerly anticipating the impressive scenes featuring these iconic voice talents seated together around the franchise's famous 'Round Table.' The film is directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro, who is also well-known for directing the hit anime series PSYCHO-PASS . The live-action reunion of Tomokazu Seki and Kenji Nojima—who played key main characters in PSYCHO-PASS —sent fans into a frenzy, with comments like 'Is this...

Popular male idol group Snow Man held an official live stream on the evening of August 9, delighting fans by announcing their long-awaited sixth studio album, AMENITY , slated for release on October 7. During the stream, the group also premiered the music video for their new track, "Good Time." The announcement created a massive buzz online, with the hashtag "#Let'sHaveaGoodTimeWithSnow" (#スノとグッタイムしよう) rapidly claiming the number one trending spot on X (formerly Twitter) in Japan. The live broadcast faced unexpected trouble when a lightning strike caused connection issues, forcing a sudden change to the planned performance schedule. Demonstrating remarkable poise and flexibility, the members turned the crisis into an engaging show by chatting with guest Junior members and broadcasting rare, energetic rehearsal footage. Fans praised the group for effortlessly turning an accident into a memorable moment, driving concurrent viewership to a staggering 470,000 people...

Popular Japanese group Snow Man has officially announced the release of their eagerly awaited sixth original studio album, titled AMENITY , set to drop on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The announcement has triggered a massive wave of excitement and glowing praise across social media platforms. Coinciding with the announcement, a dedicated website, album jacket artwork, and teaser videos were unveiled, immersing fans in an upscale aesthetic reminiscent of a luxury hotel. Visuals featuring the members dressed in sophisticated hotel staff attire quickly became a hot topic online. Even the minimalist album jacket design—which tastefully refrains from putting the members' faces front and center—received high marks from fans who described it as "chic and stylish," noting that it exudes "a sense of poise and confidence." Following the live-streamed announcement and teaser release, album-related hashtags quickly dominated trends on X (formerly Twitter). Delighted fans flo...