Tokyo International News Agency

It has been announced that MAZZEL's new song "Touch" will serve as the theme song for the Saturday drama "Saisei no Uzume" starring Ayako Imoto, premiering on Saturday, October 3rd at 11:40 PM. This announcement has generated significant buzz on social media. "Touch" is an exquisite, gentle ballad that sinks deep into the heart, themed around the warmth of standing alongside someone through life's journey. SKY-HI, who handled the production and lyrics, commented that the song aligns with MAZZEL's current situation and can only be sung by them due to their diverse charms. The finished track beautifully bridges the song's positive message with the group's appeal. Following this tie-up announcement, fans (known as MUZE) flooded X (formerly Twitter) with voices of joy. Congratulatory messages such as "Congratulations on the theme song!", "I'm really looking forward to both the drama and the song", and "I'll ...

McDonald's Japan has announced the upcoming release of the "Hokkaido Potato & Pepper Tsukimi" burger starting September 24 for a limited time, as the second wave of its annual autumn "Tsukimi Family" lineup. Alongside this, it was revealed that entertainer Shingo Katori will star in the new TV commercial "Tsukimi Deta Deta - Shingo Katori Edition" (30 seconds), which will begin airing nationwide on September 22, generating significant buzz on social media. The newly introduced "Hokkaido Potato & Pepper Tsukimi" is an ambitious creation combining Hokkaido potatoes and peppery flavor with the beloved autumn Tsukimi series. Featuring a brand-new composition that puts potatoes front and center in the Tsukimi burger lineup, the news immediately sparked high expectations online with posts such as "It sounds delicious just by the name" and "The combination of pepper and potatoes is a must-eat." Furthermore, the announceme...

It has been revealed that the 5-member vocal dance unit M!LK's variety show 'Genkai Toppa! Yatte M!LK' will be promoted from its current late-night time slot to the Saturday 2:00 PM slot starting this October. The broadcast duration is also expected to expand from the traditional 30 minutes to one hour, drawing significant attention as a symbol of the group's remarkable progress. The show first premiered in October 2024. It has gained strong support for the unfiltered dynamics among the five members, their witty banter with the show's mascot character 'Mirumiru-kun,' and the laid-back project planning unique to late-night programming. Following the news of this major time slot change and duration expansion, social media was flooded with congratulatory messages such as 'Congratulations!' and 'I'm so happy to be able to watch a whole hour every week.' On the other hand, with the shift to a daytime slot, some fans are expressing mixed feelin...

In the match between the Hanshin Tigers and the Chunichi Dragons held at Hanshin Koshien Stadium on the 14th, Chunichi's foreign left-hander Kyle Muller delivered an extraordinary performance on both sides of the plate, leading his team to a resounding victory. On the mound, he pitched 106 pitches, allowing only 4 hits to secure his first-ever shutout victory in Japan. At the plate, he drove in 4 runs, including his 2nd home run of the season that directly hit the batter's screen, leaving the opposing Koshien crowd in absolute astonishment. Starting as the "batting eighth and pitching" player, Muller showed stable pitching from the very beginning. He briskly retired the Hanshin batters and continued an impressive performance without giving up a single run. However, the highlight of the day was not limited to the mound. When stepping up to the bat, he hit a powerful 2-run RBI double off the fence and also smashed a colossal 2nd home run straight into the Koshien batter...

The hit school comedy anime series Goldfish Warning! (Kingyo Chūihō!), based on the manga by Neko Nekobe, has been announced for a limited-time streaming release on YouTube, sparking widespread excitement across social media. Beginning September 21, episodes will be released sequentially, each available for a two-week window. Following the announcement, fans flocked to X (formerly Twitter) to share fond memories of the classic title. The platform was filled with joyful reactions, with users posting comments such as, " Goldfish Warning! is so nostalgic...!", "This was the manga that got me into Nakayoshi magazine as a kid," and "Gyopi-chan is just too cute!" Originally serialized in the monthly shojo manga magazine Nakayoshi and adapted into a TV anime in the early 1990s, Goldfish Warning! stands as one of the quintessential pop culture phenomena of Japan's early Heisei era. The slapstick antics of the carefree, energetic protagonist Wapiko, alongs...

Actress Yuri Nakamura has passed away at the age of 44 due to rectal cancer, according to an announcement made by her talent agency. The sudden news of her passing has led to a widespread outpouring of grief and disbelief across social media. Reports indicate that Nakamura had been quietly battling cancer since her 30s while continuing her acting career. Fans responded to the unexpected news with profound sorrow, leaving comments such as “This can't be true,” “The shock is too great,” and “She was taken far too young.” Throughout her career, Nakamura captivated audiences in numerous notable productions, including the acclaimed film Pacchigi! LOVE&PEACE and television dramas such as Konya wa Ko no Ji de , Sasameyuki (The Makioka Sisters), and Celeb 3 . Admired for her exceptional acting prowess, dignified beauty, and charming demeanor, she left an indelible mark on viewers. Tributes honoring her work continue to pour in, with admirers writing, ...

The performing artist lineup has been officially announced for 120 Million People's 'Thank You': Songs of Gratitude Festival , a four-hour live music special scheduled to air on Nippon TV (NTV) affiliates starting at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, September 23. The announcement has sparked huge buzz across social media, with related keywords quickly trending on X (formerly Twitter) as fans eagerly anticipate the star-studded roster and special performance segments. Serving as main hosts for the evening are actress Manami Higa and Shota Watanabe of the wildly popular idol group Snow Man. The latest announcement confirmed that Snow Man as a full group will also take the stage, drawing an outpouring of celebration from excited fans online. Social media lit up with heartwarming comments such as, "It's so moving to see the whole group perform on a show he's hosting!" and "Having your group there must be so reassuring, Shoppi!" Snow Man is slated to perform a s...