Tokyo International News Agency

The major music festival "MUSIC EXPO LIVE 2026 in TAIPEI" has been confirmed to take place over two days, Saturday, October 24, and Sunday, October 25, 2026, at the Taipei Arena in Taiwan. This marks the event's first expansion overseas following its significant success within Japan. The announced lineup has already generated considerable buzz. King & Prince will serve as the headliners for the first day, October 24. They will be joined by a spectacular roster of internationally acclaimed artists, including Sakurazaka46, &TEAM, ATEEZ, NCT WISH, AiNA THE END, FRUITS ZIPPER, and Hearts2Hearts. Furthermore, it has been announced that Sho Sakurai will serve as the event's MC. This marks the first time Sakurai will take on such a major MC role for an overseas music event, triggering a wave of excitement on social media with fans offering messages of congratulations. Fans have also been sharing words of encouragement for King & Prince member Ren Nagase, who will...

Nippon TV's major summer music special “THE MUSIC DAY 2026” (broadcasting live for nine and a half hours from 1:30 PM on Saturday, July 4) has announced its fourth round of performing artists and special segments, sparking a massive buzz on social media. The newly announced fourth lineup features a diverse, multi-generational array of artists. This includes J-pop legend Masaharu Fukuyama, marking his 37th year since debut, and actor-singer Yo Oizumi, alongside rising group ROIROM, YH Entertainment’s five-member group “AND2BLE,” and AiScReam from the popular “Love Live!” multimedia franchise. Fans have flooded social media with celebratory messages, expressing their eagerness for the upcoming live performances. Additionally, a major special collaboration has been revealed between comedian/personality Naomi Watanabe and artist HANA. The two will team up for a special segment exploring legendary music landmarks in New York, leaving fans highly anti...

Sho Sakurai, a member of the popular group Arashi, has announced an exclusive audio live stream for fan club members, titled "Sho Sakurai Audio Live Stream #6." This announcement has generated a huge buzz, especially across social media platforms. The event, distributed via "FAMILY CLUB online," is scheduled to begin on January 30, 2026 (Friday) at 9 PM JST. Arashi fan club members can watch for free. As soon as ticket registration opened, numerous fans swiftly reported "Purchase Complete (Free)," and expressions of joy poured in. On X (formerly Twitter), comments like "So generous!", "I'll finish work super fast to listen!", and "I never expected this, so I'm incredibly happy!" came one after another, clearly indicating how eagerly fans had awaited this live stream. Some even exclaimed, "An otaku driven crazy by three consecutive days of content," delighting in the recent continuous updates from Sakurai. Com...

On October 13, 2025, Sho Sakurai of Arashi made a surprise appearance at the closing ceremony of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, becoming the top trending topic on social media. Appearing in the closing ceremony program, "Start for the Futures. ~To Each Future," Sakurai delivered a powerful message befitting the grand finale of the Expo. Announcer Yumi Oko Udo, his former co-star on "news zero," also made an appearance. The reunion of the former Monday duo prompted numerous posts on social media expressing surprise and delight, with comments such as "Is this News Zero lol" and "So sudden!" Attention also focused on Sakurai's choice of a Myaku-Myaku-colored tie, earning him praise for his thoughtful attention to detail. In response to this surprise appearance, fans showered him with praise, including comments like "He's truly a wonderful person 💕," "As expected, Sho-san, full of gravitas!", "He could create a whole country...

Sho Sakurai of Arashi is set to appear on the cover of the November 2025 issue of Hanako magazine (releasing September 27) in traditional Japanese attire, an announcement that has caused a significant stir on social media. Fans have showered him with praise, calling him "like a young master" and "exceptionally handsome," leading to an immediate rush of pre-orders. The main feature of this issue is "The Greater Ginza Story." Sakurai perfectly dons a kimono, gracing the cover with a captivating charm that has been described as that of a "wakadanna" (young master). Inside the magazine, Sakurai himself speaks about Ginza as "a town that blends into daily life," delving deep into its appeal. The editorial team was particularly impressed by his earnest attitude during the shoot, noting how he attentively listened to stories from shop owners and was constantly curious, showcasing his genuine interest. Furthermore, this issue also features Tak...