TOKYO GIRLS STYLE launches fundraiser project for TV documentary of upcoming U.S. live concert debut

JAPANESE POP TEEN IDOL GROUP

TOKYO GIRLS STYLE

LAUNCHES CROWDFUNDING PROJECT

“Let’s Join Hands Together and Make Sunflowers Bloom in San Francisco”

FOR 2014 J-POP SUMMIT CONCERT

Phenomenal Teenage Pop Idol Act Launches Fundraiser To Produce

A Special TV Documentary Capturing The Group’s U.S. Live Concert

Debut With A Sea Of Sunflowers At The Annual Bay Area

Japanese Pop Culture Extravaganza In July

In conjunction with their upcoming appearance at the 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival and J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE concert appearance, the Japanese teen pop idol group – Tokyo Girls’ Style – has launched a crowd-funding project dubbed “Let’s All Join Hands to Make Sunflowers Bloom Girls’ Style in San Francisco.”

The fundraiser’s proceeds will help finance a special Tokyo Girls’ Style TV documentary, co-produced with SPACE SHOWER TV Plus, which will document the group’s monumental first-ever U.S. concert with full of Sunflowers at Union Square in San Francisco downtown, as well as present interviews and other special J-POP SUMMIT Festival appearances.

Tokyo Girls’ Style will appear as Guests of Honor for a series of live performances and special personal appearances at the 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival, one of the nation’s largest celebrations of Japanese pop culture, music, fashion and film. The 5-member all-girl dance and vocal group will perform live in concert along with other top pop artists from Japan on the evening of Saturday, July 19th as part of the “J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE,” taking place in city’s downtown Union Square area, and also will perform live on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown on the afternoon of Sunday, July 20th. Full J-POP SUMMIT Festival details and updates are available at: www.j-pop.com.

Replica sunflowers will be distributed to concertgoers attending the special J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE Saturday evening performance and Tokyo Girls’ Style will ask the audience to wave them in unison when they sing an English version of their hit song "Himawari to Hoshikuzu" (Sunflowers and Stardust), enveloping the entire area in a sea of sunflowers and summer color. The performance will be captured for a live music video for the documentary. Pledge “Seeds” start at only $19.00 and Tokyo Girls’ Style will personally thank contributors with a variety of premium items including exclusive behind the scenes performance and backstage photographs, DVDs of the San Francisco concert, and an array of personally autographed items and more. Fans can visit the official J-POP SUMMIT Media Sponsor – Tokyo Girls Update – at: http://tokyogirlsupdate.com/crowd/en/single.php?project_id=286 for additional information on the Tokyo Girls’ Style Sunflower crowd-funding project.

“Tokyo Girls’ Style is one of the hottest pop idol Kawaii groups in Japan and their upbeat songs and dance-driven live show will add an exciting component to the line-up of amazing pop artists we will present this year,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the President/CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. and Chairman of the J-POP SUMMIT Festival Committee. “Music, fashion and film are among the most popular aspects of Japanese pop culture and Tokyo Girls’ Style will exemplify all three throughout the J-POP SUMMIT Festival. We are honored to present the group’s U.S. debut and look forward to fans of all ages giving them a warm welcome on-stage for the concert, on the big-screen for their film premieres and also in-person at the special artist meet-and-greet!”

The smash hit group Tokyo Girls’ Style formed in 2010 and has become a major new force in the bustling Japanese pop music scene. Consisting of 5 teenagers - Ayano Konishi, Miyu Yamabe, Hitomi Arai, Yuri Nakae and Mei Shoji – the group, whose member’s average age was only 15 when they formed, was signed to Avex and released four debut singles within their first year. Tokyo Girls’ Style has gone on to captivate millions of avid fans across Japan with a hook-driven funk and disco sound that is infused with a glossy urban appeal. As of 2012, the group was the youngest female acts to ever headline a concert at Tokyo’s most famous Budokan live hall, has released several hit records in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and also performed live shows in Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.

Additional information on Tokyo Girls’ Style is available at: http://tokyogirlsstyle.jp/tokyogirlsstyle_en.

Fans can also catch their music videos on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/TokyoGirlsStyle.

Pop group TOKYO GIRL'S STYLE to make U.S. concert debut at J-POP SUMMIT Festival in San Francisco

2014 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL PRESENTS

THE SMASH HIT JAPANESE POP VOCAL

AND DANCE GROUP TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE

Top Selling Teenage Pop Idol Act Marks Its U.S. Debut With Live Concert

At Annual Bay Area Japanese Pop Culture Extravaganza In July;

Japan Film Festival Of S.F. Also Hosts Two Feature Film Premieres

Starring Tokyo Girls’ Style Members At NEW PEOPLE Cinema

The 2014 J-POP SUMMIT, San Francisco’s premiere celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, fashion and film, will welcome the smash hit teen pop idol group – Tokyo Girls’ Style – as official Guests of Honor for a series of live performances and special personal appearances during this year’s festivities. The event marks the Tokyo Girls’ Style’s first-ever U.S. concert.

The 5-member all-girl dance and vocal group delivers an irresistible funk and disco style infused with glossy urban appeal and will perform a special J-POP SUMMIT Festival live concert along with other top pop artists from Japan on the evening of Saturday, July 19th as part of the “J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE,” taking place in city’s downtown Union Square area, and also will perform live on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown on the afternoon of Sunday, July 20th.

Tokyo Girls’ Style also will do a meet and greet with VIP Pass holders both on July 19th and 20th. Additional details and event times, including information on VIP Passes, will be posted shortly at www.j-pop.com. A variety of merchandise, including t-shirts, CDs and DVDs also will be available for purchase at Kinokuniya Booth on Post St. in Japantown throughout J-POP SUMMIT.

The annual J-POP SUMMIT Festival and Union Square concert are FREE to attend (although certain activities/vendors will require a modest admission fee). J-POP SUMMIT takes place July 19th and 20th and has become one of the largest events in the United States dedicated to showcasing the many facets of Japanese pop culture, entertainment media and fandom. Attendance in 2013 exceeded 80,000 people. Full Festival details and updates are available at: www.j-pop.com.

As part of the U.S. debut of Tokyo Girls’ Style, the J-POP SUMMIT Festival and the 2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF) are proud to present the exclusive U.S. theatrical premiere of Count Five to Dream of You, an inspiring feature film directed by Yuki Yamato, and starring all of the members of the group. Set in all-girls high school, the film captures the short-lived and unforgettable moments of adolescence. Also set to premiere is Kotodama: Spiritual Curse, a new reboot of the famous Japanese horror movie franchise, in which all of the members of Tokyo Girls’ Style play the leading roles. Both films are scheduled to screen at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema during the J-POP SUMMIT. A special live Q&A session with Tokyo Girls’ Style and audience members will take place immediately following the screenings. Tickets are $15.00 each. Tickets are on sale now at the JFFSF website at: www.JFFSF.org.

“Tokyo Girls’ Style is one of the hottest pop idol Kawaii groups in Japan and their upbeat songs and dance-driven live show will add an exciting component to the line-up of amazing pop artists we will present this year,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the President/CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. and Chairman of the J-POP SUMMIT Festival Committee. “Music, fashion and film are among the most popular aspects of Japanese pop culture and Tokyo Girls’ Style will exemplify all three throughout the J-POP SUMMIT Festival. We are honored to present the group’s U.S. debut and look forward to fans of all ages giving them a warm welcome on-stage for the concert, on the big-screen for their film premieres and also in-person at the special artist meet-and-greet!”

The smash hit group Tokyo Girls’ Style formed in 2010 and has become a major new force in the bustling Japanese pop music scene. Consisting of 5 teenagers - Ayano Konishi, Miyu Yamabe, Hitomi Arai, Yuri Nakae and Mei Shoji – the group, whose member’s average age was only 15, was signed to Avex, released four debut singles within their first year. Tokyo Girls’ Style has gone on to captivate millions of avid fans across Japan with a hook-driven funk and disco sound that is infused with a glossy urban appeal. As of 2012, the group was the youngest female act to ever headline a concert at Tokyo’s most famous Budokan live hall, has released several hit records in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and also performed live shows in Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Additional information on Tokyo Girls’ Style is available at: http://tokyogirlsstyle.jp/tokyogirlsstyle_en. Fans can also catch their music videos on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/TokyoGirlsStyle. Stay tuned for additional J-POP SUMMIT Guest of Honor, programming and event announcements.

About J-POP SUMMIT Festival
Launched in 2009, J-POP SUMMIT Festival is an annual street fair held in San Francisco, CA that celebrates Japanese popular culture. By introducing the latest in Japanese music, film, art, fashion, gaming, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a prominent platform to showcase the latest pop trends and creative innovations from Japan. The 5th annual J-POP SUMMIT held in July 2013 welcomed more than 80,000 attendees, making it one of the largest Japanese festivals in the United States. In addition to the original Festival held in Japantown, new attractions include the J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE concert in downtown San Francisco, the Bay Area’s premier dedicated Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, and sake-tasting and fine foods events at the POP GOURMET Food Festival, which have each further enriched the experience. Additional information about J-POP SUMMIT Festival is available at: J-POP.com.

ACF 1983: J-POP Summit Festival adds Takara Sake USA as sponsor & announces co-presentation of Japanese human beat-box Daichi

Japanese human beat-box - Daichi 

The 2013 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES

TAKARA SAKE USA AS FESTVAL SPONSOR AND

PRESENTS HUMAN BEAT-BOX DAICHI FOR

A SPECIAL SERIES OF LIVE PERFORMANCES

Takara Sake USA’s Popular Sparkling Cocktail “JPOP” Returns

To J-POP SUMMIT Festival Along With An Amazing

22 Year-Old Human Beat-box Star From Tokyo

The 2013 J-POP Summit Festival has announced Takara Sake USA, Inc. as a Platinum Sponsor for the 2013 J-POP Summit Festival, taking place across San Francisco’s Japantown on Saturday and Sunday, July 27th and 28th. Takara Sake USA will host a booth to promote its popular sparkling cocktail Takara Can Chu-hi “JPOP” on Saturday and Sunday, July 27th and 28th, from 11:00am to 6:00pm each day.

Takara Sake USA and the 2013 J-POP Summit will present Takara’s J-POP Ambassador, 22-year-old Japanese human beat-box – Daichi – for a special free live concert on the J-POP Summit Main Stage in Peace Plaza at 11:30am on Saturday, July 27th and 12:00pm on Sunday, July 28th .

Daichi will also perform at series of special appearances at Takara Sake’s booth. The brewer invites attendees to enjoy a refreshing Japanese-style sparkling cocktail, Takara Can Chu-hi “JPOP,” and new flavors of “Grapefruit” and “White Peach,” while catching Daichi’s beats

Daichi Takara Sake USA Booth Performance Times
Saturday, July 27th
12:45PM
2:15PM
4:30PM

Sunday, July 28th
12:45PM
4:15PM

Daichi will also perform along with Japan’s Official Ambassador of Kawaii, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, J-Pop singing sensation Kylee, and ex-Morning Musume star Reina Tanaka’s new girls band LoVendoЯ, as part of the “Make Kawaii Universal!!” free concert taking place on Sunday, July 28th from 2:00pm-4:00pm in Union Square, presented by the 2013 J-POP Summit in partnership with Union Square Live.

22-year-old Japanese human beat-box, Daichi, taught himself his amazing vocal skill beginning at the young age of 10. Without using any instruments or machines, Daichi can create more than 50 different sounds using his only voice, and moreover, can play rhythm beat and sing melody at the simultaneously Daichi is known internationally for his talents and he has opened for the likes of Boys II Men and collaborated with numerous singers, dancers, DJs and performers.

The Takara Shuzo Company has been a leading producer of sake in Japan for over 160 years. In 1982, it established an American brewery, Takara Sake USA, in Berkeley, California. SHO CHIKU BAI is Takara’s premier sake and the #1 selling sake brand in the U.S. Takara will serve wide selection of sake at J-POP Summit, including its newest product, SHO CHIKU BAI Rei, JUNMAI GINJO DRAFT, which offers a rich, floral bouquet with full taste and won a gold medal at the 2013 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirit Competition. Takara will also offer visitors samples of MIO, a sparkling sake brand that has grown to become internationally popular. Because of its mellow taste and smooth texture it has become a new alternative to champagne. More information on Takara Sake USA, available at http://www.takarasake.com.

“We’re honored to welcome festival sponsor Takara Sake USA to celebrate the 5th anniversary of J-POP Summit,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the President/CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. and Chairman of the J-Pop Summit Festival Committee. “We invite attendees to catch the phenomenal human beat-box Daichi in a series of special intimate performances live at the Takara Sake USA booth!”

About J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL
The J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL is an annual Japanese Pop Culture celebration that features live bands and artists from Japan, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion and DJ dance events, and celebrity appearances. The Festival is hosted by NEW PEOPLE in cooperation with the Japantown Merchants Association. In 2012, the two-day event attracted 65,000 attendees. More information about J-POP Summit Festival is available at J-POP.com.

ACF 1947: "POP GOURMET Food Festival" at 5th Annual J-POP Summit

The 2013 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL ADDS A DELICIOUS COMPONENT WITH

“POP GOURMET FOOD FESTIVAL” OFFERING A COLORFUL ASSORTMENT

OF SOME OF THE BAY AREA’S MOST INNOVATIVE FOOD PROVOCATEURS 

More Than A Dozen Mobile Food Trucks Join The 5th Annual

San Francisco Celebration Of Japanese Pop Culture Alongside

A Special Sake Tasting Event Hosted By Japanese Consul General

The 2013 J-POP Summit Festival, San Francisco’s annual grand celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, fashion and film, delivers a scrumptious new component to this year’s robust program of events and attractions as it announces the “POP GOURMET Food Festival.”

Taking place on Saturday and Sunday, July 27th and 28th across the city’s historic Japantown district as a prominent feature of the 5th annual J-POP Summit, the “POP Gourmet Food Festival” will feature more than a dozen of the Bay Area’s hottest and most popular mobile food eateries offering a wide assortment of innovative Japanese and Asian-influenced cuisine along with other sweets and delectable treats.

The “POP GOURMET Food Festival.” at J-POP Summit will be located at the intersection of Post St., Webster St, and Fillmore St. at the gateway to Japantown. It will be open from 11:00am to 6:00pm both days of the Festival.

Celebrating its 5th anniversary, 2013 J-POP Summit presents an exciting 2-day extravaganza jam-packed with events celebrating this year’s theme of “Making Kawaii Universal,” including live music performances, featuring J-POP superstar Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and other performers, Harakuju fashion shows, live-action and anime film premieres, special Guests of Honor, and other events and attractions. Complete details are available at: www.J-POP.com.

The “POP GOURMET Food Festival” will be augmented by a special Sake Tasting Event that will present three of the largest sake brewers and three of the largest sake distributors for the first time ever at J-POP Summit. Multiple sake tasting booths will be on display and attendees can enjoy real Japanese sake and gain historical insight into the roots of Japan’s national spirit, as well as how it is made, how it should be enjoyed, and what foods it complements in an informative lecture delivered on both days by the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco. Admission to the Sake Tasting Event is $5.00 and participants must be at least 21 years of age (IDs will be checked).  

Food Trucks To Be Featured At 2013 J-POP Summit POP Gourmet Food Festival:

◉ Candybar Dessert Truck
◉ The Chairman Truck
◉ THE CRÈME BRÛLÉE CART
◉ Hongry Kong
◉ JapaCurry
◉ Korean Bob Cha
◉ Kasa Indian
◉ KungFu Tacos
◉ Little Red Riding Truck
◉ ONIGILLY
◉ Phat Thai
◉ The Rib Whip
◉ We Sushi

“San Francisco has long been a pioneer in food trends and also a bastion of pop culture in America, and what better way to blend these elements in Bay Area Style with the phenomenon of Japanese pop culture than at the J-POP Summit,” says Takeshi Yoshida, General Producer of J-POP SUMMIT Festival. “We’ve assembled a delightful weekend for food lovers with a diverse and delicious array of some of the Bay Area’s colorful assortment of fusion dishes. We also invite attendees to sample a high quality selection of some of the best Japanese sake brands at our first-ever Sake Tasting Event. They will never go wrong together. This promises to be the most exciting J-POP Summit Festival yet!”

About J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL

The J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL is an annual Japanese pop culture celebration that features live bands and artists from Japan, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion and DJ dance events, and celebrity appearances. The Festival is hosted by NEW PEOPLE in cooperation with the Japantown Merchants Association. In 2012, the two-day event attracted 65,000 attendees.

ACF 1938: 2013 J-POP Summit Festival will include a live concert in San Francisco's Union Square

KYARY PAMYU PAMYU

The 2013 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL MAKES “KAWAII” UNIVERSAL

AS IT EXPANDS TO S.F.’s UNION SQUARE FOR A SPECIAL

LIVE PERFORMANCE BY KYARY PAMYU PAMYU

San Francisco’s Biggest Japanese Pop Culture Celebration Expands Beyond Japantown

For Special FREE Concert Also Featuring Harajuku Singer/Model Una, Sony Music Japan

J-Pop Star Kylee, And The Human Beat Box Phenomenon Daichi

The 2013 J-POP Summit Festival, San Francisco’s annual celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, fashion and film, celebrates its 5th anniversary by announcing its expansion – to Union Square – as celebrates this year’s theme, “Make Kawaii Universal!!” with a special live concert on Sunday, July 28th from 2:00pm-4:00pm, featuring one of Japan biggest J-Pop stars – Kyary Pamyu Pamyu.

Presented in partnership with Union Square Live presented by the City of San Francisco, the 2013 J-POP Summit Festival will take downtown San Francisco by storm with “cute” J-Pop as a complement to the Festival’s core location, taking place Saturday and Sunday, July 27th and 28th. A variety of live bands, fashion shows, anime and live-action film premieres, Guest of Honor appearances, vendors and a special POP GOURMET Sake Tasting event are scheduled. Additional details on J-POP Festival events and programming are available at: www.J-POP.com.

An integral part of the theme of J-POP SUMMIT 2013, “kawaii” is a universally celebrated Japanese word that means “cute” or “loveable” and has become a prominent aspect of modern Japanese popular culture and expressed prominently in fashion, music, anime, games, characters, and cosmetics. The word has also become part of daily youth vernacular and is widely used to comment on style and fashion.

“The celebration of the J-POP Summit spreads beyond Japantown this year and we are very excited to bring a special edition of the festival to Union Square, led by one of Japan’s biggest pop stars, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the President/CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. and Chairman of the J-Pop Summit Festival Committee. “By having this opportunity to present the essence of Kawaii Culture to a mainstream and demographically diverse area of the city, we hope to deliver the spirit and creativity of this unique pop culture phenomenon to even more people.”

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu personifies the style and sound of Tokyo’s fashion Mecca – Harajuku. Born in Tokyo 1993, she began as a model for several Harajuku fashion magazines when she was still in a high school and her unique looks and bizarre language and behavior caught Japan’s, and soon the world’s attention. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu released her major debut, MOSHI MOSHI HARAJUKU in August 2011 from Warner Music Japan, and the music video for its single “PONPONPON,” has been played over 50 million times on YouTube. Her first full-album, Pamyu Pamyu Revolution, was released in May 2012. In February 2013, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu began a world tour and recently released her sixth single, “Invader Invader,” in May.

Una was formally a charismatic shop assistant in Harajuku and began her modeling career as a model by getting a snapshot taken by a fashion magazine in 2010. It didn't take her long to begin appearing regularly in numerous fashion magazines. With her beautiful looks, edgy style, and perfectly balanced body proportions, she represents a new type of Harajuku model capable of expressing not only kawaii style but also showcasing other cool aspects of Harajuku culture. This iconic figure of the Harajuku street scene will also debut her first musical single, "Juicy Juicy," on August 14th.

Kylee is an upbeat 19 year-old pop singer/songwriter currently signed to Sony Music Japan and has become a fast-rising multi-cultural star that is developing a major following in both the U.S. and Japan. Kylee has been featured in the U.S. on the Today Show, and her second single, "missing/IT'S YOU," released in 2010, was featured heavily in a commercial for online apparel retailer NISSEN. In 2011 she performed for an audience of more than 50,000 people at an official Major League Baseball game and has also sang for President Barack Obama.

The 22-year-old Japanese human beat-box, Daichi, began teaching himself his amazing skill beginning at the young age of 10. Without using any instruments or machines, Daichi can make more than 50 different sounds using his voice, and moreover, can play rhythm beat and sing melody at the same time. Daichi is known internationally for his talents and he has opened for the likes of Boys II Men and collaborated with numerous singers, dancers, DJs and performers.

Founded in 2005, Union Square Live brings free music, dance, circus, theater, outdoor movies and other entertainment to Union Square Park for everyone's enjoyment. Held April through October, most programs are presented on Wednesdays at 12:30pm and 6pm and on Sundays at 2pm.

About J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL
The J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL is an annual Japanese Pop Culture celebration that features live bands and artists from Japan, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion and DJ dance events, and celebrity appearances. The Festival is hosted by NEW PEOPLE in cooperation with the Japantown Merchants Association. In 2012, the two-day event attracted 65,000 attendees.

More information about the J-POP Summit Festival is available at J-POP.com.

ACF 1933: Exclusive L.A. One Night Only Theatrical Premiere of PERFUME WORLD TOUR 2nd IN UK

LIVE VIEWING JAPAN ANNOUNCES A SPECIAL

L.A. J-POP CONCERT BROADCAST EVENT:

PREMIERE OF PERFUME WORLD TOUR 2nd IN UK

Popular All-Girl Japanese Pop Group Performs

From the U.K. In A Special Big Screen Event;

Catch The Exclusive One Night Only Screening!!!

Live Viewing Japan, a distribution company focused on bringing Japanese entertainment media to an international audience, will thrill J-Pop music fans with its latest announcement of the exclusive Los Angeles theatrical premiere of Perfume WORLD TOUR 2nd in UK LIVE VIEWING in L.A. – for one-night-only – at the Regal Cinema L.A. LIVE, in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, July 7th at 1:00pm. The upbeat 2½ hour delayed broadcast event will capture the popular all-girl Japanese pop group in action from an upcoming concert that will take place in London on July 5th.

Tickets are $25.00 and are available at: perfumeliveviewinginla.com. Regal Cinema L.A. LIVE is located at 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015.

Live Viewing Japan also extends a special invitation to 2013 Anime Expo attendees at the nearby Los Angeles Convention Center to catch this exclusive J-Pop concert broadcast event premiere! Regal Cinema L.A. LIVE is a short walk from the L.A. Convention Center grounds, located adjacent to the Nokia Theatre and Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Perfume is a very popular all-girl Japanese pop group that formed in Hiroshima in 2001 and features Ayaka Nishiwaki (Aa-CHAN), Yuka Kashino (KASHIYUKA), and Ayano Omoto (NOCCHi). As of January 2012, the group has released fourteen major label singles. Perfume began with a post-Shibuya-kei pop sound but began to transition to electronic dance-pop music beginning in 2003, influenced heavily by 1980s synthpop and chiptunes and electro house. In 2005, the single “Linear Motor Girl” signaled their major debut. The following singles resulted in Perfume receiving the label “technopop of the future,” partly because of their science fiction-like themes. Their first album, Perfume: Complete Best, released in 2007, was a compilation of six popular singles and reached Number 33 in the Oricon Music Charts.

With Perfume’s success, many Japanese brands enlisted the help of the group to add a pop-driven soundtrack to various promotional campaigns. Natural ni Koishite is a tie-in with the Japanese brand, Natural Beauty Basic and Pepsi NEX also featured Perfume’s cover The Cardigans’ “Lovefool.” In 2010, Perfume received major international attention when their song “Monochrome Effect” was featured in an episode of "American Dad!" Another Perfume song, "Polyrhythm," was featured in Disney Pixar's Cars 2.

In 2012, Perfume embarked on their very first tour in Asia, visiting Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore. With all shows completely sold out and their new record, “Perfume Global Compilation LOVE THE WORLD”” being released worldwide, the group is proving their popularity goes far beyond Japan. Perfume plans a European Summer Tour for 2013.

About Live Viewing Japan:
Live Viewing Japan is a Japanese-based media distribution company focused on bringing a variety of entertainment properties to a global theatre-going audience. More information on the company and its projects is available at www.liveviewing.jp.

ACF 1326: Review of NEW PEOPLE's DVD "Documentary AKB48 to be continued"

DOCUMENTARY of AKB 48 to be continued came out on DVD in the U.S. the beginning of this past December from NEW PEOPLE Entertainment. Culled from over 1000 hours of recorded video throughout 2010, it provides an interesting look inside the all-female idol group that is one of if not the biggest phenomenons in J-Pop today.

Just how big a phenomenon is AKB48? Well, here are just a few of the items that have appeared recently at Tokyograph, a news and information website dedicated to Japanese pop culture that was founded in June 2006:

- AKB48 forms band for new single “Give Me Five!” 

- AKB48 wins Japan Record Award 

- AKB48 breaks multiple records as best selling artist of 2011 

- AKB48 earns record for most million-selling singles by a female artist 

AKB48 was formed by music producer Yasushi Akimoto in 2005. The "AKB" stands for A-Ki-Ha-Bara, the Tokyo district that is a center for electronics and anime´/ pop culture.  As one of the title cards at the beginning of the documentary indicates, the group has a theater in Akihabara that is exclusive for their performances, which take place almost every day. The "48" stands for the number of official members in the group, which is divided into Teams A, K and B, with 16 members in each. In addition, there are "trainees," the number of which varies, who aspire to become members of one of the teams as vacancies occur.

The concept behind AKB48 is that they are "Idols you can always meet" and this comes across clearly in the documentary. The members, who seem to range in age from about 14 to their early 20s, are shown talking directly to the members of the audience. One of the phrases they most often employ, both onstage and in on-camera interviews, is "our dreams" and talking about striving to achieve their dreams creates a bridge of intimacy between them and their audience. Also, in recent years the group has started to hold elections to determine who will be involved in recording singles. in which fans vote for their favorites and the girl ranked Number 1 performs at the center of the group.

The documentary provides interviews with several members and those shown impressed me with a degree of maturity and articulation beyond what I would have expected from those so young. There are also shots of the girls in rehearsal and performing. We also get to see some of them doing "real life" things such as eating out at restaurants, shopping, and so forth. 

DOCUMENTARY of AKB 48 to be continued was produced by group founder Akimoto, so it's clearly an "in-house" type of production. If you come to it expecting a hard-hitting, Michael Moore kind of expose´, you'll be disappointed. This is no "warts and all" kind of film.

But it is an insightful opportunity to enter the world of these dedicated, hard-working and, yes, very talented young women. ACF Rating: 3 out of 4 stars; solidly recommended.

DOCUMENTARY of AKB 48 to be continued is available at NEW PEOPLE, Amazon and elsewhere.