Ue Kara Mariko by AKB48

This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is Ue Kara Mariko by AKB48 which has debuted at number 1 on the Japanese JPop Oricon charts. AKB48 is a popular all girl idol group, which you can read more about here. This is AKB48’s 5th number 1 single of 2011 and they have dominated the Japanese JPop Oricon charts with the top 5 selling singles of the year in 2011.

Japanese Song of the Week Love me Back by Koda Kumi

This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is Love me Back by Koda Kumi, which has debuted at number 6 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon charts.

Koda Kumi (倖田 來未) is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Kyoto known for her sexy image and urban and R&B songs. She has been called the Christina Aquilera of Japan. You can read more about Koda Kumi here.

This song is short, upbeat and very sexy, which is typical of Kumi Koda.

Japanese Song of the Week Saisho no Mail by French Kiss

This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is Saisho no Mail by French Kiss, which has debuted at number 1 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon charts.

French Kiss (フレンチ・キス) is a Japanese pop trio unit formed from the popular idol group AKB48. The subunit is also signed to the Avex Trax label.

Japanese Song of the Week Busu ni Naranai Tetsugaku by Hello! Project Mobekimasu

This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is Busu ni Naranai Tetsugaku by Hello! Project Mobekimasu, which has debuted at number 4 on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon chart.

This is Hello! Project Mobekimasu’s Debut Single, and was released on November 16, 2011, in 7 Editions Regular & Limited A~F.

Japanese Song of the Week Okie Dokie by SKE48

This week’s number one single on the Japanese J-Pop Oricon charts is Okie Dokie by SKE48.

You can read more about SKE48 here

Okie Dokie (オキドキ) is SKE48’s 7th single and 3rd straight number one on the J-Pop Oricon charts.

Japanese Song of the Week SPICE by Perfume

This week’s Japanese Song of the Week is SPICE by Perfume which has debuted at number 2 on the Japanese Jpop Oricon chart.

Perfume (パフューム) is a Japanese all girl pop/techno trio from Hiroshima, Japan. They debuted locally in 2001 and made their major label debut in 2005 as an electropop act. SPICE is Perfume's 11th single.

The group formed in 2000 and named themselves Perfume as all three members had the Japanese character for fragrance (香) in their names. In 2011 their song “Polyrhythm” was chosen for the Pixar movie, Cars 2 soundtrack.

Japanese Song of the Week Kaze wa Fuiteiru by AKB48

This week’s number one single on the Japanese Jpop Oricon charts is Kaze wa Fuiteiru by AKB48.

You can read more about AKB48 here

Kaze wa Fuiteiru (風は吹いている) which translates as “The Wind is Blowing” is AKB48’s 23rd single and was released on October 26, 2011.

Japanese Song of the Week Oh My God! by NMB48

This week’s number one single on the Japanese Jpop Oricon charts is Oh My God! by NMB48.

NMB48 is an all-girl Japanese idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. They were formed as a sister group of AKB48 based in Namba, Osaka. The group performs at NMB48 Theatre in Namba, Osaka with the name of the group “NMB” coming from “Namba” in the Minami district in Osaka.

NMB48 debuted on October 9, 2010 and originally consisted of 26 members.

Japanese Song of the Week Ropponpon Fantasy by Ebisu Muscut

This week’s Song of the Week is Ropponpon Fantasy by Ebisu Muscut which has debuted at number 8 on the Japanese Jpop Oricon chart. This is a very cute and upbeat song and is typical Jpop.

Ebisu Muscats (恵比寿マスカッツ) is a Japanese idol group comprised of both gravure idols and AV stars. They have a rotating line-up which continues to change. The group formed and debuted in 2010 with their first single “Banana Mango High School / 12 no 34 de Naite with Namida 4 Shimai” which also reached number 8 on the Japanese Jpop Oricon charts.

Japanese Song of the Week Joshiryoku Paradise (女子力 パラダイス) by SUPER GiRLS

This week’s Song of the Week is Joshiryoku Paradise (女子力 パラダイス) by SUPER GiRLS which has debuted at number 2 on the Japanese Jpop Oricon chart.

SUPER GiRLS are a twelve member all girl group from Japan signed to the famous Avex Trax label. The group was formed by a public audition process in 2010.

The group known as SUPER☆GiRLS made their stage debut in 2010 and released their first single in 2011. Joshiryoku Paradise (女子力 パラダイス) is the group’s third single. The song is very typical of cute all-girl JPop groups and is very Upbeat and Happy.

Song of the Week Bo Peep Bo Peep by T-ara

This week’s number one single on the Japanese Jpop Oricon charts is Bo Peep Bo Peep by T-ara.

T-ara is a Korean girl group formed in 2009. There was huge buzz about this group before their debut with them called “super rookies”. The group had been in training for their debut for 3 years.

Bo Peep Bo Peep is T-ara’s debut Japanese single and was released on September 28. They continue the great debuts by Korean girl groups in recent years lead by Girls Generation and Kara.

Song of the Week Ai wo Tomenaide by Koda Kumi

This week’s Song of the Week is Ai wo Tomenaide by Koda Kumi which has debuted at number 6 on the Japanese Jpop Oricon chart.

Koda Kumi (倖田 來未) is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Kyoto known for her sexy image and urban and R&B songs. She has been called the Christina Aquilera of Japan.

Koda Kumi debuted in 2000 but didn’t gain fame until her 7th single “Real Emotion” which was used as the theme for the video game Final Fantasy X. She has had 8 number one singles. She is also seen as a fashion icon in Japan and has won many fashion awards. This current single is a change from her usual style and is a softer ballad.

Song of the Week Kono Chikyu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterundayo! by Morning Musume

This week’s Song of the Week is Kono Chikyu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterundayo! by Morning Musume which has debuted at number 2 on the Japanese Jpop Oricon chart.

Morning Musume (モーニング娘) also called Momusu (モー娘) for short is a Japanese idol girl group managed and produced by Tsunku. The groups name basically means Morning Girls and they are part of the Hello! Project stable. The group has gone through many line-up changes since first formed in 1997. It seems that every year there are new graduations from the group and new auditions bring in new members that it can be hard keeping track of the line-up.

Song of the Week Fighters by J Soul Brothers

This week’s number one single on the Japanese Jpop Oricon charts is Fighters by J Soul Brothers.

J Soul Brothers started in 1999 before changing their name to Exile in 2001. Exile went on to become one of Japan’s best known groups. J Soul Brothers was later revived by the group’s leader Hiro again in 2007 and merged with Exile in 2009 to form a 14 member group. They released their first studio album on December 2, 2009.

This song reminds me very much of Exile with some cool martial arts thrown in for the video clip.

Song of the Week Call by AAA

This week’s Song of the Week is Call by AAA which has debuted at number 5 on the Japanese Jpop Oricon chart.

AAA known as Triple A or Attack All Around, is a Japanese Pop band signed to the famous Avex Trax label. The group which comprises of both male and female members made their debut in September 2005. Call is the group's 29th single.

Song of the Week Flying Get (フライングゲット) by AKB48

This week’s number one single on the Japanese Jpop Oricon charts is Flying Get (フライングゲット) by AKB48.

AKB48 is a Japanese idol girl group created and produced by Yasushi Akimoto. AKB48 are one of the most popular groups in Japan and have achieved the feat of having their last 8 singles top the Jpop Oricon chart.

AKB48 was formed in 2005 and is named after Akihabara, the famous electronic area in Tokyo, where the groups own theatre is located on the 8th floor of a Don Quijote Store. The idea behind the group was to create a theatre based idol group, whose fans could see the girls perform live on a daily basis. AKB48 still performs at the theatre every day, but tickets to the event are hard to come by due to the great demand of fans.

Song of the Week MIN MIN MIN by SDN48

This week’s Song of the Week is MIN MIN MIN by SDN48 which has debuted at number 3 on the Japanese Jpop Oricon chart.

SDN48 which is short for Saturday Night 48 is a Japanese idol girl group created and produced by Yasushi Akimoto. SDN48 was created based on an “adult idol” concept and includes former AKB48 member Koyo Noro as captain. SDN48 made their major label debut in November 2010 and MIN MIN MIN is their 3rd single.

Song of the Week Everybody Go by Kis-My-Ft2

This week’s number one single on the Japanese Jpop Oricon charts is Everybody Go by Kis-My-Ft2.

Kis-My-Ft2 is a Japanese boy band formally by Johnny & Associates (Johnny's). The group officially announced their CD debut on February 12, 2011, but this was postponed due to the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan.

This is Kis-My-Ft2’s debut single and is also the theme song to Ikemen desu ne (You’re Beautiful).

Song of the Week Run For You by KAT-TUN

This week’s number one single on the Japanese Jpop Oricon charts is Run For You by KAT-TUN.

KAT-TUN is a Japanese boy band formed by Johnny & Associates (Johnny's) in 2001. The group's name is an acronym that was exclusively based on the first letter of each member's family name.

KAT-TUN debured in March 22, 2006 and since their debut, all of their single, album and music DVD releases have debuted at number one on the Oricon music and DVD charts.

Song of the Week Pareo wa Emerald by SKE48

This week’s number one single on the Japanese Jpop Oricon charts is Pareo wa Emerald by SKE48. SKE48 are an all-female idol group produced by Yasushi Akimoto. They debuted in October 2008 and perform in the newly built studio at Sunshine Sakae in Nagoya every Saturday.


SKE48 Official Website

Watch the video for the single Pareo wa Emerald by SKE48