X Japan is a Japanese rock band from Chiba, formed in 1982 by drummer Yoshiki and lead vocalist Toshi. Starting as a predominantly power/speed metal band with heavy symphonic elements, they later gravitated towards a progressive sound with an emphasis on ballads. Besides being one of the first Japanese acts to achieve mainstream success while on an independent label, the group is widely credited as one of the pioneers of visual kei, a movement among Japanese musicians comparable to Western glam.
Kemari is a ball game that was popular in Japan during the Heian period. Kemari has been revived in modern times.
Hideto Matsumoto, better known by his stage name hide, was a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is primarily known for his work as lead guitarist of the heavy metal band X Japan. He was also a successful solo artist and co-founder of the United States-based band Zilch.
Tomoaki Ishizuka, known exclusively by his stage name Pata, is a Japanese musician. He is best known as the rhythm guitarist for the heavy metal band X Japan. He joined the band in 1987, stayed with them until their dissolution in 1997 and rejoined when the band started a comeback in 2007.
Mahikari is a Japanese new religious movement (shinshūkyō) that was founded in 1959 by Yoshikazu Okada (1901–1974). The word "Mahikari" means "True Light " in Japanese.
Yua Aida is a former Japanese model and AV idol.
Association Internationale pour le Développement de l'Apnée (AIDA) is a worldwide rule- and record-keeping body for competitive breath holding events (freediving). It aims to set standards for safety, comparability of Official World Record attempts and freedive education. AIDA International is the parent organization for national clubs of the same name.
Shinto, the folk religion of Japan, developed a diversity of schools and sects, outbranching from the original Ko-Shintō since Buddhism was introduced into Japan in the sixth century.
The World God Only Knows(神のみぞ知るセカイ, Kami Nomi zo Shiru Sekai), abbreviated as Kaminomi(神のみ), is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tamiki Wakaki. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday from 2008 to 2014, with the 268 individual chapters published into 26 tankōbon volumes by Shogakukan. The prototype version of the story was first featured as a one-shot in Weekly Shōnen Sunday on its 2007 Issue 32 release, and was titled "Koishite!? Kami-sama!!"(恋して!? 神様). The tankōbon have been adapted into three anime series produced by Manglobe, which were broadcast in Japan from 2010 to 2013. The anime series has been licensed for an English-language release by Sentai Filmworks in North America.
The Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles video game series consists of Crystal Chronicles, a spin-off of the main Final Fantasy series, its sequels My Life as a King and My Life as a Darklord, and their spin-offs, Ring of Fates, Echoes of Time and The Crystal Bearers. Crystal Chronicles, Ring of Fates, and Echoes of Time have had released soundtrack albums to date, and Crystal Chronicles and Ring of Fates each have an associated single. Kumi Tanioka is the main composer for the series, having composed the three released soundtracks as well as the music for My Life as a King and My Life as a Darklord. Hidenori Iwasaki is filling that role for The Crystal Bearers. Nobuo Uematsu, the main composer for the regular Final Fantasy series, contributed one track to the Ring of Fates soundtrack. Yae and Donna Burke sang the Japanese and English versions of the theme song for Crystal Chronicles, respectively, while Aiko sang the theme song for Ring of Fates.
A Complete: All Singles is a greatest hits album by Japanese singer Ayumi Hamasaki, released on September 10, 2008 to commemorate her tenth anniversary with Avex Trax. It compiles all of Hamasaki's singles from 1998 to 2008, with one new track.
Oji Hiroi, real name Teruhisa Hiroi, is an author and video game developer. He co-authored Samurai Crusader with Ryoichi Ikegami. He also created the Far East of Eden and Sakura Wars role-playing video game franchises, and wrote the Sakura Wars manga.
W.L.O. Sekai Renai Kikō is a Japanese adult visual novel developed and published by Akabeisoft2 on March 26, 2009. The game was ported to Xbox 360 by 5pb. on June 3, 2010. The Xbox 360 version removed sexual content, but the graphics were increased to 1280x720 resolution and 5.1 surround sound was added. The gameplay in W.L.O. Sekai Renai Kikō is typical of a visual novel, following a plotline which offers pre-determined scenarios with courses of interaction.
Space Brothers is a Japanese manga series by Chūya Koyama which has been serialized in Kodansha's Weekly Morning since December 2007. It has been nominated twice for the Manga Taishō, in 2009 and 2010. An anime adaptation by A-1 Pictures aired in Japan from April 1, 2012 to March 22, 2014. It was adapted into a live action film that premièred on May 5, 2012. An anime film premièred on August 9, 2014, titled Space Brothers #0.
Sekai-Ichi Hatsukoi: Onodera Ritsu no Baai is a Japanese boys-love manga series written and illustrated by Shungiku Nakamura. In 2011, the manga was adapted into an anime television series under the title Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi. Produced by Studio Deen under the direction of Chiaki Kon, the anime series began its broadcast run on April 9, 2011. An original animation DVD was bundled with the fifth and sixth volumes of the manga series, released in March and September 2011. A film adaptation was released on March 15, 2014.
World War Blue is a Japanese fantasy manga series written by Anastasia Shestakova and illustrated by Crimson. The series is a re-imagining of the console wars between Sega and Nintendo featuring characters inspired by video games. An anime adaptation by 5th Avenue began airing in Japan on October 20, 2012.
Arata-naru Sekai (アラタなるセカイ) is manga, anime and novel box set. It is a collaboration between Aniplex, ASCII Media Works and Kadokawa Shoten, with animation production by Madhouse.
Sekai no Owari is a Japanese pop band, originating from Tokyo. The band was formed in 2005 and has four members: Nakajin, Fukase, Saori and DJ Love.
Sekai no Chuushin wa Osaka ya ~Namba Jichiku~ is the second album by NMB48. It was released on August 13, 2014. It debuted in number-one on the weekly Oricon Albums Chart and, as of August 25, it has sold 325,249 copies.
