Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) are a Japanese electronic music band formed in Tokyo in 1978 by Haruomi Hosono, Yukihiro Takahashi and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The group is considered influential and innovative in the field of popular electronic music. They were pioneers in their use of synthesizers, samplers, sequencers, drum machines, computers, and digital recording technology in popular music, and effectively anticipated the "electropop boom" of the 1980s. They are credited with playing a key role in the development of several electronic genres, including synthpop, J-pop, electro, and techno, while exploring subversive sociopolitical themes throughout their career.
Maaya Sakamoto is a Japanese voice actress and singer. She made her debut as a voice actress in 1992 as the voice of Chifuru in Little Twins, but is better known as voice of Hitomi Kanzaki in The Vision of Escaflowne. Other major roles in anime include Riho Yamazaki in Nightwalker: The Midnight Detective, Moe Katsuragi in Risky Safety, Princess Tomoyo in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Haruhi Fujioka in Ouran High School Host Club, Sayaka Nakasugi in Birdy the Mighty, Ciel Phantomhive in Black Butler, Shinobu Oshino in Monogatari, Shiki Ryōgi in the The Garden of Sinners film series, Motoko Kusanagi in Ghost in the Shell: Arise, and Ruler in Fate/Apocrypha. In video games she voices Aura and Natsume in .hack, Lisa Hamilton / La Mariposa in Dead or Alive, Aerith Gainsborough in Kingdom Hearts, Aigis in Persona 3, Lightning in the Final Fantasy XIII games, Ling Xiaoyu in Tekken, and Alisa Ilinichina Amiella in God Eater.
Miki Nakatani is a Japanese actress and singer. She is most known for her appearance in the 1998 Japanese supernatural psychological horror film Ring.
Yura Yura Teikoku (ゆらゆら帝国) is a 3-piece band from Tokyo's underground music scene centered on Kōenji. They have an eclectic sound usually described as psychedelic rock. Whilst they have been renowned and highly influential within Japan, it took them 16 years since their formation in 1989 to play a show outside Japan, performing in New York City in 2005.
Shota Shimizu is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician from Yao, Osaka, Japan, who debuted in 2008. On June 1, 2008, Shimizu performed at Central Park in New York City, USA, during the annual Japan Day Festival. Shota Shimizu went to a local Christian school in Osaka where he learned how to sing gospel music. He became captivated with soul music, which is how his music career started. He was inspired by Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, and Ray Charles.
Katsuyori Shibata is a Japanese semi-retired professional wrestler, mixed martial artist and professional wrestling trainer. In professional wrestling, he is known for his hard hitting offense. He is currently working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, though on indefinite hiatus due to injury. In New Japan he is a former three-time NEVER Openweight Champion, one-time IWGP Tag Team Champion and the winner of the 2017 New Japan Cup. He is also a former holder of Revolution Pro Wrestling's British Heavyweight Championship. Since March 2018, Shibata has served as the head coach of NJPW's dojo in Los Angeles.
Heavy Metal Anthem is Japanese heavy metal band Anthem's return album, released nearly 8 years since their disbandment in the early 1990s, it's the eighth studio album. Most of the former members play on the album, but the original vocalist, Eizo Sakamoto, did not return until the next album . The album was released on April 21, 2000 and was a joint collaboration between the band and singer Graham Bonnet. Most of the songs are Anthem's older releases, which have been remixed and sung in English by Bonnet.
Seven Hills is Japanese heavy metal band Anthem's second studio album since their reformation in the year 2000. This album sees the reunion of the original line-up, including vocalist Eizo Sakamoto.
Eternal Warrior is Japanese heavy metal band Anthem's fourth studio album since their reformation in the year 2000.
Immortal is Japanese heavy metal band Anthem's fifth studio album since their reformation in the year 2000. In Europe the album was sold together with the Anthem 20th Anniversary Tour 2005 bonus DVD.
Black Empire is Japanese heavy metal band Anthem's sixth studio album since their reformation in the year 2000.
Fuyumi Sakamoto is a Japanese female enka singer under EMI Music Japan.
Live' Melt Down is the third live album released by the Japanese heavy hetal band Anthem and recorded during their "Overload Live" tour of 2003.
Yasuaki Shimizu is a Japanese composer, saxophonist and producer. He is known for his interpretations of the music of J.S. Bach, in particular the "Cello Suites 1-6" re-arranged for and performed on tenor saxophone.
Playing the Piano is a concept album by Ryuichi Sakamoto which was first released in Japan in 2009. The album is completely instrumental and features Sakamoto covering his earlier work, such as the soundtracks to Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence and The Last Emperor, and also pop songs such as "Thousand Knives," by rearranging them to be played on a single piano. Sakamoto himself refers to the album as a "Self covers" album. In North America it was released as a deluxe double album along with the experimental album Out of Noise on 28 September 2010. Sakamoto promoted the album in North America with an 11-date tour in October and November 2010.
"Dirt Road Anthem" is a country rap song written by American singers Colt Ford and Brantley Gilbert, each of whom recorded his own version of the song. Jason Aldean covered the song for his 2010 album My Kinda Party, and released it as the third single from the album in April 2011. The song debuted as a single as Aldean's previous single, "Don't You Wanna Stay", was at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. On November 30, the song received a nomination at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Country Solo Performance. It is the best-selling song in digital history by a male country solo artist in the United States with over four million sold.
