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[press release] STEREOPONY @ Sakura-Con 2012 & West Coast Tour

Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 by Kathy Chee

For the fourth consecutive year, all-girl rock band STEREOPONY is once again coming back to the U.S. after their remarkable performances at SXSW (2009), AnimeNEXT (2010), and Anime Boston (2011).

This year, the girls were chosen as the Guest of Honor for Sakura-Con, the largest Anime convention in the Northwest, held at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Downtown Seattle, Washington on April 6-8.

STEREOPONY is a Japanese all-girl rock band that formed in Okinawa in 2007 and will be attending their first Sakura-Con. Consisting of AIMI (Vocal/Guitar), NOHANA (Bass), and SHIHO (Drums) the band gained their first opportunity on the Japanese rock radio program “SCHOOL OF LOCK!”

STEROPONY should be well known to many anime fans as the artists behind several notable anime themes. Their debut single “Hitohira No Hanabira” was the 17th ending theme for the famous anime series “BLEACH”; released on November 5, 2008 and ranked #25 on the Oricon Weekly Charts. Their 2nd single “Namida No Muko” was the second opening theme for the second season of the Sunrise series “Mobile Suit Gundam 00”; and achieved #2 in the Oricon charts.

STEREOPONY has toured internationally and experienced great success in the Oricon charts. In March 2009, the girls performed in SXSW 2009, and received a thunderous ovation.

Their 3rd single “I do it” is a collaboration with fellow Sony Music Entertainment Japan singer YUI, was released on April 22, 2009. Their debut studio album “A hydrangea blooms” was released on June 17, 2009 and ranked #7 on the Oricon weekly charts. STEROPONY’s 5th single “TSUKIAKARI NO MICHISHIRUBE”, also released with a tie-in with the second season of hit anime series “Darker than Black” which ranked #8 on Oricon. After releasing 2 singles, in June 2010, the girls released their much anticipated 2nd studio album “OVER THE BORDER”.

“Chiisana Mahou”, the opening theme of anime series “Letter Bee REVERSE” was released on December 8th. STEREOPONY collaborated with the band Kariyushi58 to produce the single “Tatoeba Utaenakunattara” released on August 10, 2011. The band’s 10th single, “Arigatō”, was released on September 28, 2011. The music video for ”Arigatō”, released on September 1, 2011, features film actor Abe Hiroshi; he is also on the cover of the version B release of the single.

Official STEREOPONY website – http://www.stereopony.com
Official Sakura-Con website – http://www.sakuracon.org

[photo] Berryz Kobo @ Sakuracon

Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 by Kathy Chee

The seven-member Hello! Project idol group Berryz Kobo made their American performance debut at Sakura-Con 2011 for an audience of 3500 fans. Fans traveled from all over the world including multiple parts of the USA, plus Canada, France, Mexico, and Japan to support the pop vocal group who is celebrating their 7th year together.

Berryz Kobo members kept busy during the April 22-24 weekend, appearing at the event’s opening and closing ceremonies, participating in a live audience Q&A and two separate 60-minute sessions where they accepted gifts from fans and signed autographs for Sakura-Con attendees. At the HelloStoreUSA booth, Berryz Kobo signed a 6-foot banner and 7 hand-written messages in support of their USA CD release and American-based merchandise store. Group Captain Saki Shimuzu appeared at the booth on Sunday April 24 to announce the raffle winners and to personally inscribe the winner’s name on the vinyl banner.

The highlight of the weekend for Berryz Kobo fans was Saturday night’s hour-long live concert which featured songs spanning their entire career. Fans waited in line for hours before the concert and participated with the
performers during the show with high-energy chants, shouts, and choreography.

Sakura-Con attendees contributed over $1887 to Japan Relief at the Berryz Kobo booth during the three-day event. In addition, Berryz Kobo members donated wristbands and autographed posters to Sakura-Con’s annual charity fund-raising auction, raising an additional $850.

Set List:

Ganbarou Nippon Ai wa Katsu
Special Generation
Heroine ni Narou ka
Shining Power
-MC-
Piriri to Yukou
Happiness -Koufuku Kangei-
Tsukiatteru no Kataomoi
-MC-
Berry Fields
CLAP!
Maji Bomber!
Icchoume Rock!
Otakebi Boy WAO!
-MC-
Rival
(Encore) All For One and One For All

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[photo] Female visual kei band exist†trace performs for 3000 fans at Sakura-Con 2011

Thursday, May 5th, 2011 by Kathy Chee

All-female Japanese visual kei/metal band exist†trace made their USA debut at Sakura-Con last Friday, April 22, performing to 3000 fans at the annual Japanese anime and culture festival in Seattle, Washington.

exist†trace performed songs from their latest album TWIN GATE, as well as older fan-favorites including “Judea” and “Ambivalence,” plus the title track from their upcoming major-label debut “TRUE”. In the middle of the set, vocalist Jyou set aside her trademark growls to perform “Cradle,” the ballad from TWIN GATE, adding a surprise verse spoken entirely in English.

For their encore song, the band returned to the stage carrying Japanese and American flags with the Japanese kanji “kizuna” (“bond”) written across each. Jyou gave a heartfelt speech in Japanese about the bond between the nations of America and Japan, and thanked America for its support during the current Japanese national crisis brought about by March 2011’s earthquake and tsunami.

Immediately after Friday night’s concert, the band signed autographs for 90 minutes and invited fans to contribute to Japan Relief and sign their own messages on the American flag. On Saturday, the members met fans for a Q&A session followed by more autographs, and then personally arrived at the exist†trace booth on Sunday to draw the winning name for a 6-foot signed banner. The winning ticket holder had travelled 700 miles from Idaho to see the band perform their first American live show.

Set List:

JUDEA
VANGUARD
-MC-
TRUE
Ambivalence
Requiem
-MC-
Cradle
-MC-
Orleans no Shoujo
DECIDE
liquid
-MC-
Owari no nai Sekai
(Encore) RESONANCE

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[press release] Berryz Kobo Announces First USA CD Release

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011 by Kathy Chee

January 24, 2011 – JapanFiles will release *Berryz Kobo’s new full-length CD (untitled) at Sakura-Con 2011, less than 4 weeks after the March 30th Japan release. The USA CD release contains the complete Japanese booklet and artwork, plus the same first-press release photo card from the Japanese regular edition.

Berryz Kobo’s first USA CD release is available for pre-order now at HelloStoreUSA and JapanFiles online stores for fans in North America, and will also be available for international fans at RightStuf.com and Amazon.com.

This CD marks the 4th USA release from Hello! Project by the JapanFiles CD label, following 3 consecutive USA releases of Morning Musume’s “Platinum 9 DISC,” “Shouganai Yume Oibito” and “10 MY ME.” JapanFiles has also released 2 USA CDs by Hangry & Angry (featuring ex-Morning Musume members Hitomi Yoshizawa and Rika Ishikawa).

Berryz Kobo USA CD Release pre-order:
http://www.hellostoreusa.com/cds/berryz-kobo-untitled-regular-edition-pre-order.html

Berryz Kobo will perform a live concert during Sakura-Con’s three-day event in Seattle, WA, April 22-24, 2011.

Sakura-Con information and pre-registration at: http://www.sakuracon.org/

Seattle, WA – 08/06/10

Friday, August 6th, 2010 by Kathy Chee

[interview] Dazzle Vision; Glitter with a Scream

Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 by Kathy Chee
Article by Sarah Dworken

Unassuming in their independent music spirit, rock band Dazzle Vision is finding their way onto North American shores for the first time in their seven year career. 1990’s prog-rock mixed with glam metal and a splash of Avril Lavigne for good measure, Dazzle Vision will be performing at Seattle’s Sakura-Con on April 3 as the opening act for High and Mighty Color. Unlike the con’s headliner, J-music and anime fans might not be terribly familiar with Dazzle Vision. But if their most recent releases are any indication of what’s to come, they’re a worthy contender for the audience’s attention.

The band started out in the traditional indies music fashion. A group of friends, including a pair of siblings as represented by the vocalist and bassist, decided to take elements from previous projects and create music that they wanted to do. Gaining popularity on the indies circuit, they moved on the release works on JapanFiles in order to reach the ever so difficult to tap overseas market.

Before they head off to the US for their first concert on the other side of the Pacific, the band sat down with me for a no-frills chat about their music and what exactly is – dare I say? – dazzling about Dazzle Vision. (more…)

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