Goto Maki 2nd Mini-Album (2010-11-24)

Goto Maki will release her 2nd mini-album with avex this November, it will be released in two versions and have five tracks. Coincidentally it’s released on the same day as Mano Erina’s 2nd album.

Goto Maki’s mother passes away

Several news sources have reported that former Morning Musume member and avex soloist Goto Maki’s mother, Goto Tokiko (55),  has passed away in the early hours of this morning. News sources report that she fell from the 3rd floor balcony of her house while under the influence of alcohol.

This is very sad news and my condolences go out to Goto Maki and her family.

Source: http://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/…124-588764.html

The below news report speculates that the death may have been suicide though this is only speculation – the report says that there were hints just before the incident that Tokiko was considering suicide.

News Roundup

As I’m away from home right now I haven’t kept up with the happenings in J-Pop over the last few days and a few interesting things have went down!

It has been announced that C-ute member Arihara Kanna is leaving C-ute and Hello! Project after five months of absence due to bunions, one can’t help but feel that maybe the bunions weren’t the only reason for her absence.

It has also been announced that former Hello! Project soloist Goto Maki will release her debut mini-album with Avex on 2009-09-16!

Finnaly, TNX enka soloist Karen was recently challeneged offered the chance to be signed by major record label Victor should she be able to sell 1,000 copies of her debut single through street performances and lose 15kg in weight. She’s completed the sales part of her challenge and the single is pretty nice if you like enka!

News Round-Up!

Well, I’ve not posted in a little while due to various reasons; mainly ilness, school work and computer problems – in that order. Now for a round-up of all o the latest Hello! Project news!

Morning Musume in the USA!

Morning Musume will be appearing as the guests of honor at the upcoming Anime Expo ’09 in Los Angeles. There seems to be a pretty concentrated fan effort to welcome them and I’m sure it will be pretty awesome! Pity I don’t live in America!

Naichau Kamo & Believe in LOVE

2009-02-18

• Morning Musume – Naichau Kamo (38th Single) (Limited A+B with DVD)
• ravex – Believe in LOVE feat. BoA (2nd Single) (Limited with DVD) (Goto Maki featured on b-side)

These two are pretty big releases and both are pretty nice singles – I really like Naichau Kamo though I think Believe in LOVE is pretty awesome too – Goto Maki’s track is also very nice and of high quality compared to what we were used to her releasing while she was a member of Hello! Project. Naichau Kamo debuted at No.2 in the charts, fell to No.3 and then rose again to No.2 today! Not too bad at all!

Otome no Inori Covers

Limited A, B, C & Regular.

Oricon

Matsuura Aya’s latest single, Chocolate Damashii fared rather poorly in the Oricon charts selling 4,028 copies in it’s first week and charting at No.19. This is her lowest charting single so far – just goes to show that a more upbeat single won’t necessarily get anymore sells. On a more positive note Satoda Mai’s newest single has now sold 42,131 copies in it’s 5th week of sales and is still charting! The tables have certainly turned in Satoda’s favour since 2007!

Goto Maki Avex Debut! [Update: Full PV!]

[Update: Full PV on the right!]

Goto Maki’s official website has had an update to promote her recently announced debut digital single with Avex titled Fly Away. The single has quite a cool, edgy feel and features a pretty cool dance routine as seen in the preview of the PV which you can have a peek at below! The PV seems of quite high quality, especially for a non-physical release. The artist is listed as SWEET BLACK feat. Goto Maki, I’ve no idea who or what SWEET BLACK is so I’m not sure if this is a colloboration or not though I suppose it would appear that way?

The song is being released as ringtone on 2009-01-21 though it most likely won’t be the full song as chaku-uta releases rarely, if ever are.

The song is bound to be released in full at some point in 2009 hopefully as well as her unreleased track Hear Me.

So we have two Goto Maki tracks to look forward to, this and her collaboration with ravex next month!

Goto Maki finally gets some musical work

It has been revealed that former Hello! Project soloist and Morning Musume member Goto Maki will be appearing on the upcoming ravex single. For those of you unaware ravex is an avex DJ anniversary group celebrating 20 years of avex.

The a-side will feature BoA while the b-side will feature Goto, pretty good news for those of you have been waiting for some new material from Goto and although it’s not a single at least it’s something – right?

a-nation’08 -avex All Cast Special Live- (2008-11-26)

CDJapan has information available for the upcoming concert DVD; a-nation’08 -avex All Cast Special Live-. Of course Goto Maki’s performance will be included on the DVD which is why I’m posting this news here. The DVD will be released in two editions; a special 20th anniversary edition which includes a lot of bonus material and a regular edition which is basically just the concert. More details below;

AVBD-91568
V.A./a-nation’08 -avex All Cast Special Live-[20th Anniversary Special Edition]  DVD
4800 yen US$45/106.46  Release Date:2008/11/26
Description:Live DVD release of the 2008 a-nation festival in Tokyo featuring live footage from Avex artists; Namie Amuro, DJ OZMA, Maki Goto, Do As Infinity, globe, Ayumi Hamasaki, and more. DVD includes behind-the-scenes footage, interview footage,  and a-nation history digest footage.
URL – http://cdjapan.jp/d.html?KEY=AVBD-91568
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AVBD-91570
V.A./a-nation’08 -avex All Cast Special Live-[Regular Edition]  DVD
3143 yen US$30/106.46  Release Date:2008/11/26
Description:Live DVD release of the 2008 a-nation festival in Tokyo featuring live footage from Avex artists; Namie Amuro, DJ OZMA, Maki Goto, Do As Infinity, globe, Ayumi Hamasaki, and more.
URL – http://cdjapan.jp/d.html?KEY=AVBD-91570