For many anime fans, Aoi Eir is a name that many remember for her songs featured on “Mobile Suit Gundam AGE”, “Fate/Zero” and most recently with “Sword Art Online”. But what is fascinating is how Aoi became a music star. Originally hailing from Sapporo, Hokkaido, Read More …
If there was one Japanese group that have entertained fans all over the world with their upbeat, dance music, that group would be m.o.v.e. Known for their songs featured on the animated series “Initial D” and the video games as well, the group was a Read More …
Last year, Sakura-Con featured “Sword Art Online” creator Reki Kawahara as guest of honor. As he discussed the storyline and his novels, his appearance gave us good insight on “Sword Art Online” and “Accel World”. For 2014, with the airing of “Sword Art Online II”, Read More …
Rinko Ueda is a shojo manga artists that has captivated me for over a decade. Her elaborate artwork, gorgeous character designs and romantic storylines, Rinko is currently working on a new manga project. With a professional career that started back in 1986 with the manga Read More …
Back in 2012, Dir.F, a label manager at Tsubasa Records wanted to create a new music project featuring provisional female members. While the music and lyrics for the group would be created by music producer, Hidefumi Kenmochi. The name of this group project would be Read More …
When I first discovered Puffy AmiYumi (known as “Puffy” in Japan), they took Japan by their storm with their simple style of t-shirts, blue jeans and sneakers. Bucking the fashion trend and dance choreography of other Japanese female music artists during the 1990’s, Puffy AmiYumi Read More …
Back in 2013, an all-female rock band known as Band-Maid made their debut. What started with vocalist/guitarist Miku recruiting fellow guitarist Kanami, drummer Akane and bass player, Misa to the band, the band would eventually recruit lead vocalist Saiki and perform at the P Festival Read More …
It was back in 2012, when Babyraids JAPAN made their debut through their agency LesPros Entertainment. Babyraids JAPAN consists of Rikako Ooya, Erika Denya, Manatsu Hayashi, Nao Takami and Rio Watanabe. The group made their debut with the single “Babyraids”, followed by “Baby Revolution” Read More …
Sakura-Con, the Seattle convention was host of a press con- ference for the series “Shingeki no Kyojin” (Attack on Titan) featuring animation producer Tetsuya Nakatake, Production I.G. animator Kyoji Asano, voice actress Yui Ishikawa and producer Tetsuya Kinoshita. The following is a transcript of the Read More …
In Japan, Shinobu Ohtaka’s “Magi: The Labyrynth” has been captivating fans since it received serialization in “Weekly Shonen Jump” back in 2009. With an anime series adaptation airing in Japan from 2012-2014, with the manga and anime series being released in the United States, director Read More …
For many anime fans, Japanese artist and designer Renji (Range) Murata is best known for his work on “Last Exile”, the sequel “Last Exile – Fam, The Silver Wing-”, Blue Submarine No. 6” and “Shan- gri-La”. He has published more than a dozen books such Read More …
When J!-ENT last featured May’n, she was promoting her music post-”Macross Frontier” at Anime Expo 2010. As many anime fans were captivated by her voice of Sheryl Nome, we often wondered what would happen to May’n after the “Macross Frontier” excitement subsided? Since then, May’n Read More …
In Japan, there are voice talent who are well-revered for their work. And there are a few who still are working in the anime industry today. Voice actress Mami Koyama is one of those legendary voice talent that continues to work in the industry. Best Read More …
J!-ENT ON LOCATION – INTERVIEW WITH “POWER RANGERS” WRITER JOHN TELLEGEN @ POWER MORPHICON 4 (PASADENA, CALIFORNIA): John Tellegen is the writer for “Power Rangers R.P.M”, “Power Rangers Jungle Fury”, “Power Rangers Operation Overdrive”, “Power Rangers Mystic Force”, “Power Rangers S.P.D.”, “Power Rangers DinoThunder” and Read More …
Jad (pronounced as “Jade”) Saxton has come a long way since graduating from Texas Wesleyan University back in 2005. From her first voice acting role in “Sasami: Magical Girls Club”, Jad has continued to work hard as a voice actress or on stage and doing Read More …
In Japan, there are notable beatboxers that you can find on YouTube. You have HIKAKIN who has began to focus on becoming more of a YouTube personality but one beatboxer that has stayed true to his craft for beatboxing is DAICHI “The Human Beatbox”. With Read More …
Sony Music Japan artist ELISA has done quite well for herself since she debuted as a model and music artist back in 2007. With eleven singles released in Japan and songs that have featured on numerous hit anime series such as “Ef ~A Tale of Read More …
MAN WITH A MISSION have electrified audiences worldwide with their rock music. But the group which consist of five wolf/human-like androids (vocalist Tokyo Tanaka, bass player Kamikaze Boy, guitarist Jean-Ken Johnny, DJ Santa Monica and drummer Spear Rib) remain mysterious. Who are they? Why are Read More …
Inspired by blues music in the United States at the age of five, Rei, a singer-guitarist from Hyogo, Japan will be performing at SXSW and live performances slated for March in Austin, Texas and San Francisco, California. J!-ENT’s Dennis A. Amith recently had the chance Read More …
The Japanese all-female rock band Silent Siren made their US debut in San Francisco back in July 2016. And with a world tour in Jakarta, Shanghai, Taiwan and Hong Kong, the band performed in Los Angeles in September and on October 2nd, at Slims in Read More …
NOTE: The following is an article which I wrote back in 2011 for J!-ENT and includes the transcript of the Disney media Q&A which I took part in back on January 20, 2011 prior to the Blu-ray/DVD release of Disney’s “Secretariat”. The early ’70s, it Read More …
As T.M.Revolution (Nishikawa Takanori) is celebrating his 24th year anniversary today, I want to take a look back at one of my classic interviews with T.M.Revolution which I did back at 2003. It was a different time. Where today, Nishikawa is such a popular artist. Read More …
Long ago, before I attended college, one of the magazines that I enjoyed reading was “Giant Robot”. What I loved about the magazine is how they covered Asian American culture, but also what was happening with Asia in terms of pop culture and more! I Read More …