Detective Conan Singer Mai Kuraki's Concert Streamed

The Ustream website will stream the "Great Eastern Japan Earthquake Reconstruction Aid Charity Live Mai Kuraki Premium Live One for all, All for one" charity concert by singer Mai Kuraki live on Saturday, October 22 at 6:00 p.m. in Japan (5:00 a.m. EDT). The live event will also be streamed on YouTube, Nico Nico Douga, GyaO!, and au Exclusive Live websites. The concert is taking place at the Budokan concert hall in Tokyo.

This concert will be a collaboration between Kuraki and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Kuraki has participated in other earthquake charity events in the past. She wrote a charity song "Anata ga Iru Kara" (Because You are Here), and collaborated with professional figure skater Shizuka Arakawa to create a charity movie titled "Anata ga Iru Kara ~Fantasy on Ice 2011~"

Kuraki sang the theme song for two opening and two ending songs for Case Closed, and has also sang the theme song for the Case Closed: Countdown to Heaven film, the Detective Conan: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital film, the Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser film, the Detective Conan: 16 Suspects OAV, and the Patapata Hikōsen no Bōken television anime series.

(ANN)

L'Arc~en~Ciel Performs Manga-Based Wild 7 Film's Theme

Rock band L'Arc~en~Ciel will sing the theme song for this year's manga-based Wild 7 film adaptation directed by Eiichirō Hasumi. The group's lead singer hyde will perform the vocals in the song for which a title has not yet been announced. The live-action film, based on Mikiya Mochizuki's police action manga, will open in Japan on December 21.

The film's executive producer Hiroyoshi Koiwai (L change the WorLd, ICHI) said L'Arc~en~Ciel was picked for the role because their sound will blend well with the film's dark and serious yet youthful and sexy atmosphere. After reading the film's script, Hyde said he tried his best to fit the song for the film by creating the sensation of riding a motorcycle.

Mochizuki's original manga follows the story of seven motorcycle-riding outlaws who catch criminals that have protection from the regular police force. In the film, Wild 7 has to find the group plotting to release a deadly virus in the sky over Tokyo. Actor Eita (Nodame Cantabile, Azumi, Densha Otoko) will star in the film as Dairoku Hiba, the young leader of the Wild 7 secret police team.

The Wild 7 manga originally serialized from 1969 to 1979 in Shonengahosha's Weekly Shōnen King magazine. Mochizuki drew three manga sequels to the original series, and his story also provided the basis for live-action television drama, television anime, and original video anime (OVA) adaptations.

Hasumi's upcoming live-action film will also receive its own manga adaptation in Shonengahosha's Young King magazine.

(Mantan Web)

Kouji Wada Puts Career on Hold Due to Cancer

Kouji Wada, the 37-year-old singer of theme songs for almost every Digimon anime project, announced on Tuesday that he is putting his singing career on hold so he can focus on treatment for a sudden illness. Wada had gone on hiatus eight years ago due to an earlier bout with illness; that time, he revealed few details about his condition, but he resolved this time to tell everything about his current illness.

Eight years ago, a malignant tumor was discovered on his upper pharynx and a lymph node on his neck. He was able to treat the tumor with chemotherapy and surgery and was told that he had recovered completely.

However, he felt a change in his health recently, and an examination at a hospital confirmed that the cancer had metastasized or spread to another location. The diagnosis came as a sudden shock to Wada, but he is striving to focus on immediate medical treatment so he can return to normal again.

As a result, he has to put his singing career on hold, and he apologized for the sudden notice. He will take a break from his blog, Twitter account, and Facebook account, and he has cancelled all scheduled events related to his career for the rest of the year. He apologized to his fans who were anticipating his appearances in Chile and Peru, as well as his guest performance at an X'mas live concert in December. He had planned to resume his solo concerts in November, but they have been delayed.

Nevertheless, he promised that when he returns, it will be with a smile as he spends "the best of times with the best of friends in concert" again.

Wada sang songs for Digimon Adventure, Digimon Adventure 02, Digimon Tamers, Digimon Frontier, Digimon: Data Squad, and Digimon Xros Wars. He also performed the opening theme song for the original Japanese version of Transformers: Robots in Disguise (Transformers: Car Robots). (ANN)

Square Enix Streams SQ Chips Game Remix Album's Promo

The game publisher Square Enix began streaming a promotional video for its SQ Chips album of remixed game music on Sunday. The album includes remixed tracks from game franchises like Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, Xenogears, Seiken Densetsu (Legend of Mana), and Brave Fencer. 13 Japanese artists such as DJ OMKT、SEXY-SYNTHESIZER feat.(S_S)、and Deadball P created the tracks for the CD.

The SQ Chips game music remix album shipped in Japan on September 7 for the retail price of 1,890 yen (about US$25). Soul Eater manga artist Atsushi Ohkubo drew the jacket art for SQ Chips. Ustream hosted a live streaming event with music from the CD last Thursday.(ANN)