Tokyo Disney Resort teams up with Mrs. Green Apple in 'Summer Cool-off' program
Related parades and shows were revealed to the press on July 1. At Tokyo Disneyland, the program's theme song "Carrying Happiness," released by Mrs. Green Apple, played as band members rode in an open car with Mickey Mouse and friends.
Later on, health care robot Baymax from Disney's animated film "Big Hero 6" appeared on two floats, with the "task" of protecting visitors from the heat. Sensing the heat was wearing guests down, Baymax sprayed water on the crowd of people, drawing loud cheers.
In the evening at Tokyo DisneySea, Mickey and friends held a dance festival titled "Dockside Splash Remix" to blow away the summer heat. Fireworks and tons of spraying water energized the audience.
The summer program at TDR in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, will run through Sept. 15.
(Japanese original by Takashi Ishizuka, Chiba Bureau)
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NHK
29 minutes ago
- NHK
US wrestling star Hulk Hogan dies
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Kyodo News
4 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Double Screening of "Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-" and "Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ TABOO NIGHT XXXX" at Anime Expo 2025! [Official Report]
We bring you the official report for the double screening of movies "Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-" and "Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ TABOO NIGHT XXXX," which took place at Anime Expo 2025 in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 5, 2025! The event was a massive success, with local fans flawlessly executing Japanese call-and-response chants, generating an electrifying atmosphere. Official Report: Double Screening of "Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-" and "Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ TABOO NIGHT XXXX" at Anime Expo 2025 "Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-" Movie I arrived at the cinema fifteen minutes early, securing a front-row seat on the second floor. The crowd seemed sparse, but a glance downstairs revealed groups of cosplaying fans, light sticks in hand. My attention then shifted to the screen, displaying a QR code for an app to vote for battle winners during the film. This wasn't just a movie; it was an interactive experience where the audience would decide the outcome of the rap battles. The film, "Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle-" or "HypMic," depicts a world where physical violence is outlawed. Conflicts are settled through rap battles using "Hypnosis Mics," which influence the mind, with winning teams gaining territory. These battles are organized by the "Party of Words," a female-led group, featuring teams from various divisions. The battles are fought in teams of three, with six representative teams: ● Buster Bros!!!: Representing Ikebukuro Division ● MAD TRIGGER CREW: Representing Yokohama Division ● Fling Posse: Representing Shibuya Division ● Matenrou: Representing Shinjuku Division ● Bad Ass Temple: Representing Nagoya Division ● Dotsuitare Hompo: Representing Osaka Division Teams advance from the first stage of the tournament and emerge victorious from the second stage's round-robin battles to earn the right to challenge the "Party of Words" in the final battle. While the movie itself covers the entire final stage, this special Anime Expo edition concludes after the second stage. A key feature of this film is an innovative movie experience powered by the CtrlMovie app. After each battle sequence, a 10-second voting countdown begins, during which viewers tap the logo of the team they believe performed better. Within seconds, the winner is displayed on screen, and the story progresses. As the outcome for each team hinges on the audience's earnest votes, tension builds during the countdown, even for those unfamiliar with the series. When results are revealed, the venue fills with cheers of joy and cries of disappointment, fostering a powerful sense of unity among attendees. The team members' reactions and comments vary based on the results, offering a unique story with each viewing. With an astonishing 48 different possibilities, fans will undoubtedly be eager to experience every permutation. Anticipation surged as I observed the venue filling up, with seats completely taken and standing room only at the rear and throughout the ground floor. The MC began to hype up the crowd, and finally, the screening commenced. The event began with thunderous applause, as each team showcased their performance in their respective divisions. The atmosphere was electric with excited cheers and fans waving color-coded glowsticks, a detail whose purpose—color coordination—now became clear. The video presentation effectively highlighted each character's unique traits and team dynamics. This was followed by an opening movie featuring all participants, allowing their individual voices to be heard, and setting the stage for the upcoming competitions. The crowd's equally intense enthusiasm for all teams made the outcome entirely unpredictable. And now, it's time for the rap battles! Battle 1: Buster Bros!!! vs. Bad Ass Temple This highly anticipated face-off pitted former teammates Ichiro (Buster Bros!!!) against Kuko (Bad Ass Temple). As the voting results were revealed, the Buster Bros!!! logo appeared, eliciting a dramatic mix of cheers and gasps. A touching moment of mutual respect between Ichiro and Kuko on screen was met with warm applause from the audience. Battle 2: MAD TRIGGER CREW vs. Dotsuitare Hompo Samatoki (MAD TRIGGER CREW) and Sasara (Dotsuitare Hompo), once partners, knew each other's every strength and weakness. However, this was a team battle, demanding maximum collective power for victory. Dotsuitare Hompo's logo appeared during the decisive voting, sparking a massive cheer. Samatoki's gracious acceptance of defeat garnered encouraging shouts, leaving a lasting impression. Battle 3: Fling Posse vs. Matenrou The relationship between Ramuda (Fling Posse) and Jakurai (Matenrou) was marked by an apparent mutual discomfort, adding intrigue to their battle. Their close proximity during the performance ignited shrill screams of excitement from the crowd. Matenrou's logo emerged victorious at the crucial voting moment, leading to a mix of cheers and screams. The tension between the two seemed to dissipate, with Jakurai considering Ramuda a friend, though Ramuda's amusement and irritation at Jakurai's unintentionally condescending remarks were a highlight. The Second Round: Round-Robin Battle The three victors from the first round—Buster Bros!!!, Dotsuitare Hompo, and Matenrou—faced off in a round-robin format. During the decisive voting, with cheers echoing for each team, Dotsuitare Hompo emerged triumphant. The arena erupted in the loudest cheers and screams of the day, bringing the event to a thrilling conclusion. The "Hypnosis Mic" screening concluded just as we were anticipating the final face-off with "Party of Words." Despite the outcome not favoring my preferred team, I'm eager to witness how the battle unfolds between the Kansai-based "Dotsuitare Hompo" and the all-female "Party of Words." You can find the voting results for this screening at: For those interested, all voting results from screenings held in Japan are available here: I highly recommend checking them out! "Uta no☆Prince-sama♪ TABOO NIGHT XXXX" Movie Following a brief shift in the audience from "HypMic" to "UtaPri" fans (though in small numbers), the MC's introduction of "UtaPri" ignited immense excitement. This marks the third theatrical release in the "Uta no Prince-sama Maji LOVE" series, a multimedia franchise rooted in an otome game (a dating simulation for female players). This particular film features full live animation and centers on QUARTET NIGHT, a group of four senior idols, in an entirely new story. The members are: ● Reiji Kotobuki ● Ranmaru Kurosaki ● Ai Mikaze ● Camus Setlist: ● Jewelful XXXX ○ Seize me if you can (Reiji) ○ Force & Faith (Ranmaru) ○ Wandering in a maze (Ai) ○ Do you know who I'm (Camus) ● Ice Pierrot (Camus) ● Rei-Zero- (Reiji) ● Black Panther (Ranmaru) ● Am I a fairy or...? (Ai) ● The RUN to the RAY (Reiji & Ranmaru) ● God Love Keihou Hatsurei (Ai & Camus) ● TABOO NIGHT XXXX (All) ● JINN-Ω-RAY (All) The audience changed their light sticks to match each idol's image color, cheering enthusiastically and perfectly executing the call-and-response chants - all in Japanese, of course. Th scene was reminiscent of an idol live concert in Japan, brought to life right here in the theater. Event Overview Anime Expo 2025 'HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Movie / Utano☆Prince Sama TABOO NIGHT XXXX' Screening July 5, 12:30–2:30 PM | The Novo About "HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Movie" Introduction "HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle-" is Japan's first theatrical film to be an interactive movie. The outcome of the rap battle that unfolds on the screen is decided by the audience's votes in the theater. Voting takes place in real time via a smartphone app, and the story progresses according to the choice that receives the most votes. The development and ending (= the winning division) of each screening will change depending on the choices made by each audience member... This is Japan's first participatory video experience. Cast Buster Bros!!! Ichiro Yamada: Subaru Kimura Jiro Yamada: Haruki Ishiya Saburo Yamada: Kohei Amasaki MAD TRIGGER CREW Samatoki Aohitsugi: Shintaro Asanuma Jyuto Iruma: Wataru Komada Rio Mason Busujima: Shinichiro Kamio Fling Posse Ramuda Amemura: Yusuke Shirai Gentaro Yumeno: Souma Saito Dice Arisugawa: Yukihiro Nozuyama Matenrou Jinguji Jakurai: Show Hayami Hifumi Izanami: Ryuichi Kijima Doppo Kannonzaka: Kent Ito Dotsuitare Hompo Sasara Nurude: Ryota Iwasaki Rosho Tsutsujimori: Kengo Kawanishi Rei Amayado: Takaya Kuroda Bad Ass Temple Kuko Harai: Shota Hayama Jyushi Aimono: Yuki Sakakihara Hitoya Amaguni: Eiji Takeuchi Party of Words Otome Tohoten: Yu Kobayashi Ichijiku Kadenokoji: Chiaki Takahashi Nemu Aohitsugi: Nozomi Yamamoto ©HYPNOSISMIC -Division Rap Battle- Movie About "Utano☆Prince Sama TABOO NIGHT XXXX" Synopsis Witness QUARTET NIGHT's New Pinnacle: Utopia! Cast Reiji Kotobuki: Showtaro Morikubo Ranmaru Kurosaki: Tatsuhisa Suzuki Ai Mikaze: Shouta Aoi Camus: Tomoaki Maeno ©UTA☆PRI-MOVIE TN PROJECT
Japan Times
4 hours ago
- Japan Times
Hitsujibungaku's pop-fueled rise to stardom
Moeka Shiotsuka remembers being amped for the 2016 Fuji Rock Festival. That year's three-day summer gathering at Niigata Prefecture's Naeba Ski Resort featured two of her favorite artists — James Blake and Sigur Ros — performing on the Green Stage. The lead singer and guitarist of rock band Hitsujibungaku recalls just one detail stopping her from fully getting into the Fuji Rock spirit. 'I had to prepare for our own performance on the Rookie A Go-Go stage, starting Sunday night at 1 a.m.,' the 29-year-old musician tells The Japan Times from a Sony Music office in central Tokyo. 'So I was nervous for all three days.' Hitsujibungaku's set went smoothly, so much so that 'we didn't want the festival to end at that point.' At the 2025 edition of Fuji Rock, the group — consisting of Shiotsuka, bassist Yurika Kasai (who joined a year after the Rookie A Go-Go performance) and drummer Hiroa Fukuda, who has been on hiatus since May 2024 — finds itself as the penultimate act of Sunday night on the White Stage, ahead of American trio Haim. It's the band's fourth appearance at Fuji Rock and its most prominent spot yet. 'Since it will be at night, we've prepared beautiful lighting and visuals to go with it,' Shiotsuka says, adding that the performance will showcase songs from across the group's career, dating back to its 2012 beginnings. Hitsujibungaku's promotion to a more coveted slot mirrors its evolution from indie-rock darling to an unlikely cornerstone of Japanese music's current global expansion. That's a theme underlining Fuji Rock 2025. The most prominent Japanese acts set to perform this year represent the sonic variety that has defined J-pop in the 2020s. Hitsujibungaku's blur of alternative rock and shoegaze coexists with the frantic rap of Creepy Nuts and the chameleonic pop of Vaundy, among others. Not one act sounds alike — but they all have, somewhat unexpectedly, shaped Japan's musical identity on the global stage. '(Going to the United States) was like diving into a new world,' says Kasai regarding the unfamiliar cultures and behaviors the band encountered during its first U.S. tour held earlier this spring, marking one of the project's bigger international leaps. 'It was freeing. Nobody would care if I was like, skipping down the street. It's not unusual.' Just a week ahead of Fuji Rock, the band traveled to London to play the Hyper Japan festival and announced its first European tour for this October , coinciding with the release of a still-to-be-named album. Hitsujibungaku's slow and steady rise feels like a throwback in the current fast-moving social media age. The band emerged from the Tokyo livehouse ecosystem to something bigger, thanks to feedback-glazed songs. The trio's absorbing concerts coupled with critical acclaim for its 2018 debut full-length 'Wakamonotachi E' ('To The Youth') helped land a deal with Sony Music's F.C.L.S. imprint in 2020. A major label connection didn't just get Hitsujibungaku's hypnotic rock in front of domestic fans but also brought the trio to the world. Its anthemic 2023 song ' more than words ' served as the closing theme for the incredibly popular anime series 'Jujutsu Kaisen,' while the following year the group provided the chugging ' Burning ' for 'Oshi no Ko.' This gave Hitsujibungaku the chance to reach a wider listenership via anime, the chief delivery mechanism of J-pop in the 2020s. Yet it also presented challenges for the band. 'We never really wrote pop songs before. Previously, if 100 people were listening to our music and 30 of them liked it, that was fine. But with a pop song, you have to please all 100,' Shiotsuka says, also noting that deadlines for these bigger projects can be hectic. This reality has sharpened the group's ability to write the hooks that anchor hits, while also teaching them how to use source material to craft a song that stands on its own. 'It's quite challenging, but I enjoy the challenge,' Shiotsuka says. Hitsujibungaku's latest releases ' Feel ' and ' mild days ' put the group to the test. The songs are respectively the opening and closing themes for the anime series 'Secrets of the Silent Witch,' a 'light novel' (a genre of young-adult Japanese fiction) adaptation currently airing on Tokyo MX. Shiotsuka says she followed a familiar path with 'Feel,' reading the original story and finding an angle that could be married with a driving rhythm. 'With 'mild days,' it was difficult because I had to use the same light novel as inspiration,' she says. 'I decided to take a break and have dinner with friends. It was really fun. In 'Silent Witch,' there's a bit about friendship, so I was able to apply my own experiences to the song.' Shiotsuka says that during the past two years, she often felt overwhelmed by everything happening to the band, from Fukuda's break and a series of critical shows across Asia to all those deadlines for prominent anime. 'Yurika was very supportive, and we talked a lot,' she says. 'I was able to gradually see that maybe this isn't so bad, maybe I can have fun with this.' The price of becoming one of the world's biggest Japanese rock bands means trading the sweaty intimacy of Shibuya clubs for a nonstop schedule. Yet it makes other moments sweeter — like being able to perform during a prominent slot at Fuji Rock. 'With other festivals, if we are playing on the second day of it, we wouldn't go on the first day,' Shiotsuka says. 'We'd just get ready in the hotel room. But all of us love Fuji Rock. For all three days, we are there. We enjoy being in the audience, watching bands from all over the world and being inspired by what we see.' Kasai notes that she goes to the same pizza stand outside of the Red Marquee stage year after year as a kind of tradition. Whereas other festivals find the band trying to please every punter in attendance, the Hitsujibungaku members see Fuji Rock as something closer to a solo show where they can dig into their older catalog and 'be a little more picky.' 'We can create the world of Hitsujibungaku, that's the most important thing,' Shiotsuka says. It's this ability for Japanese artists to simply be who they are and express the sounds they are drawn to that has helped the country's music stand out in recent years. Despite industry realities, the members of Hitsujibungaku still find rock magic in the Niigata festival, a reminder of what brought them to this point in the first place. 'Step by step, we just do what's in front of us. And once we reach a big stage — like playing Yokohama Arena, or touring abroad, or Fuji Rock — we realize we've come this far,' Kasai says. Fuji Rock Festival takes place at Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata Prefecture, July 25 to 27. Follow our coverage on our dedicated liveblog and on Instagram . For more information about the festival, visit . To learn more about Hitsujibungaku, visit
