Actually, the title of this film is Kunio’s online identity. He yearns to Break Free from his roots, and this gangster comedy shows how he does it!
Played at Fantasia Film Festival 2026 on July 18 at the Auditorium des diplômés de la SGWU (Théâtre Hall)
The Japanese movie Odore! Yakuza, known as Break Free in America, has style and nearly everything I want from a film featuring rhythmic music, yakuza fighting one another, and J-pop on top. It’s the perfect movie to begin my coverage of Fantasia Fest 2026 too! In this world, an anti-organized crime law enacted by the government has forced many gangs to either pack up or shut up. Whether that’s meant to mirror real Japanese law or simply serve the plot, I honestly can’t say.
The film is wildly gorgeous under Yu Nakamoto‘s direction. He delivers pathos and ethos in droves, while his focus on Kunio (Akito Fujii) shows just how deep a rut the character is in. He’s fiercely loyal to his crew, but they’re struggling to remain who they are rather than getting real jobs. That’s where the commentary comes in. Since Kunio can’t smack people around without getting tossed in jail, his protégé, Kuzunari (Atomu Mizuishi), comes up with the idea of recording him “dancing.” Goto (Kenta Kiritani), their boss, approves!
A 2015 GENERATIONS single nobody was talking about just took over Japan’s music charts, landing 40 songs in the real-time Top 100 simultaneously. Here’s what we know about the Sing It Loud’s unexpected musical revival of 2026.
There’s a term in music called a “sleeper hit,” but what GENERATIONS is experiencing right now doesn’t quite fit the mould. Sing It Loud isn’t new. It’s 11 years old. And yet, somehow, it’s back. Although KISS’ track I Love It Loud is much older, the question is whether one wants hard rock or J-pop. What makes this 2015 single special is that it comes from the LDH dance-and-vocal collective, who also recorded a One Piece anime theme.
They hit the RecoChoku Video Ranking (Daily) for May 18, 2026, where the song ranked at number five. Nobody planned this. Nobody expected it. Even the members of GENERATIONS seemed caught off guard.
REIRIE make their major-label debut with Amethyst, a five-track EP blending guitar rock, emotion, and R&B, out January 28, 2026, alongside a nationwide tour.
REIRIE, the duo formed by Rei Kuromiya and Rie Kaneko, will make their major-label debut with their first EP, Amethyst, on January 28, 2026. The release arrives via MoooD Records, a label under Bandai Namco Music Live. Ahead of the EP’s launch, the music video “Aishiteyo” is available to view online and see how these two artists want to present themselves. It’s a mix of art nouveau and glam. In between the layers of stage presence and glam is a look that suggets more than leather and lace, but also stillness and motion. Their sound is a mix of J-pop meets Speed Metal, and although their style is hard to pin down, I’d say they are borrowing from not only the Rococo but also historical Gothic.
Amethyst will be released in three version: the Rei, Rie, and a Standard Edition. The Rei release includes a Blu-ray featuring footage from the free live show held last year in Sept at Kabukicho Tower Stage. The Rie set includes a Blu-ray of the Tokyo performance from Reirie Live Tour 2025 – BaD＝DoLL –, held October 26. As a first-press bonus, each of them will include one randomly selected trading card from a set of six.
Musically, The advance digital single “BaD＝DoLL,” composed by Yuki Tsujimura and MEGMETAL, delivers a charged, dramatic rock sound.
“Aishiteyo,” created by the same team, leans further into raw emotion and heightened intensity, brought to life in the newly released music video.
Additional tracks include “Holy Brighters,” which portrays heroism that pushes forward despite doubt and anxiety, “Not Philosophy,” a song about strength and love expressed through feeling rather than words, and “Contact,” a soulful R&B-based track that embraces pain and inner conflict as part of personal growth.
In support of the release, REIRIE will launch Reirie Live Tour 2026 – Amethyst – in February 2026 around Japan. Locations are as follows:
Feb 1, 2026 – Chiba LOOK [Chiba] Feb 7, 2026 – Hiroshima CAVE-BE [Hiroshima] Feb 8, 2026 – music zoo KOBE Taiyo to Tora [Hyogo] Feb 15, 2026 – HEAVEN’S ROCK Saitama Shintoshin VJ-3 [Saitama] Feb 23, 2026 – F.A.D. YOKOHAMA [Kanagawa] Feb 28, 2026 – KYOTO MUSE [Kyoto] Mar 1, 2026 – OSAKA MUSE [Osaka] Mar 8, 2026 – LIVE HOUSE enn 2nd [Miyagi] Mar 13, 2026 – ell.FITS ALL [Aichi] Mar 15, 2026 – HEAVEN’S ROCK Utsunomiya VJ-2 [Tochigi] Mar 21, 2026 – Fukuoka DRUM SON [Fukuoka] Mar 31, 2026 – Shibuya CLUB QUATTRO [Tokyo]
Tickets
Premium Ticket: ¥18,000 (incl. tax)
(Premium tickets include guaranteed access to the front area, one cheki photo, and exclusive merchandise) A Ticket: ¥6,600 (incl. tax)
*A separate drink fee is required for all ticket types.
Tracklist (all editions)
BaD＝DoLL
Holy Brighters
Not Philosophy
Contact
AISHITEYO
About REIRIE
Formed in January 2023, REIRIE brings together Rei Kuromiya and Rie Kaneko, who previously performed in separate units before reuniting after several years apart. Their distinctive artistic vision has resonated strongly with fans, particularly women, and their striking visuals and powerful live performances have seen them appear at festivals in Japan and overseas. Their solo concerts continue to grow their nationwide audience.
Seventeen years after its TV debut, Macross Frontier continues to dazzle—and Macross Frontier Galaxy Live☆Final 2025 won’t be forgotten, with a blu-ray to show the largest concert in franchise history with new extras and exclusive artwork. The following is just a sneak peak at what’s being packaged up!
Any fan of Macross will say this franchise is an institution. Whether you’re a fan of the original, or its later iterations, it’s always the music that’s the draw. Whether that’s with Minmei for Firebomber, the talents who can save the galaxy with their voice says something that’s universal. With the upcoming release of Macross Frontier Galaxy Live, those fans who couldn’t experience the concert for real can check out the taped edition.
Even after more than a decade, the franchise continues to reframe its own spectacle, and this latest news is no exception. With another major live release on the horizon—and timed perfectly with a pair of character birthdays—it’s clear this galaxy-spanning fandom shows no signs of slowing down.
From The Press Release
Macross Frontier Galaxy Live☆Final 2025 will arrive on Blu-ray on April 29, 2026. The two-day concert, held July 26–27, 2025 at K Arena Yokohama, drew 38,000 attendees—making it the largest live event in Macross history.
Japanese pop artist Daoko has dropped her latest single, “Boku dake no Photon,” ahead of her upcoming digital EP. Featuring artwork by Numata Zombie!? and a collaboration with rising creator x0o0x_, the song is now streaming with its official video available on YouTube.
Japanese pop artist Daoko has released her latest single, “Boku dake no Photon,” on September 24, 2025. The track is a preview of her upcoming digital EP, scheduled to drop on November 19, 2025.
The lyrics were written by Daoko, while the composition and arrangement come from x0o0x_ (pronounced Wakame), a fast-rising creator with more than 1.22 million YouTube subscribers. Known for a mysterious presence and atmospheric, dark tone, his style blends seamlessly with Daoko’s soft, poetic delivery. Together, they’ve crafted a song that transforms fleeting cityscapes and fragments of memory into shimmering sound. It’s a cyber-dream come alive!
Mekakushe × Yuka Nagase’s latest composition is now available online to stream! And they got great news for fans living in Japan!
Mekakushe × Yuka Nagase
Fans of live action and virtual concerts (hololive) performances will be in for a treat next year! Mekakushe and Yuka Nagase have not only released their latest track online last week but also announced they will perform together at a special concert at the Shibuya Pleasure Pleasure Entertainment Palace! This last song of a three-part collaboration deserves to be heard alongside the other two, and what’s heard certainly brings hope for folks wishing for a better future.
Fans planning on visiting Japan or living there might want to buy their tickets for this show happening on February 7, 2025!
There’s a term in music called a “sleeper hit,” but what GENERATIONS is experiencing right now doesn’t quite fit the mould. Sing It Loud isn’t new. It’s 11 years old. And yet, somehow, it’s back. Although KISS’ track I Love It Loud is much older, the question is whether one wants hard rock or 
REIRIE, the duo formed by 
Premium Ticket: ¥18,000 (incl. tax)
Any fan of 
Japanese pop artist 