J-POP/Japanese music Blu-ray releases

[kndy]

Hi everyone, I figured posting by artist can easily take up the thread, so I'll put Japanese music all under one thread.

Here are J-Pop titles on Blu-ray as of right now:

ARTIST/BAND:

- abingdon boys school - abingdon boys school JAPAN TOUR 2008
- Acid Black Cherry - 2008 tour BLACK LIST
- AKB48 - ファーストコンサート「会いたかった~柱はないぜ!~」in 日本青年館 シャッフルバージョン or マルバージョン
- AKB48 - ファーストコンサート「会いたかった~柱は... 日本青年館 ノーマルバージョン
- Angela Aki - アンジェラ・アキ MY KEYS 2006 in 武道館
- Angela Aki - アンジェラ・アキ Concert Tour 2007-2008 “TODAY”
- Amuro Namie - namie amuro BEST FICTION TOUR 2008-2009
- ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION - Eizo Sakushin Shu Vol.6 - Tour 2009 World World World
- Ayaka - MTV Unplugged ayaka
- BD.Hello!Project2010... 歌超風月 ~モベキマス!~
- BD.Hello!Project2010... 歌超風月 ~シャッフルデート~
- Cassiopeia - CASIOPEA VS THE SQUARE THE LIVE!!
- Chatmonchy - チャットモンチー レストラン メインディッシュ
- CHEMISTRY - CHEMISTRY 2010 TOUR regeneration in TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FORUM
- CHEMISTRY - CHEMISTRY 2008 TOUR “Face to Face” BUDOKAN FINAL
- CHEMISTRY - CHEMISTRY 2006 TOUR fo(u)r ~Live at Saitama Super Arena~
- DEEN - DEEN at 武道館 “NO CUT”~15th Anniversary Perfect Singles Live~
- DEEN at Budokan - Live Joy Special
- Dreams Come True - 20th Anniversary DREAMS COME TRUE CONCERT TOUR 2009“ドリしてます?”]
- Hirai Ken - KEN'S BAR 10TH ANNIVERSARY CHRISTMAS EVE SPECIAL!
- Hirai Ken - Ken Hirai Live Tour 2008 FAKIN’ POP
- Hirai Ken - Ken Hirai 10th Anniversary Tour Final at Saitama Super Arena
- HYDE - FAITH LIVE
- Ishizuka - アクアプラスフェスタ2007 IN 横浜
- Janne Da Arc - tour 2005JOKER
- Joe Hisaishi in Budokan: Miyazaki Anime to Tomo ni Ayunda 25 Nenkan Blu-ray
- Kadomatsu Toshiki - TOSHIKI KADOMATSU PERFORMANCE 2006"PLAYER'S PRAYER"SPECIAL 2006.12.16 NAKANO SUNPLAZA
- Kimura Kaela - GO!5!KAELAND
- Kuwata Keisuke - 昭和八十三年度 ひとり紅白歌合戦
- LUNA SEA - LUNA SEA GOD BLESS YOU~One Night Dejavu~2007.12.24 TOKYO DOME
- Matsuda Seiko - seiko matsuda concert tour 2008 my pure melody
- Matsuda Seiko - SEIKO MATSUDA CONCERT TOUR 2007 Baby’s breath
- Matsuda Seiko - SEIKO MATSUDA COUNT DOWN LIVE PARTY 2007-2008
- Matsuda Seiko - SEIKO MATSUDA COUNT DOWN LIVE PARTY 2006-2007
- Matsuda Seiko - Seiko Matsuda Count Down Live Party 2005-2006
- Matsuda Seiko - seiko matsuda concert tour 2006 bless you
- Matsutoya Yumi - YUMING SPECTACLE SHANGRILA III A DREAM OF A DOLPHIN
- mihimaru GT - mihimaLive 3~University of mihimaru GT☆mihimalogy 実践講座!!アリーナSPECIAL~
- 星空のライヴV Just Ballade MISIA with 星空のオーケストラ2010
- MISIA - THE TOUR OF MISIA DISCOTHEQUE ASIA
- MISIA - THE TOUR OF MISIA 2008 EIGHTH WORLD
- MISIA - THE TOUR OF MISIA 2007~ASCENSION~
- Mizuki Nana - NANA MIZUKI LIVE FIGHTER BLUE×RED SIDE
- Mizuki Nana - NANA MIZUKI LIVE DIAMOND×FEVER
- Nakagawa Shoko - Prism Tour 2010
- Nakagawa Shoko -マジカルツアー 2009~WELCOME TO THE SHOKO☆LAND~
- Nakagawa Shoko - 中川翔子 コンサートツアー2008~貪欲☆まつり~
- Nakashima Mika - MIKA NAKASHIMA CONCERT TOUR 2009 ☆ TRUST OUR VOICE
- Nakashima Mika - MIKA NAKASHIMA CONCERT TOUR 2007 YES MY JOY
- Nakashima Mika - MIKA NAKASHIMA LET’S MUSIC TOUR 2005
- Okuda Tamio - Cheap Trip 2006
- Okuda Tamio - okuda tamio FANTASTIC TOUR 08
- Otsuka Ai - LOVE IS BORN-4TH ANNIVERSARY 2007-AT HIBIYA YAGAI ONGAKU-DO ON 9TH OF SEPTEMBER 2007
- Ozawa Seiji - NHKクラシカル 小澤征爾 ベルリン・フィル 「悲愴」 2008年ベルリン公演
- Shibasaki Kou - Kou Shibasaki Live Tour 2010~ラブ☆パラ~
- Shibasaki Kou - Kou Shibasaki Live Tour 2008~1st~
- Southern All Stars - 真夏の大感謝祭 LIVE
- Sowelu - Sowelu LIVE TOUR 「Be happy(heart)2006
- Suara - Suara LIVE 2008~太陽と月の調べ~]
- Suara - Suara LIVE TOUR 2007~惜春想歌~
- Superfly - Dancing at Budokan!!
- Tamura Yukari - LOVE LIVE *Princess a la mode*
- Tamura Yukari - 田村ゆかり Love Live*Dreamy Maple Crown*
- T.M. Revolution - T.M.R.LIVE REVOLUTION ’06 -UNDER:COVER-
- Tohoshinki - 4th LIVE TOUR 2009 ~The Secret Code~ FINAL in TOKYO DOME
- Tokunaga Hideaki - HIDEAKI TOKUNAGA CONCERT TOUR ’08-’09 SINGLES BEST
- T-SQUARE - THE SQUARE~T-SQUARE since 1978 30th Anniversary Festival“野音であそぶ”
- UNICORN - MOVIE 12/UNICORN TOUR 2009 蘇える勤労

CONCERT FESTIVAL

- Animelo Summer Live 2008-Challenge-8.30
- Animelo Summer Live 2008-Challenge-8.31

ANIME/SEIYUU RELATED

- Macross F (Frontier) Character - FINALin Budokan
- May’n Special Concert BD BIG WAAAAAVE!! in 日本武道館
- Minori Chihara - Minori Chihara Live Tour 2009~Parade~LIVE BD

[drobswim13]

I wouldn't mind getting some stuff by Koda Kumi if they ever put it out there. She is gorgeous and her music is pretty solid, too.

[Sagacious Koreo]

Man, I've VERY much interested in getting Casiopeia and T-Square on Bluray. They were both phenomenal bands.

Does anyone know if Tomoyasu Hotei and Hiromi Uehara are ever coming out with anything on bluray?

[jason00]

Aya Hirano has a video compilation coming out in about a month, and I am really hoping for it to be released on blu. I wonder if there is a chance, since it probably would have been announced by now if it was day and date with the dvd.

[pro-bassoonist]

Excellent info kndy!

Pro-B

[ussrelativity]

I'd sure like to see Gackt on Blu-ray. Namely for "Journey Through The Decade".


For the obvious.

[Zen_Amako]

Not sure why Ayumi Hamasaki hasn't released anything yet on Blu. Maybe her 2009 concert will be.

I'm a little interested in the Namie Amuro BD. She's a good dancer/performer.

[Arkham]

They really need to put the X Japan reunion and the Hide Memorial 2009 on blu.
Both looked fantastic and were recorded in hd

[Jeff Kleist]

They really need to put the X Japan reunion and the Hide Memorial 2009 on blu.
Both looked fantastic and were recorded in hd

Hide memorial shakey due to all the different labels involved, not as impossible as the original show

Don't expect to see any X Blus until after the world tour is over at last word. Remember they took 5years to release the Last Live

[Fergubond]

I'm an avid music fan, but I don't have a good sound system yet so I have dived into the music on blu-ray yet. I am curious how do the J-pop blus look and sound? I'm especially interested in Angela Aki's discs. Her music is so easy to listen and relax too.

Would also love to see a Dragonash concert on blu someday.

[kndy]

Jeff has the TMR Blu-ray and he was quite positive about it but I know that the Otsuka Ai one was the first from Avex and I know those who purchased it felt it didn't show much improvement over the DVD version.

A good number of Sony releases are older concert releases but I would hope for more dedication to the HD releases. Problem is that Japan is driven by mobile content for music releases and they are trying to do what they can with the CD+DVD combos (thus the reason why the aggressive removal of videos from YouTube). Especially with the way their living is situated and the thin walls. Even when I bought concert DVD's or listened to music, when I was in Yokohama, my friend would tell me to turn it down and how I can't just blast things in Japan like in the US. So, far we know anime BD's are selling as with a few US films.

It reminds me when Avex was testing out SACD's with their jazz artists and pop artists like m.o.v.e. But judging by the fact there are less of those releases, I'm not sure if listening to music with high audio quality is important to audiences in Japan.

I agree, I wish there was more Ayumi Hamasaki releases but it looks like they are testing her music via USB thumb drive releases.

As for Hotei Tomoyasu, that would be interesting...although I seen the Boowy and too bad those videos don't hold up. I was surprised to hear his music via HD as his music is played heavily on the NHL 09 Xbox 360 and PS3 release.

As for Dragon Ash, that would be interesting....even if they put the Summer music festivals on Blu-ray, that would be cool.

As for Gackt, not sure if we would get any live concert/music video releases of his music or his live films (or even anime involvement) on Blu-ray first.

But I wish I could comment more on the J-Pop Blu-rays... I just own the DVD's.

[Sagacious Koreo]

Originally Posted by kndy

As for Hotei Tomoyasu, that would be interesting...although I seen the Boowy and too bad those videos don't hold up. I was surprised to hear his music via HD as his music is played heavily on the NHL 09 Xbox 360 and PS3 release.

I particularly want whichever concert has this performance on it. I think it's phenomenal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djG_Absb8rs

[drobswim13]

Originally Posted by Sagacious Koreo

I particularly want whichever concert has this performance on it. I think it's phenomenal. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djG_Absb8rs

that clip was awesome bro

[Sagacious Koreo]

No doubt. It's the first song that got me into Hotei. I want that concert on bluray so much. I can just imagine how it would sound on my sound system.

[MOONPHASE]

So many good choices and even heard some of these bands on the anime radio station on itunes.

[KAT]

I seriously want some Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestrahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGV31NCxPrY

I'm kind of shocked at what has been released so far. I would have expected B'z, Hamasaki Ayumi, Polysics and Puffy AmiYumi by now.

I really want some Go!Go!7188, Dragon Ash, Fuji Fabric, Bazra, Shakalabbits, Mo'some Tonebender and Yura Yura Teikoku.

It's a shame bands like Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, Number Girl and Judy and Mary aren't around anymore. I think all of there shows were shot on video. And all three were great live. I've probabley watched JAM's Pop Life Suicide Vol. 2 dvd around 40 times.

Hopefully Guitar Wolf's Wild Zero will make it to Blu-ray before long. That was my very first dvd from Japan back around 2000. Maybe since Do As Infinty are back together we can see a release from them fairly soon.

I'm looking forward to the Asian Kung Fu Generation Blu-ray. Right now the only Japanese Blu-ray I have is from Chatmonchy.

[kndy]

[QUOTE=KAT;2247256]I seriously want some Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestrahttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGV31NCxPrY

Originally Posted by KAT

I'm kind of shocked at what has been released so far. I would have expected B'z, Hamasaki Ayumi, Polysics and Puffy AmiYumi by now.

--
Hopefully B'z label gets into BD. Puffy AmiYumi has a chance because they are with Sony but at the same time, not sure because Puffy's not too popular anymore in Japan and not sure if they will sell.

Originally Posted by KAT

I really want some Go!Go!7188, Dragon Ash, Fuji Fabric, Bazra, Shakalabbits, Mo'some Tonebender and Yura Yura Teikoku.

--
I think for a lot of them, if they released a Summer Sonic or Fuji Rock festival Blu-ray, it's our best chance to see them.

Originally Posted by KAT

It's a shame bands like Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, Number Girl and Judy and Mary aren't around anymore. I think all of there shows were shot on video. And all three were great live. I've probabley watched JAM's Pop Life Suicide Vol. 2 dvd around 40 times.

--
I also have JAM's DVD's... As for Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, I see maybe a special release but mainly CD after the death of the guitarist a few weeks ago.

Originally Posted by KAT

Hopefully Guitar Wolf's Wild Zero will make it to Blu-ray before long. That was my very first dvd from Japan back around 2000. Maybe since Do As Infinty are back together we can see a release from them fairly soon.

--
Guitar Wolf is awesome! Do As Infinity, they have a lot of concerts that can go on BD. I have mostly all their DVD's but since their reunion, haven't heard much from them.

Originally Posted by KAT

I'm looking forward to the Asian Kung Fu Generation Blu-ray. Right now the only Japanese Blu-ray I have is from Chatmonchy.

--

How is the Chatmonchy one?

[KAT]

God that totally sucks. I didn't know about Abe Futoshi dying. He's easily one of my favorite guitarists. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnzxQXJjWq8 Amazing guitar work.

As for Chatmonchy, the concert is fun and energetic but unlike most concerts the overall mood is very sweet and happy. This isn't down and dirty rock n' roll. But Eriko does show that she can pull off some nice lead work from time to time. And Akiko Fukuoka seems to be a really good bass player. I'd like to see what she could do in a more aggressive band. The picture is really good for the most part, but I didn't notice some blockiness in some of the lighting. Although I have my contrast up pretty high and thought the same of Rush Snakes and arrows blu-ray. The detail is very sharp. I could even see the facial hair and acne scars on the lead singer. Things you probabley wouldn't even notice in person.

The Video is MPEG-4 AVC and the sound track is LPCM Stereo 48k.
The main concert runs at 1 hour and 41 minutes. There are 28 chapters and the mc work gets their own chapters, so you can skip the talking. The bonus footage runs at 44 minutes and 25 seconds. The pop up menu lists all the songs, including bonus features all at once for easy navigation.

The bonus footage is really good as it is taken from several small club dates. I actually enjoy this part of the disc better as it is more intimate and even a bit raw at times. This is also where the band plays piano and pianca as a break from the bass, guitar, drum sound.

The menus are literally animated. The first set of chapters places you at the back of the crowd looking towards the stage. As you advance to the next set of chapters, you move closer to the stage.

If you like Chatmonchy, I'd say the disc is worth it. I had only heard their first album and thought they were okay. After watching the concert I liked them alot better. I'll probabley pick up a few of their cd's. The newest release actually got a recommendation from Uki of Shakalabbits.

[kndy]

Originally Posted by KAT

The menus are literally animated. The first set of chapters places you at the back of the crowd looking towards the stage. As you advance to the next set of chapters, you move closer to the stage.

If you like Chatmonchy, I'd say the disc is worth it. I had only heard their first album and thought they were okay. After watching the concert I liked them alot better. I'll probabley pick up a few of their cd's. The newest release actually got a recommendation from Uki of Shakalabbits.

Thanks for the review. Is the editing pretty good and are there many camera angles? I dig Chatmonchy...

Well, I asked one label rep to see if it was possible to review any of their Blu-ray's but they sent me a Blu-Spec CD. Nevertheless, it's T-Square's "Discoveries", so I'll check it out.

[Jeff Kleist]

As for Dragon Ash, that would be interesting....even if they put the Summer music festivals on Blu-ray, that would be cool.

Dragon Ash has never put out a live concert disc, though they've had a bunch of TV specials. I think only the last one was even shot in HD. I know their videos weren't shot HD except maybe the last 2