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High Hopes for Otona Mode | February 05, 2008 |
 Victor Records and the music industry are expecting big things from rock band Otona Moodo (translates as Adult Mode, but we'll just call them Otona Mode). The band have three indie-label albums and several TV commercial tie-ups under their belt, but make their major-label debut tomorrow with the release of the single "Kaze ni Natte". Their label are backing them up with major radio exposure - 32 networks nationwide will have the song as a "power play" this month. The band's five members, who come from places as far apart as Hokkaido, Kanagawa and Aichi prefectures, met while at music college in Tokyo in 2004. They started performing mainly in the hip district of Shimo-Kitazawa and released their debut single in February 2006. More recently they worked on "Sora", the debut album by up-and-coming idol Aragaki Yui (19). The coming week will see them perform in-store events at Tower Records in Tokyo and Osaka and a gig at the Liquid Room in Ebisu on February 25. The growth of their fan base has been helped by the boyish good looks of vocalist Takahashi Keita (22) and their melodic musical stylings, which have drawn comparisons to an early Mr. Children.
 Another release with big expectations is the first album in two and a half years from Utada Hikaru (25). "Heart Station" is not out until March 19, but media were given a look at the album cover this week. It features a photo that is a bit more natural than Hikki's usual look and was taken during a 4-hour studio session last Christmas Eve. Now in her mid-20s and a divorcee, she has clearly grown up. Her most recent release, last year's single "Flavor of Life", was downloaded some 7.5 million times, as a "chaku-uta" for mobile phones among other things. The first single from the new album, "Heart Station/Stay Gold", will be her 20th and goes on sale February 20.
• From one queen of J-pop to another. Currently the best-selling J-pop artist, Koda Kumi (25) is biting her tongue the last couple of days. She got herself into trouble at the weekend while hosting the All Night Nippon radio show, making a caustic comment to the effect that once women reach the age of 35, their amniotic fluids go rotten. The throwaway remark drew protests from listeners and Koda and her handlers are taking the criticism seriously. One of her TV commercial sponsors has withdrawn the campaign, and she has canceled a scheduled TV appearance on the "Tetsuko no Heya" talk show. At a time when she should be out promoting her new album "Kingdom", she's riding out the storm at home. The album has entered the latest Oricon chart at No.1 anyway.
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