On 29/05/2025 at 17:18, AllStarBySmashMouth said:

The unexpectedly viral Love Live! track, AiScReam's self-titled(ish) song has an MV now. It's got a 1980s computer graphics aesthetic (I... don't know why).

'Ai Scream!' by AiScReam (again).

Much more appealing than the animated lyric video. 😆

Edited September 3Sep 3 by AllStarBySmashMouth

Ave Mujica song '碧い瞳の中に' (localised as 'in your blue eyes') for the CN server of the game Arknights.

Doloris sings a bit differently in the chorus. More divine than 'DIVINE' perhaps!

Edited September 4Sep 4 by AllStarBySmashMouth

This song's intro is living rent-free in my head everytime I finish a new Dress-Up Darling episode x

Edited September 13Sep 13 by CowTzy

Perfume announces their hiatus in 2026.

Perfume to begin hiatus in 2026, promise to return from “cold sleep”

21st September 2025

Perfume have announced that they will pause group activities at the end of 2025, entering what they describe as a “cold sleep” from 2026 onwards. The news was shared today, September 21st, the 20th anniversary of their major debut, through an English and Japanese statement posted on their official website.

The trio, a-chan, KASHIYUKA, and NOCCHi, reflected on their journey with fans, emphasising that live performance has always been the heart of Perfume. “Every time I stood on stage, my heart was burning, knowing that this might be the last time such a miracle would occur”, they wrote. “The time we spend together is our reason for living and is irreplaceable”.

They explained that “cold sleep” represents a deliberate pause, allowing them to step back and focus on their individual lives as they celebrate 25 years since forming in Hiroshima. “If we are going to spend the rest of our lives together, we want to move forward with a new challenge as a better and cooler Perfume. We decided to make a distinction”. While describing the period ahead as a kind of rehabilitation, they stressed their determination to return stronger: “Each of us wants to power up in our own way and make a comeback”.

Perfume also noted that the concept of “cold sleep” has appeared before in their work. Their 2024–25 arena tour, tied to the album ‘Nebula Romance Part I’, featured a sci-fi storyline in which the members awoke from a state of hibernation to begin new activities.

Despite the looming pause, Perfume will continue with planned activities through the remainder of 2025. On September 22nd and 23rd, they will perform at Tokyo Dome for Perfume ZO/Z5 Anniversary “Nebula Romance” Episode TOKYO DOME, with the second night streamed worldwide via LIVESHIP. A nationwide cinema screening will follow, with details yet to be confirmed. The group have also contributed the theme song ‘Fumetsu no Anata’ (‘Immortal You’) to the upcoming third season of the NHK anime To Your Eternity, airing from October 4th.

Formed in 1999 and making their major debut in 2005 with ‘Linear Motor Girl’, Perfume rose to prominence with ‘Polyrhythm’ in 2007, sparking a technopop boom in Japan. They have since sold out the Nippon Budokan and Tokyo Dome, toured internationally, and performed at global festivals including SXSW in 2015 and Coachella in 2019. Their 2019 compilation ‘Perfume the Best: P Cubed’ and subsequent dome tour cemented their reputation as one of Japan’s most innovative pop groups. Most recently, they released ‘Nebula Romance Part II’ in September 2025.

Closing their statement, Perfume expressed gratitude to their fans and optimism for the future: “We hope you will support us as we make our new dreams come true. All of this will help us become a ‘new Perfume’, and we each want to come back more powerful than ever”.

Perfume’s full English statement

"The center of all of Perfume’s activities is live performances.

We will gather together at the same time and place as you, and give everything we’ve got to resonate with you.

Every time I stood on stage, my heart was burning, knowing that this might be the last time such a miracle would occur.

The time we spend together is our reason for living and is irreplaceable.

“Leaving our shining legacy in history”

That was one of Perfume’s dreams.

And now, in order to capture this moment when we can proudly say that we are “shining,”

We will put Perfume into cold sleep starting in 2026.

No matter what form Perfume takes, as long as they’re together as three, they’ll always be Perfume.

If we are going to spend the rest of our lives together, we want to move forward with a new challenge as a better and cooler Perfume.

We decided to make a distinction.

Even if I was suddenly told that Perfume had an activity tomorrow, I would be ready to go right away by training my mind and body every day.

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we take a closer look at each of our lives for the first time.

It’s time to discover a new us.

I have never experienced such a time, nor have I ever thought about it that way.

We will probably start with rehabilitation first (laughs), but the three of us wanted to take on the challenge and decided to move forward.

The many scenes we have created together will continue to inspire us in the future.

When you feel weak or about to give up, it will surely continue to shine on you.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported and encouraged us.

We have been with Perfume for a long time without taking a break, so I would be happy if we could each take a little time to live our own lives.

We hope you will support us as we make our new dreams come true.

All of this will help us become a “new Perfume,” and we each want to come back more powerful than ever, so we hope you will continue to support us warmly until the day we can meet again."

DISTURBING THE PEACE, LOOK INTO MY EYES

ATARASHII GAKKO joined force with Shonan no Kaze for an oolong tea party the Grand Blue Dreaming opening theme;

MyGO's Hina Aoki (Raana Kaname) released her first studio album Letters;

Also she's finally opening a YT channel

I approve.

Edited October 2Oct 2 by AllStarBySmashMouth

Never heard of this Virtual girls duo VESPERBELL, but I'm loving their latest single Issen;

Thank you, Sunrise Isekai x

Alt/indie rock band Hitsujibungaku released their fifth studio album on Wednesday, titled Don't Laugh It Off. Already liking both Feel (Silent Witch) and Burning (Oshi no Ko), so I'm intrigued to give the rest of the LP a listen when I finally catch up with new releases.

A little bit surprised that Mild Days (also Silent Witch) wasn't in the album, especially considering that it was the B-track from Feel.

Definitely giving the band a recommendation following PFSC's "Dreamy Pop" contest earlier this year.

Gotta admit I haven't even started Gintama yet but HOLY MOTHER LONGMAN performed the ending theme of the new Ginpachi-sensei spinoff?!

KISIDA KYODAN & THE AKEBOSI ROCKETS. Another classic J-rock band I'm unfamiliar with, but their new anisong is really good.

Apparently they're iconic for HOTD (another classic series I haven't touched yet x)

I've never heard the term "alternative idol" before, but now i do x (and BiSH is considered one of them)

MEGMETAL produced this song, apparently;