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This Months Model of the Month Are you ready for MODEL FEVER?

SEP 2021

Exclusive with Twenty One Pilots

Twenty-one Pilots took a breather after completing their most daringly ambitious chapter to date, Trench, in 2018. To celebrate the upcoming release of their “shiny and colorful” album, Scaled And Icy, Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun have opened out about their newfound creative freedom.

51 The Foo’s are BACK!!!! An exclusive interview with Dave and his feelings being back on tour!

FITNESS CULTURE IN JAPAN

Japan is rapidly catching with the western world, staying in shape. We will take a closer look at what Japan Fitness is doing to compete in the center stage with the world.

IRI- JAPANESE JAZZY HIP HOP

KEEPING AVICII’S LEGACY ALIVE 34

Introduction to Rising Japanese Singer-Songwriter iri will leave you wanting for more music

After His Death, Friends Work to Keep Avicii’s Legacy Alive

LILI

Tokyo Dreamgirl

We take a closer look in LiLi staright from Japan. We will go deeper in her her single “Sushi”

FEATURED 24 LiLi Tokyo Dreamgirl Straight from Japan, we introduce you to new artists promoting her new single ‘Sushi” we get a closer look into what LiLi Dreamgirl is all about.

38 Shibuya Hidden Trasure Shibuya is full of wonderful places to eat. At lunchtime, it is like a battleground, with all the restaurants competing against each other for customers.

20 The best movies of this year Looking for the best movies of 2021? We’ve collected every Certified movie of the year into one list!

30 Spotify top fresh Music the best top music of the fall with Spotify

10 Street Fashion The evolution of street style: How it became the ultimate fashion trend

28 Fall blockbuster films Fall Movie Preview 2021: Which Movies to Look Forward to This Season

INTRODUCTION TO RISING JAPANESE

SINGER

IRI

AN ARTISTS THAT WILL KEEP YOU COMING BACK FOR MORE HIP HOP WITH JAZZ MELODYS

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y S O N Y M U S I C J A PA N A U T H O R : PAT R I C K M I C H E L

The age of J-pop fragmentation has made it difficult for fans of music to rally around any single artist. This is especially true for women in the industry at the turn of the 21st century, you had a few superstars towering over everything, but now few can come to a consensus on who the top artist is. Nevermind questioning why they have to be pitted against one another in the first place that’s the sports-like side of pop fandom coming out. Rather, it’s important to ask…does it even matter?

I N F O R M AT I O N

All images are copyrights from IRI and SONY MUSIC ARTIST ---> www.iriofficial.com

With 2021 a quarter of the way through, there are dozens of women offering new angles on J-pop. It’s less about crowning one person and appreciating all these different voices, from the downcast vision of Aimyon to perkier highs courtesy Riri. Singer-songwriter iri fits in nicely in this scene. She shares plenty in common with other young artists — a similar pool of producers helping shape her tracks, lyr-

ics touching on life for a 20-something in modern Japan — but she delivers them with a husky voice that excels at both singing and rapping. It helps that she’s also just put out some of the best overall pop of the last few years, peaking with this year’s Sparkle, her finest full-length to date. She doesn’t have to be the voice of a generation, but iri

absolutely is one of them… albeit, one of the better ones. There’s a reality where iri goes down a very different sonic path than the one she ended up on. The Kanagawa-born artist caught the attention of Sony Music at an audition in 2014, and a year later she popped up on an in-no-rush acoustic daydream by the artist Shingo Sekiguchi (above). It’s a totally different vibe for her, and one placing her in a

space more familiar with the generation of J-pop singers before her. Maybe she could have thrived there…but where she went was so much more exciting. Not long after that she released a single called “Aitaiwa,” featuring a similar acoustic strum and pace, but delivered with hip-hop inflection (remember this one). Then she twisted again with her debut Groove it. Possibly owing to the then-ascendent

sound of mellow funk taking off in J-pop (coupled with a slight awareness of city pop), that album positioned her as a nocturnal creator navigating the late-night lights over bass slink and club-inspired percussion. It’s more of a snapshot of where she’d go than a truly stand-out work, though highlights such as “Fancy City” and “Favorite Joshi” spotlight the skills and emotional melancholy central

to her art. Sometimes you have to expand your circle to figure out who you are. iri’s second album Juice (and the EP preceding it, Life, which serves as the necessary bridge between her early days and this breakthrough) found her working with artists such as Nariaki Obukuro, WONK, Kenmochi Hidefumi (of WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA primarily at this point) and Kai Takahashi (of Lucky

AN ARTIST GIVIG NEW VOICE IN

MUSIC

SHE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THE VOICE OF A GENERATION, BUT IRI ABSOLUTELY IS ONE OF THEM

Shade, released in 2019, gave iri the calling card song she needed if pop metrics are vital to how you judge art. “Wonderland” wraps up every sonic and thematic concern she has explored leading up to its release, pairing electronic whizzes with a jaunty piano melody to give life to lyrics about being young and making the most of it, regardless of what anyone thinks. It’s a YouTube hit — she’s got kids covering her online and killing it — and her big step forwardAenean nec vestibulum diam. Duis tincidunt bibendum luctus. Phasellus dictum, ipsum sed ultricies tincidunt, est tortor ullamcorper dui, eget condimentum sem lorem porttitor nisi. Fusce in porttitor justo. Curabitur vitae mattis tortor. Pellentesque quis sem in nibh pellentesque adipiscing sed nec elit. Nam pharetra neque in augue dapibus sodales. Vestibulum consectetur accumsan lacus tincidunt faucibus. Morbi ac malesuada arcu. Sed sit amet elit mattis, egestas nulla vitae, semper dui. Suspendisse tincidunt ipsum at congue vehicula. Etiam sed blandit felis. Donec tristique turpis at risus pulvinar fringilla. Nunc fermentum semper arcu, sit amet commodo diam pharetra eget. The album it lives on isn’t quite the pop blockbuster. Rather, it’s iri further seeing how she works with new names, such as Shinichi Osawa (“Shade”) and tofubeats (“Flashlight”). It’s sparser than Juice, and at times lacks the punch she showcased on that album, save for “Wonderland.” Yet when she works well, she shines, like on the darty Hidefumi-assisted “Peak” or woozy “Only One.” It’s a step back overall for me personally, but provided one slow-burning hit and plenty of great ideas she nailed on the follow up. so often the case with how the platform operates, an iri song from the start of her career suddenly became a meme. “Aitaiwa” took off on the micro-video platform

As is so often the case with how the platform operates, an iri song from the start of her career suddenly became a meme. “Aitaiwa” took off on the microvideo platform sometime in late 2019, soundtracking goofy clips like the one above alongside hyper-earnest romantic uploads from high school couples. Why exactly it rose up to wow the snack-sized content of the day I’m not sure, but the timing couldn’t be better, as it raised iri’s profile right before her finest album yet. Sparkle tightens up her sound and places iri right in the center of every musical trend shaping J-pop in 2020. Her general approach remains the same rap colliding with dance-pop, topped off by lyrics exploring youth (although one where the

number keeps rising) — but everything hits with just a little more exuberance. This is iri at her brightest, figuring out how to use the possibilities in front of her as a slingshot on “24-25” and the title track (which doubles as one of the best sounding cuts of the year so far). “Runaway” ups the funk that was present on her debut into something solid, while even Hidefumi’s “Freaking” finds her exuding swagger as she tries out a new rap style (over…electric guitar). It features young producers dictating where J-pop is heading — Kan Sano, Shin Sakiura — while capturing iri at her best.

WONDERLAND If you were going to introduce someone to what iri is all about in one song, it would be this. Favorite details — the synth melody at the start offering a kind of J-popped take on DJ Mustard, and that organ lurking all over the place.

SPARKLE By the time “Sparkle” arrived, the laidback city funk of the last few years was starting to sound stale. This one finds a way to shoot new life into it, with a buzzy main melody and a zig-zagging hook.

iri BEST ALBUM 2016-2020 IS OUT NOW!

YOU PROBABLY HAD YOUR OWN STREET STYLE EVOLUTION AND TODAY YOU WONDER WHY YOU WORE WHAT YOU WORE IN A SPECIFIC TIME OF YOUR LIFE IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU WALK AROUND IN BAGGY PANTS, PRINT SHIRTS, OR TIGHT LEGGINGS THIS IS WHAT MAKES FASHION STREET FASHION BY JERRY CORIA ■ PHOTOS BY JERRY CORIA

STREET

FASH

HION

Well, street style can’t really ever go out of style because we have to wear something, but the question is until when, because the time when street style was at its peak has changed.

e often come across the term “street style” nowadays. It became quite popular in the past few years, but what does it really mean and when did it become a thing? Suburbanization, mass marketing, the franchising of restaurant and retail chains, the spread of television and not to mention, social media, may have increased the appeal of “alter-

native” lifestyles for individuals in search of “authenticity.” Combining diverse aesthetics, such as elegance and athletics, became a popular way to market oneself. Combining diverse aesthetics, such as elegance and athletics, became a popular way to market oneself. We’ve all seen how our grandparents respond when fashion changes in the present world. They’re just at a loss for words. For

example, elegance is no longer just a good dress for a girl; girls and boys can now wear the same things, such as sneakers, T-shirts, and even baggy jeans. hat being said, let us dive into the history and evolution of street style, the big fashion cities of street style and what the future of fashion holds. What is street style? Street style is a particular type of dressing that has its roots in British fashion. It’s a well-rounded approach to

STRET STYLE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Street style photographers should be grateful to Instagram because of its popularity. It opened up a new world of media coverage that didn’t exist before. Instagram can be used as a playground for the people who want to express themselves without being mocked at. .

INSTAGRAM CULTURE

Instagram, a leading mobile application for stylizing and sharing photos on the web, has proven its popularity not only among street style amateurs, but also among street style photographers, some of whom have amassed followings in the thousands.

TOP

STREET FASHION

fashion that takes into account styles that don’t strictly follow current fashion trends, but do cross. We’re all aware that clothes and accessories allow people to express themselves and display a little bit of their true selves. By incorporating subcultural and overlapping styles or trends, street style allows people to express their many identities. Everything you do in your life is an act of performance in and of itself. The term “street style” refers to in fashion has become a hugely infectious, immediate, and addictive feature that has altered the way clothing is manufactured and consumed. Streetwear

style was popularized by hip hop, skateboarding, and social media, and as a result, it became much more eye-catching and daring. Everything from baggy clothing to casual Tshirts and sneakers are included in this, as well as combining patterns, colors, and prints that you normally wouldn’t wear in public. Given how popular Instagram has become, it’s no surprise that pictures of individuals wandering down the street and snapping random photos have become so popular.

TWENTY ONE PILOTS

RETURN

Twenty one Pilots took a breather after 2018’s Trench, their most daringly ambitious chapter yet. In Scaled And Icy, Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun have unveiled a new era in which they enjoy more creative flexibility than ever before... AUTHOR: Emily C

PHOTOGRAPHY: Ashley Osborn

n old rash has flared up. Not the bad kind: scabby and inflamed and maybe even a little gross. But a nice one. That, at least, is the rather peculiar way in which Tyler Joseph views twenty one pilots’ latest single, Choker. Like a rash. “It’s one thing to fabricate trying to go back and create a song from when you were a different person,” the frontman ponders before we arrive at his unusual medical comparison. “It’s another thing when it comes up organically – almost like an old habit that is inevitably a part of who you are, and still makes up the fibres of who you are. It’s mostly dormant, but every once in a while it flares up. That’s what Choker is: a flare up of an old rash that we thought we cured (laughs). And we’re proud of that rash! We like that rash. The rash is who we are.” It’s a sensation that Tyler and bandmate Josh Dun hadn’t experienced for quite some time before now. As the two 32-year-olds catch up with Kerrang! via Zoom – the frontman shielded underneath a baseball cap in his darkened Columbus, Ohio home studio; the drummer in a much brighter and more airy space – they reveal that the typically poignant Choker signifies something much bigger in the story of the shape-shifting, genre-bending two-piece. To twenty one pilots, it’s an acceptance of their journey. That tale, of course, has been told many times. Only now, there’s a newfound appreciation of the process behind it: how Tyler and Josh’s stunningly ambitious songwriting catapulted twenty one pilots from academies to arenas to festival headlining slots over the course of several brilliant records (2013 third LP Vessel, 2015’s phenomenal follow-up Blurryface, and 2018’s bold Trench, in particular). So forward-thinking and decidedly boundary-pushing were the band, it took them a minute to take a vital step back and appreciate what they’d created. And it all started with Choker.

“I remember when I locked into the writing of it, it just flowed; it was scary how easy that song was for me to write,” Tyler recalls. “And it was

because I knew I was coming from a place, and I was in a realm that I had spent a lot of time in before. And I was comfortable there; I was familiar with my surroundings. And that’s why it was such an easy song to write. “I think Choker is the beginning of me being okay with the entire body of work, and feeling like I don’t have to steer away from some things that people would consider from our older records.”

LOOKING BACK AT RECENT ALBUMS

SCALED AND ICY

BLURRYFACE

Fresh career outlooks (and global pandemics) aside, the two members of twenty one pilots have also gone through more meaningful milestones recently: Tyler became a father for the first time in February last year, while Josh got married on New Year’s Eve 2019. And, in fact, despite these exciting upheavals, there’s one more change that they’re still hoping to complete… “Even though you’re a little older than me, can I adopt you?” Tyler asks his bandmate.

TRENCH

“We could definitely try,” comes the playful response. “I think my parents have to legally disown me first. You’ve got to ask their blessing…” “I take your dad out to dinner and ask for his son’s hand in drumming,” the frontman suggests, before the pair erupt into laughter. Okay, so maybe we can file this one under the ‘not-so-serious to-do list’, but the point still stands: the world of twenty one pilots is in a very different place these days. “We had big life moments happen for us,” Tyler smiles. “I became

a dad, Josh got married. My wife says my daughter is 15 months, and every time she says ‘months’ I have to do the numbers! But she’s a little over a year old, and it’s a lot of fun. I think that she thinks I’m a bum, my daughter; she thinks I do nothing.” Though lockdown did indeed put the touring aspect of their jobs on hold, this break from the road has been far from unproductive: on May 21, they’re set to return with their highly-anticipated sixth album Scaled And Icy, and a global livestream experience to boot. Tyler and Josh effectively utilised COVID downtime to get to work, with the cutting-short of their epic Trench cycle barely even fazing them. It’s a position they’re extraordinarily grateful to be in.

The band’s tour was put on pause due to lockdown, but the time off was fruitful in other ways: on May 21, they’ll return with their highly anticipated new album Scaled And Icy, as well as a global webcast. Tyler and Josh took advantage of COVID downtime to get some work done, and the interruption of their epic Trench cycle didn’t seem to phase them in the least. “We’ve had chats that are kind of sinking-in thanks for our circumstance,” adds Josh. “What if [the pandemic] came just after we released Trench, right in the middle of the album cycle, or even at the beginning of our career when we were just getting started? As a band, we’ve taken plenty of time to reflect along the way. While appreciating the enormity of what this year has been for some and how dreadful it has been, we’ve come to appreciate how lucky we have been for it to have come at the time it has. I don’t want to sound rude by stating that, but realizing that has been important.” he absence of live events in the schedule has given Scaled And Icy’s release a “different vibe,” but it has also proved to be a huge boon to the band’s creativity. So get ready, because Tyler has already started working on new material...

// BLURRYFACE

I’m usually done with writing and music when we’re done with a record; I’ve given it everything I’ve got,” he says. Even though we know we won’t be playing any performances, I didn’t get the same sense of

exhaustion after finishing this one.” he adds. And even after that, I’ve continued to make things. Despite this, I’m still writing and giddy with the prospect of hearing new music. So, that’s good or bad? I hope it’s just fantastic! Fans of twenty one pilots around the world can unanimously agree that it is a Very Good Thing. But that’s not why we’ve come. No, we’d like to know everything there is to know about Scaled and Icy...

It’s been less than a month since the album was announced and the addictive and elegant lead single Shy Away was released, and the internet is awash in rumors. This sort of thing happens whenever Twenty One Pilots do anything. Scaled And Icy’s world of Trench continues to expand online, thanks to anything from deep Reddit threads to in-depth YouTube videos... even if the hows and whys are still being unpacked by the duo’s dedicated fans. The album title ‘Scaled And Icy’ is an anagram for ‘Clancy Is Dead,’ a character in Trench who is striving to break free of Dema’s oppressive grip, and who may or may not have succeeded in his mission. Is that anagram merely a coincidence or was it intentional? Tyler says, “It’s an accident.” Silence. A small smile is spreading across the frontman’s lips, though...

There’s also a common theme among fans this time around: propaganda. The album’s brighter aesthetics and uplifting melodies could be a hint of Dema’s subliminal brainwashing abilities at work. Christmas Saves The Year, Scaled And Icy’s surprise holiday single from last year, contained a message that said, “SAI is propaganda.” The song was released months before the album was ever revealed. Will Scaled and Icy be able to provide us with all the information we need? Tyler adds, “Even when I first started composing songs, I knew I wanted to link something broader to it. I’ve always felt like it’s a real waste of an opportunity not to be telling a story through music.”. We don’t want there to be a pre-requisite for enjoying the songs; we don’t want you to have to know all the intricacies of the story so far in order to truly enjoy and discover something meaningful inside a song. However, Josh and I have always discussed this.

A lockdown album was out of the question for the duo as well, as they felt it would be “too predictable to hold a mirror up our situation and write a record precisely as it appeared in front of us. Tyler continues, “I didn’t believe having a bad record was acceptable; the concept of escaping that was more enticing to me.” There is a deliberate gap between the record’s truth and how it sounds. The weight will be reduced as a result of that. This artistic agreement has existed between us since the beginning of our friendship, says Josh. “And in talking about how the situation of the world dictates the mood or vibe of an album, I think the direction this album took instantaneously seemed exactly appro-

priate to both of us.” After such a crazy year, the idea that we are even close to releasing an album is a breath of fresh air.” On Scaled And Icy, twenty one pilots had a lot more creative flexibility than they did on Trench, and it showed in their writing. Tyler recalls that it was “certainly more flowing and less chronological. “It was a change of pace. You’d be chasing one new concept after another, and eventually you’d put something together. My approach would be to look at the songs as a whole and determine where they belong. When I was composing Good Day, I had a feeling it would be the first single. I also had a feeling Redecorate would be the album’s final tune,

If ‘Blurryface’ was the band attempting to be heard, and ‘Trench’ was the band trying to keep everything under control, ‘Scaled and Icy’ shows the duo mainly at peace and following their instincts. ‘Scaled and Icy’ is still very much in the Twenty One Pilots universe, despite its cocky optimism and massive pop bangers. The album’s title is an anagram of ‘Clancy is dead,’ after all, so there will be some obvious fan service, but this album shows that one of the most courageous bands of their generation is still willing to experiment.

MOVIES

Alissa Wilkinson

FALL MOVIE SEASON

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

MOVIES THAT WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT

elcome to the buzzy autumn movie season. While most of 2021’s biggest and most prestigious films are slated to come out later in the year, September always hails the start of the very long rampup to the next year’s Oscars. To kick-start the fall movie calendar, there’s a film based on a hit Broadway musical and a small but riveting thriller about bankers. There’s a new MCU superhero and a familiar face from history. Dancers, gamblers, rock stars — they’re all here in September. Whether you’re headed to the theater or bundled up on the couch, here are seven of the most interesting films to look for this month.

The latest installment in the Marvel universe centers on Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), who works as a parking valet in San Francisco alongside his best friend Katy (Awkwafina). He’s been hunted down by the shadowy Ten Rings organization and is drawn into a wild adventure that forces him to confront his past, including his estranged father (Tony Leung). ShangChi is the second of four MCU films slated for release in 2021 (including this summer’s Black Widow and the upcoming Eternals and Spider-Man: No Way Home). With plenty of martial arts action and a cheeky sense of humor, it’s a fun start to the fall movie season.

The Card Counter

Eternals The Card Counter feels, in many ways, like the companion piece to First Reformed, writer and director Paul Schrader’s 2018 film about a broken man searching for salvation. Oscar Isaac plays William, a veteran haunted by his past who now travels the country playing blackjack and poker, sometimes in tournaments. He meets La Linda (Tiffany Haddish), who suggests a business arrangement that might be to both their advantages. He also happens to meet Cirk (Tye Sheridan), who harbors a dark vendetta against a man named Major John Gordo (Willem Dafoe) — and who leads William to finally face his demons. The Card Counter is a stylish film, but also a disturbing one that ties the US’s torture program to the twisting of individual souls. It raises a perennial question: Can a sinner be forgiven?

OTHER BLOCKBUSTERS TO WATCH

Eternals; a movie that is waiting it’s arrival on the MCU

007 NO TIME TO DIE; The new James Bond film No Time To Die will be Daniel Craig’s last 3

Venom 2, keep an eye for the film that will have shocking post-credit sequence, 4

Evan Hansen is an anxious, isolated high-school student who’s aching for understanding and belonging amid the chaos and cruelty of the social media age.

R RY C O R I A AUTHOR: JE

O Y K O T I LIL PHOTOGRAP

BANI H Y: A L L A N A

I would love to be in a movie or TV series. I also like to perform too

L R I G M A E DR

HOW YOU STARTED YOUR JOURNEY IN THE MUSIC INDSUTRY? I have been loving music and dancing as long as I can remember and it always makes me happy! I was very inspired by it from watching other great artists and I knew that this was what I really wanted to do.

HOW HAS IT BEEN SO FAR, WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES IN BEING CREATIVE WITH MUSIC? So far my journey has been wonderful and I am blessed to have a great family and team of people who support me. I am always working hard so I can be better at what I do. I want to share my music with everyone and I hope to be a big artist that everyone knows. I am always thinking how I can be unique and express my own special taste and style.

HOW HAS THE EXPERINCE BEEN CREATING A SONG, ARE YOU GETTING HELP WITH MUSIC WRITING? I’ve been writing songs since I started singing. I still have so many notebooks full of my original lyrics.I love to create things from zero. It’s so rewarding to pull ideas out and make them sharable through my songs. I also work with my producer VIRG alot. I love working with him. We work really good together.

WHY HAVE YOU DECIDED WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR YOU IN TO TARGET US MUSIC THE NEWS FEW YEARS INDUSTRY? In Japan the main music trend is J-POP but my music is not. I love and respect many American great singers and I grew up listening to them so it was natural for me to choose the US as the place to launch my music career.

I plan to release more songs and I also want to get into acting. I would love to be in a movie or TV series. I also like to perform too so hopefully I will be able to tour. Maybe now its difficult because of the covid 19 pandemic, but if things get better I would love to start doing shows again.

THE NEW SINGLE “SUSHI” IS THERE ANY COLLBERATION YOU WHATS THE MESSAGE OF WOULD LIKE TO DO? THE SONG ABOUT? In my song, sushi means love. It’s about being in love, sharing your love, and making love. It’s very romantic and fun. Sushi is also about me. I decided to make this song SUSHI because Sushi is famous all over the world and it’s also Japanese. SUSHI also represents me because Im like Sushi. Im from Japan I am going all over the world through my music. The deeper meaning of Sushi is it’s about me. I decided to make this song because Sushi is something from Japan that’s famous and loved all over the world. This also represents me because I am also from Japan and like sushi I’m going all over the world through my music.

There are so many artists I want to collaborate with. Currently I’m working on a new song with the legndary rap duo, Nice and Smooth, called Take Your Time. There are some other artists we are planning to work with as well but I don’t want to spoil the surprise so please stay tuned!

ARE YOU WORKING ON NEW MUSIC? Yes i am. Me and my team are working on 3 new songs now. I can’t wait till they are done and people can listen to my songs Every song is like a new adventure

Vivamus in libero non ligula mollis sodales Vivamus

when can we expect a full album? For now I just want to release singles. I do eventually want to make an album but I really want to give each one of my songs its own speacial time to shine. I want to focus on each song one by one and promote them well. Sometimes with albums some songs end up not being released and I want to make sure all of my songs have their time in the spotlight. My album will most likely be a collection of all my singles plus a few new songs that I will release.

what are you insperations in the music industry? It gives me so much inspiration to see how great you can become if you work hard and become really good at what you do. It’s so wonderful to live in a world where people like me can make a good living doing what they love and are passionate about. That’s what the music industry is all about. Making your dreams come true, and that’s very inspiring.

are working on a full japanese song ? Im really tring to stay away from making an all Japanese song because the audience is very small for this and to be honest I feel that it’s kind of a waste of my skill to do only Japanese. There are enough Japanese singers singing in Japanese so I want to sing in English so I can represent Japan in a language that everyone, or at least most of the people in the world can understand.

congrats on being on the front cover what messages do you want readers to know about you ?

I’m so honored to be the front cover of Fusion!You always feature really big stars on the cover so when I found out that I would be on there I was like OMG!!! Yes it’s REALLY AWESOME!! I’m so happy! Besides singing I also love to acting so I’m looking forward to appearing in the movie or drama in the near future. I also love animals especially I’m a huge cats lover so I want to start a NPO for saving animals.

SUSHI OUT NOW ON ITUNES FOR MORE OF LILI CHECK OUT

IT GIVES ME SO MUCH INSPIRATION TO SEE HOW GREAT YOU CAN BECOME IF YOU WORK HARD

FRESH MUSIC We have created a new playlist for all the top 100 songs most-streamed on Spotify. In the first place, is Ed Sheeran. Now Shape of You by Ed Sheeran is not, anymore, the only song with more than 2 billion streams. In 2021, eight more artists, until now, have reached the milestone. Tones and I is the first female artist to achieve it. The artist with the most songs on this top 100 is Post Malone with a total of 8 lead songs. With physical copies of music becoming rare with each passing day, the various music streaming websites are becoming increasingly popular. Even though there are different places to stream music but the most popular one out of them all is Spotify. Spotify is the largest music streaming website that entertains a massive count of followers.

With a strong paying follower base of 113 million, Spotify is unarguably one of the biggest music streaming platforms out there.

Over the years, several big artists have emerged as the most-streamed and most successful ones on Spotify. Thanks to its credibility and huge base, an artist’s music are never complete unless it attains a successful rating on Spotify.

The year 2020 has been life-changing in various aspects. And, there’s no doubt that many artists have emerged on the

DUA LIPA TOPS SPOTIFY

The 25-year-old famous singer achieved fame in 2017 with her popular song New Rules and has since then remained at the top of all charts for her stellar performances. Her disco-pop records have helped her received critical acclaim, and also Brit and Grammy Awards. It seems that Dua Lipa has significantly ended the reign of Ed Sheeran to some extent and has managed to hold the title of being the UK’s most-listened artist since 2017. So, this is a timeline of the Top 5 most-streamed artists on Spotify who are not just ruling the charts but also the hearts of their music fans.

WITH PHYSICAL COPIES OF MUSIC BECOMING RARE WITH EACH PASSING DAY

TOP CHARTS

SPOTIFY LIST

Taking the top spot is Olivia Rodrigo’s hit single “Good 4 U” which took the No. 1 spot on both Spotify’s Top U.S. Songs of Summer and Top Global Songs of Summer lists. Between the end of May and now, the song has reached over 600 million streams worldwide. Following Rodrigo is Måneskin’s “Beggin” and Rauw Alejandro with “Todo De Ti.” Unsurprisingly, other artists who secured a spot on the list include Lil Nas X, Doja Cat, Justin Bieber and BTS. Bieber appears on the list with two songs, including his feature on The Kid LAROI’s “Stay” and his own hit, “Peaches” featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon. Rounding out the list is Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak and Silk Sonic‘s “Leave the Door Open” and Masked Wolf’s “Astronaut in the Ocean.” Check out the full list and take a listen at the Spotify’s Songs of 2021 chart.

NULLA FACILISI NAM VELIT

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1. “Good 4 U” – Olivia Rodrigo 2. “Beggin’” – Måneskin 3. “Todo De Ti” – Rauw Alejandro 4. “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” – Lil Nas X 5. “Kiss Me More (feat. SZA)” – Doja Cat 6. “Stay (with Justin Bieber)” – The Kid Laroi 7. “Yonaguni” – Bad Bunny 8. “Bad Habits” – Ed Sheeran 9. “Butter” – BTS 10. “Levitating (feat. DaBaby)” – Dua Lipa 11. “Deja Vu” – Olivia Rodrigo 12. “I Wanna Be Your Slave” – Måneskin 13. “Peaches (feat. Daniel Caesar & Givēon)” – Justin Bieber 14. “Traitor” – Olivia Rodrigo 15. “Qué Más Pues?” – J Balvin, Maria Becerra 16. “Save Your Tears (with Ariana Grande) (Remix)” – The Weeknd 17. “Drivers License” – Olivia Rodrigo 18. “happier” – Olivia Rodrigo 19. “Leave the Door Open” – Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic

INA MODEL OF THE MONTH

THE LATE PRODUCER, SONGWRITER AND DJ WAS AT THE HEAD TABLE OF THE EDM MOVEMENT, HIS 2011 TRACK “LEVELS” CONSIDERED A CORNERSTONE OF THE GENRE.

AVICII’S

LIFE & MUSIC REMEMBERED WITH TOUCHING GOOGLE DOODLE BY LARS B ■ PHOTOS BY ALEX WESSELY

ate producer, songwriter and DJ was at the head table of the EDM movement, his 2011 track “Levels” considered a cornerstone of the genre. After a long struggle

mental health issues, Tim took his own life in 2018, aged 28. In his memory and to help other youngsters, Tim’s father Klas and his mother Anki started the Tim Bergling Foundation, which advocates for the recognition of suicide as a global health emergency. “From producing hit songs that topped international charts to headlining festivals around the world,” reads a statement from Google, “Tim will forever be remembered as one of the pioneers and most influential visionaries of electronic dance music.”To remember Tim on this day as well as learn more about mental health, we talked to Tim’s father Klas Bergling. Tell us about Tim in your own words how do you remember him? with

Klas: Tim was a kind and open person, full of energy, stubbornness and integrity. He had a special set of attributes, and if you watched the documentary about his life, I think you can also tell he wasn’t really built for fame in the way he was exposed to it. Despite his success and fame, he remained humble and treated people with kindness and equal respect. Was there a moment when you understood how musically talented he was? Klas: When Tim was about 10-years-old, he sang the Swedish national anthem at full capacity. He really lived in the moment when doing that, and it was times like this I initially understood there was something special there. Being part of a generation that didn’t grow up with house music, I used to view it as a monotonous, repetitive beat. When I started taking power walks back in the early days of Tim’s career, listening to his music, I realized what beautiful melodies were captured within the songs. It was an “aha moment” — this is really music — and I started needing it to get me going. Tim produced more melodic songs over the years, with “Bromance” being one of the big eye-openers to his talent for me personally. Were there any moments you were especially proud of Tim during his career? Klas: Tim was such a special person, I was always proud of him for just being the person he was. In terms of his musical accomplishments, I will never forget when he played

in a park called Strömparterren in Stockholm in the early days of his career. He’d told me explicitly to not come — maybe because it wasn’t very cool to have your father around at that age — but I went anyway and hid behind a tree. It was a great evening and I remember feeling surprised, amazed and very proud. When I came to find him backstage afterwards, he was so glad I came. An especially proud moment was also when Tim played in Globen Arena, today named Avicii Arena in effort to bring more attention to mental health, and I decided to sit completely by myself to take in the experience, as well as when the whole family went to watch him play at the festival “Summerburst” at Stockholm Olympic Stadium. He performed brilliantly at both shows — they were such great evenings. What advice would you give to someone who has a friend or family member experiencing anxiety, depression or mental illness? Klas: It’s not always easy, not least due to the stigma around these topics; it can be hard to talk about. But that’s what we need to do — talk about it. Simple things like asking questions can go a long way in helping someone heal. And if you see someone moving in the wrong direction, you should encourage or help them seek support. I also think it’s very important for companies to get more engaged in these conversations and enable their employees to talk more openly about mental health.

TIM PLAYED IN GLOBEN ARENA, TODAY NAMED AVICII ARENA IN EFFORT TO BRING MORE ATTENTION TO MENTAL HEALTH

TRAVEL

SHIBUYA

HIDDEN TREASURES

Japan is one of my favorite countries to visit, and I have been fortunate to travel there for my business over the years. The poetic and chaotic beauty of Tokyo is a treasure for the senses, but it can be overwhelming There’s just so much to see and experience. My work schedule is usually packed, so when I have a little leisure time, I plan to craft an itinerary with the aim to enjoy a unique experience and taste delicious bites.

ach time I visit Japan, I must make a stop at a Depachika (depa: department store, chika: basement) which is the food hall in the basements of department stores. This has always been an extraordinary culinary experience. the depachika can be enormous with hundreds of different stalls selling all kinds of delicacies, from French pastries, Italian pizzas to Japanese dishes, sushi, sashimi, noodles, grilled skewers, desserts and more. It’s a real foodie experience to explore a Depachika! On this food tour, we make a stop at the Mitsukoshi’s Depachika and explore the fresh fruits section. The fruits are carefully displayed, and no touching please! Fresh fruits are highly valued in Japan and some of the melons

SHIBUYA TOKYO FOOD TOUR Shibuya is most likely Tokyo’s busiest and most interesting district. The Shibuya crossing is one of the most crowded intersection in the world, pre-Covid. Shibuya is home to Japanese youth fashion, culture, entertainment and latest trends.

famous for offering the best experience in off-the-beaten-track eateries that are usually inaccessible to tourists. Here’s my delectable experience in the Shibuya colorful food scene, and it’s been an amazing experience to discover the sights, sounds and tastes of Tokyo!

This time, I want to discover Shibuya’s hidden food gems, where locals eat and the best way is to book via Viator an Arigato Shibuya Tokyo food tour which is

Tomo chan at Summer Style Award

WOMEN & FITNESS IN

JAPAN

JOSHIRYOKU IN JAPAN THE PERSPECTIVE OF HEALTH AND FITNESS IS CHANGING RAPIDLY IN TODAY’S SOCIETY ESPECIALLY IN JAPAN IN WHERE WOMEN ARE NOW MORE MOTIVATED TO BE DIFFERENT AND ADAPT TO HEALTH AND FITNESS AS THE WAY OF LIFE

hen I think of “female power,” I see strong, self-reliant women who are in charge of their own life, are physically ﬁt, and have their own distinct personalities and perspectives. However, the

AUTHOR JERRY CORIA

meaning of the Japanese phrase “joshiryoku” (literally, girl power) is signiﬁcantly diﬀerent and expresses the “power” of being the all-encompassing “feminine woman.” A “joshiryoku takai” (high-level of “female power”) is someone who has a pristine home, cooks

extravagant dinners, always has their nails and makeup done precisely, and is an excellent socializer. If you often go to an oshare hot yoga studio or purchase juice cleanses, your “joshiryoku” level may be high when it comes to your health.

YUKA at Best Body Japan

The competition measures contestants on the “healthfulness, beauty and ‘coolness‘” of their physical formss

hen I think of “female power,” I see strong, self-reliant women who are in charge of their own life, are physically fit, and have their own distinct personalities and perspectives. However, the meaning of the Japanese phrase “joshiryoku” (literally, girl power) is significantly different and expresses the “power” of being the all-encompassing “feminine woman.” A “joshiryoku takai” (high-level of “female power”) is someone who has a pristine home, cooks

extravagant dinners, always has their nails and makeup done precisely, and is an excellent socializer. You’d make a wonderful wifey, and you exude a certain charm and sassiness that is distinctly feminine. When it comes to health, maybe your “joshiryoku” level is high if you are frequent an oshare hot yoga studio

WOMEN IN FITNESS As in the west, it’s all-too-common for women in Japan to avoid picking up the weights as to avoid the societally ingrained fear of “getting too big.” It’s becoming rare to find strength trainees in Japan who train for anything other than aesthetics, given the popularity of weight loss services such as Rizap. If a man can bench press three plates, he’s seen as an advanced strength trainee and not to be messed with. See a woman benching more than her body weight? She’s a weirdo. Societal expectations and misunderstandings about what actually happens on a biological level when you strength train force us to gravitate toward the tiny pink dumbbells and resort to unsafe dieting practices. Unlike many Western countries, where exercising is inherent in people’s everyday lives, women in Japan are just starting to appreciate and enjoy staying in shape. Celebrities and models,

who are known for setting the beauty standard in Japan, are now regularly posting gym selfies on Instagram, with hashtags (kin-tore-jyoshi, muscle training girls). These phenomena illustrate not only how beauty standards in Japan are changing, but also how fitness is becoming something much closer, and accessible in Japanese women’s lives. Training and athletic activities are still viewed as masculine pastimes in Japan, and women who participate in sports only became more widespread in recent years. Historically, these active women have gathered in small groups and communicated their

Mami at Summer Style Award

Women might have different motivations towards fitness, and brands from various categories are catering to their needs by celebrating female athletes who enjoy both the process and the results of training.

enthusiasm only to those in the group. However, social media’s recent emergence has sparked a new movement of women who freely share their gym stories and consider exercise as a way to express themselves more personally. Another factor that spurs to renewed interest in sports is nostalgia. Bukatsu-jyoshi (“sports club ladies”) served as role models for female athletes in Japanese high schools. Bukatsu, or school sports teams, are nearly required in the Japanese educational system.

On the other hand, more segments of the Japanese fitness community are getting involved in sports through unconventional venues and affiliations. Girls who were previously uninterested in sports and fitness are now beginning to show up at various sporting events and gyms. They stay up-to-date on the latest fitness trends by using social media like Instagram and Facebook, and they increasingly get their motivation from the same places. Social media stars like Aya, a CrossFit

trainer and model with 402,000 Instagram followers, are drawn to the intense exercises and facilities of the CrossFit movement. or take for example now theirs is an extensive amount of fitness influencers in Japan that are now inspiring other women to participate and joing fitness activities such as “Best Body Japan” or “Summer Style Award” instagram has become the tool through which Japanese women document their fitness experiences, and is the main platform to share.

MAMI PERSONAL TRAINER “In fitness industries, as a personal trainer, I am involved with many women and entrusted with their future as well as evolving myself. Therefore, I want to make many women beautiful by improving my knowledge. I am inspiring myself by

“

that feeling.

Fitness is a neverending challenge. What I‘m looking for in fitness is body make-up (body building), because I want to have both a fascinating body and a body with high phyical ability.

According to a recent Macromill survey, about a third of Japanese women in their teens and 20s use Instagram, and Japanese users numbers on the app have more than quadrupled since 2014. Different brands cater to the demands of women by promoting female athletes who appreciate both the process and the outcomes of training. Unsurprisingly, Under Armour and Reebok promote women who are physically fit rather than those who are more delicately proportioned. Fast fashion brands have also begun to encourage exercise and now provide a greater selection of sportswear. A good example of this is the apparel retailer Forever 21, which caters to a younger demographic by emphasizing the link between fashion and health. With a holistic approach to beauty, even cosmetics companies are becoming interested in exercise. The release of SK II is now underway. I noticed that when a woman is prepping for a show, they are either praised by men and women, receiving compliments like “You’re so shredded!”, “How is that possible?” or “You look like a manga character!”, or am berated as “disgusting”, “looking like a man”, or looking “like a dried piece of fruit with a head-on top of it” (actually, a compliment to a bodybuilder). People will say what they will, and what my feeling is women should not feel intimidated by what people say or what society thinks being in shape is the new SEXY I believe not only does this change your mindset as you go into your fitness journey but you also get to learn more about your body.

TOMOYO WINNER OF LEGENDS

Through bodybuilding, you developed both physical strength and the ability to love your body in all stages. you should not care about what people or society thinks about your physique. Let’s redefine joshiryoku to prove that women are not lesser men in both sports and life. The average fitness enthusiast knows exactly how much intensity goes into preparing for the stage. Every aspect of life is tracked, monitored, and analyzed. Every gram of food I put in my mouth is weighed and tracked, meals are timed, every rep performed in the gym and every minute spent doing cardio is accounted for, my sleep is optimized (at least eight hours a night) if I’m dieting for a show. This is in order to reach the lowest amount of body fat while maintaining the most muscle. “joshi ryoku” has the unintended consequence of lowering women’s aspirations, particularly in sports. In this view, women are viewed as helpless. While it’s true that women have more body fat and produce less testosterone than males, studies show that women who do strength training build muscle just as much as men.

Because of their female hormones, men are at a distinct advantage when it comes to getting strong. Estrogen is sometimes viewed as the opponent of testosterone, making

VOLUPTATE Ayaka a personal trainer competes at FWJ event

Always constantly set small goals, crush them, don’t give up set bigger ones, and overcome them, too. Other women see the confidence that radiates inside. That creates a change calling for more powerful women to reach their full potential. And, to me, that’s joshiryoku in its most literal sense and what is necessary to see women thrive and be successful.

women less “competent” than males in the gym. In reality, estrogen in women’s hormones protects their joints and speeds up muscle healing, allowing them to train harder

woman’s bodily health and fitness are just as important as her outward appearance in beautyobsessed South Korea. According to health-product suppliers, women’s fitness has grown into a booming business as the standard of beauty and the pursuit of plastic surgery evolves in the country that sets trends in cosmetics and plastic surgery. ” Women used to deprive themselves in order to slim down. Celebrity trainer Ray Yang, who leads a workout on the Body Show, a weekly tv show aimed at women currently in its second season, said: “They exercise now.” Despite the fact that Korean women place a high value on looks and have a $5 billion plastic surgery business, which accounts for a fifth of the global market, physical fitness has not been a high concern for them until lately. Young women generally avoided hobbies like hiking and cycling because they feared they would end up with bigger legs as a result of the popularity of being thin. According to Hankuk University of Foreign Studies global sports science

professor Kim Min-jeong, “women used to fear muscles would have adverse effects, or negatively affect their body type and appearance.” Many fitness conscious Korean women are adopting as role models well-toned celebrities, from domestic K-pop girl group Sistar’s “These women’s power, optimistic attitudes, and energizing images become motivation,” Kim explained. Now that women have achieved a better social position and taken on greater societal responsibilities, According to government statistics, the number of South Korean fitness centers has steadily risen to 7,363 in the last year. Eunja, a pro athlete who has competed in several fitness competitions is the perfect example of what female power looks like when you can exercises the same exercises as the guys at a Seoul gym, including barbell drills, rowing machine time, and dead lifts. A healthier-looking figure is the new normal as a result of female superstars in the media portraying themselves as having a fit and active lifestyle.

EUNJA

PRO ATHLETE

» PHOTOGRAPHY 메모리레인

A U T H O R: MAR I N TE R Z I E V PH O T O S : D E VI A N TA R T

EUNJA

PRO ATHLETE

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etting in shape is now a lot easier, even for those who work odd hours (i.e. most people in the city) due to the growing number of 24hour gyms. Even on my long walks past midnight after work, I often see devoted fitness enthusiasts peddling away on exercise bikes and lifting weights in a brightly-lit gym on an otherwise lifeless street. There are now over 190 Anytime Fitness gyms in Japan which allow late night fitness seekers to come and go at any time of the day or night. Tipness and Fast Gym 24 follow a similar model. For more casual gym goers on a budget, visiting the local city gym is one of the cheapest options, though the times aren’t as convenient. Fortunately for “weekend warriors”, recent studies have shown that working out heavily only on the weekends can be just as beneficial as a workout routine spread throughout the week. Living in Tokyo? The historic Tokyo Metropolitan Gym in Shibuya hosted many events during the 1964 games, so you get to train where inspiring olympic athletes once competed. Facilities are open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, to 10 p.m. on Saturdays, and 9 p.m. on Sundays, and the basic entrance fee for the training room

FITNESS COMPETITIONS YORI takes part in the Japan Open women’s competition So it seems like Japanese people’s ideas of fitness are changing. Have you noticed a difference since you’ve been in Japan? How does the approach to fitness differ from your home country? Lets take for example in Japan they have trains in the early monrings that are “WOMEN ONLY” and now the world is adapting to having more Women only facilities take for example instagram Women-only gyms are on the rise, as fitness enthusiasts have noted. The hashtag #WomensOnlyGym has garnered more than 18 million views on Instagram in the last several months, even though women’s fitness clubs aren’t strictly a new trend. The popularity of women’s gyms is unsurprising, given the prevalence of internet horror stories about creepy gym goers and mansplaining lifters. one social media user @rodriguezxo, she describes being watched

at the gym and confronting a stranger after learning that she had been photographed by another gym goer. The image was found on the person’s phone, it was discovered later. As an illustration, there have been numerous reports in Japan about women working out in the gym only to find that the men using the weight machines were not gentlemanly enough to allow the women who were waiting to use the machines and at some point the women end up giving up and leave the gym for the day. I believe women should have the same rights as men, and there should be restrictions about how long people can use the machines at the gym regardless of gender. Everyone should have the same opportunity to utilize the machines they need for their correct workouts.

THE

FOO’S ARE BACK! I

t feels wonderful for the two and a half hours onstage,” says Dave Grohl. The rest of the day is a bit of a challenge because of all the new norms and constraints. You must exercise extreme caution when traveling through this area. When you’re traveling from one state to the next with a 60-person crew, you do your best to keep inside the boundaries of your band because the wheels could come off at any time. Cross your fingers and hope that we make it to the stage that day when you wake up every day.” We were lucky to complete this final two-week run, but, you know, we played a venue in Albuquerque [the 15,000-capacity Isleta Amphitheater] for the first time in 688 days when they had a performance there. The audience

reflected this as well. When they sung along, you could see they were having a good time. It was clear to see as they danced. Everywhere we go, people are celebrating the comeback of live music by building new places and reopening those that had previously closed. And you could tell that audiences – like us – were severely lacking in access to live performances. This was our first show in two years, and it felt great! “No, not at all. As a band, our primary concern is safety, both for our fans and for our members. As a result, we strictly adhere to these rules. They can be forced on you by yourself or by local or federal governments, and you’re acutely aware that they could all go at any time. You live each day with the hope that we will make it.

“Definitely. This isn’t to say that anybody ever took anything for granted, but after all this time apart, the gratitude is much deeper. Fortunately, we began production on the What Drives Us film before the outbreak, so we put it on hold while the rest of the globe recovered. It’s interesting to note that while interviewing all of these musicians [for the documentary Dave used his extensive network of contacts] — some legendary, others up-andcomers — I focused more on why they do what they do than how they do it. It got me thinking about my own motives and inspirations after talking to so many individuals about it. Our journey has brought us back to the beginning, and that enthusiasm seems fresh. Considering

where we are now, I doubt anyone would object to a tour as long as ours was in 1995, which lasted approximately 2.5 months on the road and a week off. Right now, it seems like everyone is itching to see it. ‘To be honest, we start to warm up around the hour and a half mark. In an ideal world, we’d just keep playing until someone got bored, which is exactly what we do most of the time. Last year, we had planned to commemorate the band’s 25th anniversary, but things didn’t work out. In this way, composing set lists becomes a type of ret-

rospective, commemorating all the many years and eras the band has gone through.” When you try to choose songs from each album to represent the band’s growth, it’s simply fucking... It’s not going to be simple for you. You just keep playing as much as you can till the fucking cops show up!”

You just have to keep playing as much as you can till the fucking cops knock the club down DAVE GROHL