It’s time for another J-Pop Go News Briefing, bringing you some stories, gossip and entertainment from around the web. Click on the links for more details…

  • Japanese Spacerock outfit BO NINGEN appear to be more than a little bit miffed after being unceremoniously dropped from the support slot for Canadian electronic band Crystal Castles. The precise reasons remain obscure and appears to be relegated to a statement that Crystal Castles are simply doing away with support bands altogether. [Bo Ningen Facebook].
  • Technopop trio PERFUME have been selected to perform the theme tune Mirai no Museum for the new Doraemon movie. Doraemon: Nobita no Himitsu Dougu Museum (Doraemon the Movie: Nobita’s Secret Gadget Museum) is due for release in March 2013. The pop outfit announced the news at their recent Singapore show [www.jpopasia.com]
  • PSY has found himself in hot water after details of his appearances at anti-American protests in Korea have leaked. PSY, whose Gangnam Style has chalked up 900 million views on YouTube, was a performer at concerts in 2002 and also 2004 protesting against the US military presence in South Korea. At the 2004 concert he performed the song Dear American (by Korean rock outfit Next) which included lyrics describing killing “Yankees” who had tortured Iraqi prisoners and killing their families “slowly and painfully”. PSY is scheduled to perform at the annual Christmas in Washington TV special in America this year at which President Obama will attend [www.bbc.co.uk].
  • AKB48 have clocked up a Guinness World Record by having the most number of pop singers in a video game. AKB1/149 Renai Sousenkyo is a PSP title which is a dating simulation featuring a total of 149 members of the AKB family. In the game, the player must turn down AKB members who approach them and ultimately choose only one member. “This is a step toward expanding abroad” Mayu Watanabe stated during a press conference for the game, “If you feel lonely this Christmas, please spend it with everyone who appears in the game.” The game is due for release on 20th December in Japan. [www.tokyohive.com]

And that wraps up our J-Pop Go News Briefing for now!