ISSUE: Spring 2012
DEPT: Personalities
STORY: Courtney Hong
Get ready, America. Japanese superstar Jin Akanishi is set to take over with his U.S. debut album, Japonicana.
Singer, songwriter, producer and actor Jin Akanishi is remarkably focused. The 27-year-old groundbreaking artist has been working hard (often with no time to eat) on his highly anticipated U.S. debut album, Japonica (a reference to the great influence that Japan, the U.S. and Spain have had on the singer), which drops March 6. Akanishi describes the album as one that “has no boundaries … a collection of music and sounds that I love,” including club, dance and pop. It’s a project that “really allows me to be creative and true to myself.”
Akanishi, who grew up in Japan, is used to crossing boundaries. He was the lead vocalist for the Japanese boy band KAT-TUN, which had multiple number one hits on the Japanese national charts and became the first group to ever perform 10 consecutive days at one of Japan’s most notable venues. But Akanishi stepped into unknown territory when he left KAT- TUN to pursue a solo career, without a record company’s support, in order to fully utilize his creativity.
So far, Akanishi’s risk-taking has paid off, with the release of his number one iTunes single, “Test Drive” featuring Jason Derulo, and a deal with Warner Music Group. After a number of solo shows in Japan, he toured the U.S. in 2010, performing at sold-out, 2,000-plus seat venues. “It was an amazing experience,” says Akanishi. “It was the first time I did anything like that in the U.S.”
Akanishi returns to the U.S. with a five-city tour starting March 9, and will be making his big screen debut as a wandering samurai alongside Keanu Reeves in the period film, 47 Ronin, opening on February 8, 2013. Though he’s newly married, expect to see a lot more of the superstar. “L.A. has become a home away from home,” he says. Lucky us!
–Courtney Hong
We know you love yourself some Jin Akanishi, so pick up Audrey’s Spring 2012 issue with our exclusive interview with him. Also catch him live for his U.S. album, Japonicana, debut and Five City Concert Tour.
WHEN:
Fri. March 9 – Los Angeles- Club Nokia
Sat. March 10 – Vancouver – Centre for Performing Arts
Mon. March 12 – Honolulu – Hawaii Theatre
Thurs. March 15 – New York – Best Buy Theatre
Sat. March 17 – *Venue Change*- San Francisco – The Regency Ballroom
INFO: Please visit www.jinakanishiusa.com for more concert tour information.
Actress Hannah Simone blows us away on the Spring cover of Audrey Magazine!
Dressed in an orange and cream Max Mara halter dress and shot in-studio by Diana King, Hannah (New Girl) is the epitome of a Spring wildflower.
The TV starlet is not the only thing that pops in our latest issue. We also chat with modern moms, paranormal romance author Marjorie M. Liu, Jpop prince Jin Akanishi, promote pretty pastel fashions, and dabble in the art of bromance.
So don’t delay! Order your copy of Audrey Magazine online today!
This Week’s Happenings 1.6-1.16
Happy 2012! Let’s start the year off with a live streaming of #1 iTunes pop artist Jin Akanishi’s special fan event at The Grammy Museum, LA film screenings, and the Rob television series premiere.
Jin Akanishi’s fan appreciation event at Japan’s Yokohama Arena will stream live at The Grammy Museum
Image courtesy of PLAN C Agency
After seeing the amazing line-up for Kollaboration 11 you know you just had to go! Well you might be able to for FREE! Audrey Magazine is hosting a ticket giveaway for this Saturday’s Kollaboration 11 at the Nokia Theatre at LA Live.
Doesn’t this look so exciting?
We have our hands on ONE (1) pair of Premium Orchestra and ONE (1) pair of Loge/Mezzanine tickets for two lucky Audrey readers!
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Japanese pop idol Jin Akanishi, the lead singer for the hot Japanese pop group KAT-TUN, is coming to Los Angeles for his American debut solo concert!
Japanese pop idol Jin Akanishi.
That’s right! Akanishi will be giving three performances only on June 19 (6 pm) and 20 (1 pm and 6 pm) at Club Nokia in Los Angeles!
If you don’t know Jin Akanishi, now’s the time to hone up on this Japanese phenom. Akanishi is the lead singer of J-pop superband KAT-TUN, which has had a total of 14 consecutive chart-toppers and has sold 5.2 million CDs. Last year, tickets went on sale for KAT-TUN’s eight consecutive shows at Japan’s largest venue, the Tokyo Dome, along with follow up shows in Osaka and again in Tokyo. All 440,000 seats sold out in one day.
Akanishi then went on to perform 32 shows of his solo tour, You and Jin, this past February in Japan. The event was such a success, Akanishi is now bringing his Vegas-style extravaganza to L.A.
“I’m thrilled to bring this show to my fans in the U.S. I believe we will broaden our fan base and reach by performing Japanese and English songs that appeal to a wider audience. We have worked hard to produce a high-quality, high-energy, visually stimulating show and I am certain our American fans will enjoy every minute of it,” said Akanishi.
Tickets are on sale now at Ticketmaster and All American Tickets (in Japanese only).
For more concert information, check out Jin Akanishi’s website.
