Los Angeles, CA (Vocus/PRWEB) February 23, 2011
Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd. has announced the release of the “Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger” theme song, set for March 2, 2011, in addition to the start of overseas distribution of the “Super Sentai Theme Song Series,” which comprises six of current total of 35 “Super Sentai Series” theme songs, available exclusively on iTunes beginning March 9th, 2011.
Much of Nippon’s children’s oriented content, including the Sentai Series, are being illegally downloaded in Japan, overseas, and by users of free internet-based video sharing services. Aware of this problem, and with the cooperation and understanding of Toei Co., Ltd., Nippon has decided to digitally distribute the content worldwide, beginning with the “Super Sentai Series” theme songs, as there is a high level of demand overseas.
Up until now, the “Super Sentai Series” has only been available for mobile phone use in Japan. But with the start of distribution in 19 countries including Japan via the iTunes store, Nippon is finally able to deliver a unique strand of pop culture to the rest of the World. The series is a truly “cool” product that the Japanese can take pride in, especially the tokusatsu (special effects) song which is representative of “otaku” content.
A week after the release of the “Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger” theme song album, Nippon will begin releasing all six titles, namely “Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger,” “Tensou Sentai Goseiger,” “Samurai Sentai Shinkenger,” “Engine Sentai Go-onger,” “Juken Sentai Gekiranger” and “Gogo Sentai Boukenger.” NIppon is also planning to make all 35 titles available for overseas distribution by mid-April, and will increase the range of titles in the future as needed.
What came to be known as the “Super Sentai Series,” began with Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, a superhero TV series produced in response to the popularity of the earlier “Kamen Rider” and initially broadcast for two years starting in 1975. Since Gorenger, the “Super Sentai Series” has basically consisted of a new series produced and broadcast each year. These various series all have two main points in common. Firstly, in each series there are several heroes who fight together against enemies, and secondly, each of the fighters in a given series is distinguished by their own unique costume color. This flexibility allows for many heroes to appear. The 35th and latest “Super Sentai Series,” “Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger,” launched in Japan on February 13, 2011.
The theme song series will be available in the following countries: Japan, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, France, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, The Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, Italy and Mexico.
About “Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger”
Opening Theme: Singer, Tsuyoshi Matsubara of Project.R made his CD debut in 1999 on “Ultraman Best Hit Medley!” While continuing his activities as a core member of Project DMM, the musical group that mainly performs theme songs for the Ultra Series of superhero programs, he branched out into musical, beginning with the Japanese production of “Mozart.” Since then, he has appeared in numerous Japaese music productions, including “Boy from Oz,” “The Producers,” “FAME,” “Titanic,” “Les Miserables,” etc.
In March 2011, he played Lucien in the Japanese production of the musical “Marguerite,” and he is scheduled to appear in August 2011 in a stage production of “Dracula.” Since 2009, he has also been active as a member of Project.R. In singing the opening theme for “Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger,” he has fulfilled a long-standing dream of performing for the first time as a lead vocalist on a Super Sentai Series theme song.
About the Ending Theme “Super Sentai Hero Getter”: Singers Project.R.
Project.R. was started in 2008 by Takayoshi Tanimoto, Sister MAYO and Kenishiro Oishi, who sung the ending theme from “Engine Sentai Go-onger,” “Engine Fist Rap – The Normal.” Since then, they have been established under the name Project.R as the official musical ensemble performing on the soundtracks of the “Super Sentai Series.” Participating members include Psychic Lover, Takahashi Tanimoto, Sister MAYO, Takafumi Iwasaki, Hideyuki Takahashi, Hideaki Takatori, NoB, Mayumi Gojo, Kenichiro Oishi, Megumi Ohashi, Mike Sugiyama, Hiro Kagoshima, Tsuoshi Matsubara, Hiroshi Takaki, Kazunori Miyake, Saki Oshitani, etc.
Also, the final “R” in Project.R stands for “Ranger.” The time’s ending theme is a huge ensemble song in which all the singing members of the group join in.
For more information, please contact: Heather Noonan / BFM Digital at pr(at)bfmdigital(dot)com or 818-762-0191.
Or
Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd. Ms. Tomoko Isawa, Chief Staff, PR/ER Group, Corporate Planning & Communication Dept. at isawa_tomoko(at)Columbia(dot)co(dot)jp
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