Aiko (singer)

Aiko
Native name 柳井愛子
Born Aiko Yanai[1]
(1975-11-22) November 22, 1975
Suita, Osaka, Japan[2]
Occupation
Years active 1998–present
Musical career
Genres Pop
Instruments Vocals
Labels Pony Canyon
Website aiko.com

Aiko Yanai (柳井愛子, Yanai Aiko, born November 22, 1975), known by her stage name Aiko, (stylized as aiko) is a Japanese pop singer and songwriter.

Music career

In April, 1996, Aiko became a radio host of FM Osaka after graduating from college. She released a CD which she produced independently with her friends of college in August. She participated in "The 5th Music Quest Japan Final" on October 10, and was awarded the Excellence Award shared with Ringo Shiina.[3] She released an EP on an independent label in 1997, followed by a single and a mini-album in 1998.

In July, 1998, Aiko debuted on a major label with her first single, "Ashita", which was used as the theme song for the movie Shinsei Toire no Hanako-san.

In 2000, her second album, Sakura no Ki no Shita, reached number one in the Oricon weekly charts, with the total CD sales amounting to 1.4 million copies. Her sixth single, "Boyfriend", sold over 500,000 copies and became her best-selling CD single. She made her first appearance in NHK's 2000 Kohaku Uta Gassen.

Discography

  • Chiisana Marui Kōjitsu (1999)
  • Sakura no Ki no Shita (2000)
  • Natsufuku (2001)
  • Aki Soba ni Iru yo (2002)
  • Akatsuki no Love Letter (2003)
  • Yume no Naka no Massugu na Michi (2005)
  • Kanojo (2006)
  • Himitsu (2008)
  • Baby (2010)
  • Toki no Silhouette (2012)
  • Awa no Yō na Ai datta (2014)
  • May Dream (2016)
  • Shimetta Natsu no Hajimari (2018)

Performances

Tours

  • "Love Like Pop" (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) Love Like (愛好, Aiko, love-like)
  • College musical festivals (1999, 2003; 7 places in all)
  • "Baby Peenats Meeting" (2001, 2004; fan club members only)
  • "Love Like Rock" (2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2017 (fan club members only), 2009; no-seat concerts, 2011, 2013, 2015 at Zepp Tokyo)
  • "Love Like Aloha" (Summer 2003, at Katase beach, Enoshima; Summer 2006 and 2008, at Southern Beach, Chigasaki, 2012 and 2015)

Appearances

Shorts

Radio

Aiko has presented several regular radio programs, including local radio programmes in the Kansai area before she achieved widespread fame in July 1998.

  • Count Down Kansai Top40 (FM Osaka, April 1996 – December 2001)
  • Poppun Kingdom (MBS, April 1997 – ?)
  • Young Town Music Max (MBS, October 1997 – September 1999)
  • Baby Peanuts (FM Osaka, October 1998 – ?)
  • Aiko's @llnightnippon.com (NBS, November 1999 – March 2003), containing the popular musical feature Sing! Aiko.

Works

Books

  • "Aiko Bon" (2005) was the first official book about Aiko. The book contains her autobiography (in an interview style), photos, feature articles from monthly magazine GbMusicnet and liner notes by herself.[4]

Awards

Year Type Title
1996 Music Quest Japan Final Excellence Prize – Himawari ni Nattara
2000 Teen's Music Festival Final Teen's Grand Prize – Aitsu o Furimukaseru Hoho
Saku ya Kono Hana Award, Music (Osaka city) * This award is given to a person or an organisation who contributes to a promotion of Osaka culture.
2002 Metropolitan Action on Smoking or Health Stop-smoking Grand Prize
The Japan Gold Disc Award Rock Album of the Year – Natsufuku
2004 The Japan Gold Disc Award Rock & Pop Album of the Year – Akatsuki no Love Letter

References

  1. ↑ "Aiko". MTV.com. March 31, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Biography" (in Japanese). Pony Canyon. Archived from the original on 24 July 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
  3. ↑ YAMAHA MUSIC FOUNDATION. "The 5th MUSIC QUEST JAPAN FINAL". Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  4. ↑ "「キャッチ本゛」閉店のお知らせ - M-ON! BOOKS - エムオン・エンタテインメント". 「キャッチ本゛」閉店のお知らせ - M-ON! BOOKS - エムオン・エンタテインメント. Archived from the original on 14 March 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
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