Aiko (singer)

Aiko
Native name	aiko
Born	Aiko Yanai[1] November 22, 1975 Suita, Osaka, Japan[2]
Occupation	Singer songwriter
Years active	1998–present
Website	aiko.com
Musical career
Genres	Pop
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Pony Canyon

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 the college. She released a CD which she produced independently with her friends of the 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

Singles

Release date	Title	Peak chart position
July 17, 1998	Ashita (あした)	89
March 3, 1999	Naki Mushi (ナキ・ムシ)	26
August 4, 1999	Hanabi (花火)	10
November 17, 1999	Kabutomushi (カブトムシ)	8
February 17, 2000	Sakura no Toki (桜の時)	12
September 20, 2000	Boy Friend (ボーイフレンド)	2
February 21, 2001	Hatsukoi (初恋)	3
May 30, 2001	Rosie (ロージー)	2
November 21, 2001	Oyasuminasai (おやすみなさい)	2
April 24, 2002	Anata to Akushu (あなたと握手)	6
August 14, 2002	Kondo Made ni wa (今度までには)	3
April 23, 2003	Chōchō Musubi (蝶々結び)	4
August 6, 2003	Andromeda (アンドロメダ)	3
November 6, 2003	Eriashi (えりあし)	5
April 28, 2004	Kaban (かばん)	3
September 1, 2004	Hana Kaze (花風)	2
February 16, 2005	Mikuni Eki (三国駅)	2
August 3, 2005	Kira Kira (キラキラ)	2
November 30, 2005	Star (スター)	4
July 12, 2006	Kumo wa Shiro Ringo wa Aka (雲は白リンゴは赤)	3
May 30, 2007	Shiawase (シアワセ)	2
August 22, 2007	Hoshi no Nai Sekai / Yokogao (星のない世界／横顔)	2
March 12, 2008	Futari (二人)	3
July 23, 2008	KissHug	2
February 18, 2009	Milk / Nageki no Kiss (milk／嘆きのキス)	1
February 3, 2010	Modorenai Ashita (戻れない明日)	1
April 21, 2010	Mukai Awase (向かいあわせ)	2
May 11, 2011	Koi no Super Ball / Home (恋のスーパーボール／ホーム)	4
November 23, 2011	Zutto (ずっと)	4
July 17, 2013	Love letter / Shigatsu no Ame (Love letter／4月の雨)	2
January 29, 2014	Kimi no Tonari (君の隣)	5
November 12, 2014	Atashi no Mukou (あたしの向こう)	4
April 29, 2015	Yumemiru Sukima (夢見る隙間)	7
November 18, 2015	Puramai (プラマイ)	5
March 9, 2016	Motto (もっと)	3
September 21, 2016	Koi wo shita no wa (恋をしたのは)	3

Albums

Studio albums

Release date	Title	Peak chart position
April 21, 1999	Chiisana Marui Kōjitsu (小さな丸い好日)	24
March 1, 2000	Sakura no Ki no Shita (桜の木の下)	1
June 20, 2001	Natsufuku (夏服)	1
September 4, 2002	Aki Soba ni Iru yo (秋 そばにいるよ)	2
November 27, 2003	Akatsuki no Love Letter (暁のラブレター)	1
March 2, 2005	Yume no Naka no Massugu na Michi (夢の中のまっすぐな道)	1
August 23, 2006	Kanojo (彼女)	1
April 2, 2008	Himitsu (秘密)	2
March 31, 2010	Baby	1
June 20, 2012	Toki no Silhouette (時のシルエット)	1
May 28, 2014	Awa no Yō na Ai datta (泡のような愛だった)	1
May 18, 2016	May Dream	1

Compilation albums

Release date	Title	Peak chart position
February 23, 2011	Matome I (まとめI)	2
	Matome II (まとめII)	3

Independent works

Release date	Title	Notes
August 1996	Doty Omnibus CD Vol.1 (ドーテイオムニバスCD Vol.1)	Various artists album (participated in 3 songs)
December 20, 1997	Astral Box	Mini album
April 21, 1998	Hachimitsu (ハチミツ)	CD single
May 30, 1998	Girlie	Mini album

Performances

Tours

• "Love Like Pop" (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) 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 (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

• Japanese manga artist Yukari Ichijo based the character "Eiko", in Pride (2002-2010) on Aiko, and Aiko has several times expressed admiration for Ichijo.
• Aiko also sang the insert song "KissHug" for the movie Hana Yori Dango Final which premiered on June 28, 2008 and "Mukai Awase" for the 2010 comedy film My Darling is a Foreigner.

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. Retrieved 29 December 2014.

External links

• Official website (Japanese)
• (Oricon top 20,000 subscribers' 2005) (Japanese): '05好きなアーティストランキング – Oricon Style ミュージック & 06'好きなアーティストランキング『音楽ファン2万人に聞いた好きなアーティストとは？！』-Oricon Style ミュージック.