Fukui Mai

Fukui Mai promoting "Break Away" (2015)

Fukui Mai (ふくい舞) is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter under J-more, sub-label of avex trax. She debuted in 2008 with the ballad "Ai no Uta", which was used as the theme song for the drama Koizora. On September 15, 2011 at the 2011 Tokyo Game show, Fukui was announced to sing FINAL FANTASY XIII-2's theme song for the PlayStation 3, titled, "Yakusoku no Bashou".

Profile

• Name: Fukui Mai (ふくい舞, 福井舞)
• Birthdate: December 17, 1984 (1984-12-17)
• Birthplace: Kyoto, Japan
• Blood Type: A
• Favorite Artists: Hanson, Alanis Morissette, P!nk, Nelly Furtado, Natasha Bedingfield, Eminem, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Skylar Grey, Avril Lavigne, Ashanti, Rihanna, Beyonce, Adele, Shakira, Michelle Branch, Utada Hikaru

Information

Fukui Mai promoting MY SONG FOR YOU (2009)

Fukui Mai promoting Lucky Charm (2010)

Fukui Mai promoting "Yakusoku no Bashou / Tatta Hitori no Mikata " (2011)

Early Life

Fukui became interested in music in 8th grade when she heard a Hanson album. Toward the end of junior high, Fukui formed a band with her friends and was in charge of drums. When she was in the university, at the age 18, she aspired to become a professional singer and become the vocalist of a new band, and started writing her own lyrics aswell. Her first written song, "Lucky", was later released as her second single. Unable to focus on her studies because her musical aspirations, she drop out of college. In 2004 Fukui become the vocalist of a indies local band in Kyoto, POPLAR. After releasing two albums with the band, Fukui left to become a solo artist in 2006.

Debut with Ai no Uta

In 2007 she sent out her first demo tape, catching the attention of avex and her current management agency. She moved to Tokyo in February, and three months later TBS offered her the chance to sing for Koizora, TBS's highly anticipated drama series of 2008. The song, a ballad titled "Ai no Uta", was released as her debut single.

On March 3, 2009, Fukui released her debut album, MY SONG FOR YOU, which featured all her single releases. And in late July 28, 2010, she released her second album, Lucky Charm.

Ikutabi no Sakura, 44th Nippon Yusen Award, Yakusoku no Basho and Beautiful Days

In 2011, she changed her stage name from 福井舞 (Fukui Mai) to ふくい舞 (Fukui Mai).

Fukui released her fourth single, "Ikutabi no Sakura", on February 2, 2011. The title track was used as the theme song for the drama Onmitsu Happyaku Yachou. The single reached #35 on Oricon charts, and charted for 14 weeks.

On September 15, 2011 at the 2011 Tokyo Game show, Fukui was announced to sing FINAL FANTASY XIII-2's theme song for the PlayStation 3, titled, "Yakusoku no Bashou". The sixth single was a double A-side release with "Tatta Hitori no Mikata" being used for the drama Hanayome Noren. It released on November 23, 2011 reaching #26 on the Oricon charts and selling 6,615 copies in the first week.

On December 10, 2011, Fukui won the grand prize at the 44th Nippon Yusen Award, she was award for her hit songs and being a highly requested artist among the general public.

Fukui released her first mini-album, Beautiful Days (third album overall), on December 14, 2011 and she appeared at the FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 launch event, performing, "Yakusoku no Bashou". With the release of her new mini-album, it peaked at #8 on the daily Oricon charts and by the end of the week it reached #11, selling 9,157 copies. It is her first highest week rank and sales.

Discography

Studio Albums

• [2009.03.04] MY SONG FOR YOU
• [2010.07.28] Lucky Charm
• [2015.10.16] Break Away

Mini-Albums

• [2011.12.14] Beautiful Days

Split Albums

• [2014.08.13] Another Me (Fukui Mai x Aimer)

Singles

• [2008.08.20] Ai no Uta (アイのうた; Love Song)
• [2008.11.19] Lucky
• [2009.02.04] Can Can / Promise You
• [2011.02.02] Ikutabi no Sakura (いくたびの櫻)
• [2011.06.15] Ikutabi no Sakura Special Edition ~PRAY FOR ETERNAL LIFE~ (いくたびの櫻)
• [2011.11.23] Yakusoku no Bashou / Tatta Hitori no Mikata (約束の場所 / たったひとりの味方)
• [2014.08.22] Going My Way (ゴーイングマイウェイ)

Rental Singles

• [2010.06.23] Ashita wa Good Day / Ai no Uta 2010 (明日はグッデイ/アイのうた 2010)

Digital Singles

• [2008.12.17] Ai no Uta (Winter Mix) (アイのうた; Love Song)
• [2009.07.29] You are everything (Fukui Mai + PHATE)
• [2010.01.01] Kibou no Uta (希望のうた; Song of Hope)

Compilations / Other

• [2009.01.28] Disney's Dream Pop TRIBUTE TO TOKYO DISNEY RESORT® 25TH ANNIVERSARY (#7 "A Whole New World (Atarashii Sekai)")
• [2010.03.10] LOVE NATION ~gift for the children~ (#4 "Ai no Uta")
• [2012.09.19] Lisa Halim - 10 stories Love Song ~Featuring Best~ (#6 "Anata no Sora" feat. Fukui Mai)
• [2015.12.16] Beat Buddy Boi - JUICEBOX (#5 "DEPARTURES" feat. Fukui Mai)

Awards

• [2008] Nominated for Best New Artist at the 50th Japan Record Awards (Ai no Uta)
• [2011] Grand Prize Winner at the 44th Nippon Yusen Award (Ikutabi no Sakura)

External Links

• Official Website
• Official Blog
• Official Twitter
• Official MySpace
• Official Facebook