Okazaki Ritsuko

Okazaki Ritsuko (2004)

Okazaki Ritsuko (岡崎律子) was a Japanese pop singer-songwriter and well known composer who was under the Universal Music sub label PloyGram. She was well known for her soft vocals and happy lyrics.

After surviving stomach cancer in 2003, Okazaki later died on May 5th 2004 at the age of 44 due to septic shock.

Profile

• Name: Okazaki Ritsuko (岡崎律子)
• Birthdate: December 29, 1959
• Date of Death: May 05, 2004 (aged 44)
• Birthplace: Hashima Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
• Blood Type: B

Information

Okazaki Ritsuko first starting playing music when she was a teenager. During her freshmen year of high school she started a band with with fellow classmate called, Eleanor. Her role in the band was composer and keyboardist. Okazaki first entered the mainstream music in 1993 with her debut single, "Kanashii Jiyuu", which was released under the PloyGram record label.

Okazaki Ritsuko promoting Sincerely yours (1993)

Okazaki Ritsuko promoting Joyful Calendar (1994)

Okazaki Ritsuko promoting A Happy Life (1996)

Okazaki Ritsuko promoting Ritzberry Fields (1997)

Okazaki Ritsuko promoting Ohayou (1998)

Okazaki Ritsuko promoting Love Hina OKAZAKI COLLECTION (2001)

Okazaki Ritsuko promoting life is lovely. (2003)

During the early 1990s Okazaki started composing tracks for anime series. One of the first series she worked on was Mahou no Princess Micky Momo, where she contributed the images songs "Promise" and "Fuyu no Nai Karundaa". She also composed the music for a couple song that where sung by the series lead seiyuu, Hayashibara Megumi, including the opening and ending theme songs. Okazaki went on through the 1990s contributing songs to a variety of different animes.

Okazaki's next big work came in 2000 when she was asked to become the musical director for the Love Hina anime. The series became really popular and launched many musical CDs which featured her compositions. For the series she worked with Hayashibara Megumi and up-and-coming seiyuu, Horie Yui whom was playing her first major role. Okazaki later worked Horie, writing and composing songs for her solo career. After the anime ended Okazaki released, Love Hina OKAZAKI COLLECTION, which was a self-cover album of her songs, which were previously sung by the anime's seiyuus.

Not long after the end of Love Hina, Okazaki became the musical director for the Fruits Basket anime. Once again she worked with Horie Yui, whom once again was voicing the leading role. Aside from her compositions that were used in the series, she also sang the opening and closing themes herself.

In 2002, Okazaki teamed up with fellow singer-songwriter and anison composer, Hinata Megumi to form the group melocure. The group released several singles, all of which were used as theme songs to anime such as Ultramaiden Valkyrie and Stratos 4.

Unfortunately, Okazaki was diaognosed with stomach cancer in 2003. As she was overcoming it she came down with septicemia. From this she went into septic shock and died on May 5th 2004. She was unable to speak any last words.

Discography

Studio Albums

• [1993.03.24] Sincerely yours
• [1994.03.23] Joyful Calendar
• [1998.11.06] Ohayou (おはよう; Good Morning)
• [2003.02.05] life is lovely.
• [2004.12.29] For RITZ

Other Albums

• [1996.05.25] A Happy Life (Mini-Album)
• [1997.08.21] Ritzberry Fields (Self Cover Album)
• [1997.10.25] Rain or Shine (Best Album)
• [2001.12.16] Love Hina OKAZAKI COLLECTION (Love Hina Self Cover Album)
• [2005.05.05] Love & Life ~private works 1999-2001~ (Fanclub Collection)

Singles

• [1993.03.03] Kanashii Jiyuu (悲しい自由; Sad Freedom)
• [1994.03.24] Saiai (最愛; Beloved)
• [1994.09.16] Choukyori Denwa (長距離電話; Long Distance Call)
• [1996.01.25] Regret ~Koibito Nara~ (リグレット ~恋人なら~; If It Were My Lover)
• [1996.08.25] A Happy Life
• [1997.10.25] Rain or Shine ~Futte mo Harete mo~ (Rain or Shine ~降っても晴れても~; Even If It Rains or Shines)
• [1999.12.08] L'aquoiboniste ~Muzousa Shinshi~ (L'aquoiboniste ~無造作紳士~; Casual Gentleman)
• [2001.07.25] For Fruits Basket (For フルーツバスケット)
• [2002.10.23] Morning Grace

Other

• [1991.11.21] Ichigatsu ni wa Christmas: Original Soundtrack (#1 Yoake no Aoi Sofa, #14 Fuyu no Nai Calendar)
• [1992.05.02] Yuki Ga Yandara... (#1 Shigatsu no Yuki, #6 Ma Memire ~Sayonara wa Mada Ienai~, #9 Shigatsu no Yuki (a capella ending version))
• [1994.05.25] Tabidachi no Eki (#7 Yakusoku, #13 Ma Memire ~Sayonara wa Mada Ienai~))
• [1998.07.24] Rebis - C.T.i.A O.S.T (#17 Cynthia. Aisuru Hito)
• [2001.03.16] Love Hina Vocal Best (#14 Hajimari wa Koko Kara)
• [2001.10.30] Fruits Basket -Four Seasons- (#2 Chiisa na Inori, #4 Serenade, #6 Aisubeki Ashita (Fruits Basket Version), #10 For Fruits Basket)
• [2001.12.05] FRUITS BASKET Original Soundtrack Memory for you (#1 For Fruits Basket (On Air Ver.), #28 Chiisa na Inori (On Air Ver.))
• [2003.06.25] B Part Soundtrack CD (#1 A Girl in Love)
• [2003.08.27] Starchild Premium Memories (#6 Shigatsu no Yuki)
• [2004.03.03] Kizukeba Ongaku Kiiteita (#17 a peace of mind)
• [2004.03.03] Jubei-chan 2 (#17 Asa ~What's goin' on~)
• [2012.11.07] Sukitte Iinayo Vol.1 (#1 Friendship ~For Sukitte Iinayo~)

Composed Works

Note: added by date Currently Adding

Hayashibara Megumi

• Dabadaba Fallin' Love (lyrics & music)
• 4 Gatsu no Yuki <MOMO Version> (4月の雪) (lyrics & music)
• Yume wo Dakishimete (music)
• Suki Yori Daisuki Minky Smile (好きより大好きミンキースマイル!) (music)
• Yakusoku (lyrics & music)
• Ma Memoire ~Sayonara wa Mada Ienai~ (lyrics & music)
• Yumemiru Heart (夢みるハート) (lyrics)
• -Life- (lyrics & music)
• Bon Voyage! (lyrics & music)
• Sunao na Kimochi (素直な気持ち) (lyrics & music)
• Hanarete Ite mo (はなれていても) (lyrics & music)
• Good Luck! (lyrics & music)
• Ano Koro (あの頃) (music)
• Hikkoshi (引っ越し) (lyrics & music)
• Sakura Saku (lyrics & music)
• Kimi Sae Ireba (君さえいれば) (lyrics & music)
• Hajimari wa Koko Kara (はじまりはここから) (lyrics & music)
• Cynthia Aisuru Hito (シンシア・愛する人) (lyrics & music)
• Kimi Sae Ireba (君さえいれば) (lyrics & music)

Hidaka Noriko

• Hitori Dewa nai (ひとりではない) (lyrics & music)
• Power of love (lyrics)

HI*MA*WA*RI

• Choukyori Denwa (長距離電話) (lyrics)

Horie Yui

• Haru da Mono! -Naru Version- (春だもの! -なるVersion-) (lyrics & music)
• For Fruits Basket (For フルーツバスケット) (lyrics & music)
• Chisa na Inori (小さな祈り) (lyrics & music)
• Sakura Saku -Ho? version- (サクラサク -ほっ? version-) (lyrics & music)
• Itsumademo♡Dokomademo -Ho? version- (イツマデモ♡ドコマデモ -ほっ? version-) (lyrics & music)
• Romantic Flight (lyrics & music)
• Angel Koi wo Shita (Angel 恋をした) (lyrics & music)
• Kokoro Harete yo mo Akete (心晴れてよも明けて) (lyrics & music)
• Clover (クローバー) (lyrics & music)
• A Girl in Love (lyrics & music)
• Egao no Rensa (笑顔の連鎖) (lyrics & music)
• CocoLo Harete Yo mo Akete (心晴れて 夜も明けて) (lyrics & music)

Iizuka Mayumi

• Hoshizora ni Oinori (星空にお祈り) (lyrics & music)
• Itsumo Kimi wo Mitsumeteru (いつ君をみつめてる) (lyrics & music)
• Kouen Doori (公園通り) (lyrics & music)
• Kuchibue de Lu La La (口笛でル・ラ・ラ) (lyrics & music)
• Shoshuu (初秋) (lyrics & music)

Inoue Kikuko

• Douzo Yoroshiku ne. (どうぞよろしくね。) (lyrics & music)
• Shall we dance in the rain? (lyrics & music)
• Haru (春) (lyrics & music)
• 1mm no Shinpai mo (1mmの心配も…) (lyrics & music)
• Kimi no Uta (きみのうた) (lyrics & music; duet with Kyoudou Sakushi)

Ogata Megumi

• Tada Ashita no Tame ni (ただ明日のために)
• Can you hear me?

Yamato Nadeshiko

• Merry Merrily

External Links

• Okazaki Guest Book
• Starchild Profile
• Ritzstar
• Ritz Collection
• cdJapan Tribute Page
• Japanese Wikipedia: 岡崎律子