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)
• Nicknames: Ritsu, Ritz
• Birthdate: December 29, 1959
• Date of Death: May 05, 2004 (aged 44)
• Birthplace: Hashima Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
• Blood Type: B
• Height: 158cm

Information

Okazaki Ritsuko started composing music since her school days. In her first year of high school, Okazaki joined a band called, Eleanor (named after the Beatles' song Eleanor Rigby). Okazaki played the keyboard as well as helped write songs and sing the chorus. The had participated in the 31st Popular Song Contest in 1986. Two years later after graduating from school, when she was 23, she decided that she wanted to make music. She started out composing music for commercials. After she became well known she started writing songs for artists. She also composed songs for Yamaha Music.

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 images song. 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 impressed her staff one day when they heard her singing a song she was composing for another artist. They felt that her voice suited the song best and urged that she sing instead. Okazakis major debut in Japan with the release of her first single "Kanashii Jiyuu", and within the same month her first album Sincerely yours,. Her soft vocals and happy lyrics gained her a big fan following.

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.

Okazaki's big break came was when she was hired to compose and sing the theme song for the 2001 anime Fruits Basket. The director wanted her to come up with "a anime theme song no one has ever heard," and she came up with "For Fruits Basket", which claimed an award for the Anime Theme Song category in the 7th Animation Kobe in 2002. Following the success, Okazaki maintained the same singing style when she recorded the theme song for Princess Tutu titled "Morning Grace". In 2002, Okazaki Ritsuko formed the singing and chorus unit melocure with Hinata Megumi.

Among the very last works Okazaki Ritsuko worked on is the game symphonic rain. She wrote and composed all the songs and music for the game, and she also sang the theme songs. Okazaki's 9th album was slated for a June release the same year, but 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

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)

Okazaki Ritsuko in melocure promoting Melodic Hard Cure (2004)

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

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)
• Hanareteite 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)

HI*MA*WA*RI

• Choukyori Denwa (長距離電話) (lyrics)

Hidaka Noriko

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

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

Inoue Kikuko

• Douzo Yoroshiku ne. (どうぞよろしくね。) (lyrics & music)
• Kimi no Uta (きみのうた) (lyrics & music)
• Kotae wa Koko ni (答えはここに) (lyrics & music)
• Shiawase no Waltz (しあわせのワルツ) (lyrics & music)
• Ashita wa Ashita (明日は明日) (lyrics & music)
• Mizuumi (みずうみ) (lyrics & arrangement)
• Douzo Yoroshiku ne. (どうぞよろしくね) (lyrics & music)
• Kotae wa Koko ni (春のぽかぽか) (lyrics & music)
• Shall we step in the rain? (lyrics & music)
• Haru (春) (lyrics & music & arrangement)
• Ichimiri no Shinpai mo... (1mmの心配も…) (lyrics & music)

Komori Manami

• Dabadaba Fallin' Love (lyrics & music)
• Marine Marine Marine (マリン・マリン・マリン) (music)
• Heart Beat (music)
• Kanashii Usagi (かなしい　うさぎ ) (music)
• Sugao no Alice (素顔のアリス) (music)
• Orion no Shita de Aimashou (オリオンの下で逢いましょう) (music)
• Oyasumi Baby (おやすみBaby) (music)
• Noel (music)
• Kimi ni Aete Boku wa Boku ni Naru (君に逢えてボクはボクになる) (music)
• Holy Eyes -Kimi no Yume wa Boku no Yume- (Holy Eyes -あなたの夢は私の夢です-) (music)
• Little Courage (music)
• Sangatsu Hakusho (三月白書) (music)
• Presage (music)
• Sakura no Shita de (桜の下で) (music)

Machiko Toyoshima

• Kaze no Mieru hi (風の見える日) (lyrics & music)

melocure

• Itoshii Kakera (愛しいかけら) (lyrics & music)
• Agape (lyrics & music)
• So far, so near (lyrics & music)
• Meguriai (めぐり逢い) (lyrics & music)
• ALL IN ALL (lyrics & music)
• Pop Step Jump! (lyrics & music)
• Kogarashi no Hodo wo Hana no Saku Haru wo (木枯らしの舗道を 花の咲く春を) (lyrics & music)
• Sunday Sundae (lyrics & music)
• Shiawase (しあわせ) (lyrics & music)
• Agape (Mizu no Wakusei Ver.) (Agape (水の惑星Ver.)) (lyrics & music)

Ogata Megumi

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

Yamato Nadeshiko

• Merry Merrily (lyrics & music)

Yukino Satsuki

• Nante Suteki na (なんてステキな) (lyrics & music)

External Links

• Okazaki Guest Book
• Starchild Profile
• Ritzstar
• Ritz Collection
• Ritzstar
• WHISPERS of the SKY... (outdated)
• Japanese Wikipedia: 岡崎律子