ZARD

ZARD was a Japanese pop group under B-Gram RECORDS. Around the release of their third album, HOLD ME, all the band members had left except Sakai Izumi. ZARD then became the solo project of Izumi, writting all the music and lyrics herself. According to an episode of Music Station in 2005, ZARD has sold a combined total of 35,450,000 copies, making her the #8 best selling artist in Japan.

Profile

ZARD promoting HOLD ME

• Stage Name: Sakai Izumi (坂井泉水)
• Birth Name: Kamachi Sachiko (蒲池幸子)
• Birthday: February 6, 1967
• Birth Place: Kurume, Kyushu, Japan
• Height: 165cm
• Blood Type: A
• Family: Parents, older brother, younger sister
• Things that she likes: Swimming, reading, watching people, sports, drawing, to be photographed, to buy shirts and go out at night
• Disliked things: Sashimi, high-heeled shoes, western-styled houses, glue used for shoes, rude people, waking up at morning and red things

Information

ZARD promoting forever you

ZARD was a highly renowned group in Japan, having produced some very popular songs since their debut in 1991. Their debut single Good-bye My Loneliness broke into the top 10 on the singles charts on Oricon, securing #9. Their next major hit came in January of 1993 when their 6th single, Makenaide, brought ZARD to the top at #1 and has since sold over 1.5 million copies. Around this time, ZARD became the solo project of lead singer and song writer Sakai Izumi. This quickly earned ZARD recognition at the Japan Golden Disc Awards of 1994. Another note is that ZARD's vocalist personally wrote the lyrics to every single song she sang except for a little few. ZARD has also performed several songs that have been chosen as Japanese animation themes such as Meitantei Conan, Dragon Ball GT, and Slam Dunk. Since their debut, ZARD released 42 singles and 17 albums in total. Sakai Izumi's vocals are considered by many critics a high point of ZARD's music, which revolve around ballads.

Sakai was diagnosed with cervical cancer in June 2006; the cancer went into remission, but despite this onset, on April of 2007, the cancer was on the move again. On the 26th of May, while being treated for this cancer, Sakai fell three meters from a hospital staircase while returning to her room from a routine walk around the hospital. She was found at 5:40am. She suffered severe trauma to the back of her head (brain contusion), and on 3:10pm she died due to the cerebral contusion. The slippery surface of the staircase due to rain the previous day was blamed for her fall. Some rumors about suicide were being considered, but in the end probably discarded.

On June 27th 2007, a memorial funeral was held at Aoyama Cemetery.

Discography

Albums

ZARD promoting Tomatteita Tokei ga Ima Ugoki Dashita

ZARD promoting OH MY LOVE

ZARD promoting Kimi to no Distance

• [1991.03.27] Good-bye My Loneliness #34
• [1991.12.25] Mou Sagasanai (もう探さない; I Won't Search Anymore) #36
• [1992.09.02] HOLD ME #2
• [1993.07.10] Yureru Omoi (揺れる想い; Shaking Memories) #1
• [1994.06.04] OH MY LOVE #1
• [1995.03.10] forever you #1
• [1996.07.08] TODAY IS ANOTHER DAY #1
• [1999.02.17] Eien (永遠; Eternity) #1
• [2001.02.15] Toki no Tsubasa (時間(とき)の翼; Wings of Time) #1
• [2004.01.28] Tomatteita Tokei ga Ima Ugokidashita (止まっていた時計が今動き出した; The Stopped Watch Moved Now) #2
• [2005.09.07] Kimi to no Distance (君とのDistance; The Distance with You) #3

Other Albums

• [1997.04.23] ZARD BLEND ~SUN & STONE~ (Selection Album) #1
• [1999.05.28] ZARD BEST The Single Collection ~Kiseki~ (軌跡; Miracle) (Best Album) #1
• [1999.09.15] ZARD BEST ~Request Memorial~ (Best Album) #1
• [2000.01.26] ZARD Cruising & Live (Live Album) #2
• [2001.11.21] ZARD BLEND II ~LEAF & SNOW~ (Selection Album) #4
• [2006.10.25] Golden Best ~15th Anniversary~ (Best Album) #1
• [2007.08.15] Soffio di vento ~Best of IZUMI SAKAI Selection~ (Selection Album) #2
• [2007.08.15] Brezza di mare ~dedicated to IZUMI SAKAI~ (Selection Album) #3
• [2008.01.23] ZARD Request Best ~beautiful memory~ (Best Album)

Singles

• [1991.02.10] Good-bye My Loneliness #9
• [1991.06.25] Fushigi ne... (不思議ね...; It's a Miracle) #30
• [1991.11.06] Mou Sagasanai (もう探さない; I Won't Search Anymore) #39
• [1992.08.05] Nemurenai Yoru wo Daite (眠れない夜を抱いて; Hold the Sleepness Night) #8
• [1992.09.09] IN MY ARMS TONIGHT #9
• [1993.01.27] Makenaide (負けないで; Don't Lose) #1
• [1993.04.21] Kimi ga Inai (君がいない; You're Not Here) #2
• [1993.05.19] Yureru Omoi (揺れる想い; Shaking Memories) #1
• [1993.09.04] Mou Sukoshi Ato Sukoshi... (もう少し　あと少し...; Just a Little Bit, After a Little Bit...) #2
• [1993.11.03] Kitto Wasurenai (きっと忘れない; Surely You Won't Forget) #1
• [1994.02.02] Kono Ai ni Oyogi Tsukarete mo / Boy (この愛に泳ぎ疲れても・Boy; Even if You Get Tired of Swimming in This Love) #1
• [1994.08.08] Konna ni Soba ni Iru no ni (こんなにそばに居るのに; Even Though You're at My Side Like This) #1
• [1994.12.24] Anata wo Kanjiteitai (あなたを感じていたい; I Want to Feel You) #2
• [1995.02.01] Just believe in love #2
• [1995.06.05] Ai ga Mienai (愛が見えない; Love is Unseen) #2
• [1995.08.28] Sayonara wa Ima mo Kono Mune ni Imasu (サヨナラは今もこの胸に居ます; Goodbyes are Still in This Chest of Mine Now) #1
• [1996.01.08] MY FRIEND #1
• [1996.05.06] Kokoro wo Hiraite (心を開いて; Open Your Heart) #1
• [1997.01.06] Don't you see! #1
• [1997.02.26] Kimi ni Aitakunattara... (君に逢いたくなったら…; If I Want to See You...) #2
• [1997.07.02] Kaze ga Toori Nukeru Machi he (風が通り抜ける街へ; To The Street Where Wind Cuts Through) #3
• [1997.08.20] Eien (永遠; Eternity) #1
• [1997.12.03] My Baby Grand ~Nukumori ga Hoshikute~ (ぬくもりが欲しくて; I Want Warmth) #3
• [1998.03.04] Iki mo Dekinai (息もできない; I Can't Breathe Either) #3
• [1998.09.17] Unmei no Roulette Mawashite (運命のルーレット廻して; Turn the Roulette of Fate) #1
• [1998.12.02] Atarashii Door ~Fuyu no Himawari~ (新しいドア~冬のひまわり~; A New Door ~Winter Sunflower~) #3
• [1998.12.02] GOOD DAY #2
• [1999.04.07] MIND GAMES #1
• [1999.06.16] Sekai wa Kitto Mirai no Naka (世界はきっと未来の中; The World is Surely in the Future) #2
• [1999.10.14] Itai Kurai Kimi ga Afureteiru yo (痛いくらい君があふれているよ; You're Flooding Over So Much It Hurts) #5
• [1999.12.01] Kono Namida Hoshi ni Nare (この涙　星になれ; These Tears Become Stars) #5
• [2000.09.06] Get U're Dream #4
• [2000.11.15] promised you #6
• [2002.05.22] Sawayaka na Kimi no Kimochi (さわやかな君の気持ち; Your Clear Feelings) #4
• [2003.04.09] Ashita wo Yumemite (明日を夢見て; Dreaming of Tomorrow) #4
• [2003.07.09] Hitomi Tojite (瞳閉じて; Close Your Eyes) #4
• [2003.11.12] Motto Chikaku de Kimi no Yokogao Miteitai (もっと近くで君の横顔見ていたい; I Wanna See the Profile of Your Face Even Closer) #8
• [2004.06.23] Kakegae no Nai Mono (かけがえのないもの; Unreplaceble Things) #4
• [2004.11.24] Kyou wa Yukkuri Hanasou (今日はゆっくり話そう; Let's Talk Slowly Today) #5
• [2005.04.20] Hoshi no Kagayaki yo / Natsu wo Matsu Sail no You ni (星のかがやきよ / 夏を待つセイル(帆)のように; The Radiance of the Stars / Waiting for Summer Like a Sail) #2
• [2006.03.08] Kanashii Hodo Anata ga Suki / Karaa to Ikou! (悲しいほど貴方が好き / カラッといこう!; I Love You So Much It's Sad / Let's Go Suddenly Changed!) #6
• [2006.05.10] Heart ni Hi wo Tsukete (ハートに火をつけて; Light a Fire in My Heart) #10
• [2007.12.12] Glorious Mind (グロリアスマインド) #2
• [2008.04.09] Tsubase wo Hirogete / Ai no Kurayami no Naka de (翼を広げて / 愛は暗闇の中で) Spreading My Wings / Love is in the Dark
• [2009.05.27] Sunao ni Ienakute (素直に言えなくて) Cannot Say Straightforwardly

Collaborations

• [1993.06.09] Hateshinai Yume wo (ZYYG, REV, ZARD & WANDS featuring Nagashima Shigeo) (果てしない夢を)
• [2003.08.27] Ihoujin (TAK MATSUMOTO featuring ZARD) (異邦人; Foreigner) #3
• [2003.11.26] THE HIT PARADE (Track #2)

DVDs

• [2005.06.08] What a beautiful moment
• [2006.10.25] ZARD Le Portfolio 1991-2006

Books

10° ~decimo~

• [2001.11.21] 10° ~decimo~
• [2006.10.25] Le Portfolio (ル・ポルトフォリオ)
• [2007.08.15] Kitto Wasurenai (きっと忘れない)

External Links

• Official Website
• English Wikipedia
• Japanese Wikipedia