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ZARD

Sakai Izumi

ZARD was a Japanese pop group, later solo project, under B-Gram RECORDS. They were a highly renowned group in Japan, having produced some very popular songs since their debut in 1991. Around the release of their third album, HOLD ME, all of the band members had left except lead singer Sakai Izumi. ZARD then became the solo project of Sakai, writing 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

  • Stage Name: Sakai Izumi (坂井泉水)
  • Birth Name: Kamachi Sachiko (蒲池幸子)
  • Birth Date: February 6, 1967
  • Died: May 26, 2007 (aged 40)
  • Birth Place: Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
  • Height: 165cm
  • Blood Type: A
  • Family: Parents, older brother, younger sister
  • Things that she liked: Swimming, reading, watching people, sports, drawing, to be photographed, to buy shirts and go out at night
  • Things that she disliked: Sashimi, high-heeled shoes, western-styled houses, glue used for shoes, rude people, waking up in the morning and red things

Information

Their debut single "Good-bye My Loneliness" broke into the top 10 on the Oricon singles charts, at #9. Their next major hit came in January of 1993 when their 6th single, "Makenaide", brought ZARD to the top at #1 and sold over 1.5 million copies. Around this time, ZARD became a solo project for lead singer and songwriter Sakai Izumi. This early success quickly earned ZARD recognition at the Japan Golden Disc Awards of 1994. ZARD has performed several songs that have been chosen as anime 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 returned. On the 26th of May, while under treatment, 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. There were rumors about her death being to a suicide, but were later disproven.

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

Discography

Albums

ZARD promoting HOLD ME (1992)
ZARD promoting OH MY LOVE (1994)
ZARD promoting forever you (1995)
ZARD promoting Kimi to no Distance (2005)

Best Albums

Live Albums

Orgel Albums

Tribute Albums

Boxes

Singles

Video Releases

Concerts / Live
Music Videos Collection
Documentary

Other Video Releases

Compilations / Other

Works

Music

Chorus

Books

10° ~decimo~ Le Portfolio Kitto Wasurenai

  • [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)

Poetry Selection

  • [2000.02.06] Yureru Omoi (揺れる想い; Shaking Memories)
  • [2000.06.19] Makenaide (負けないで; Don't Lose)
  • [2000.09.06] My Friend (マイ フレンド)
  • [2000.12.12] promised you

Music Scores

  • [1999.02.17] ZARD BLEND ~SUN & STONE~ (Offical Band Score)
  • [1999.02.17] Eien (永遠; Eternity) (Offical Band Score)
  • [1999.05.28] ZARD BEST ~Request Memorial~ (Offical Piano & Vocal Score)
  • [2001.02.15] Toki no Tsubasa (時間(とき)の翼; Wings of Time) (Offical Piano & Vocal Score)

External Links