generasia:Featured article for 2014 week 25
ayaka
ayaka (絢香) is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter under her own company A stAtion. She debuted in 2006, under Warner Music Japan, with the ballad "I believe", which was used as the drama Rondo's theme song. This single reached #3, making it the highest debut single rank reached by a female singer/songwriter since Utada Hikaru's "Automatic / Time Will Tell" in 1998. Her album First Message also came in #1 on the World Charts.
On February 22, 2009, ayaka married Mizushima Hiro after several months of dating. On April 2, ayaka's diagnosis of Graves' disease was made public. She announced her plans to continue singing until the end of 2009, before putting her career on hold. On October 20, 2011, ayaka announced she's going to make a comeback in early 2012, with her own independent label. On October 25, 2011 a short CM was released featuring Mizushima Hiro drinking a cup of coffee with ayaka's new song playing as the theme. The music provides an activity resume ayaka declared days ago.
On December 23, 2011, ayaka appeard on MUSIC STATION, performing her new songs, "Yasashii Ao," and, "Hajimari no Toki." She also appeared at the, 62th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, performing the released version of, "Minna Sora no Shita."
ayaka's new single "Nijiiro" will be released this week on June 18, 2014.
