generasia:Featured article for 2016 week 42
Kimura Kaela
Kimura Kaela (木村カエラ) is a Japanese pop-rock musician who debuted in 2004 with Columbia Music Entertainment. She is a former exclusive model for Seventeen, famous for previously hosting the early morning TV show Saku Saku, and is best known for her hit songs "Real Life Real Heart" and "Butterfly".
Born in Adachi, Tokyo, Japan to a British father and Japanese mother, Kimura started working as a model in 2002 for the Japanese magazine Seventeen. She went on to host the morning television show Saku Saku from April 14, 2003 to March 31, 2006.
Kimura released her only indie single, titled "Level 42", but it was later released as her major label debut single on June 23, 2004, after she signed with Columbia Music Entertainment. The song was used over the end credits of Saku Saku. On October 27, Kimura released her second single, "happiness!!!", which was followed by her debut album, KAELA, on December 8, 2004.
Following the release of her third single, "Real Life Real Heart", on March 30, 2005, Kimura saw her fanbase grow considerably. The song was used in a series of Vodafone commercials in Japan and helped make her a household name. It sold over 100,000 copies, her best-selling single to date, and it also received a nomination for "Best Video" in the MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2005.
Her ninth studio album PUNKY is released this week on October 19th.
