KOKIA

KOKIA is a Japanese singer-songwriter hailing from Tokyo. She is mostly associated with games and anime soundtracks; having appeared in eight different game/anime soundtracks to date. KOKIA has an extremely talented voice - she even held a long-tone Opera note for a little over 29 seconds on national TV once. She is most well-known in Hong Kong and Taiwan for her song Arigatou..., which became so popular it was even covered by star Sammi Cheng. Her biggest hit in Japan was the single The Power of Smile / Remember the Kiss, which reached #15 on Oricon charts. Contents [hide]

   * 1 Profile
   * 2 Information
         o 2.1 Pre-Debut - Pony Canyon
         o 2.2 Victor Entertainment
         o 2.3 Beyond Victor
   * 3 Other Compositions / Setlist Tracks
   * 4 Discography
         o 4.1 Albums
         o 4.2 Singles
         o 4.3 DVD / VHS
         o 4.4 Major Compilations
         o 4.5 Compilation / Other
   * 5 External Links

Profile

• Stage Name: KOKIA
• Real Name: Yoshida Akiko (吉田亜紀子)
• Birthday: 22 July 1976
• Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
• Blood Type: O
• First CD Ever Bought: Michael Jackson's BAD
• Favourite Type of Music: Music from films, Disney Songs, Celtic Music
• Favourite Artists: Michael Jackson, Madonna, Enya, Criara, Adiemus, Bon Jovi, Skid Row, R.E.M, Sakamoto Ryuichi
• Favourite Foods: Uni, Bananas, Hard Candy, Perrier, Cheese, Uirou, Spring Rolls, Coconut Milk, Hard French Bread, Escargot
• Least Favourite Foods: Melon, Watermelon, Squid, Octopus, Shrimp
• Favourite Things: Movies, Music, Animals, Unarmed Martial Arts, Glittering things (like Swarovsky Jewerly)
• Least Favourite Things: Fluorescent Lights, Aeroplanes.
• Favourite Sport: Skiing
• Trivia: KOKIA's sister, Yoshida Kyoko, is a famous violinist.

Information

Pre-Debut - Pony Canyon

KOKIA was a very musical child, even when she was little. Instead of playing with toys, she would instead play on the piano, or play the violin. She was readily able to express her feelings and emotions through song. When she was 10 (and later when she was 14) she went to study English in America at a summer music school. KOKIA later enrolled at the prestigious Toho Gakuen School of Music for High School.

KOKIA studied Opera and classical music while in University. During her time there, she caught the eye of a scouter from Pony Canyon, and in 1998 while still at University debuted with the single Aishiteiru Kara under the stage name KOKIA. This stage name that she created for herself was both her first name reversed (A-Ki-Ko -> Ko-Ki-A), as well as the name of a Hawaiian Hibiscus flower, which blooms during her birthday. Aishiteiru Kara and it's B-side, You, were used insert songs into the Fuji TV drama Brothers. However, this single was not her first release into the Japanese market, as two weeks prior the Tail Concerto OST had been released. The soundtrack contained For Little Tail, the opening theme for the game, which KOKIA had sung. KOKIA's next release was a song called Ai no Field, which was used as the ending theme song for the anime BRAIN POWERD (the song was composed by the well-known composer Kanno Yoko). Kokia followed up this single six months later with her second, tie-upless single Tears in Love.

KOKIA's next single, Arigatou..., was the first song that she had fully written and composed herself. It was used as the TBD drama Dotsuzen Oyako's theme song. While this did not propel her to stardom in Japan, KOKIA became extremely famous in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Arigatou... won her the third place prize in the Hong Kong International Popular Music Awards. Popular Cantonese singer, Sammi Cheng, even recorded a Cantonese language cover of the song. This was followed up with KOKIA's debut album, Songbird.

Victor Entertainment

Error creating thumbnail: convert: unable to open image `/home/jeremy/wiki.theppn.org/htdocs/images/7/72/Kokia_Kawaranai.jpg': No such file or directory. KOKIA promoting Kawaranai Koto ~since1976~ (2003)

After releasing this album, KOKIA decided to take a break from music. Apart from contributing six songs to the RK Standard project, nothing much was heard from KOKIA until early 2001, when she switched labels from Pony Canyon to Victor Entertainment. In May, a new single of hers, Tomoni, was released. This was followed up with three more singles, and the release of a new KOKIA album, Trip Trip. These new songs showed a completely different side of KOKIA, with the songs becoming more unique and complex. The last track on the album, a gift, was even featured in Subaru ads throughout Europe.

In 2003, KOKIA seemed to gain a lot more publicity than she had before. Her first new single since the release of Trip Trip, Kawaranai Koto ~since1976~, had two semi-major tie-ups. The A-side was used as the daytime drama Itoshiki Mono e's theme song, while the B-side Tell Tell Bouzu was used as the second ending theme song to the anime Hungry Heart: Wild Striker. This single debuted at #47, KOKIA's first top 50 single. Following this was the even more successful single The Power of Smile / Remember the kiss single, with The Power of Smile featuring in a mass TV commercial for Kao's Essential Damage-Care shampoo range. The single grabbed the #15 spot and is currently KOKIA's most sold single. Similarly, her next album Remember Me is her most sold album (which had debuted at #15 too). Interestingly, in 2003 KOKIA's old label, Pony Canyon, decided to feature KOKIA in the popular Chinese drama At the Dolphin Bay's soundtrack with two songs; I Catch a Cold and Shiroi Yuki.

2004 saw yet another KOKIA album. Uta ga Chikara was backed with the two singles so much love for you and Yume ga Chikara. Yume ga Chikara became the official cheering song for the Japanese team at the 2004 Olympic games in Athens.

While KOKIA released two singles in 2005 with minor tie-ups, she planned to start 2006 with a brand new single for the anime movie Gin-iro no Kami no Agito, "Ai no Melody / Cyouwa oto ~with reflection~". The anime featured a re-arranged version of her song Cyouwa oto from Trip Trip as the opening theme, and a new composition, Ai no Melody as it's ending theme song. Following this was KOKIA's first live outside of Asia, a concert held in Paris on the 21st of January. KOKIA also released a best album on the first of February (which was surprisingly also sold in France and Spain, as well as Japan).

Beyond Victor

In June 2006, it was announced the KOKIA would leave her label Victor Entertainment. She then set up her own independent website, and has sung at several lives. Following this, in October it was announced that French label Wasabi Records would be releasing KOKIA's new album, Ai ga Kikoeru, in November for an exclusive France release. It is unknown which Japanese record label will pick up KOKIA and release her album at this point, but the album will most likely be released in Japan at a later time.

KOKIA will return to Paris in January, the 20th, 2007. She will perform in LE BATACLAN.

KOKIA will be releasing her 16th single, Tatta Hitotsu no Omoi, on January 23rd, 2008. It will be featured as the opening theme for the second season of the Gunslinger Girl anime, titled Gunslinger Girl -Il Teatrino-.

Other Compositions / Setlist Tracks

KOKIA has composed several songs for other artists. These songs are:

• Hatsukoi (初恋; First Love) (Yumi Saori and Yasuda Sachiko) (appeared as track #3 on their joint 2000 album Uta Uta Uta Vol.5 ~Ashita no Omoi de~. The song was jointly composed with Minami Kosatsu)
• Larme ([Fr:] Tears) (Ashino Hiroshi) (appeared as track #13 on Ashino's La Brise de la Cote d'Azur album. The song was jointly composed with Ashino Hiroshi himself)
• Tokai no Hitsuji (都会の羊; City Sheep) (Otake Yuki) (appeared as track #3 on Otake's Nemuru Kujaku album. Kokia solely composed this)

KOKIA has also featured many new songs that don't appear on any releases yet in her recent lives. These songs are:

• Douke (道化; Messing About)
• Hajimete Kiita Uta wa Komoriuta (初めて聴いた歌は子守唄; The First Song I Heard Was a Lullaby)
• Il Fiore ([It:] The Flower)
• Il Mare Dei Suoni ([It:] The Sea of Sounds)
• Inochi no Hikari (命の光; Light of Life)
• Let's Show Them
• The Water is Wide
• Usaghi (Rabbit)
• Vintage Love ~In November~

Discography

Albums

• [1999.07.16] songbird
• [2002.01.23] trip trip
• [2003.11.12] Remember me
• [2004.07.21] Uta ga Chikara (歌がチカラ; Songs are Strength)
• [2006.02.01] pearl ~The Best Collection~
• [2006.11.29] Ai ga Kikoeru (Listen for the Love) - French Release

Singles

• [1998.04.29] Aishiteiru Kara (愛しているから; Because I Love You)
• [1998.11.18] Tears in Love
• [1999.06.17] Arigatou... (ありがとう...; Thankyou...)
• [2001.05.23] tomoni (Together)
• [2001.08.22] Say Hi!!
• [2001.11.21] Tenshi (天使; Angel)
• [2002.01.23] Ningen tte Sonna Mono ne (人間ってそんなものね; Humans are Just Like That)
• [2003.05.21] Kawaranai Koto ~since1976~ (かわらないこと; Unchanging Things)
• [2003.09.24] The Power of Smile / Remember the kiss
• [2004.04.21] so much love for you
• [2004.06.23] Yume ga Chikara (夢がチカラ; Dreams are Strength)
• [2005.02.23] dandelion
• [2005.07.21] time to say goodbye
• [2006.01.01] Ai no Melody / Cyouwa oto ~with reflection~ (愛のメロディー / 調和 oto; Melody of Love / Harmony Sound)
• [2007.11.21] Follow the Nightingale
• [2008.01.23] Tatta Hitotsu no Omoi (たった1つの想い)

DVD / VHS

• [2006.02.01] jewel ~The Best Video Collection~

Major Compilations

• [1998.05.21] Ai no Field (愛の輪郭(フィールド); Fields of Love) (#1 Kokia - Ai no Field)
• [2000.07.26] ЯK STANDARD feat. Kokia - "goes on forever"
• [2000.09.21] ЯK STANDARD feat. Kokia - "melody"
• [2000.12.16] ЯK STANDARD - "Kanata Made" (彼方まで; Before the Other Side) (#1 goes on forever, #4 Gekitsuu (激痛), #5 KOKIA with Risa - a voice, #8 Jiyuu na Hito (自由な人), #10 Kaze (風), #12 melody)
• [2005.07.27] Roppongi Men's Choir with Kokia - "Peace Road" (#1 Peace Road)

Compilation / Other

• [1998.04.16] Tail Concerto OST (#1 For Little Tail)
• [1998.04.29] Brothers OST (#1 Aishiteiru Kara, #2 You)
• [1998.08.05] BRAIN POWERD OST (#19 Ai no Field)
• [1999.03.17] Fuji TV Dorama Soundtrack Best (#5 You)
• [1999.09.07] Neshia no Tabibito OST (#10 Neshia no Tabibito ~Umi to Kaze to Hito no Uta)
• [2000.02.03] Planet of Love (#3 Tsuru Norohito - Dreaming) (feature vocals: Kokia)
• [2000.03.23] Ningyou Soushi Ayatsuri Sakon OST II (#20 Sayonara wa Iwanai de)
• [2000.05.10] Gensou Suikoden II Ongakushuu Orrizonte (#2 KOKIA with Ueno Yoko - Currents)
• [2000.10.25] Saijo Hideki - "Toki no Kizahashi" (feature vocals: Kokia)
• [2002.12.04] VITA NOVA - "SHIAWASE" (#5 Rom no Aoi Hibiki)
• [2003.01.22] FAKE? - "TOMORROW TODAY" (#11 CARE) (feature vocals: Kokia)
• [2004.02.18] MISSING YOU (#4 Aishiteiru Kara)
• [2004.03.03] Hotel Venus OST (#7 Desperado, #9 Desperado (Orchestra Version), #11 Desperado (With Tap Version))
• [2004.12.08] 802 HEAVY ROTATIONS J-HITS COMPLETE '01-'03 (#1 Say Hi!!)
• [2005.03.30] Minna no Uta Best Hit Collection (DVD) (#4 Yuukyuu no Mori)
• [2005.11.02] Hiranuma Yuri - "Mada Mienu Neiga no Tame no Ongaku" (#7 Daiji na no wa Tsuyoku Omou Koto) (feature vocals: Kokia)
• [2006.01.07] Gin-iro no Kami no Agito Original Soundtrack (#2 Cyouwa Oto ~With Reflection~, #30 Ai no Melody (Soundtrack Ver.))
• [2006.06.07] THANK YOU!! (#2 Kawaranai Koto ~Since1976~)
• [2006.06.07] Thank You ~Arigatou~ (#6 Arigatou...)

External Links

• Official Website