Otsuka Ai
Otsuka Ai (大塚 愛) is a popular Japanese pop singer on the avex trax label. She first appeared in September 2003 with the single Momo no Hanabira, but it wasn't until her 2nd single Sakuranbo that her talent was noticed.
Contents
Profile
- Name: Otsuka Ai (大塚 愛), Occasionally Ootsuka Ai or LOVE
- Nickname: Ai-Chan, Ai-Chin
- Birthday: September 9, 1982
- Birthplace: Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
- Blood Type: O
- Height: 157cm / 5'2"
- Foot Size: 22.5cm
- Hobbies: Swimming, Horror Movies, Piano-playing
- Pets: 2 dwarf rabbits (Choco and Cocoa)
Biography
A piano player since age 4, Otsuka composes and co-produces her songs. She also writes her own lyrics. Her music ranges from upbeat catchy pop/rock music that can be heard in tracks like "Happy Days" and "Sakuranbo" to touching ballads like "Daisuki da yo." and "Planetarium".
Otsuka's debut album LOVE PUNCH was released in March 2004 and was a huge success, earning Otsuka nicknames such as "The New Guru of Love". Her second single called "Sakuranbo" stayed on the Oricon charts for 85 weeks. Surprisingly, Otsuka's second album, LOVE JAM, was released only 8 months after her first in November 2004. It debuted at #1.
In other works, Otsuka has acted in the Tokyo Friends drama. She also has a radio show called "Otsuka Ai ai-r Jack" and has appeared in various CMs. Furthermore, Otsuka pens column in two Japanese magazines; "Love Column" in Zipper and "Love World ~ Eye Love Pictures" in B-Pass. "Kimi Iro Omoi", Otsuka's first photobook, was released on March 1st, 2005.
A talented graphic artist as well, the first pressings of her albums and some singles have included a limited edition picture book illustrated by Otsuka herself. Many of her illustrations can be seen at the Gallery section of her official website.
JAM PUNCH Tour 2005, her first tour began on April 24, 2005. It completed in June 2005 and a Live DVD with footage will be released on July 27, 2005. LOVE COOK, her 3rd album was released on December 14, 2005.
Otsuka Ai performed at Makuhari Messe on July 7th, 2007, for one of Japan's two Live Earth concerts, alongside contemporaries Koda Kumi and ayaka.
On June 25th, 2010, it was announced on her official site that she got married to SU of the band RIP SLYME. They had previously collaborated on the song "aisu×time" on her LOVE is BEST album.
Discography
Albums
- [2004.03.31] LOVE PUNCH
- [2004.11.17] LOVE JAM
- [2005.12.14] LOVE COOK
- [2007.09.26] LOVE PiECE
- [2008.12.17] LOVE LETTER
Mini-Albums
- [2009.11.18] LOVE.IT (LOVE)
Best Albums
- [2007.03.28] Ai am BEST (愛 am BEST)
- [2009.11.11] LOVE is BEST
Singles
- [2003.09.10] Momo no Hanabira (桃ノ花ビラ; Peach Petal)
- [2003.12.17] Sakuranbo (さくらんぼ; Cherries)
- [2004.03.03] Amaenbo (甘えんぼ; Indulgent Dependent Child)
- [2004.07.07] Happy Days
- [2004.08.18] Kingyo Hanabi (金魚花火; Goldfish Fireworks)
- [2004.10.20] Daisuki da yo. (大好きだよ。; I Love You)
- [2005.02.09] Kuroge Wagyuu Joshio Tanyaki 680 Yen (黒毛和牛上塩タン焼680円; Black Grilled Cow's Tongue, 680 Yen)
- [2005.05.11] SMILY / Biidama (ビー玉; Marble)
- [2005.07.13] Neko ni Fuusen (ネコに風船; Cat with Balloon)
- [2005.09.21] Planetarium (プラネタリウム)
- [2006.04.12] Frienger (フレンジャー; Friend-Ranger)
- [2006.08.02] Yumekui (ユメクイ; Dream Eater)
- [2006.10.25] Ren'ai Shashin (恋愛写真; Love Photographs)
- [2007.02.21] CHU-LIP
- [2007.04.11] LOVE no Theme (LOVEのテーマ; Love's Theme) (LOVE)
- [2007.07.25] PEACH / HEART
- [2007.11.07] Pocket (ポケット)
- [2007.11.21] White Choco (Whiteチョコ; White Chocolate) (LOVE)
- [2008.05.21] Rocket Sneaker / One×Time (ロケットスニーカー / One×Time)
- [2008.09.10] Kurage, Nagareboshi (クラゲ、流れ星; Jellyfish, Shooting Star)
- [2009.02.25] Bye Bye (バイバイ)
- [2010.04.07] Zokkondition / LUCKY☆STAR (ゾッ婚ディション; Marriage Condition From My Heart)
Digital Downloads
- [2010.02.10] LUCKY☆STAR
- [2010.02.17] Zokkondition (ゾッ婚ディション)
DVD
- [2005.07.27] JAM PUNCH Tour 2005 ~Kondoru no Pantsu ga Kui Kondoru~ (JAM PUNCH Tour 2005 ～コンドルのパンツがくいコンドル～)
- [2006.07.26] LOVE COOK Tour 2006 ~Mascara Mainichi Tsukete Mascara~ (LOVE COOK Tour 2006 ～マスカラ毎日つけてマスカラ～)
- [2007.01.01] "LOVE IS BORN" ~3rd Anniversary 2006~ (大塚愛【LOVE IS BORN】 ～3rd Anniversary 2006～)
- [2007.09.26] Ai am BEST Tour 2007 ~Best na Content ni Meccha Ai wo Komento!!!~ (愛 am BEST Tour 2007 ～ベストなコメントにめっちゃ愛を込めんと!!!～)
- [2008.01.01] "LOVE IS BORN" ~4th Anniversary 2007~ (大塚愛【LOVE IS BORN】 ～4th Anniversary 2007～)
- [2008.07.30] LOVE PiECE Tour 2008 ~Megane Kakenakya Yume ga Nee!~ (LOVE PiECE Tour 2008 ～メガネかけなきゃユメがねぇ!～)
- [2009.02.25] "LOVE IS BORN" ~5th Anniversary 2008~ (大塚愛【LOVE IS BORN】 ～5th Anniversary 2008～)
- [2009.05.06] LOVE LETTER Tour 2009 ~Channel Keshite Ai-chan Neru!~ (LOVE LETTER Tour 2009 ~チャンネル消して愛ちゃん寝る!~)
- [2009.09.23] LOVE LETTER Tour 2009 ~Light Terashite, Ai to Yume to Kando to... Warai to!~ (LOVE LETTER Tour 2009 ～ライト照らして、愛と夢と感動と・・・笑いと！～)
- [2009.09.23] LOVE LETTER Tour 2009 -Premium Box-
- [2010.03.17] "LOVE IS BORN" ~6th Anniversary 2009~ (大塚愛【LOVE IS BORN】 ～6th Anniversary 2009～)
- [2010.06.23] LOVE is BEST Tour 2009 Final
Books
- [2005.03.01] Kimi Iro Omoi (キミイロオモイ)
- [2007.09.25] LOVE WORLD
- [2008.01.31] Otsuka Ai no ai-r Jack (大塚 愛のai-r Jack)
- [2009.02.25] Love Letter オフィシャルバンドスコア
- [2010.03.29] Neko ga Mitsuketa Akai Fusen (ネコが見つけた赤い風船)
Dramas
- [2005.06.03] Tokyo Friends
Movies
- [2006.12.13] Tokyo Friends: The Movie
Awards & Achievements
- 2005 - The Japan Gold Disc Award for LOVE PUNCH (Rock & Pop Album of the year)
- 2005 - The Japan Gold Disc Award for LOVE JAM (Rock & Pop Album of the year)
- 2006 - The Japan Gold Disc Award for LOVE COOK (Rock & Pop Album of the year)
- 2007 - The Japan Gold Disc Award for Ai am BEST (The Best 10 Albums)
External Links
- Otsuka Ai Official Web Site
- Otsuka Ai Official Mobile Fanclub
- Otsuka Ai Official Web Site (Avex Taiwan)
- Channel-Ai: International forum
- Sunao Otsuka: French Fansite
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