Shimabukuro Hiroko

hiro promoting Coco d'Or 3 (2011)

Shimabukuro Hiroko (島袋寛子) is a Japanese pop artist. She made her debut in the 1990s as the youngest member of the girl-group, SPEED. After SPEED's temporary hiatus on 2000.03.31, she started a solo career under the name, hiro. Her solo debut single "AS TIME GOES BY" topped the Oricon chart at the #2 position. Her two original albums to date, "BRILLIANT" and "Naked and True", both secured a spot at #2 on Oricon as well.

Profile

• Birth Name: Shimabukuro Hiroko (島袋寛子)
• Stage Names: hiro, Coco d'Or
• Date of Birth: April 7, 1984 (1984-04-07)
• Place of Birth: Naha, Okinawa, Japan
• Blood Type: A
• Height: 163 cm
• Bands / Groups:
  • SPEED (1996-2012)
  • ERIHIRO (2015)

Biography

hiro promoting "Himawari ~Growing Sunflower~" (2010)

In terms of CD sales, hiro is the most popular amongst the four SPEED members. This was also shown by avex choosing to send her to perform in the United States at Seattle's Sakura-con in April 2004. Her songs range from soothing ballads to quick, catchy songs with fine-tuned dance choreographies.

Ever since the beginning of SPEED, hiro played a crucial role in the group with her skilled vocals. Despite their young age, SPEED was seen as an authentic artist thanks to their main vocalists ability to sing lives on music shows. Although when SPEED debuted hiro was just twelve years old and the youngest in the group. However, hiro did not look very childish, she had always been seen as older than she actually was because she was relatively tall and matured early. This would help attract not only her contemporaries but an adult audience as well.

She has won three consecutive awards in the Japan Record Awards for "Treasure" (2000), "Your innocence" (2001), and "Eternal Place" (2002).

In August 2004 Hiro released an all-English jazz album under the name of Coco d'or. Her single Hikari no Naka de was featured on the soundtrack to the movie Devilman. After almost a year, her single "clover" was released. It's also the ending theme of anime Black Jack.

Discography

Albums

• [2001.01.31] BRILLIANT
• [2002.08.07] Naked and True
• [2013.08.14] Watashi no Okinawa (私のオキナワ)

Best Albums

• [2006.02.01] hiro Singles Collection (寛 シングル・コレクション)

Cover Albums

• [2004.08.04] Coco d'Or (Coco d'Or)
• [2005.01.01] Coco d'Or Parfait (Coco d'Or)
• [2006.07.26] Coco d'Or 2 (Coco d'Or)
• [2010.11.10] The Winter Selection (Coco d'Or)
• [2011.03.03] Coco d'Or 3 (Coco d'Or)

Singles

• [1999.08.18] AS TIME GOES BY
• [2000.02.16] Bright Daylight
• [2000.10.25] Treasure
• [2001.08.01] Your innocence
• [2001.11.21] Confession
• [2002.04.17] love you
• [2002.06.05] Eternal Place
• [2002.07.17] Notice my mind
• [2003.02.26] Baby don't cry
• [2003.07.24] Ai ga Naiteru (愛が泣いてる)
• [2004.09.23] Hikari no Naka de (光の中で)
• [2005.08.03] clover
• [2006.02.01] Hero☆ (ヒーロー☆)
• [2006.08.23] Itsuka Futari de / I will take you (いつか二人で)
• [2013.07.17] Warabigami (童神)

Digital Singles

• [2010.11.10] The Christmas Song (Coco d'Or)

Vinyls

• [2003.03.14] Baby don't cry
• [2003.08.30] Ai ga Naiteru (愛が泣いてる)
• [2004.09.30] Coco d'Or (Coco d'Or)
• [2006.09.02] Coco d'Or 2 (Coco d'Or)

Video Releases

• [2001.04.18] BRILLIANT ON FILMS
• [2003.03.19] Naked and True Clips
• [2006.02.01] hiro Clip Collection (寛 クリップ・コレクション)

Compilations / Other

• [2008.03.19] FLOWER FESTIVAL 〜VISION FACTORY presents (#1 "Sakura")
• [2017.11.15] Aku Yu Tribute Special Songs ~Asahi no Youni~ (#2 "Tsukami Sokoneta Shiawase ni")
• [2018.03.07] Sungje - Yume no Kaika ~Yume ga Yume de Owaranaiyoni~ (#5 "Oyasumi" with Shimabukuro Hiroko)

Filmography

Movies

• [1998] Andromedia (アンドロメディア)
• [2006] Backdancers!

Awards & Achievements

• [2000] Japan Record Awards - Treasure
• [2001] Japan Record Awards - Your Innocence
• [2002] Japan Record Awards - Eternal Place

External Links

• Official Website
• Avex Official Profile
• Coco D'Or Avex Official Profile
• Official Twitter
• Official Instagram

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