Eriko Imai

Infobox musical artist

|
Name = Eriko Imai/elly
Background =
Birth_name = nihongo|今井絵理子|Imai Eriko
Born = birth date and age|1983|9|22
Died =
Origin = flagicon|Japan Tomigusuku, Okinawa, Japan
Talents = Singing, Piano, Acoustic Guitar, Composer, Songwriter
Genre = Japanese Pop
Occupation = Singer, Actress
Years_active = 1995 — Present
Label = Toys Factory
1996— 2001
Associated_acts = SPEED, Eriko with Crunch
URL = nihongo|Eriko Imai|今井絵理子|Imai Eriko is a J-Pop artist. She made her debut in the early 1990s as part of the group SPEED which disbanded in March 2000. Eriko started her solo work during 1998, releasing "冷たくしないで (Tsumetakushinade)" using Eriko with Crunch as stage name instead of her full name, under SPEED single "ALL MY TRUE LOVE". The group disbanded in 2000, and she has continued to release solo work under various names until late 2008 when SPEED announced their revival.

Early career (1996-2001)

Imai was born in Okinawa. She was the second youngest member and one of the main vocals in the female J-pop group SPEED. After SPEED's popularity spread widely in Japan, they were asked to act in a movie Andromedia in 1998, which kicked off Eriko's acting career. Eriko also appeared in a drama LxIxVxE in 1999 with fellow SPEED member HITOE. When Eriko began her real solo debut career in early 2000, she merged with the dance group Crunch and were named Eriko with Crunch. Their first two maxi singles, "Red Beat of My Life" and "Luv is Magic" were released the same year. Eriko's style of music is rockish pop, which suits her voice, but she also sang ballads and slow numbers as well, not forgetting her attempt at rapping in "Don't Stop the Music" in 2002.

After Speed (2001-2004)

Eriko with Crunch did not last long, and she went on without them and pursued her solo career starting from the single in the Name of Love using the artist name Eriko Imai. From then until her marriage in 2004, she released 6 singles, 1 album & 1 single collection album under the Eriko Imai name. Also during this year, Eriko did her first Musical challenge, NINAGAWA Hino tori, which earned her a Best New Comer in Theater award at Golden Arrow Awards 2001.

Her fourth single, "Identity", was viewed as a declining point in Eriko's career. Many viewed the music as hard-core rock. Moreover, in the promotion of the music, she remarked "Many artists these days succeed by popularity, not by hard work." Eriko's comment was perceived to be a criticism of Morning Musume and triggered a wave of criticism toward her. After "Identity" and her criticism-engendering comments, Eriko's CD sales fell to below 50,000 copies. Her fifth single, "Set Me Free", its music video was shot in Australia and she performed it in Kuala Lumpur during the 2001 Asia Music Festival. Afterwards, she released her first album, "My Place". Including her self-composed songs "Himawari" (Sunflower) and "Dawn", it sold 93,700 copies and was ranked in the top 5 but ultimately placed at #7 for the weekly sales. During this year, Eriko performed her second drama Rouge, in which she transformed from a singer to a popular celebrity & acted in a hit movie Onmyoji as a magic spirit character.

Eriko's 6th solo single "Don't Stop the Music" was aired in Eriko's weekly Monday night radio talk show by TBS 954, "Eriko Imai Hotlink" more than a month before its release in January 2002. "Don't Stop the Music" was seen as a change of Genre in Eriko's music. At around this time, Eriko considered changing her hairstyle to an Afro-style. She said that she wanted something new, but was willing to return to a more Japanese-typical hairstyle if the Afro hairstyle reduced her appeal. In July, Eriko released her 7th single "Our Relation" which was an upbeat fast tempo ballad. "Our Relation" was the 2nd single to be fully produced by Hiroaki Hayama. During that year, Eriko was in her 2nd musical Footloose with V6 member Sakamoto Masayuki, which was an extremely well-received musical based on the hit movie.

From the end of 2002 to mid 2003, Eriko did not have any solo releases mainly due to the temporary re-forming of SPEED for a fundraising charity Save The Children. SPEED became the ambassador of Save the Children from early mid to end of 2003 during which they performed nation-wide tours & releasing of singles & an album to raise funds for the charity. It was not until July of that year that Eriko released her 8th and last single Butterfly before her marriage. Butterfly was a slight mid tempo ballad and the lyrics was written by Eriko under the name of elly. This was also the first time she officially used elly on her works. Butterfly was also the theme song for the anime movie Boku no Songoku, which was Eriko's first part as a voice actor for one of the characters. Also in October, Onmyoji 2 was released in cinemas in Japan, with Eriko reprising her role as the magic spirit Mitsumushi.

In Feb to March 2004, Eriko perform in the musical Star Tanjou with Hitomi Shimatani & Yukie. This musical was to celebrate the 40 years anniversary establishment of Japan's Music Scene.

As elly (2005-2008)

On 9th June 2005, Eriko announced on her new website that she will return to the music industry as 'elly'. A change in her stage name also significantly changes her genre of music type. Eriko's previous works were more on rockish and up-tempo range. However, after returning to the music scene, Eriko started to write all of her songs' lyrics & composed almost every song which differ greatly from her rockish style. 22nd September 2005 marked Eriko's 22nd Birthday and her new start as 'elly' when she performed her 'elly live 2005 ~Rebirth~' concert. This was the first performance & meeting with fans since her marriage & pregnancy break. She also released her 1st indie single under star under "elly" that was exclusively limited & was only sold in the concert venue. On 18th Oct 2005, the 1st birthday of her son, Raimu, elly released her 1st photo-essay book, Egao de ikou, which includes autobiographical thoughts about the periods of her life and career, including her time with SPEED, as a solo artist, pregnancy period and so on. She also held an autograph session at Shibuya HMV on Nov 6th.

elly released her 2nd independent single, journey on May 13th, 2006, following up the release with a concert 'elly live 2006 ~journey~'on the same day. In June of 2006 elly held a secret marriage party in Guam. Only her close friends such as hiro and team-F were invited. elly was last seen in public on July 16th where she attended Vision Festival Vol.2. She appeared in a yukata and performed her new song journey with Vanilla Mood. At the festival, elly also announced to her fans that her new album "Neverland" was to be released on September 27th, 2006. "Neverland", given a lack of promotion and elly's declining popularity, Neverland debuted at #149 on the Oricon charts. She performed 'elly LIVE 2006 ~Neverland~' concert tour from October to November, which one of the live were attended by 3 other SPEED members & SPEED long-term producer Hiromasa Ijichi. During that particular live, elly sang SPEED's last single Walking in the rain & White Love with Ijichi.

In Feb 2007, elly released a live DVD captured from 'elly LIVE 2006 ~Neverland~' and a new live concert 'elly LIVE 2007 ~Soar~' following in April.

In July 2007, it was reported from various sources that Eriko had separated from her husband, Shogo. Reports from TokyoGraph and J!-Ent news sources indicated the separation was due to Eriko's focus on her career and social calendar, with Shongo wanting to raise Raimu. However, this matter was not clarified by either of their management. After these media reports, Eriko posted some unclear thoughts "only believe what was seen and heard from one self" in which she didn't specify what was the post for. Many fans took it as an indirect reply for the separation reports and that Eriko was trying to indicate the reports were untrue.

Also in August 2007, elly mentioned she will be releasing her her new single 腕枕' (Ude Makura) at a date to be announced. It is still unknown whether this will be a wide release or indie single.

On 24th September 2007, Eriko and SHOGO officially announced on her website's diary about their divorce. According to the message posted, the divorce was mainly due to their divergent views and concepts about the future, and therefore leading to the inability to live together like before. The son's custody was given to Eriko, but both agreed to take care of the child together. elly resumed to carry out her mini live concert 'elly LIVE ~instinct~' on 25th Dec 2007. A DVD of this concert was released on 14th Feb 2008. elly started her 1st live in 2008 with 'elly secret live in 砂漠の薔薇' on 2008/02/09. This secret live was limited to an audience of only 100 people.

In August 2008, elly decided to regroup with SPEED for NTV's 24-hour telethon. At the same period she announced that her son has a hearing disability and she wanted to take this opportunity to perform for her son for the first time. She wants to take this chance to give hope to others who are also suffering from the same disability. She began activities as a member of SPEED again starting 31st August 2008. elly will also begin a 'LIVE and TALK' event on 30th September. Eriko has also been given her first film appearance in almost five years. The movie is "Yuzuriha ~Kimi mo Mata Tsugi no Kimi e~," directed by Kentaro Hayase. The picture is a 60th-anniversary project of the Japanese Federation of the Deaf."Yuzuriha" is being released June next year.

Personal Life

During May 2004, Eriko posted a short but sincere message to officially announce on her marriage to 175R vocalist Shogo. The message was briefly on the marriage and she apologise to everyone who was concern with her marriage as it was a real sudden. She also mentioned about a new life which will be with us on earth in the upcoming October. Lastly in the message, Eriko sincerely ask for guidance for her change of position from single to a wife and a soon-to-be mother. In 9 June 2004 she married Shogo, lead vocalist of 175R in a shotgun wedding. She also registered her name as Eriko Kinoshita upon the change. Their son, Raimu Kinoshita, was born on October 18, 2004 weighing 3492g. On November 25 2004, Eriko released her her first Single Collection ~Stairway~ to mark her new life journey as a mother and wife and as a gift for all Eriko fans around the world.

However, her management office did not look at her pregnancy lightly. Tabloid magazine Shukan Bunshun quotes a source known to Eriko that stopped paying her a monthly wage of 200,000 yen and promptly expelled her from the company apartment. [ [Shukan Bunshun, Eriko Imai: From the Truth behind SPEED's Break-up to Livelihood Difficulties upon Divorce", 15 November 2007, pp.162-3.ja icon] After struggling for several months, her company relented its punishment by signing a new contract worth 20,000 yen a month.

Eriko's nickname is Mikan Seijin (Tangerine Alien). She is an accomplished guitar and flute player. She also plays the piano, as well as composing and writing songs. Eriko has started to write songs under her stage name, elly, as early as in 2003.(Which she 1st used the name when she wrote the lyrics to her single, 'Butterfly'). Her 1st album under the name elly, 'Neverland', showcases elly's composition as well as lyrical skills, this album is also being produced by Eriko herself. She is good friends with Utada Hikaru and called her father on air on behalf of her fans when she underwent ovarian cancer surgery. Eriko was once voted as the most popular artist from Japan in Hong Kong, surpassing other popular singers.

Eriko has also started to learn sign language with her son during early 2008.

Discography

Albums

Eriko Imai
* [2001.07.18] My Place
* [2004.11.25] Single Collection ~Stairway~

elly
* [2006.09.27] Neverland

ingles

Eriko with Crunch
* [1998.10.28] SPEED - ALL MY TRUE LOVE - 冷たくしないで (Tsumetakushinade)
* [1999.05.19] SPEED - Breakin' out to the morning - EVERYDAY, BE WITH YOU
* [2000.03.15] Red Beat of My Life
* [2000.08.02] Luv is Magic

Eriko Imai
* [2000.11.22] In the Name of Love
* [2001.03.07] identity
* [2001.06.06] Set Me Free!
* [2002.01.23] Don't stop the music
* [2002.07.10] Our Relation
* [2003.07.02] Butterfly

elly
* [2005.09.22] Star / 朝 (Asa)
* [2006.02.22] Ringo Girl" (elly lent her vocals to Midorikawa Shobo's 2nd single in the c/w song)
* [2006.05.13] journey

Unreleased Songs on CD format

*君と僕の歌
*幸せと呼びたい
*… & smile
*Good Night
*嘘
*君は君のままで
*New days
*世界一
*ほろ苦いチョコレート
*夢桜
*ゆりかご
*涙星
*カンナ
*腕枕

DVDs

Eriko Imai
* [2001.12.19] My Place on Films

elly
* [2007.02.14] a gift for you ~ elly live 2006 Neverland
* [2008.02.14] a gift for you vol.2 ~ elly live 2007 instinct

Mobile Download

* [2006.12.18] 雪空Letter (Vision 着うた配信)
* [2007.01.01] 始まりのキス (Vision 着うた配信)
* [2007.02.07] ほろ苦いチョコレート (Vision 着うた配信)

Books

* [2005.10.18] Egao De Ikou

Movies

* [1998] Andromedia
* [1999] Dream Maker (Cameo)
* [2001] Onmyoji
* [2003] Onmyoji 2
* [2003] Boku No Songoku (Voice Dubbed)
* [2009] Yuzuriha ~Kimi mo Mata Tsugi no Kimi e~

Musicals

* [2000] NINGAWA Hi No Tori
* [2002] Footloose
* [2004] Star Tanjou

Dramas

* [1999] LXIXVXE
* [2001] Rouge

References

External links

* [http://www.ellymusic.com/ Current Official Website (as "elly")]
* [http://www.avexnet.or.jp/eriko/ Old Official Website (as "Eriko Imai")]