Kiroro

Kiroro (キロロ^?) is a Japanese musical group from Okinawa that debuted in 1996.

History

Kiroro first debuted in 1996 as an independent band, and later made their major debut in 1998 with the song "Nagai Aida (長い間^?)". They performed on Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1998, 1999 and 2001.

In January 2005, vocalist Chiharu Tamashiro announced that she was engaged. On April 17 (which coincided with her birthday), she and her fiancé entered the family registry. In May, pianist Ayano Kinjo announced her pregnancy and marriage. In July, Tamashiro announced her pregnancy. In September 2005, they held their "four person concert" in Okinawa with the finale, Wasurenaide ("Don't Forget") before their maternal leave. Kinjo gave birth to a baby girl in November 2005. Tamashiro gave birth to a baby boy in February 2006. In March 2007, Tamashiro announced her second pregnancy.

Etymology

When vocalist Chiharu Tamashiro was in her primary school days, she visited Ikedamachi, Hokkaido, for a regional exchange program. The Ainu language made a deep impression on her. With the Ainu words 'Kiroru' and 'Kiroro-an', Tamashiro and Kinjo decided on the name "Kiroro" for the group; "Kiroru" meaning a wide walking path and "Kiroro-an" meaning "resilient" and "healthy."

The name "Kiroro," however, was already registered in 1981 to the Yamaha Organization in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka, for the Kiroro Resort in Akaigawa Village, Hokkaido. Victor Entertainment made agreements with the Yamaha organization for use of the name.

Members

• Chiharu Tamashiro (玉城 千春, Tamashiro Chiharu^?) - vocals
  • born April 17, 1977 (1977-04-17) (age 34) in Okinawa, Japan
• Ayano Kinjō (金城 綾乃, Kinjō Ayano^?) - keyboard
  • born August 15, 1977 (1977-08-15) (age 34) in Okinawa, Japan

Discography

Albums

1. Nagai Aida ~Kiroro no Mori~ (長い間 ～キロロの森～^?) - October 1, 1998
   1. Nagai Aida
   2. Suteki da ne (すてきだね^?, Wonderful isn't it)
   3. Mirai e
   4. Koi ni Koishite (恋に恋して^?, Loving in Love)
   5. Nigasanai de (逃がさないで^?)
   6. Itsu Kara (いつから^?, From Some Time)
   7. Sannin no Shashin (3人の写真^?)
   8. Ran Ran Ran (ラン ラン ラン^?)
   9. Shiroi Kutsushita (白い靴下^?, White Socks)
   10. Bokura wa Hīrō (僕らはヒーロー^?, We Are Heroes)
2. Hiruyasumi (昼休み^?) - September 22, 1999 (Ayano Kinjo's solo album)
3. Suki na Hito ~Kiroro no Sora~ (好きな人 ～キロロの空～^?) - December 8, 1999
4. Nanairo (七色^?) - September 26, 2000 (Concept Album)
5. TREE OF LIFE - January 13, 2001 (Taiwan), January 24, 2001 (Japan) (It is the first time (and only time, up to the album Wonderful Days) that the date of release in Taiwan is earlier than Japan.)
6. Kiroro no Uta 1 (Kiroroのうた1^?) - February 21, 2002 (Best Album)
7. Four Leaves Clover - December 18, 2002
8. Diary - March 3, 2004
9. Kaeru Basho (帰る場所^?) - January 21, 2005 (Okinawa limited edition), June 23, 2005 (National edition) (Mini album) (Dedicated to their homeland, Okinawa. The 'national level' edition also contains an introductory flash clip that describes the places of interest in Okinawa.
10. Wonderful Days - November 23, 2005
11. Kiroro no Ichiban Ii Uta Atsumemashita (キロロのいちばんイイ歌あつめました^?) - March 29, 2006 (Best album by fan votes)
12. Kiroro no Hōra, Naki Yanda! (キロロのほーら、泣きやんだ!^?) - March 7, 2007 (Played by Ayano, a lullaby album for babies)
13. Kiroro no Ichiban Ii Uta Atsumemashita ~10th Anniversary Edition~ (キロロのいちばんイイ歌あつめました～10th Anniversary Edition～^?) - March 7, 2007 (A collector's edition)

Singles

1. Nagai Aida (長い間^?) - March 1, 2001
   1. Nagai Aida
   2. Sannin no Shashin (3人の写真^?, Three-Man Photo)
   3. Nagai Aida (Original Karaoke)
   4. Sannin no Shashin (Original Karaoke)
2. Mirai e (未来へ^?, To the Future) - June 24, 1998
   1. Mirai e, later covered by René Liu
   2. Tenki ga Ii Asa (天気がいい朝^?, The Weather is a Fine Morning)
   3. Mirai e (Original Karaoke)
   4. Tenki ga Ii Asa (Original Karaoke)
3. Fuyu no Uta (冬のうた^?, Winter Song) - November 21, 1998
   1. Fuyu no Uta
   2. Kiseki (キセキ^?, Miracle)
   3. Fuyu no Uta (Original Karaoke)
   4. Kiseki (Original Karaoke)
4. Ao no Jumon (青のじゅもん^?) - February 24, 1999
   1. Ao no Jumon
   2. Haru no Kaze (春の風^?, Spring Wind)
   3. Ao no Jumon (Original Karaoke)
   4. Haru no Kaze (Original Karaoke)
5. Saigo no Kissu (最後のKiss^?, The Last Kiss) - June 23, 1999
   1. Saigo no Kiss
   2. Chokin (ちょきん♡^?)
   3. Saigo no Kiss (Original Karaoke)
   4. Chokin (Original Karaoke)
6. Suki na Hito (好きな人^?, Desirable Man) - November 10, 1999
   1. Suki na Hito
   2. Chansu (チャンス^?, Chance)
   3. Suki na Hito (Original Karaoke)
   4. Chance (Original Karaoke)
7. Himawari (ひまわり^?, Sunflower) - March 23, 2000
   1. Himawari
   2. Nawatobi (ナワトビ^?, Jump Rope)
   3. Himawari (Original Karaoke)
   4. Nawatobi (Original Karaoke)
8. Namida ni Sayonara (涙にさよなら^?, Goodbye in Tears) - July 26, 2000
   1. Namida ni Sayonara
   2. Blue Sky
   3. Namida ni Sayonara (Original Karaoke)
   4. Blue Sky (Original Karaoke)
9. Aitai (逢いたい^?, Want to Meet) - December 6, 2000
   1. Aitai
   2. Yoru o Miagete (夜を見上げて^?, Looking at the Night)
   3. Aitai (Backing Track)
   4. Yoru o Miagete (Backing Track)
10. Best Friend - June 6, 2001
    1. Best Friend
    2. again
    3. Best Friend (Backing Track)
    4. again (Backing Track)
11. Aisanai (愛さない^?, Not Loving) - August 21, 2002
    1. Aisanai
    2. Kimi no Koe (君の声^?, Your Voice)
    3. Tinsagu nu Uta (てぃんさぐぬ花^?, Balsam Flower)
12. Hitotsubu no Namida (ひとつぶの涙^?) - December 4, 2002
    1. Hitotsubu no Namida
    2. Kumorinochi Hare (くもりのち晴れ^?)
13. Bokura no Messēji (僕らのメッセージ^?, Our Message) - November 21, 2003
    1. Bokura no Messēji
    2. Zutto Wasurenai (ずっと忘れない^?, Don't Ever Forget)
    3. Chokin (Live) (ちょきん(Live)^?)
14. Mou Sukoshi (もう少し^?, Just a Little) - January 21, 2004
    1. Mou Sukoshi
    2. Yume no Naka (夢の中^?, Middle of a Dream)
15. Ikitekoso (生きてこそ^?, Alive) - July 6, 2005 (Mushiking anime opening theme song)
    1. Ikitekoso
    2. Ikitekoso ~TV version~ (生きてこそ〜TV ver.〜^?)
    3. Ikitekoso ~instrumental (生きてこそ〜instrumental〜^?)
16. Wasurenai de ~Live at Okinawa '05~ (忘れないで〜Live at OKINAWA ’05〜^?) - October 21, 2005 (with special edition)
    1. Wasurenai de ~Live at Okinawa '05~
    2. Beginning
17. Shiawase no Tane ~Winter version~ (幸せの種 ～Winter version～^?) - December 3, 2008
18. Minna Anata wo Aishiteru (みんなあなたを愛してる^?, Everybody Loves You) - March 4, 2009 (Anime movie Chō Gekijōban Keroro Gunsō: Gekishin Dragon Warriors theme song)

• Note: All singles from Nagai Aida up to Suki na Hito were released again on February 21, 2002.

References

• Kiroro's Official Website
• The Libertytimes Web
• http://ent.sina.com.cn/2003年04月10日12:23 南方都市报
• http://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/eng/19980919.html The Okinawa Times. September 9, 1998.
• http://tw2.yahoo.com/profile/285

External links

• Official website