Kokia (singer)

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Kokia

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Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Akiko Yoshida (吉田 亜紀子)
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1976|07|22
Origin = Tokyo, Japan
Genre = J-pop
Occupation = Singer, Songwriter, Producer
Years_active = 1998 - Present
Label = Pony Canyon (1998-2000) Victor Entertainment (2001-2005) indie(2006-Present)
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.kokia.com/ Official Website] Nihongo|Kokia|コキア is a Japanese singer-songwriter from Tokyo. She is known mostly for her performances in video game and anime soundtracks; having appeared in eight different game/anime soundtracks to date. Kokia is noted for her vocal range, and ability to hold long-tone opera notes, having done so for 29 seconds during a television appearance. She is most well-known in Hong Kong and Taiwan for her song Arigatou..., which achieved commercial success, and was covered by star Sammi Cheng. Her biggest hit in Japan is the single The Power of Smile / Remember the Kiss, which reached number 15 on Oricon charts.

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

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 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 ~since 1976~", 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 '. 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 Bays 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 was 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". The anime featured a re-arranged version of her song "Chouwa 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 21 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 [http://www.kokia.com/ independent website] , and has sung at several lives. Following this, in October, it was announced that French label [http://www.wasabi-records.com Wasabi Records] would be releasing Kokia's new album, "aigakikoeru", in November for an exclusive France release. A Japanese version was released on May 23, 2007 under Victory Entertainment.

Kokia returned to Paris on January 20, 2007 and [http://www.le-bataclan.com/content/index.php/ performed] in Le Bataclan.

Kokia released her newest single, "Tatta Hitotsu no Omoi", on January 23, 2008. It was 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 Sachiko Yasuda) (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 ( [French language| [Fr:] "Tears") (Hiroshi Ashino) (appeared as track #13 on Ashino's La Brise de la Cote d'Azur album. The song was jointly composed with Hiroshi Ashino himself)
*Tokai no Hitsuji (都会の羊; "City Sheep") (Yuki Otake) (appeared as track #3 on Otake's Nemuru Kujaku album. Kokia solely composed this)

Kokia has also featured many new songs that do not 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 ( [Italian language| [It:] "The Flower"))
*Let's Show Them
*The Water is Wide
*Usagi ("Rabbit")
*Vintage Love ~In November~

Discography

ingles

;Original 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] Ningentte Sonna Mono ne (人間ってそんなものね; "Humans are Just Like That")
# [2003.05.21] Kawaranai Koto ~since 1976~ (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/Chouwa oto ~with reflection~ (愛のメロディー / 調和 oto; "Melody of Love / Harmony")
# [2007.03.16] Arigatou...
#*Arigatou... (the pearl edition): BGM for the "Nakeru 2 Channel" conner in "Kawazu-kun no Kensaku Seikatsu"
#*Utau Hito: Ending to the animation movie "Furusato JAPAN"
# [2007.11.21] Follow the Nightingale
#*Follow the Nightingale: Opening to Namco Bandai's Nintendo DS game "Tales of Innocence"
#*say goodbye & good day: Ending to Namco Bandai's Nintendo DS game "Tales of Innocence";Other singles
* [1998.05.21] Ai no Field (愛の輪郭(フィールド); "Fields of Love")
* [2007.09.16] Watashi ni Dekiru Koto (私にできること; "The Things I Can Do")
**Written for the Chūetsu offshore earthquake, only sold in the areas of Kashiwazaki City
* [2008.01.23] Tatta Hitotsu no Omoi (たった1つの想い)

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] aigakikoeru ("Listen for the Love") - French Release
* [2007.05.23] aigakikoeru ("Listen for the Love") - Japanese Release
* [2008.02.20] The Voice

DVD / VHS

* [2006.02.01] jewel ~The Best Video Collection~

Major compilations

* [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

* [http://www.kokia.com/ Official Website]
* [http://kokia-fan.com/ Kokia fans] (Japanese Fansite)
* [http://www.jmusiceuropa.com/uk/database-artist.php?id=101 JAME profile]
* [http://www.jmignited.com/kokia.php J-Music Ignited profile]
* [http://wiki.theppn.org/Kokia Wiki.ThePPN profile]
* [http://www.cdjournal.com/main/artist/artist.php?ano=110133 CDJOURNAL profile]
* [http://www.oricon.co.jp/artists/13439/ Oricon profile]
* [http://happii_kokia.bravejournal.com/ happii Kokia (updated with news)] (English / Spanish)
* [http://kokias.seesaa.net/ kokia s' fan] (Japanese Fansite)
* [http://www.jmusicitalia.com/kokia/ KOKIA @ J-Music Italia]