is a Japanese singer-songwriter and lyricist. Born to jazz saxophonist Hidefumi Toki, she was the lead vocalist for the rock band Cymbals between 1997 and 2003. Following Cymbals' breakup, Toki began her solo career with the release of Standards in 2004 and made her major label debut under Avex's Rhythm Zone with Talkin in 2007. To date, she has released nine original albums and eight cover albums, many of which are performed in both Japanese and English.
Named the “Queen of City Pop” by publications including Natalie, Toki has been praised for her contemporary interpretation of the genre and her contributions to its revival in the 2010s.
Career On February 25, 2004, Toki released her first solo album Standards which was co-produced by her father. It contained covers of songs such as Rodger & Hammerstein's "My Favourite Things" and Earth, Wind and Fire's "September". Her first original album Debut, was released on September 7, 2004 and failed to chart. Additional cover albums Standards on the Sofa and Standards Gift were released on November 10, 2004 and November 9, 2005, respectively.
Following the release of her cover album Weekend Shuffle on December 12, 2006 and its remix album the following week, Toki moved to Avex's Rhythm Zone label. Her first album on the label; Talkin, was released November 21, 2007 to better commercial performance. On January 14, 2009, Toki released her third original album Touch. The album was her first to enter the top 50 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart, peaking at no. 33. In October, Toki began hosting Toki Chic Radio on JFN.
Throughout the early 2010s, Toki continued to release a mix of original and cover albums including Ranhansha Girl on May 25, 2010, Cassetteful Days on October 10, 2012, Heartbreakin''' on June 12, 2013, and Bittersweet on July 29, 2015.
On January 25, 2017, Toki released Pink, which was followed by Safari and Passion Blue on May 30, 2018 and October 2, 2019 respectively. The albums were produced by Tomi Yo, who had previously worked with Toki on Heartbreakin' and Bittersweet. In promotional materials for Passion Blue, the albums were referred to by Toki as the "City Pop Trilogy" A remix album of songs from Pink and Safari with collaborators including Tofubeats and Wonk was released on June 26, 2019.
On July 3, 2020 Toki announced the digital single "Home" as the opening theme for Fruits Basket's second season. The single was released on July 7. It was also announced that Toki wrote the song "Pineapple" for boy band V6, released September 20.Home Town, Toki's ninth cover album, was released on February 17, 2021 and included "Home" as a bonus track. The album was preceded by three singles; "Ai", "Jubilee" and "Kaede".
Personal life Toki announced her marriage to a recording engineer through social media on January 12, 2016. The two met during the production of her 2015 album Bittersweet''.
Discography
Albums
Studio albums YearTitleJPN OriconPeakWeeks2004 Debut——2007Talkin'7922009Touch3352010Ranhansha Girl3242013Heartbreakin'2352015Bittersweet2852017Pink3152018Safari2942019Passion Blue3942021Twilight6832024Lonely Ghost"—" denotes items which failed to chart.
Cover albums YearTitleJPN OriconPeakWeeks2004 Standards——Standards on the Sofa——2005Standards Gift15422006Weekend Shuffle8762008Summerin'9042012Cassetteful Days ~ Japanese Pops Covers ~7032014Standards in a Sentimental Mood5522021Home Town ~ Cover Songs ~583"—" denotes items which failed to chart.
Live albums YearTitleJPN OriconPeakWeeks2005 Live at Village Vanguard——"—" denotes items which failed to chart.
Remix albums YearTitleJPN OriconPeakWeeks2007Toki Asako Remixes Weekend Shuffle24912012Coleur Cafe Meets Toki Asako Standards19712019Toki Chic Remix1641
Compilation albums YearTitleJPN OriconPeakWeeks2009 Middle and Mellow of Asako Toki1661Voice ~ Works Best ~10522011Best! 2004-2011892Toki Asako "Light" ~ CM & Cover Songs ~2962017Highlight - The Very Best of Toki Asako -5732024Peppermint Time ～20th Anniversary Best～343
Extended plays YearTitleJPN OriconPeakWeeks2011Sings the Stories of 6 Girls822
Singles YearTitleJPN OriconAlbumPeakWeeks2004 Love's Theme———Sekai wa Itsumo Dokoka ga Asa (世界はいつも何処かが朝)———2008How Beautiful433Toki Asako "Light"2011Gift ~ Anata wa Madonna ~ (Gift ～あなたはマドンナ～)245Sings the Story of 6 GirlsMr. Summertime——2012Season in the Sun (シーズン・イン・ザ・サン)——Cassetteful DaysHello, My Friend——2018SUNNY SIDE (Wonk Remix)——Toki Chic RemixPINK (Tofubeats Remix)——2019Blue Moon (Yoshinori Sunahara Remix)——Black Savanna (Kan Sano Remix)——Picture Frame———2020Boy from Setagaya (Passion Blue~ Reisei-Yori no Jōnetsu Tour at Space Odd 2020.02.04) (BOYフロム世田谷(PASSION BLUE ～冷静寄りの情熱ツアー at SPACE ODD 2020.02.04))———Home——Home TownAi (アイ)——2021Jubilee——Kaede (楓)——"—" denotes items which failed to chart.
Guest appearances YearTitleOther Artist(s)Album2008Time After TimeLow IQ 01Jenny Special Collection~New Style Of '80s HitsCome TogetherNoneCappuchino DueIsland Moon~Groove Love~NoneIsland Moon~Groove Love~Close To YouNoneThe Goonies 'R' Good EnoughNoneWe Love Cyndi-Tribute to Cyndi Lauper-The Way You Look TonightTaku & GoroRadio IndigoAliens (エイリアンズ)Gen TamuraLovers Covers SweetKizu Darake no Magokoro (傷だらけの真心)Magokoro BrothersOretachi wa Magokoroda! (俺たちは真心だ!)Cabbage UFO (キャベツUFO)NoneKazoku Jikan ~NHK Minna no Uta Cover Shu~ (家族時間～NHKみんなのうたカバー集～)20091989Nona ReevesGo!What's New PussycatNoneAmalka no Komori Uta (アマールカの子守唄) Magic MomentsNoneYuki to Hana no Komori Uta-Bacarach Lullaby Shū- (雪と花の子守唄 -バカラック・ララバイ集)Tonari no Totoro (となりのトトロ)Takeshi NakatsukaGhibli meets Bossa Nova (ジブリ meets Bossa Nova)Universe SongNoneCovers FreeTempo Covered AlbumGoodbye (グッドバイ)ToeFor Long Tomorrow2010Room 305DorlisSwingin' Street 4Summer ButterfliesKazusaKimi to Deatta Sonohi Kara (きみと出会った その日から)Crystal GirlCro-MagnonJointsSundayTokyo No.1 Soul SetSubete Hikari (全て光)What's New PussycatNoneAmalka Book ~Larabai Hen~ (アマールカブック～ララバイ編～)2011Blue Blue BlueTriadicTriadicMoody's MoodJujuDelicious2011 no Sora to Ongaku (2011の空と音楽)NoneKatamari Damacy Novita Original Soundtrack: Katamori Damacy (塊魂ノ･ビ～タ オリジナルサウンドトラック 「かたもりだましい」)2012Little PrayerWacOngaku (音楽)Sir DukeNoneHoney SundayShinkai no Ritorukurai (深海のリトルクライ)Sasakure.UKMaboroshi Jitsu Aesop (幻実アイソーポス)Over the RainbowNoneTokyo Cafe Freak-Jazz FlavorSweet na Mecco ~Nameko no Chīsana Koi Monogatari~ (sweet na mecco ～なめ子の小さな恋物語～)NoneNameko no CD (なめこのCD)Queen of QuietCro-Magnon, Hyouge MonoOtsu (乙)Tsunagaru Mirai ~Vocal Version~ (つながる未来 ～ボーカル・バージョン～)NoneGekijō-Ban Tokyo Skytree Sekaiichi no Himitsu -Original Soundtrack- (劇場版 東京スカイツリー 世界一のひみつ -オリジナルサウンドトラック-) Slow Motion Quasimode Soul cookin' Taka no Shima ~Nan Fujiyūnai~ (鷹の島 ～何不自由ない～) Takanotsumedan, I-Dep Himetsu Kessa Taka no Tsume (秘密結社 鷹の爪)2014 Kuroneko Tango (黒ネコのタンゴ) Ryōta Komatsu Kids Jazz CD (きっずじゃずCD ) Tell Her About It None We Love Piano Man: Tribute To Billy Joel Madoka (まど) Told Early Morning Baby's Star Jam Schroder-Headz Live -Synesthesia-2015 Love Vacances MiKa Beyond Jazz Woman's Liberation Four Wishes None How Beautiful Yu Sakai Jasmine (ジャスミン)2017 All Around The World G. Rina Live & Learn2019 Kenuri no Lady (煙のLADY) Yu Sakai Yu Are Something Kyōnin Girl ~Far Eastern Tale~ (杏仁ガール～Far Eastern Tale～) Schroder-Headz Guest Suite2020 Welcome to my Room DJ Hasabe, Ryohu Wonderful Tomorrow Ping-Pong Tomoyo Harada Renai Shōsetsu 3 ~You & Me (恋愛小説3～You & Me)2021 Hitokuchi Ikaga? (ひとくちいかが?) Maaya Sakamoto Duets2025Goodbye (グッドバイ)Toe, Seigen TokuzawaGoodbye - From THE FIRST TAKE - Single
References
External links