, known simply as Aiko (stylized in smallcaps), is a Japanese singer and songwriter. She is most famous for her hit songs Ashita, Kabutomushi, Hanabi, Sakura no Toki, Boyfriend, and Kira Kira.
Overview Aiko is one of the few artists whose music was not available on any subscription streaming services in Japan for many years. However, from midnight on 26 February 2020, her catalog became available on major subscription platforms.
On 14 December 2021, during the final show of her concert tour "Love Like Pop Vol. 22", she told fans that she had married a younger man sometime in 2020. They first met when one of Aiko's friends attended her concert together with him; he had long been a fan of Aiko.
Notation in songwriting credits While her stage name as a singer is written as "aiko", her songwriting credits are registered as "AIKO". She had decided before her major debut that she wanted to use a romanized name, but had not firmly settled on whether it would be written in upper- or lowercase letters. When she applied to JASRAC, it ended up being registered in all caps as "AIKO". On the omnibus album Dōtei Omnibus CD Vol.1, both the artist name and the lyricist/composer credits are written as "AIKO", but from astral box onward, the artist name has been written as "aiko" while the lyricist/composer credits remain "AIKO".
Official Fan Club The official fan club is called "BABY PEENATS". The name was coined by Aiko herself, inspired by Snoopy, which she loves.
Music career In April 1996, Aiko became a radio host of FM Osaka after graduating from college. She released a CD which she produced independently with her friends of college in August. She participated in "The 5th Music Quest Japan Final" on 10 October, and was awarded the Excellence Award shared with Ringo Shiina. She released an EP on an independent label in 1997, followed by a single and a mini-album in 1998.
In July 1998, Aiko debuted on a major label with her first single, "Ashita" (あした), which was used as the theme song for the movie Toire no Hanako-san. In 1999, her fourth single "Hanabi"(花火) became a smash hit.
In 2000, her second album, Sakura no Ki no Shita (桜の木の下), reached number one on the Oricon weekly charts, with the total CD sales amounting to 1.4 million copies. Her sixth single, "Boyfriend", sold over 500,000 copies and became her best-selling CD single. She made her first appearance in NHK's 2000 Kohaku Uta Gassen.
History
Before Major Debut Aiko was born on 22 November 1975 in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. Due to family circumstances, she spent some time living at a relative's house from her upper elementary school years, and it was around this time that she began aiming to become a singer.
As a junior high school student, she told family friend and singer-songwriter Hiroshi Madoka about her dream of becoming a singer, but he advised her against it, saying that it would be a difficult path.
In high school, she began composing songs on the piano. While attending Osaka Prefectural Higashi-Yodogawa High School, she served as vice president of the student council and also played in a band with friends until graduation.
In May 1995, while enrolled at Osaka College of Music Junior College, she participated in the 9th TEENS’ MUSIC FESTIVAL and performed "Aitsu o Furimukaseru Hōhō" ("How to Make Him Turn Around"), a song she had written and composed herself,[note 2] winning the Grand Prix.
In April 1996, after graduating from junior college, she became a presenter on FM Osaka's COUNTDOWN KANSAI TOP40, and subsequently hosted three radio programs in total.[note 3] Around August of the same year, she released the independently produced Dōtei Omnibus CD Vol.1, created jointly with friends as her graduation project.
In October, she entered The 5th MUSIC QUEST JAPAN FINAL, where she received the Excellence Award alongside artists such as Ringo Sheena. [note 4]
In 1997, a producer from Pony Canyon contacted Aiko after noticing her at contests, and on 20 December she released the indie album astral box. In 1998, she released her first indie single "Hachimitsu" and her second indie album GIRLIE. In April, she was approached to sing a film theme song, and talks progressed toward her major-label debut.
Major Life Debut In July 1998, Aiko made her major-label debut with her first single, "Ashita." The song was used as the theme for the film Shinsei Toilet no Hanako-san, gaining significant attention particularly on FM radio stations in the Kansai region. She also held her first solo concert, "LOVE LIKE POP!", at Esaka Boomin Hall.
In 1999, her third single "Hanabi" became a hit, remaining on the Oricon charts for an extended period. She also made her first appearance on Music Station, bringing her national prominence.
In 2000, her second album Sakura no Ki no Shita reached No.1 on the weekly Oricon chart. The album became a major commercial success, selling 1.4 million copies and earning the Japan Gold Disc Award for Rock Album of the Year. The single "Boyfriend," released the same year, sold over 500,000 copies and led to her first appearance on the 51st NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
In 2001, her album Natsufuku became her second consecutive million-seller and again received the Japan Gold Disc Award for Rock Album of the Year. In July, she began the concert tour "LOVE LIKE POP Vol.6." During the Fukuoka performance, she injured her throat and was later diagnosed with acute laryngopharyngitis caused by vocal nodules. Some performances were postponed, but after recovering, she held additional shows and successfully completed the tour.
In 2003, Aiko appeared in her first television commercial, for Glico Café Au Lait, which aired nationwide. Both Kyushu-only versions (Miyazaki and Kagoshima) and national versions were produced, featuring her songs "Chōchō Musubi" and "Andromeda." On 30 August, she held her first outdoor guerrilla free concert, "Love Like Aloha," at Katase Nishihama Beach. Despite being announced only shortly beforehand on mobile sites and her official website, the event attracted 25,000 attendees. In October, she performed at Aoyama Gakuin University's school festival, her first such appearance in about four years.
In 2005, her single "Kira Kira" was selected as the theme song for the television drama Ganbatte Ikimasshoi. Her artist book aiko bon was published by Sony Magazines, detailing aspects of her upbringing and path to debut that had rarely been discussed previously. In Oricon's annual ranking, "Favorite Artists Selected by 20,000 Music Fans," she placed first for two consecutive years, 2005 and 2006.
Following the release of Kanojo, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Oricon charts. On 30 August, she held her second outdoor guerrilla free concert, "Love Like Aloha Vol.2," at Southern Beach Chigasaki. Although a heavy downpour struck right before the show began, the event was completed successfully, drawing an audience of 25,000.
In 2007, she released her first double A-side and 22nd single, "Hoshi no Nai Sekai / Yokogao." The song "Yokogao" was used as the theme song for the TV drama Hotaru no Hikari .
In 2008, she released her 8th album Himitsu on 2 April. Celebrating the 10th anniversary of her major-label debut, she launched the campaign "aiko 10th Anniversary Chotto Ureshii Happy Surprise." As the first installment, reissued editions of all previously released albums (first-press versions) were released. As part of the campaign, she held the live house tour "Ura Love Like Rock ~ 60-fun Ippon Shōbu", open only to winners who purchased Himitsu and applied through a special website. She also held the regular national hall tour "Love Like Pop Vol.11" across 20 venues. As the fourth installment of the campaign, she held her third outdoor guerrilla free concert in two years, "Love Like Aloha Vol.3," at Southern Beach Chigasaki. Despite heavy rain and strong winds the night before, the show was successfully completed, drawing 28,000 attendees.
In 2009, her double A-side and 25th single "Milk / Nageki no Kiss" reached No. 1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart for the first time in her career. It marked the first time in 7 years and 8 months that an artist more than 10 years post-debut achieved their first No. 1 on that chart, following N.M.L.'s "Zero Landmine." That same year, she provided the song "Ano Ko no Yume" as the theme for the NHK morning drama Welkame, and performed the song—which had not yet been included on any single or album—at the 60th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (later included on the 2010 album BABY). From July to September, she held the live house tour "Love Like Rock Vol.4," followed by the hall tour "Love Like Pop Vol.12" from October to February 2010.
In 2010, she released her 26th single "Modorenai Ashita" on 3 February, followed by her first album in two years, the 9th album BABY, on 31 March. About one month later, on 21 April, she released her 27th single "Mukaiawase." Beginning with Yokohama Arena on 24 April, she launched her first national arena tour, "Love Like Pop Vol.13," covering 7 locations and 10 performances. In June, she held additional shows—including her first-ever performance at Yoyogi National Gymnasium First Gymnasium—under the title "LOVE LIKE POP vol.13 Tottemo Ureshii TsuiKa Kōen. Tsukiyo no Ban ni Kanojo wa Arawaru."
On 23 February 2011, in her 13th year since debut, she released her first best albums, Matome I and Matome II, simultaneously. Starting in April, she held the national hall tour "Love Like Pop Vol.14." The Sendai performance was postponed due to the Great East Japan Earthquake but was later held in August. On 11 May, she released her 28th double A-side single "Koi no Super Ball / Home." In August, she held the fully invitation-only special live event "'Calpis Water' presents aiko Special Live" at CLUB QUATTRO in Shibuya and Shinsaibashi. Beginning 22 October, she held the live house tour "Love Like Rock Vol.5," and on 23 November, she released her 29th single "Zutto."
On 21 March 2012, she released her first music video compilation in approximately five and a half years, Utau Inu 4. On 5 May, she performed her new song "Kuchibiru" on Music Station, and radio airplay for the track began later that evening. Starting 9 May, the song was used in commercials for Ito En's "Futatsu no Hataraki Catechin Jasmine Tea." On 20 June, she released her 10th album Toki no Silhouette, her first in 2 years and 3 months, which included previously released singles such as "Mukaiawase," "Koi no Super Ball / Home," "Zutto," as well as the new song "Kuchibiru." Beginning in July, she held the national hall tour "aiko Live Tour LOVE LIKE POP Vol.15" (21 locations, 31 performances). On 30 August, she held her first outdoor guerrilla free concert in four years, "Love Like Aloha Vol.4," at Southern Beach Chigasaki, attracting 31,000 people despite being announced only via the official website and mobile site.
On 19 and 20 January 2013, as additional performances to the previous year's tour, she launched the arena tour "LOVE LIKE POP Vol.15 add," starting at Yokohama Arena, which included her first performance at Saitama Super Arena. Beginning 13 July, in celebration of the 15th anniversary of her major debut, she simultaneously held four tours—including a fan-club-exclusive tour—("LOVE LIKE ROCK Vol.0," "LOVE LIKE ROCK Vol.6," "LOVE LIKE POP Vol.16," and "LOVE LIKE POP Vol.16.5"). On 17 July, immediately after the tours began, she released her 30th double A-side single "Loveletter / Shigatsu no Ame." Beginning 3 September, the new, previously unreleased song "Kimi no Tonari" was used in commercials for Lotte Ghana Milk Chocolate. A scheduled 4 October performance at NHK Hall was postponed due to illness, and she withdrew from scheduled live TV appearances; however, after completing the rescheduled show on 4 December, she finished all tour dates.