, better known as , is a Japanese pop singer from Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture. In a career spanning more than 40 years, she achieved commercial success and popularity in the city pop music scene during the 1980s.
Career Anri's debut release was 1978's "Oribia o Kikinagara" ("While Listening to Olivia"), written by Amii Ozaki.
She achieved commercial success and popularity with her signature classic 1983 release, Timely!!, which spawned the hits "Cat's Eye" and "Kanashimi ga Tomaranai" ("I Can't Stop the Loneliness"). "Cat's Eye" was used as the first opening theme of the eponymous 1983 anime series of the same name and debuted as No. 1 on Countdown Japan. It spent 4 weeks at No. 1 on the Oricon chart. It was one of the first J-pop songs used for an anime theme song. In 2017, she performed the song live at the opening of the touring ice show Fantasy on Ice amongst others. She appeared at the Red and White New Year's Music Special at the end of that same year, performing "Cat's Eye".
Other hit songs include: "Summer Candles" and "Dolphin Ring", both of which became standard songs played at Japanese weddings and receptions. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Anri's albums were bestsellers. She has had highly successful tours—one with an attendance of almost 100,000—and toured Hawaii for the first time in 1987. She sang Furusato, a folklore song, during the 1998 Winter Olympics closing ceremonies . In 2002, she began collaborating with jazz fusion guitarist Lee Ritenour, who produced her 2002 LP Smooth Jam – Quiet Storm. In 2021, Anri collaborated with Mariya Takeuchi on the single "Watching Over You" under the name "Peach & Apricot".
With the renewed popularity of city pop, and her songs having been sampled by many new artists of the vaporwave and future funk genres, Anri has enjoyed new success and popularity outside of Japan. Following her rediscovery, several of her albums were reissued in 2023.
Personal life Anri lives in Los Angeles, California.
Discography
Studio albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Details Peak positionsJPNOricon Released: 1978 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 51 Feelin''' | Released: 1979 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 71 |- ! scope="row" | | Released: 1981 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
! scope="row" |Heaven Beach| Released: 1982 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 89 |- ! scope="row" |Bi・Ki・Ni| Released: 1983 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 27 |- ! scope="row" | Timely!!| Released: 1983 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 1 |- ! scope="row" |Coool| Released: 1984 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 5 |- ! scope="row" |Wave| Released: 1985 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 5 |- ! scope="row" |Mystique| Released: 1986 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 6 |- ! scope="row" |Trouble in Paradise| Released: 1986 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 9 |- ! scope="row" |Summer Farewells| Released: 1987 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 4 |- ! scope="row" |Boogie Woogie Mainland| Released: 1988 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 2 |- ! scope="row" |Circuit of Rainbow| Released: 1990 Label: For Life Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 1 |- ! scope="row" |Mind Cruisin'| Released: 1990 Label: For Life Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 1 |- ! scope="row" |Neutral| Released: 1991 Label: For Life Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 2 |- ! scope="row" |Moana Lani| Released: 1992 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 3 |- ! scope="row" |Angel Whisper| Released: 1996 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 4 |- ! scope="row" |Twin Soul| Released: 1997 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 9 |- ! scope="row" |Moonlit Summer Tales| Released: 1998 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 5 |- ! scope="row" |Ever Blue| Released: 1999 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 24 |- ! scope="row" |The Beach House| Released: 2000 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 20 |- ! scope="row" |My Music| Released: 2001 Label: Dolphin Hearts Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 48 |- ! scope="row" |Sol| Released: 2005 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 192 |- ! scope="row" |Smooth & Groove| Released: 2015 Label: IVY Records Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 52 |- ! scope="row" |Anri''Released: 2018 Label: IVY Records Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 38
Cover albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Details Peak positionsJPNOricon Smooth Jam: AspasiaReleased: 2002 Label: Nippon Crown Formats: CD, digital download, streaming - Smooth Jam: Quiet StormReleased: 2002 Label: Nippon Crown Formats: CD, digital download, streaming - Tears of AnriReleased: 2007 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 25 Tears of Anri IIReleased: 2008 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 30
Self-cover albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Details Peak positionsJPNOricon Anri Again – Best of MyselfReleased: 2009 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 44 Surf City -Coool Breeze-Released: 2013 Label: IVY Records Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 19 Surf & TearsReleased: 2014 Label: IVY Records Formats: CD, digital download, streaming —
Live albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positionsJPNOricon Fun TimeReleased: 2017 Label: Ivy Records Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 84
Compilation albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Details Peak positionsJPNOricon Anri the BestReleased: 1980 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming - Released: 1980 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming - Released: 1982 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 43 Released: 1986 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 13 MeditationReleased: 1987 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 3 My Favorite SongsReleased: 1988 Label: For Life Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 8 My Favorite Songs 2Released: 1991 Label: For Life Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 2 16th Summer BreezeReleased: 1994 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 1 Opus 21Released: 1995 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 1 Anri the BestReleased: 2000 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 8 R134 Ocean DelightsReleased: 2003 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 34 a day in the summer The Best from "16th Summer Breeze" and "OPUS 21"Released: 2007 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming — Heart to Heart 〜with you〜Released: 2011 Label: Warner Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 50 Melodies: Smooth & GrooveReleased: 2016 Label: Warner Music Japan Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 71 Anri Voice to VoiceReleased: 2021 Label: Disc Union Formats: LP — Anri the Best BlueReleased: July 2, 2025 Label: For Life Formats: CD, digital download, streaming 30
Box sets + List of box sets, with selected chart positions Title Details Anri in the BoxReleased: 2020 Label: For Life Formats: 22-CDs Coool / TimelyReleased: 2023 Label: For Life Formats: 2CDs Heaven Beach / Bi・Ki・NiReleased: 2023 Label: For Life Formats: 2CDs
Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Year Single Peak chart positions Label Formats JPNPhysical1978"Olivia wo Kikinagara"（オリビアを聴きながら）65 For Life Records CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming1979"Chichuukai Dream"（地中海ドリーム） 86 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming"Namida wo Umi ni Kaeshitai"（涙を海に返したい） - CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming"Inspiration"（インスピレーション） CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming1980"Kaze no Jealousy"（風のジェラシー） CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming"Kawaii Boring"（可愛いポーリン） CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming1981"Cotton Kibun"（コットン気分） CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming"Ikoku no Dekigoto"（異国の出来事） CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming1982"Espresso de Nerenai"（エスプレッソで眠れない） CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming"Omoikiri American"（思いきりアメリカン） 74 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming"Fly by day"- CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming1983"Lady Sunshine" CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming"Cat's Eye"1 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming"Kanashimi ga Tomaranai"（悲しみがとまらない）4 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming1984"Kimama ni Reflection"（気ままにREFLECTION）7 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming1985"16(Sixteen)Beat"31 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming1986"Oriental Rose"（オリエンタル・ローズ）39 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming"Morning Squall"（モーニング スコール）51 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming"Trouble in Paradise" - CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming1987"Happy end de Furaretai"（HAPPYENDでふられたい）17 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming"Surf & Tears"27 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming1988"Summer Candles"16 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming"Snow Flake no Machikado"（スノーフレイクの街角）12 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming1991"Sweet Emotion"13 CD, digital download, streaming"Back to the basic"43 CD, digital download, streaming"Uso Nara Yasashiku"（嘘ならやさしく）14 CD, digital download, streaming"Last Love"（ラスト ラブ） CD, digital download, streaming1992"Lani: Heavenly Garden"18 CD, digital download, streaming1993"Dolphin Ring"（ドルフィン・リング）9 CD, digital download, streaming1994"All of you"27 CD, digital download, streaming"Share Hitomi no Naka no Hero"（SHARE 瞳の中のヒーロー）47 CD, digital download, streaming1995"Legends of Love"67 CD, digital download, streaming1996"Ano Natsu ni Modoritai"（あの夏に戻りたい）50 CD, digital download, streaming"Mou Hitotsu no Birthday"（もうひとつのBirthday） - CD, digital download, streaming1997"Cat's Eye-2000"47 CD, digital download, streaming"Future For You" - CD, digital download, streaming1998"Eternity"85 CD, digital download, streaming"Natsu no Tsuki"（夏の月）22 CD, digital download, streaming1999"Aenai Setsunasa to"（逢えないせつなさと） - CD, digital download, streaming2001"Sunset Beach Hotel"100 Nippon Crown CD, digital download, streaming"Sunset Beach Hotel" - CD, digital download, streaming2004"Return To The Silence" Nippon Columbia CD, digital download, streaming2005"Field of Lights" CD, digital download, streaming2008"Mou Kanashikunai: Anri 30th Anniversary Edition"（もう悲しくない〜anri 30th anniversary edition〜） 99 Universal Music Japan CD, digital download, streaming
Digital singles Year Single Reference2019"Duke's Anthem""Wasurerarenai Okurimono""Crescent Moon"2023"Cat's Eye 2023"
Collaboration singles YearAlbumChart positions(JP)Label2002"Candle Light" with Tetsurou Oda97Cutting edge2003"Tenshi wa Hitomi wo Tojite" with Hiroyuki Amano -independent2021"Watching over you" with Mariya Takeuchi -Released as a digital single onlyWarner Music Japan2024"Marine Blue Memories" with Tatsuya Ishii -Warner Music Japan
Videography Live albums