Kokia (singer)

Kokia was born in 1976.{{cite web | url=http://www.kokia.com/20/2030/2_1.html | title=配信シングル３部作＜Life Trilogy〜いのちの３部作〜＞第２章、配信決定！！ | publisher=Kokia Web | language=ja | access-date=March 20, 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091130125132/http://www.kokia.com/20/2030/2_1.html | archive-date=November 30, 2009 }} She started playing the violin when she was two and a half years old, but preferred the family piano.{{cite web | url=http://www.habatakifukushi.jp/interview/int04.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308114819/http://www.habatakifukushi.jp/interview/int04.html | archive-date=March 8, 2005 | script-title=ja:第４回 ＫＯＫＩＡさん | publisher=Shakai Fukushi Hōjin (社会福祉法人) | language=ja | access-date=March 8, 2010}} Often instead of playing with toys, Kokia played with the family piano.{{cite web | url=http://music.news.livedoor.com/person/biography?person_code=029865 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713215527/http://music.news.livedoor.com/person/biography?person_code=029865 | archive-date=July 13, 2011 | title=KOKIA – バイオグラフィ – 音楽 – livedoor ニュース | publisher=Livedoor | language=ja | access-date=March 8, 2010}} Kokia remembers putting picture books on the music stand and creating music that represented the scenes.

When Kokia was 10, she went abroad to America with her sister Kyoko to study at the Summer music school (and did so again when she was 14). In high school, she studied in vocal music{{cite web | url=http://www.kokia.com/30/3010/ | script-title=ja:プロフィール | publisher=Kokia Web | language=ja | access-date=March 8, 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100205081608/http://www.kokia.com/30/3010/ | archive-date=February 5, 2010 }} and opera, later majoring in opera at the Toho Gakuen School of Music.{{cite web | url=http://artist.cdjournal.com/a/kokia/110133 | script-title=ja:アーティスト・プローフィル | publisher=CDJournal | language=ja | access-date=March 8, 2010| title=KOKIA - CDJournal }}{{cite web | url=http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-4694-private-interview-with-kokia.html | title=Private Interview with KOKIA | publisher=JaME World |date=May 20, 2008 | access-date=March 8, 2010}}

While at university, a friend gave a demo tape Kokia had recorded to a record executive. Kokia was then signed to Pony Canyon, and debuted in 1998 while still at university. She created her stage name by reversing the syllables of her birth name, Akiko (something she had done as a game when she was very young). Her first released song, "For Little Tail," was used as the opening theme song for the game Tail Concerto (although this was released as the secondary track to the "Road to Glory" single album.){{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}

The leading single from the album, {{nihongo|"Arigatō..."|ありがとう...|Thank You}}, found success in Hong Kong. It was awarded third in the 1999 Hong Kong International Popular Song Award. Hong Kong entertainer Sammi Cheng covered the song, and released it as the eponymous track from her album "Arigatou" in October 1999.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/arigatou/id278579523?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 |title=Arigatou by Sammi Cheng |publisher=iTunes Store |access-date=March 8, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106150648/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/arigatou/id278579523?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 }} The song became a big hit in Hong Kong, reaching to no2 in the pop charts there.

After the release of her debut album, Kokia did not continue to release music with Pony Canyon.{{cite web | url=http://www.tsutaya.co.jp/artist/00064902.html | title=ＫＯＫＩＡ アーティストページ – TSUTAYA online | publisher=Tsutaya | language=ja | access-date=March 8, 2010 | archive-date=April 24, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424052937/http://www.tsutaya.co.jp/artist/00064902.html | url-status=dead }} Her first releases after this were five songs for Luna Sea vocalist Ryuichi Kawamura's production project, ЯKS, in 2000.{{cite web | url=http://www.neowing.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=VICL-60700 | title=[CD] 彼方まで / RKS |work=Neowing | language=ja | access-date=March 8, 2010}} The album was released under Victor Entertainment, heralding in Kokia's relationship with the label. In 2001, she re-debuted in proper under Victor, and released three singles.

Kokia continued to have success throughout Asia, with her music used in Asia-wide ad campaigns. In 2001, she performed at two high-profile Chinese concerts: an anti-drugs concert to 30,000 people with the so-called Four Heavenly Kings of Hong Kong entertainment (Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok and Leon Lai),{{cite web | url=http://www.rthk.org.hk/press/chi/20011117_66_3913.html | script-title=zh:年輕偶像參與港台「禁毒滅罪耀北區」音樂會 發揚正義最大信息 呼籲大眾切勿以身試法 | work=RTHK | language=zh | date=November 17, 2001 | access-date=March 8, 2010 | archive-date=September 27, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927152352/http://www.rthk.org.hk/press/chi/20011117_66_3913.html | url-status=dead }} and also to over 120,000 people at a 2001 new year's countdown event in Taiwan. In January 2002, Kokia released her second album, Trip Trip, her first album to be self-produced.

In 2003, however, Kokia first gained public notice. Her single "Kawaranai Koto (Since 1976)" was used as the drama Itoshiki Mono e's theme song, breaking Kokia into the top 50.{{cite web | title=オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 | url=http://ranking.oricon.co.jp | work=Oricon | access-date=March 8, 2010}} (subscription only) Her biggest hit, however, was "The Power of Smile/Remember the Kiss." It gained notoriety after being used in a Kao haircare commercial. After which, Kokia was asked to perform on popular music show Music Station. The single broke the top 20 in Japan and was certified gold by the RIAJ.{{cite web | url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200310.html | script-title=ja:ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2003年10月 |work=RIAJ | language=ja |access-date=March 8, 2010}} The resulting album, Remember Me, also broke the top 20, and sold over 45,000 copies.

Her Pony Canyon-era songs "I Catch a Cold" and {{nihongo|"Shiroi Yuki"|白い雪|White Snow}} were used in the soundtrack for the popular Chinese drama At the Dolphin Bay in 2003.{{cite web | url=http://www.yesasia.com/global/at-the-dolphin-bay-original-soundtrack/1002839469-0-0-0-en/info.html | title=At The Dolphin Bay Original Soundtrack |work=YesAsia |access-date=March 8, 2010}}

Kokia's fourth album Uta ga Chikara (released in 2004) also found modest success, selling 20,000 copies. The biggest single from this album, "Yume ga Chikara," was used as the encouragement song for the Japan team at the 2004 Athens Olympic games.

While Kokia has been associated with game/anime music since her debut, it was in 2006 when a theme song of hers became most successful. Her single "Ai no Melody/Chōwa Oto (With Reflection)" was used as the two theme songs for the anime film Origin: Spirits of the Past, and it reached number 30 on Oricon's single charts.

In February 2006, Kokia released her greatest hits collection, Pearl: The Best Collection, and a greatest video clips collection, Jewel: The Best Video Collection.{{cite web | url=http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Discographylist/A012051.html | title=KOKIA｜ディスコグラフィー｜@Victor Entertainment |work=Victor Entertainment | language=ja |access-date=March 8, 2010}} The best collection reached number 19 on the albums charts.

File:Kokia signingwasabi.jpg

From 2006 onwards, Kokia began working in European markets, as well as taking greater control over her musical releases. In January, she held her first European concert in Paris, and performed at the Midem music industry trade fair. Pearl was released a month earlier than its Japanese release throughout France and Spain.

In June 2006, Kokia decided to set up her own production company separate from Victor Entertainment, called Anco & Co., after desiring more creative control over her works. In November, she debuted in France with the anime-based retailer Wasabi Records, releasing her 5th album Aigakikoeru: Listen for the Love there six months before its Japanese release.{{cite web|url=http://www.kaze.fr/wasabi/index_boutique_fiche_famille.php?f=16a96c4d7bf1f3d9126ba8d7dfa8a573&typeproduit=4 |title=KOKIA – ai ga kikoeru |work=Wasabi Records |language=fr |access-date=March 8, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723153837/http://www.kaze.fr/wasabi/index_boutique_fiche_famille.php?f=16a96c4d7bf1f3d9126ba8d7dfa8a573&typeproduit=4 |archive-date=July 23, 2011 }}

In November 2007, Kokia had her second successful game/anime tie-up single, with "Follow the Nightingale." The song, used for the game Tales of Innocence, reached number 30 on Oricon.

Kokia's greater creative control allowed for her music to be released at a much greater pace. In 2008, Kokia released three albums: the neoclassical The Voice, the Ireland-themed album Fairy Dance and her first Christmas album Christmas Gift. In 2009, Kokia released two albums simultaneously (Kokia Infinity Akiko: Balance and Akiko Infinity Kokia: Balance) to celebrate her 10th anniversary. She also held her first world tour, with performances in Japan, France, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and Germany.

For Kokia's 11th album, Real World, she travelled to the Tunisian Sahara desert for inspiration.{{cite web | url=http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/4592802/ | title=KOKIA、サハラ砂漠に感謝と感動を学ぶ |work=Barks | language=ja |date=February 7, 2010 |access-date=March 8, 2010}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

In 2014, she sang at a number of events in collaboration with Billboard Live Japan which lead up to her first performance with a full orchestra in December 2014, where she sang with the Nihon philharmonic orchestra in collaboration with Billboard Japan.{{cite web|last1=billboard|first1=billboard|title=KOKIA falling in love with the orchestra|url=http://billboard-cc.com/classics/2014/08/kokia-falling-in-love-with-the-orchestra%E3%80%80report/|website=Billboard-cc.com|publisher=Billboard japan|access-date=October 16, 2015}}

In 2017, she sang a memorial song at the joint memorial service for the 10th anniversary of the Chūetsu offshore earthquake (hosted by Kashiwazaki City and Kariwa Village).{{Cite web|url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20170717/ddl/k15/040/048000c|title=中越沖地震：１０年 安全なまち願い 柏崎で合同追悼式 ／新潟|access-date=April 18, 2021|archive-date=April 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418011321/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20170717/ddl/k15/040/048000c|url-status=dead}}

Since 2017, she has been releasing animal-themed albums as part of the tontonton project, under the Kokia Jirushi.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kokia.com/blog/2017/ton-ton-ton.html|title = Ton ton ton「どうぶつの音楽会」 | otonami Blog}}

While the concert was canceled due to COVID-19, KOKIA started the live streaming "1 to 1 Live for you" in April 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://realsound.jp/2020/04/post-545896.html|title=KOKIA、生配信ライブ『1 to 1 Live for you』で届けた音楽を通して人とつながるという温かい循環|date=April 29, 2020 }} This live streaming is often held on the official KOKIA channel on YouTube.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Nj69kzQ3ARDEuetOibj6A|title = KOKIA official - YouTube|website = YouTube}} In 2020, she started to distribute the singles digitally while using TuneCore, a music digital distribution service.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tunecore.co.jp/artists/KOKIA?artistPagePath=KOKIA&lang=en|title=KOKIA}} In 2020, she moved to London, England.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kokia.com/blog/2020/post-1346.html|title=Her blog on September 9, 2020|access-date=2021-09-23}}

Her voice is often praised by critics, for its clarity of sound, and she is highly rated as a live singer.{{cite web | url=http://listen.jp/store/diskreview_6117.htm | script-title=ja:新譜レビュー > ＫＯＫＩＡ／歌がチカラ | work=Listen.jp | language=ja | access-date=March 8, 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226005801/http://listen.jp/store/diskreview_6117.htm | archive-date=December 26, 2008 }}{{cite web | title=試聴記コメント／ガイドコメント | url=http://artist.cdjournal.com/d/songbird/3199051558 | work=CDJournal | access-date=March 9, 2010}}

In 2004, on the TV show {{Nihongo|Daimei no Nai Ongaku-kai 21|題名のない音楽会21}}, Kokia attempted to break the Guinness World Record for the longest note held. In her a cappella performance of 'O Sole Mio, she held a note for 29.5 seconds, but did not break the record.Daimei no Nai Ongaku-kai 21. TV Asahi. Tokyo, July 18, 2004. Retrieved 8 March 2010.

Since her second album, Trip Trip, Kokia has written every original song that appears on her albums. Kokia usually writes all the music for the game/anime OSTs songs in which she appears (though this is not a rule, and some songs have been written by others).

Kokia writes the majority of her songs in Japanese, though many are in English or partial English (such as "The Rule of the Universe," "Say Hi!!", and "So Sad So Bad."). She occasionally branches into different languages, such as Italian ("Il Mare dei Suoni," "Insonnia.") and Irish ("Taimse im' chodhadh" and "Siuil a Run" from her Irish-themed album Fairy Dance).

Occasionally in songs, such as {{nihongo|"Chōwa Oto"|調和　ｏｔｏ|Harmony, Sound}} and "Follow the Nightingale," Kokia writes lyrics in code. For both of these songs, they featured reversed syllables (such as the lyric "nimiunooto denzush," when reversed gives {{nihongo|"Oto no umi ni shizunde"|音の海に 沈んで|sinking in a sea of sound}}).{{cite web | url=http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/jpop/essentials/kokia/index.html | title= KOKIA Special Feature |work=CDJapan |year=2006 |access-date=March 8, 2010}} In "Chōwa Oto," Kokia also has a separate code (the numbers 3 25 15 21 23 and 1) which correspond to the letters of the English alphabet (1=A, 26=Z) to write the song's name in wāpuro rōmaji (C Y O U W A).

Violinist Kyoko Yoshida is Kokia's older sister,{{citation needed|date=March 2010}} and also attended the Toho Gakuen School of Music.{{cite web | url=http://www.kyokoyoshida.com/profile/index.html | title=ヴァイオリニスト 吉田恭子 オフィシャルサイト：Profile |work=Kyoko Yoshida | language=ja |access-date=March 28, 2010}}

Kokia's grandfather was the manager of a Japanese shipbuilding company.{{cite web|url=http://www.kokia.com/blog/602006/ |script-title=ja:＋＋＋ お船の歌 ＋＋＋ |work='Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog |language=ja |date=July 10, 2006 |access-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402101226/http://www.kokia.com/blog/602006/ |archive-date=April 2, 2010 }} She created a short-film {{nihongo|"Ojii-chan no Tulip"|おじいちゃんのチューリップ|Granddad's Tulips}} and a song (Grandfather's Ship) in his honour.{{cite web | url=http://www.jame-world.com/us/articles-52150-exclusive-interview-and-video-message-from-kokia.html | title=Exclusive Interview and Video Message from KOKIA | publisher=JaME World |date=July 18, 2009 | access-date=March 8, 2010}}{{cite web | url=http://www.kokia.com/blog/50/ | script-title=ja:おじいちゃんのチューリップ観た？ | work='Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog | language=ja | date=July 2, 2007 | access-date=March 27, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124075006/http://www.kokia.com/blog/50/ | archive-date=November 24, 2007 | url-status=dead }}

Kokia was raised as a Christian, and attended Sunday mass from a young age.{{cite web|url=http://www.kokia.com/blog/602006/ |title=★ HAPPY NIGHT 4 ★ |work='Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog |language=ja |date=June 17, 2006 |access-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402101226/http://www.kokia.com/blog/602006/ |archive-date=April 2, 2010 }} She writes many of her songs about God, such as "Why Do I Sing?," "Everlasting," {{nihongo|"Inori ni mo Nita Utsukushii Sekai"|祈りにも似た美しい世界}} and {{nihongo|"Sei Naru Yoru ni"|聖なる夜に|In the Holy Night}}.

Kokia has done humanitarian work for various causes. At high school, she was a member of the volunteer committee, and strived to help the disabled, elderly and AIDS victims. She has performed at a concert for drug abuse, supported the Japanese Social Welfare Organisation (社会福祉法人), and released a special charity single for the victims of the 2007 Niigata earthquake. Kokia also feels great sympathy for the September 11 attacks. She gave out 10,000 copies of a special EP, Music Gift, on the streets of New York City in memory of the attacks. Many of Kokia's songs are messages about humanitarian/environmental causes,{{cite web | url=http://www.ocn.ne.jp/ecoplus/life/interview/001.html | title=第1回 KOKIAさんにん聞くーエコって本当は自分に優しいことかもー | work=OCN | language=ja | access-date=March 8, 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224211010/http://www.ocn.ne.jp/ecoplus/life/interview/001.html | archive-date=February 24, 2012 }} or about ways for people to live their lives better.{{cite web | url=http://www.cdjournal.com/main/cdjpush/kokia/1000000309 | title=インタビュー：KOKIA、配信限定シングル３部作の第１弾 "いのち"をテーマに歌われる、ポジティヴなメッセージ |work=CDJournal | language=ja |date=August 6, 2009 |access-date=March 8, 2010}} Kokia primarily makes songs about love and peace.{{cite web | url=http://www.viviana.jp/weblog/kokia/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930150203/http://viviana.jp/weblog/kokia/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 30, 2007 | title=Musictranslator | work=Viviana | language=ja | access-date=March 8, 2010 }}

Kokia is an avid dog lover. Throughout most of the 2000s, she owned four dogs: Donna, Muta, Nero and Titti.{{cite web | url=http://www.kokia.com/blog/40/ | title=BLOG: 犬の話 | work='Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog | language=ja | access-date=March 28, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124074935/http://www.kokia.com/blog/40/ | archive-date=November 24, 2007 | url-status=dead }} However, Donna died in February 2010.{{cite web | url=http://www.kokia.com/blog/50/ | script-title=ja:春風にのって | work='Otonami' Music Translator Kokia's Blog | language=ja | date=March 20, 2010 | access-date=March 28, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124075006/http://www.kokia.com/blog/50/ | archive-date=November 24, 2007 | url-status=dead }} She has made references to dogs in several of her songs, such as {{nihongo|"Shiroi Inu to Odoru Yoru"|白い犬と踊る夜|Night Dancing with a White Dog}}, and in "Say Hi!!," where the lyrics speak of "driving to the beach to play with our Donna."{{cite web | url=http://music.goo.ne.jp/lyric/LYRUTND49215/index.html | title=Say Hi!! KOKIA 歌詞情報 – goo 音楽 | work=Goo | language=ja | access-date=March 28, 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229232351/http://music.goo.ne.jp/lyric/LYRUTND49215/index.html | archive-date=February 29, 2012 }} Many of her blog posts are centred around her dogs, with a special category dedicated to these posts.

{{main|Kokia discography}}

• Songbird (1999)
• Trip Trip (2002)
• Remember Me (2003)
• Uta ga Chikara (2004)
• Aigakikoeru: Listen for the Love (2006)
• The Voice (2008)
• Fairy Dance: Kokia Meets Ireland (2008)
• Christmas Gift (2008)
• Kokia Infinity Akiko: Balance (2009)
• Akiko Infinity Kokia: Balance (2009)
• Real World (2010)
• Moment (2010)
• Kokoro Bakari (2012)
• Where to Go My Love? (2013)
• Color of life (live in 15th anniversary concert) (2014)
• I Found You (2015)
• Tokyo Mermaid (2018)

KOKIA Jirushi limited album

• Watching from Above (2016)
• Animal CD vol.1 (2017)
• Animal CD vol.2 (2018)
• Watching from Above 2 (2019)
• Animal CD vol.3 (2020)
• Hoshi no uta kaze no naka (2020)
• Konosekai no katasumide (2021)

• Mama no daijisan, SHUFU TO SEIKATSU SHA, 2019, {{ISBN|978-4391153125}}
• Happy ryoku—oyako no "Happy" wo sodateru, ASA Publishing Co., Ltd.,2019, {{ISBN|978-4866671420}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.kokia.com/}} {{in lang|ja}}

• {{Official website|http://www.jvcmusic.co.jp/-/Discography/A012051/-.html|name=Victor Entertainment Label Site}} {{in lang|ja}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Nj69kzQ3ARDEuetOibj6A Official YouTube] {{in lang|ja}}
• [https://space.bilibili.com/473164428?from=search&seid=10304821639578334998 Official bilibili] {{in lang|zh}}
• [http://myspace.com/kokiavoice Official MySpace]
• [https://www.tunecore.co.jp/artists/KOKIA?artistPagePath=KOKIA&lang=en TuneCore (music digital distribution service)] {{in lang|en}}
• [http://www.kokia.com/blog/ KOKIA Blog "otonami"] {{in lang|ja}}
• [https://ameblo.jp/kokia-blog/ KOKIA blog "otonami×ameblo" (2010 to 2013 only.)] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Kokia}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kokia}}

Category:1976 births

Category:Living people

Category:Japanese women pop singers

Category:Japanese women singer-songwriters

Category:Japanese Christians

Category:Toho Gakuen School of Music alumni

Category:English-language singers from Japan

Category:Victor Entertainment artists

Category:Pony Canyon artists

Category:21st-century Irish-language singers

Category:Singers from Tokyo

Category:Anime musicians

Category:20th-century Japanese women singers

Category:20th-century Japanese singers

Category:21st-century Japanese women singers

Category:21st-century Japanese singers