Akino Arai

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In this Japanese name, the family name is Arai.

Akino Arai (新居昭乃 Arai Akino?) is a Japanese singer, song-writer, and lyricist, best known for her works in anime such as Outlaw Star, Noir, Macross Plus, and many others. She was born on August 21, 1959, in Tokyo.

She has performed with Yoko Kanno, Luna Sea, ZABADAK, Samply Red, Yayoi Yula, and was once in a group called Marsh-Mallow. Arai debuted in 1986 with the theme song to anime Windaria, "Beautiful Star" (美しい星 utsukushii hoshi?).

"Voices" from Macross Plus is possibly Arai's most famous song to date.

Contents

[edit] History

Akino grew up in a family full of music lovers and both her parents and her brother introduced her to all types of music. In addition to music, she loved other forms of art such as books (The Diary of Anne Frank), paintings (Picasso), and movies (Jurassic Park). Akino's father left the family when she was 8 years old. Akino wrote music during this time to express her feelings, and her song Furu Purachina actually is a song about her father. She chose to remember the happy times she spent with him and forgave him for leaving.

Akino moved to another city with her mother and brother after her parents' divorce where she continued to write music, but she only performed for family and she also performed at a cafe her mother owned. A friend of Akino who liked her would visit her at her mother's cafe and told her once that if he ever became a music producer he would sign her on. As Akino grew, music was not a profession she thought of entering and she studied to be a painter at a university. She did however enter a song of hers to a large music contest and won which inspired her to continue writing and singing.

After Akino graduated from her university and began working, she got a call from Victor Entertainment (a large music company in Japan.) Her old friend had been true to his word and had asked executives of the company if they that could sign her on as a music artist. She was afraid at first but with her family's encouragment Akino signed on to the music company.

During her time with Victor Entertainment, Akino became emotionally drained and the executives of the company gave her very little creative freedom and she was forced to do songs she did not feel reflected her style. She eventually left the company and lost her inspiration and creativity.

After leaving her music company, Akino began providing music for commercials and TV shows. She became friends (and continues to remain friends) with other music artists such as Tane Tomoko and Ps-Y who asked for her assistance in making their albums, which helped her gain back some creativity. She continued writing and performing music for anime and while working on Please Save My Earth and meeting the author of the original manga and reading the manga, she was able to gain inspiration for her own style once again.

Akino began making more music for anime and her latest albums charted high on the Japanese CD charts.

[edit] Current events

Akino Arai is currently a popular performer and is asked to sing at many conventions, music festivals, and clubs. She continues to write music for commercials and anime such as the recent #1 Japanese box office movie Gedo Senki and the popular Kaze no Stigma. She has found success overseas, especially in France where she has a rather large following after her recent performance in Paris, following her first European live concert in Berlin. She is releasing an album in late 2007 or early 2008. At the moment, Akino is preparing for her own tour across Japan and overseas.

[edit] Personal life

Akino keeps her personal life hidden from the public and she is a very quiet person. Those close to her and those who have met her say she is humble and very kind. Akino Arai is married to a singer and it was rumored that she was going to adopt an African baby; however, the latest rumors say that the father may want to keep custody.

She is very close to fans. At concerts she always takes time to do autographs and take pictures and throughout the concert she is always thanking the audience. She likes to be close to fans by asking them what type of music they want from her and she also writes back to the fans who send her fanmail every chance she can.

Akino is an avid art fan and loves movies and nature.

Akino is very loving to her family and she is very close to her mother and brother.

[edit] Releases

[edit] Official albums

[edit] Official singles

  • Yakusoku (Promise) – 1986
  • Chizu wo Yuku Kumo (A Cloud Which Passes Through the Map) – 1986
  • Kaze to Tori to Sora ~Reincarnation~ (The Wind, the Birds, and the Sky) – 1992
  • Kooru Suna (Frozen Sand) – 1992
  • Dragon Quest Retsuden: Roto no Monshou (The Wings of Youth) – 1996
  • Hiru no Tsuki (The Moon at Noon) – 1998 – end theme to Outlaw Star (episodes 1-13)
  • Tsuki no Ie (The House of the Moon) – 1998 – end theme to Outlaw Star (episodes 14-26)
  • Kanaete (Grant My Wish) – 1999 – end theme to Ayatsuri Sakon
  • Hana no Katachi (Shape of a Flower) – 2001
  • PALME Songs – 2002
  • Kakusei Toshi (The City of Awakenings) – 2002 – end theme to Tokyo Underground
  • Natsukashii Umi (Nostalgic Sea) – 2004 – opening song to Kurau
  • Kimi e Mukau Hikari/Aquarium on the Moon – 2006
  • Kin no Nami, Sen no Nami (Golden Wave, 1000 waves) – 2008 – end theme to ARIA the Origination

[edit] External links

Akino's exhaustive discography listed here in Japanese: ( well over 100 releases! )