Quick Facts
Biography
Aya Matsuura (松浦 亜弥, born June 25, 1986) also known to her fans as Ayaya, is a Japanese pop singer and actress from Himeji, Hyogo, Japan. Her husband is Keita Tachibana and as a result, her legal name is Aya Tachibana (橘亜弥).
Career
2000–2009: Hello! Project
Aya auditioned in 2000 for the fourth Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition and was selected along with Sheki-Dol to become a part of what was later known as Hello! Project. It is a common misconception that Aya originally auditioned to be a part of Morning Musume, which she did not. After being chosen from that audition, Matsuura began her solo career. In time, she would become one of Hello! Project's biggest acts.
Aside from a successful solo career, Matsuura (nicknamed Ayaya), also did numerous collaborations with other members of Hello! Project, including special, usually short lived groups Gomattou with Maki Goto and Miki Fujimoto; Nochiura Natsumi with Maki Goto and Natsumi Abe; and DEF.DIVA with Maki Goto, Natsumi Abe, and Rika Ishikawa. She also did the "Folk Song" series which feature Yuko Nakazawa and other Hello! Project artists, as well as Hello! Project's shuffle groups (3nin Matsuri in 2001, Odoru 11 in 2002, Salt5 in 2003, and the larger H.P. All Stars in 2004).
She also formed the duo GAM with Miki Fujimoto in debuted September 2006. Their first single, "Thanks!" reached the #2 position on the Oricon.
Matsuura starred in the Japanese film Sukeban Deka: Codename = Asamiya Saki (known internationally as Yo-Yo Girl Cop) opposite Rika Ishikawa, released on September 30, 2006.
On October 9, 2006 both concerts she was supposed to hold that day were cancelled, as she was not feeling well. Soon several unsourced rumours emerged considering the possibility she might be suffering from Temporomandibular joint disorder. Following the cancellation of the two concerts, Matsuura's management confirmed the rumours, reported the young idol had been taking painkillers to continue working and scheduled a press conference to discuss her condition. On the following day Matsuura made a public statement on PBS apologizing to her fans and expressing her desire to get back to her singing career as soon as possible.
Since her press conference, Matsuura returned to her normal hosting duties on her weekly radio show, "Matsuura Aya no All Night Nippon" and returned to singing in a limited capacity, as demonstrated on her appearance on Hey! Hey! Hey! Music Champ on October 23, 2006.
On March 8, 2008, Matsuura—as a secret guest—performed at the opening ceremony of the Fourth Special Olympics Japan Winter National Games, a national event in preparation of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games held in Boise, Idaho. She performed the song "Kizuna", which was released on May 21, 2008 as her 20th single.
2008–Present: Graduation and Reshuffle
It was officially announced on October 19, 2008 that Matsuura would be graduating from Hello! Project along with the rest of Elder Club. Before her graduation, Matsuura released her fifth studio album, Omoi Afurete, on January 21, 2009, and her 21st single, "Chocolate Damashii", was released on February 11 for Valentine's Day.
Matsuura graduated from Hello! Project on March 31, 2009, but months later, on August 26, 2009, Matsuura launched her own blog called Ayablog and announced that her Omoi Afurete tour will be her last for two or three years. However, she has since released a Cover Album (Click You, Link Me, 2010). In late August 2011, it was revealed that she is diagnosed with endometriosis, which has been and will continue to limit her concert activities in the future. However, from 2009 to 2013, She has consistently released Acoustic Concerts, known as "Aya Matsuura's Maniac Series". She was signed to UpFront Create, along with some of the members of the Hello Project! Elder Club.
Other Appearances
Matsuura has appeared in many commercials for various companies; notably Pretz snack foods, Epson color printers, and Kirin beverages. She has also taken part and co-hosts the television show Utawara with other names in Japanese entertainment such as Johnny Jimusho's Jun Matsumoto.
Personal life
Matsuura and Keita Tachibana registered their marriage on August 4, 2013, after almost 12 years of dating. They held their wedding ceremony in Hawaii on October 7. On December 21, 2014, the couple announced the birth of their first child, a baby girl.
Discography and releases
Studio Albums
| # | Title | Release date | Peak rank | Total sales | Weeks on chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Kiss | January 1, 2002 | #2 | 301,530 | 13 |
| 2 | T.W.O | January 29, 2003 | #2 | 316,986 | 18 |
| 3 | X3 | January 1, 2004 | #10 | 124,939 | 9 |
| 4 | Double Rainbow (ダブル レインボウ) | October 10, 2007 | #22 | 11,764 | 2 |
| 5 | Omoi Afurete (想いあふれて) | January 21, 2009 | #29 | 4,873 | 1 |
Cover Albums
| # | Title | Release date | Peak rank | Total sales | Weeks on chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | Naked Songs | November 29, 2006 | #24 | 18,961 | 2 |
| 6 | Click you, Link Me | November 24, 2010 | #? | ? | ? |
Compilations
| # | Title | Release date | Peak rank | Total sales | Weeks on chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| – | Matsuura Aya Best 1 (松浦亜弥ベスト1) | March 24, 2005 | #2 | 121,361 | 13 |
| 7 | 10th Anniversary Best | December 21, 2011 | #? | ? | ? |
Singles
| # | Title | Release date | Peak rank | Total sales | Weeks on charts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Dokki Doki! Love Mail" (ドッキドキ! Loveメール) | April 11, 2001 | #10 | 72,070 | 6 |
| 2 | "Tropical Koishiteru" (トロピカ～ル恋して～る) | June 13, 2001 | #7 | 64,490 | 6 |
| 3 | "Love Namidairo" (Love涙色) | September 5, 2001 | #3 | 172,340 | 9 |
| 4 | "100Kai no Kiss" (100回のKiss) | November 28, 2001 | #2 | 102,820 | 7 |
| 5 | "Momoiro Kataomoi" (♥ 桃色片思い ♥) | February 6, 2002 | #2 | 224,480 | 13 |
| 6 | "Yeah! Meccha Holiday" (Yeah! めっちゃホリディ) | May 29, 2002 | #2 | 130,960 | 19 |
| 7 | "The Bigaku" (The 美学) | September 19, 2002 | #2 | 115,480 | 18 |
| 8 | "Sōgen no Hito" (草原の人) | December 11, 2002 | #2 | 92,995 | 11 |
| 9 | "Ne~e?" (ね～え?) | March 12, 2003 | #3 | 121,776 | 10 |
| 10 | "Good Bye Natsuo" (Good Bye 夏男) | June 4, 2003 | #3 | 88,483 | 11 |
| 11 | "The Last Night" | September 26, 2003 | #3 | 57,451 | 8 |
| 12 | "Kiseki no Kaori Dance" (奇跡の香りダンス) | January 28, 2004 | #3 | 80,322 | 7 |
| 13 | "Hyacinth" (風信子 (ヒヤシンス)) | March 10, 2004 | #7 | 56,400 | 13 |
| 14 | "Your Song ~Seishun Sensei~" (Your Song ~青春宣誓~) Theme song of "Aijo Ippon!" | July 14, 2004 | #3 | 41,306 | 10 |
| 15 | "Watarasebashi" (渡良瀬橋, "Watarase Bridge")† | October 20, 2004 | #6 | 47,857 | 6 |
| – | "Tensai! Let's Go Ayayamu" (天才! Let's Go あややム) Theme song of "Hamtaro the Movie 4" | November 26, 2004 | #47 | – | 5 |
| 16 | "Zutto Suki de Ii desu ka" (ずっと 好きでいいですか) | February 23, 2005 | #7 | 45,022 | 8 |
| 17 | "Ki ga Tsukeba Anata" (気がつけば あなた) | September 21, 2005 | #5 | 56,822 | 9 |
| 18 | "Suna wo Kamu you ni... Namida" (砂を噛むように・・・Namida) | February 1, 2006 | #14 | 20,212 | 5 |
| 19 | "Egao" (笑顔) | August 29, 2007 | #16 | 13,286 | 5 |
| 20 | "Kizuna" (きずな) | May 21, 2008 | #20 | 6,007 | 3 |
| 21 | "Chocolate Damashii" (チョコレート魂)†† | February 11, 2009 | #19 | 4,028 | 2 |
| 22 | "Futari Osaka" (ふたり大阪) | March 29, 2011 | |||
| 23 | "Subject: Sayonara" (Subject: さようなら) | December 20, 2011 |
† A cover of Chisato Moritaka's 1993 original. The bridge in the title is one of twelve bridges that cross the Watarase River in the city of Ashikaga.
†† Last release within Hello! Project, as she graduated soon after its release.
DVDs
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| Matsuura Aya First Concert Tour 2002 Haru "First Date" at Tokyo Kokusai Forum (松浦亜弥First Concert Tour 2002春「First Date」at東京国際フォーラム) | August 7, 2002 |
| Matsuura Aya Single M Clips 1 (松浦亜弥シングルMクリップ1) | October 9, 2002 |
| Bi-Shojo Nikki I, II (美・少女日記 I, II) | December 11, 2002 |
| Aya no DNA (亜弥のDNA) | January 16, 2003 |
| Yeah! Meccha Live at Nakano Sun Plaza (Yeah! めっちゃライブ at 中野サンプラザ) | February 19, 2003 |
| Alo-Hello! (アロハロ!) | February 26, 2003 |
| Sōgen no Hito (草原の人) – With the original casting | March 5, 2003 |
| Ne~e? (ね～え?) | March 12, 2003 |
| Kotomikku Daijiten Jōkan, Gekan (ことミック大辞典 上巻, 下巻) | May 2, 2003 |
| Musical "Sōgen no Hito" (ミュージカル 「草原の人」) | May 21, 2003 |
| Good Bye Natsuo (Good Bye 夏男) | June 4, 2003 |
| Moero! Manābu 1, 2 (燃えろ!マナー部1, 2) | July 2, 2003 |
| Concert Tour 2003 Haru ~Matsu Ringu Pink~ (コンサートツアー2003春～松リングPink～) | September 18, 2003 |
| Kiseki no Kaori Dance (奇跡の香りダンス。) | January 28, 2004 |
| Matsuura Aya Concert Tour 2003 Aki ~Ayaya Hit Parade!~ (松浦亜弥コンサートツアー2003秋 ～あややヒットパレード!～) | February 4, 2004 |
| Matsuura Aya Single V Clips 2 (松浦亜弥シングルVクリップス2) | April 14, 2004 |
| Musical Real Audition!! (ミュージカル リアルオーディション!!) | May 12, 2004 |
| Alo-Hello! 2 Matsuura Aya (アロハロ!2 松浦亜弥) | July 7, 2004 |
| Single V Your Song ~Seishun Sensei~ (シングルV Your Song ～青春宣誓～) | July 28, 2004 |
| Matsuura Aya Concert Tour 2004 Haru ~Watashi to Watashi to Anata~ (松浦亜弥コンサートツアー2004春～私と私とあなた～) | August 11, 2004 |
| Single V Watarasebashi (シングルV 渡良瀬橋) | November 10, 2004 |
| Matsuura Aya Concert Tour 2004 Aki ~Matsu Crystal Yoyogi Special~ (松浦亜弥コンサートツアー2004秋 ～松クリスタル 代々木スペシャル～) | December 1, 2004 |
| Single V Zutto Suki de Ii desu ka (シングルV ずっと 好きでいいですか) | May 2, 2005 |
| Matsuura Aya Concert Tour 2005 Haru 101 Kaime no Kiss ~Hand in Hand~ (松浦亜弥コンサートツアー2005春 101回目のKiss～Hand in Hand～) | June 20, 2005 |
| Single V Ki ga Tsukeba Anata (シングルV 気がつけば あなた) | September 28, 2005 |
| Hello Pro Party! 2005 ~Matsuura Aya Captain Koen~ (ハロ☆プロ パーティ～！2005 ～松浦亜弥キャプテン公演～) | December 7, 2005 |
| Concert Tour 2006 Spring ~Otona no Namida~ (コンサートツアー2006春~OTONA no NAMIDA~) | September 6, 2006 |
| Aya Matsuura: Live in Shanghai (松浦亜弥 上海ライブ) | October 25, 2006 |
| Concert Tour 2006 Fall (松浦亜弥コンサートツアー2006秋 〜進化ノ季節…〜) | January 17, 2007 |
| Concert Tour 2007 Fall ~Double Rainbow~ (松浦亜弥コンサートツアー2007秋 〜ダブル レインボウ〜) | January 23, 2008 |
| "AYA THE WITCH" Concert Tour Spring 2008 (松浦亜弥コンサートツアー2008春 『AYA The Witch』) | September 24, 2008 |
| Concert Tour Fall 2009 ~Omoi Afurete~ (松浦亜弥コンサートツアー2009秋 〜想いあふれて〜) | December 23, 2009 |
Videos
- 2001-04-25 – Bi Shojo Nikki Part 1 (美・少女日記 1)
- 2001-06-27 – Bi Shojo Nikki Part 2 (美・少女日記 2)
- 2001-09-05 – Bi Shojo Nikki Part 3 (美・少女日記 3)
- 2001-12-12 – Bi Shojo Nikki Part 4 (美・少女日記 4)
- 2002-08-07 – Concert Tour 2002 Haru "First Date" at Tokyo Kokusai Forum (ファーストコンサートツアー2002春「ファーストデート」 at 東京国際フォーラム)
- 2002-10-09 – Matsuura Aya Single M Clips 1 (松浦亜弥シングルMクリップス1)
- 2003-02-19 – Yeah! Meccha Raibu at Nakano Sun Plaza (Yeah! めっちゃライブ at 中野サンプラザ)
- 2003-02-26 – Alo-Hello! (アロハロ!)
- 2003-03-12 – Ne~e? (ね～え?)
Photobooks
- Solo photobooks
- 2001-12-01 – Matsuura Aya 1st Photobook (松浦亜弥 1st写真集)
- 2003-02-14 – Alo-Hello! (アロハロ!)
- 2004-01-15 – Ma'! Chura (まっ!ちゅら)
- 2004-06-25 – Alo-Hello! 2 (アロハロ!2)
- 2005-03-19 – a
- Concert photobooks
- 2002-06-04 – First-Date (ファースト・デート)
- 2004-07-07 – ~Watashi to Watashi to Anata~ (～私と私とあなた～)
- Other photobooks
- 2003-04-11 – Ayaya to Mikitty (アヤヤとミキティ)
- 2003-09-30 – Matsuura Aya in Hello! Project 2003 Summer
- 2004-03-13 – Matsuura Aya in Hello! Project 2004 Winter
- 2004-09-28 – Matsuura Aya in Hello! Project 2004 Summer
- 2005-07-06 – Nochiura Natsumi Live Photobook "Triangle Energy" (後浦なつみライブ写真集「Triangle Energy」)
- ^
Acts
Television variety shows
| Show | Start date | End date | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello! Morning (ハロー!モーニング。) | April 2000 | April 1, 2007 | TV Tokyo, etc. |
| Minna no TV (ミンナのテレビ) | April 13, 2005 | September 28, 2005 | Nippon TV and others |
| A | April 2005 | June 26, 2005 | Nippon TV and others |
| Utawara Hot Hit 10 → Utawara (歌笑Hotヒット10 → ウタワラ) | October 16, 2005 | January 28, 2007 | Nippon TV and others |
| Ayaya Golf (あややゴルフ) | April 4, 2006 | September 26, 2006 | Nippon TV |
| Ayaya Golf 2 (あややゴルフ2) | April 4, 2007 | September 26, 2007 | Nippon TV |
| Meringue no Kimochi (メレンゲの気持ち) | April 7, 2007 | September 24, 2011 | Nippon TV |
| Collaboration Lab. (コラボ☆ラボ 〜夢の音楽工房〜) | April 8, 2008 | April 1, 2009 | WOWOW |
TV drama
| Title | Start date | End date | Network | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saigo no Kazoku (最後の家族, lit: the last family) | October 18, 2001 | December 13, 2001 | TV Asahi and others | Tomomi Uchiyama |
| Goldem Bowl (ゴールデンボウル) Episode 9 | June 22, 2002 | Nippon TV and others | Miyako Yoshizawa | |
| Victory! ~Foot Girls no Seishun~ (Victory!～フットガールズの青春~) | November 22, 2003 | Fuji TV and others | Shuko Ashida | |
| Aijo Ippon! (愛情イッポン!) | July 17, 2004 | September 18, 2004 | Nippon TV and others | Tomoe Natsuyagi |
| Inochi no Kiseki (命の軌跡, lit: the miracle in life) (for the 50th anniversary of Chubu-Nippon Broadcasting Co. Ltd. starting telecasting) | October 25, 2006 | CBC, TBS, and others | Yoshimi Hirai | |
| The Quiz Show (ザ・クイズショウ) | April 18, 2009 | June 24, 2009 | Nippon TV and others | Rena Takasugi |
| Sakura and Satsuki (サクラとさつき) | April 1, 2011 | ABC (only in the Kansai region) | Sakura Haruno | |
Films
- Ao no Honō (2003)
- Sukeban Deka: Codename = Asamiya Saki (2006)
Radio
- Matsuura Aya Let's do it!! (松浦亜弥 Let's do it!!) – JOLF, etc. (April, 2001—2005-03-27)
- Matsuura Aya All Night Nippon (松浦亜弥のオールナイトニッポン) – JOLF and other thirty-five radio stations in Japan (2005-03-30 — 2006-12-27)
- Matsuura Aya FIVE STARS– InterFM 76.1 (TUESDAY 松浦亜弥) (Start date 2007-10-02)October 2007-September 2009 (End date 2009-09-29)
Commercials
- Pretz (2002–2006, Ezaki Glico)
- Tessera (2002–2004, Shiseido)
- Gogo no Kocha (2003–2008, Kirin Beverage)
- Colorio Printer (2003–2005, Epson)
- Sega PuyoPuyo Fever (2004)
- Papico (2004–2006, Ezaki Glico)
- Pocky (2004–2005, Ezaki Glico)
- Sky PerfecTV! (2004–2005, SKY Perfect Communications)
- Super Mild (2004–2005, Shiseido)
- Scooter Let's 4 (2004–2005, Suzuki)
- Nissin Yakisoba UFO (2005–2006, Nissin)
- Aoyama Trading (Youfuku Aoyama) (2005–2008)
- Youpack (2005–2006, Japan Post)
- Scooter Address V50 (2006, Suzuki)
- Expressway ETC (2007, Organization for Road System Enhancement) -- song only
- Center-in (2007, Unicharm)
- Fried Chicken (2008, FamilyMart) -- also the song "Kichin to Chicken" lyrics and music by Fujioka Fujimaki, a folk song duo.
- Mezamashi Gohan (2009, MAFF)
- Top "Clear Liquid" (since 2009, Lion)
- Vitamin Water (since 2009, Suntory)
- Roots Aroma Impact (since 2010, JT Foods), etc.
Video games
- Guitar Freaks 8th mix / Drummania 7th mix (Momoiro Kataomoi, covered by Yu Uchida)
- Donkey Konga (Japanese version, Momoiro Kataomoi covered by an unknown artist)
- Daigasso! Band Brothers (Yeah! Meccha Holiday, instrumental)
- Go-Go-Tea Miniature Golf (Kirin Beverage)
- Donkey Konga 2 (Japanese Version, Yeah! Meccha Holiday)