Quick Facts
Biography
Aiko Yanai (柳井愛子, Yanai Aiko, born November 22, 1975), known by her stage name Aiko, (stylized as aiko) is a Japanese pop singer and songwriter.
Music career
In April, 1996, Aiko became a radio host of FM Osaka after graduating from the college. She released a CD which she produced independently with her friends of the college in August. She participated in "The 5th Music Quest Japan Final" on October 10, 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", which was used as the theme song for the movie Shinsei Toire no Hanako-san.
In 2000, her second album, Sakura no Ki no Shita, reached number one in 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.
Discography
Singles
| Release date | Title | Peak chart position |
|---|---|---|
| July 17, 1998 | Ashita (あした) | 89 |
| March 3, 1999 | Naki Mushi (ナキ・ムシ) | 26 |
| August 4, 1999 | Hanabi (花火) | 10 |
| November 17, 1999 | Kabutomushi (カブトムシ) | 8 |
| February 17, 2000 | Sakura no Toki (桜の時) | 12 |
| September 20, 2000 | Boy Friend (ボーイフレンド) | 2 |
| February 21, 2001 | Hatsukoi (初恋) | 3 |
| May 30, 2001 | Rosie (ロージー) | 2 |
| November 21, 2001 | Oyasuminasai (おやすみなさい) | 2 |
| April 24, 2002 | Anata to Akushu (あなたと握手) | 6 |
| August 14, 2002 | Kondo Made ni wa (今度までには) | 3 |
| April 23, 2003 | Chōchō Musubi (蝶々結び) | 4 |
| August 6, 2003 | Andromeda (アンドロメダ) | 3 |
| November 6, 2003 | Eriashi (えりあし) | 5 |
| April 28, 2004 | Kaban (かばん) | 3 |
| September 1, 2004 | Hana Kaze (花風) | 2 |
| February 16, 2005 | Mikuni Eki (三国駅) | 2 |
| August 3, 2005 | Kira Kira (キラキラ) | 2 |
| November 30, 2005 | Star (スター) | 4 |
| July 12, 2006 | Kumo wa Shiro Ringo wa Aka (雲は白リンゴは赤) | 3 |
| May 30, 2007 | Shiawase (シアワセ) | 2 |
| August 22, 2007 | Hoshi no Nai Sekai / Yokogao (星のない世界／横顔) | 2 |
| March 12, 2008 | Futari (二人) | 3 |
| July 23, 2008 | KissHug | 2 |
| February 18, 2009 | Milk / Nageki no Kiss (milk／嘆きのキス) | 1 |
| February 3, 2010 | Modorenai Ashita (戻れない明日) | 1 |
| April 21, 2010 | Mukai Awase (向かいあわせ) | 2 |
| May 11, 2011 | Koi no Super Ball / Home (恋のスーパーボール／ホーム) | 4 |
| November 23, 2011 | Zutto (ずっと) | 4 |
| July 17, 2013 | Love letter / Shigatsu no Ame (Love letter／4月の雨) | 2 |
| January 29, 2014 | Kimi no Tonari (君の隣) | 5 |
| November 12, 2014 | Atashi no Mukou (あたしの向こう) | 4 |
| April 29, 2015 | Yumemiru Sukima (夢見る隙間) | 7 |
| November 18, 2015 | Puramai (プラマイ) | 5 |
| March 9, 2016 | Motto (もっと) | 3 |
| September 21, 2016 | Koi wo shita no wa (恋をしたのは) | 3 |
Albums
Studio albums
| Release date | Title | Peak chart position |
|---|---|---|
| April 21, 1999 | Chiisana Marui Kōjitsu (小さな丸い好日) | 24 |
| March 1, 2000 | Sakura no Ki no Shita (桜の木の下) | 1 |
| June 20, 2001 | Natsufuku (夏服) | 1 |
| September 4, 2002 | Aki Soba ni Iru yo (秋 そばにいるよ) | 2 |
| November 27, 2003 | Akatsuki no Love Letter (暁のラブレター) | 1 |
| March 2, 2005 | Yume no Naka no Massugu na Michi (夢の中のまっすぐな道) | 1 |
| August 23, 2006 | Kanojo (彼女) | 1 |
| April 2, 2008 | Himitsu (秘密) | 2 |
| March 31, 2010 | Baby | 1 |
| June 20, 2012 | Toki no Silhouette (時のシルエット) | 1 |
| May 28, 2014 | Awa no Yō na Ai datta (泡のような愛だった) | 1 |
| May 18, 2016 | May Dream | 1 |
Compilation albums
| Release date | Title | Peak chart position |
|---|---|---|
| February 23, 2011 | Matome I (まとめI) | 2 |
| Matome II (まとめII) | 3 |
Independent works
| Release date | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| August 1996 | Doty Omnibus CD Vol.1 (ドーテイオムニバスCD Vol.1) | Various artists album (participated in 3 songs) |
| December 20, 1997 | Astral Box | Mini album |
| April 21, 1998 | Hachimitsu (ハチミツ) | CD single |
| May 30, 1998 | Girlie | Mini album |
Performances
Tours
- "Love Like Pop" (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014) Love Like (愛好 Aiko, love-like)
- College musical festivals (1999, 2003; 7 places in all)
- "Baby Peenats Meeting" (2001, 2004; fan club members only)
- "Love Like Rock" (2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 (fan club members only), 2009; no-seat concerts, 2011, 2013, 2015 at Zepp Tokyo)
- "Love Like Aloha" (Summer 2003, at Katase beach, Enoshima; Summer 2006 and 2008, at Southern Beach, Chigasaki, 2012 and 2015)
Appearances
Shorts
- Japanese manga artist Yukari Ichijo based the character "Eiko", in Pride (2002–2010) on Aiko, and Aiko has several times expressed admiration for Ichijo.
- Aiko also sang the insert song "KissHug" for the movie Hana Yori Dango Final which premiered on June 28, 2008 and "Mukai Awase" for the 2010 comedy film My Darling is a Foreigner.
Radio
Aiko has presented several regular radio programs, including local radio programmes in the Kansai area before she achieved widespread fame in July 1998.
- Count Down Kansai Top40 (FM Osaka, April 1996 – December 2001)
- Poppun Kingdom (MBS, April 1997 – ?)
- Young Town Music Max (MBS, October 1997 – September 1999)
- Baby Peanuts (FM Osaka, October 1998 – ?)
- Aiko's @llnightnippon.com (NBS, November 1999 – March 2003), containing the popular musical feature Sing! Aiko.
Works
Books
- "Aiko Bon" (2005) was the first official book about Aiko. The book contains her autobiography (in an interview style), photos, feature articles from monthly magazine GbMusicnet and liner notes by herself.
- "「キャッチ本゛」閉店のお知らせ - M-ON! BOOKS - エムオン・エンタテインメント". 「キャッチ本゛」閉店のお知らせ - M-ON! BOOKS - エムオン・エンタテインメント. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
Awards
| Year | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Music Quest Japan Final | Excellence Prize – Himawari ni Nattara |
| 2000 | Teen's Music Festival Final | Teen's Grand Prize – Aitsu o Furimukaseru Hoho |
| Saku ya Kono Hana Award, Music (Osaka city) | * This award is given to a person or an organisation who contributes to a promotion of Osaka culture. | |
| 2002 | Metropolitan Action on Smoking or Health | Stop-smoking Grand Prize |
| The Japan Gold Disc Award | Rock Album of the Year – Natsufuku | |
| 2004 | The Japan Gold Disc Award | Rock & Pop Album of the Year – Akatsuki no Love Letter |