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Biography
Infobox musical artist | | name = Mai Kuraki Nihongo2|?? ??| image = MaiKuraki2010.jpg| caption = Mai Kuraki as the presenter in Japan League Awards Ceremony on December 5, 2011.| background = solo_singer| alias = Mai K| birth_name = Nihongo|Mai Aono|????| birth_date = birth date and age|mf=yes|1982|10|28| death_date =| Spouse(s) =| origin = Funabashi, Chiba|Funabashi , Chiba Prefecture|Chiba , Japan| instrument = Singing , piano | genre = Pop music|Pop , contemporary R& B|R& B | occupation = Singer-songwriter , record producer|producer | years_active = 1999–present| label = Giza Studio Being Inc.|Northern Music Bip& #33; Records (US, 1999)| associated_acts = Aika Ohno, Michael Africk, Giorgio Cancemi, Stephanie Sun | website = http://www.mai-kuraki.com/ www.mai-kuraki.com/nihongo| Mai Kuraki |?? ??|Kuraki Mai (born October 28, 1982 as Nihongo| Mai Aono |????|Aono Mai) is a Japanese pop music|pop and contemporary R& B|R& B singer-songwriter and record producer|producer from Funabashi, Chiba|Funabashi , Chiba Prefecture|Chiba . Kuraki debuted in 1999 with the single, " Love, Day After Tomorrow ". In 2000, she released her debut album, Delicious Way , which debuted at number-one and sold over 2,210,000 copies in its first week. Kuraki is one of a few female artists in Japan to have their first four studio albums to debut atop of the Oricon album chart.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/41448/|title=BoA??????1st??5?????!|date=January 23, 2007|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009In 2009, Kuraki saw a revival in her popularity. Her eighth studio album, Touch Me! , debuted atop the Oricon album charts; becoming her first number-one album in five years. Kuraki holds the record for being the only female artist to have all of her singles consecutively debut in the Top 10 since her debut,ja iconcite web|url= http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/3991558/|title=?????10?????????1???|date=January 27, 2009|publisher= Livedoor |accessdate=June 18, 2009 and is List of the 50 best-selling music artists of all-time in Japan|the 38th best-selling Japanese music artist of all time . To date, Kuraki has seven number-one albums (five originals and two compilations) and two number-one singles.
Biography
Early life and musical career
Upon hearing Whitney Houston 's music and seeing the dance moves of Michael Jackson , Kuraki decided to become a singer.cite web|url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p661570/biography|pure_url=yes|title=allmusic ((( Mai Kuraki > Biography )))|last=Eremenko|first=Alexey|publisher= Allmusic |accessdate=June 18, 2009 While in high school, Kuraki sent a demo tape to Giza Studio and they signed her to the label.cite web|url= http://nippop.com/artists/Mai_Kuraki/|title=Nippop | Mai Kuraki|last=McClure|first=Steve|publisher=Nippop|accessdate=June 18, 2009 However, before Kuraki made her debut in Japan, she made her American debut. Under Giza USA and Bip& #33; Records, Kuraki released the single, " :ja:Baby I Like|Baby I Like " under the stage name Mai K. The single even impressed executives from the major label East West Records , prompting the label to distribute it.cite web|url= http://www.giza.co.jp/gizausa/index/usa/index.html|title=Giza USA Artists|work= giza Studio|Giza USA |accessdate=November 8, 2011 But the song failed to chart on the Billboard (magazine)|Billboard charts and Giza sent her back to Japan.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/more.jsp? tp=singles& pid=616192& aid=1135726|title=Billboard.com - Discography (more) - Mai K. - Baby I Like|work= Billboard (magazine)|Billboard |accessdate=June 15, 2009Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot
2000-2001: Debut
Kuraki released her first single, " Love, Day After Tomorrow ", on December 8, 1999. The single entered the Oricon single chart at #18.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=js& types=rnk& year=1999& month=12& week=3& submit4.x=0& submit4.y=0|title=1999?12??3???????????????|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009 In March 2000, after slowly rising on the chart "Love, Day After Tomorrow" peaked at #2 on the chart.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=js& types=rnk& year=2000& month=2& week=5& submit4.x=0& submit4.y=0|title=2000?03??1???????????????|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009 Her second single and third singles: " Stay by My Side " and " Secret of My Heart " proved to share the success of "Love, Day After Tomorrow". "Stay by My Side" was released on March 15, 2000 and debuted atop the Oricon chart, while "Secret of My Heart", released April 26, 2000 debuted at #2.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=js& types=rnk& year=2000& month=3& week=4& submit4.x=0& submit4.y=0|title=2000?03??4???????????????|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=js& types=rnk& year=2000& month=5& week=2& submit4.x=0& submit4.y=0|title=2000?05??2???????????????|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009 "Secret of My Heart" was certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan and won a Japan Gold Disc Award for "Song of the Year".ja iconcite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/million_list/2000.html|title=???????????? 2000?|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=June 15, 2009cite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/e/data/gdisc/2001.html|title=The 16th Japan Gold Disc Award 2001|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=June 15, 2009
In June 2000, Kuraki released her fourth single, " Never Gonna Give You Up (Mai Kuraki song)|Never Gonna Give You Up " and her debut album Delicious Way . The former debuted at #2 while the latter debuted at number-one on the album chart selling over 2,210,000 copies in its first week.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=js& types=rnk& year=2000& month=6& week=3& submit4.x=22& submit4.y=15|title=2000?06??3???????????????|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=ja& types=rnk& year=2000& month=7& week=2& submit5.x=0& submit5.y=0|title=2000?07??2???????????????|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009 Delicious Way sold over three million copies and was certified 3x million by the and won "Rock album of the Year" at the 16th annual Japan Gold Disc Awards.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/230196/|title=Mai Kuraki's Oricon profile|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009
From September 2000 to June 2001, Kuraki released five singles: " Simply Wonderful ", " Reach for the Sky (Mai Kuraki song)|Reach for the Sky " (both 2000), " Tsumetai Umi/Start in My Life ", " Stand Up (Mai Kuraki song)|Stand Up " and " Always (Mai Kuraki song)|Always " (all 2001). All of the singles had entered the Top 3.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/119890/1/|title=Simply Wonderful Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/408000/1/|title=Reach for the Sky Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/433593/1/|title=Tsumetai Umi/Start in My Life Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/440583/1/|title=Stand Up's Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/451048/1/|title=Always Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009 After the string of releases, Kuraki's second album PerfectCrime (album)|Perfect Crime (July 2001), which included all the singles expect "Simply Wonderful".ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/452244/1/|title=Perfect Crime Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009PerfectCrime topped the album chart and was another million-selling album for the artist.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=ja& types=rnk& year=2001& month=7& week=3& submit5.x=0& submit5.y=0|title=2001?07??3???????????????|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009 The album was certified million by the RIAJ and like her debut album it won "Rock album of the Year".ja iconcite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/million_list/2001.html|title=???????????? 2001?|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=June 15, 2009cite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/e/data/gdisc/2002.html|title=The 17th annual Japan Gold Disc Award 2002|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=June 15, 2009 A month after the release of PerfectCrime , Kuraki released her last single of 2001, "Can't Forget Your Love/Perfect Crime: Single Edit", which debuted at #2 on the single chart.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/456251/1/|title=Can't Forget Your Love/Perfect Crime: Single Edit Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009
2002-2008: Decline in sales
Kuraki started 2002 with her eleventh single, " WinterBells " in January. "Winter Bells" debuted atop of the charts and was the tenth opening for the anime adaptation of the manga Detective Conan .ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/468826/1/|title=Winter Bells Oricon page|accessdate=June 15, 2009 Before releasing her third album, Fairy Tale (Mai Kuraki album)|Fairy Tale (October 2002), Kuraki released two single: "Feel Fine!" (April) and "Like a Star in the Night" (September) both singles entered Top 2.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/476364/1/|title=Feel Fine& #33; Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/487406/1/|title=Like a Star in the Night|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009 Like its predecessors Fairy Tale debuted atop of the Oricon.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=ja& types=rnk& year=2002& month=11& week=1& submit5.x=0& submit5.y=0|title=2002?11??1???????????????|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009 The album won the "Rock & Pop album of the Year" award at the Japan Gold Disc Awards.cite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/e/data/gdisc/2003.html|title=The 17th Japan Gold Disc Award 2003|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=June 15, 2009 Kukari once again tried her hand in the U.S. market. She released her debut English-language album, Secret of My Heart , and like her single "Baby I Like" the album failed to chart.cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/more.jsp? tp=albums& pid=616192& aid=861134|title=Billboard.com - Discography (more) - Mai Kuraki - Secret of My Heart|publisher= Billboard (magazine)|Billboard |accessdate=June 18, 2009Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot
Her fourth album If I Believe was released on July 9, 2003. Prior to the albums release, Kuraki released four singles: "Make My Day" (2002), " Time After Time: Hana Mau Machi de ", "Kiss" and " Kaze no La La La "; all of which were Top 3 singles.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/496930/1/|title=Make My Day Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/504346/1/|title=Time After Time: Hana Mau Machi de Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/507447/1/|title=Kiss Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/509725/1/|title=Kaze no Lalala|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009 If I Believe continued Kuraki's number-one album streak and was certified 2x platinum.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=ja& types=rnk& year=2003& month=7& week=3& submit5.x=0& submit5.y=0|title=2003?07??3???????????????|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200307.html|title=??????????? 2003?7?|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=June 15, 2009
In 2004 on New Year's Day, Kuraki released her first greatest hits album, Wish You the Best . The album debuted atop the chart and was certified million and would become her last album to achieve that status.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=ja& types=rnk& year=2004& month=1& week=2& submit5.x=0& submit5.y=0|title=2004?01??2???????????????|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200401.html|title=??????????? 2004?1?|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=June 15, 2009 After Wish You the Best , she released her fifth studio album Fuse of Love (2005). The album spawned four singles: nihongo|"Ashita e Kakeru Hashi"|??????? (2004), "Love, Needing", "Dancing" and "P.S My Sunshine" (all 2005). "Ashita e Kakeru Hashi" debuted in the Top 3; while the others debuted outside the Top 3, a first for Kuraki.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/547648/1/|title=Ashita e Kakeru Hashi Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/582405/1/|title=Love, Needing Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/588379/1/|title=Dancing Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/599386/1/|title=P.S. My Sunshine Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009Fuse of Love debuted at #3 on the album chart ending Kuraki's number-one album streak.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=ja& types=rnk& year=2005& month=9& week=1& submit5.x=0& submit5.y=0|title=2005?09??1???????????????|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009 It was later certified gold by the RIAJ.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200508.html|title= 2005?8?? ????|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=June 18, 2009 In 2006, Kuraki released a new album, DiamondWave . The album debuted at #3 on the charts and was certified gold.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/search/result.php? kbn=ja& types=rnk& year=2006& month=8& week=2& submit5.x=0& submit5.y=0|title=2006?08??2???????????????|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200608.html|title=2006?8?? ????|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=June 18, 2009 The singles from the album, " Growing of My Heart " (2005), nihongo|"Best of Hero"|??? ?? ????|Besuto Obu Hiro and "Diamond Wave" were Top 10 singles.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/625667/1/|title=Growing of My Heart Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/637024/1/|title=Best of Hero Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/657844/1/|title=Diamond Wave Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009
Kuraki ended the year with a new single, " Shiroi Yuki ", which placed #4 on the single chart.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/687177/1/|title=Shiroi Yuki Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009 In 2007, Kuraki released her last single under Giza Studio, " Season of Love (song)|Season of Love ". The single charted at #6.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/696973/1/|title=Season of Love Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009 After releasing "Season of Love", Kuraki transferred from Giza Studio to its then newly-launched sister label, Northern Music , whose artist roster also include Yumi Shizukusa (ex-Giza and Zain Records|Zain ) and the now-defunct Japanese idol|idol group Sparkling Point . Under Northern she released her twenty-seventh single, " Silent Love: Open My Heart/Be With U " before releasing her seventh album, One Life (Mai Kuraki album)|One Life on New Year's Day 2008. "Silent Love: Open My Heart/Be With U" debuted at #9 and One Life debuted at #14, on their respective charts.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/740791/1/|title=Silent Love: Open My Heart/Be With U Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/742492/1/|title=One Life Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009 One Life was certified gold by the RIAJ.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200802.html|title= ??????????? 2008?2?|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=August 10, 2009
Kuraki released three singles in 2008: " Yume ga Saku Haru/You and Music and Dream ", " Ichibyogoto ni Love for You ", " 24 Xmas Time " the singles like their predecessors entered the Top 10.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/756815/1/|title=Yume ga Saku Haru/You and Music and Dream Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/770363/1/|title=Ichibyogoto ni Love for You Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/794248/1/|title=24 Xmas Time Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 18, 2009
Kuraki's eighth studio album, Touch Me! , was released on January 21, 2009 and contained the singles released in 2008. Selling a little over 50,200 copies, Touch Me! debuted atop of Oricon album chart. Touch Me became Kuraki's first number-one album in five years, with her last number-one occurring in 2004 with her greatest hits album, Wish You the Best .ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/62481/full/|title=?????????????5???1? |date=January 27, 2009|accessdate=June 15, 2009 The album was later certified Gold by the RIAJ.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/gold/200902.html|title=2009?2?? ????|publisher= Recording Industry Association of Japan |accessdate=June 15, 2009 On April 1, 2009, Kuraki released her thirty-first single a double A-side " Puzzle/Revive ". Both songs were used as tie-ins for Case Closed .ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/812704/1/|title=Puzzle/Revive Oricon page|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009 "Puzzle" was used as the ending theme for the thirteenth movie Case Closed: The Raven Chaser , while "Revive" was used as the twenty-fifth opening theme song for the series seventeenth season.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.bounce.com/news/daily.php/17795|title=????????·????"PUZZLE/Revive"?4?15???????????????????????????|date=January 27, 2009|work= Tower Records#Japan|Tower Records Japan |publisher=Bounce|accessdate=June 15, 2009 "Puzzle/Revive" debuted at #3 on the Oricon single chart, making it her first single to enter the Top 3 since 2004's "Ashita e Kakeru Hashi".ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/66840/|title=?????CM???????????????? |date=June 11, 2009|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009
Kuraki released her thirty-third single " Beautiful (Mai Kuraki song)|Beautiful " on June 10, 2009. "Beautiful" was used as the commercial song for cosmetic company Kose's Coseport Salon Style.ja iconcite web|url= http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/4190148/|title=??????Beautiful???????????????????|date=June 7, 2009|publisher= Livedoor |accessdate=June 15, 2009 "Beautiful" debuted at #2 on the Oricon single chart making it Kuraki's third-second single to debut in the Top 10, extending her record.ja iconcite web|url= http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/confidence/66946/full/|title=GIRL NEXT DOOR????????????? |date=June 16, 2009|publisher= Oricon |accessdate=June 15, 2009
Kuraki started 2010 with a new single, " Eien Yori Nagaku/Drive Me Crazy ", which was released on March 3, 2010. On August 31 Mai has released her 34th single " Summer Time Gone ". This single was out the same day of summer ending in Japan.
Kuraki released her album titled titled " Future Kiss " on November 17, 2010. A new single " 1000 Mankai no Kiss " was released on March 9, 2011.
On March 29, 2011, a soccer charity match, called “The Tohoku Earthquake recovery support charity match Ganbarou Nippon!“, was held at Nagai Stadium, Osaka, and Kuraki Mai showed up to sing the national anthem. Kuraki also revealed that she is currently working on making a charity song to help fundraising the Japanese victims of tsunami and earthquake in March 2011.
Another new single " Mou Ichido " was released on May 25, 2011, followed by " Your Best Friend " on October 19. " Strong Heart (Mai Kuraki song)|Strong Heart ", her first single to be released in DVD , was unveiled on November 23, and its proceeds were donated to the victims of the March 2011 calamity.
Her 10th studio album, Over the Rainbow (Mai Kuraki album)|Over the Rainbow , will be released on January 11, 2012.
Myself Music ( Tokyo : Tokuma Shoten , 2002) http://books.google.com.ph/books? id=C8ocNwAACAAJ& dq=myself+music& hl=en& sa=X& ei=YgRWT8a4OumUiQfm4IjyCA& redir_esc=y Myself Music by Mai Kuraki ( Google Books )
See also
List of best-selling music artists in Japan
References
reflist|2
External links
http://mai-kuraki.com/ Mai-Kuraki.com – official website
http://www.myspace.com/maikurakimusic/ Mai Kuraki at MySpace
http://kuraki.livedoor.jp/ Mai Kuraki on livedoor
YouTube|channel=MaiKuraki
http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/230196/ Mai Kuraki on Oricon
Mai Kuraki Persondata | NAME =Kuraki, Mai | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =October 28, 1982 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH =
DEFAULTSORT:Kuraki, Mai Category:1982 births Category:English-language singers of Japan Category:Japanese female singers Category:Japanese musicians Category:Japanese pop singers Category:Japanese record producers Category:Japanese rhythm and blues singers Category:Japanese singer-songwriters Category:Living people Category:People from Funabashi, Chiba Category:Ritsumeikan University alumni Category:Being Inc.
