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Nakashima Mika
is a Japanese singer and actress. Five of her studio albums, one of her mini-albums and one of her compilation albums have reached number one in Japan's Oricon album chart. She also embarked on an acting career, most notably as Nana Osaki in the live action film adaptations of ''Nana''. She has sold over 10 million records in Japan. Early life Born and raised in Kyushu, Mika was the youngest of three children. She grew up in the small town of Hioki, Kagoshima, where she has said there was "nothing there, only enka." She began listening to enka singer Eiko Segawa and studied classical Japanese dance, but as she loved dressing-up and make-up, she hoped to work in fashion magazines since she was too short to become a model. Nakashima decided not to attend high school after completing junior high and began working. At the age of 15 she moved to the city of Fukuoka where she room-shared with two others. Career At the age of 17, she attended an audition not knowing what it was fo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hioki, Kagoshima
is a city in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. As of May 1, 2010, the city had a population of 51,819Hioki City Statistics, Population data (as of May 1, 2010) in Japanese and a of 205 persons per km². The total area is . The modern city of Hioki was established on May 1, 2005, from the merger of the towns of Fukiage, Higashiichiki, |
Sony Music Japan
, often abbreviated as SMEJ or simply SME, and also known as Sony Music Japan for short (stylized as ''SonyMusic''), is a Japanese music arm for Sony. Founded in 1968 as CBS/Sony, SMEJ is directly owned by Sony, Sony Group Corporation and is operating independently from the United States-based Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry. Its subsidiaries include the anime, Japanese animation production enterprise, Aniplex, which was established in September 1995 as a joint-venture between Sony Music Entertainment Japan and Sony Pictures Entertainment Japan, but which in 2001 became a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment Japan. It was prominent in the early to mid '90s producing and licensing music for animated series such as ''Roujin Z'' from acclaimed Japanese comic artist Katsuhiro Otomo and Capcom's ''Street Fighter'' animated series. Until March 2007, Sony Music Japan also had its own North American sublabel, Tofu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
GuitarFreaks
is a music video game series produced by Konami. It is a rhythm game where the player uses a controller to simulate the playing of an electric guitar. The game consists of music predominantly from the rock music, rock and roll and J-pop genres. It is considered one of the most influential video games of all time, for having laid the foundations for popular guitar-based rhythm games, such as the ''Guitar Hero'' series. Working Designs attempted to bring ''Guitar Freaks'' PlayStation 2 games in the U.S., but patent problems with the guitar controller prevented the project from moving forward. is a drumming music video game series produced by Bemani, the musical division of Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. It first released in 1999 as an arcade game, then subsequently ported to the Sony PlayStation 2 in Japan in 2000 as a launch title. Subsequent mixes have been released approximately once a year. In 2010, a series XG was introduced, adding a floor tom, left cymbal and a left p ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Konami
, is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company, video game and entertainment company headquartered in Chūō, Tokyo, Chūō, Tokyo, it also produces and distributes trading cards, anime, tokusatsu, pachinko machines, slot machines, and List of Japanese arcade cabinets, arcade cabinets. Konami has casinos around the world and operates health and physical fitness clubs across Japan. Konami's video game franchises include ''Metal Gear'', ''Silent Hill'', ''Castlevania'', ''Contra (series), Contra'', ''Frogger'', ''Tokimeki Memorial'', ''Parodius'', ''Gradius'', ''List of Yu-Gi-Oh! video games, Yu-Gi-Oh!'', ''Suikoden'', and ''Pro Evolution Soccer''. Additionally Konami owns Bemani, known for ''Dance Dance Revolution'' and ''Beatmania'', as well as the assets of former game developer Hudson Soft, known for ''Bomberman'', ''Adventure Island (video game), Adventure Island'', ''Bonk (series), Bonk'' and ''Star Soldier''. Konami is the nineteenth-largest L ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Endless Story
"Endless Story" is the first single by Yuna Ito, released under the name Reira starring Yuna Ito. "Endless Story" was used in the movie ''Nana'' in which Yuna played the character Reira Serizawa. "Endless Story" peaked at #2 on both the daily and weekly charts its first week, and reached #1 on the daily charts on multiple occasions, but was unable to reach #1 on the weekly charts. At the end of 2005, "Endless Story" was named the "Best Love Song of 2005" by the Oricon magazine. It holds the record for the most downloaded debut song for a female artist. On 24 January 2007, according to an Oricon blog, "'Endless Story' was still charting, and at no.144 for that week, and now 471,099 copies are sold". This song has a sample from Faith Hill's "If I'm Not In Love", which is clear on both songs verses, and similarities to "Endless Story"'s English parts. Track listing #"Endless Story" #"Journey" #"Endless Story" (instrumental) #"Journey" (instrumental) Charts Oricon Sales Chart (Ja ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yuna Ito
is an American-born former singer and actress who was active in Japan. She was born in Los Angeles and was raised in Hawaii. Ito made her musical debut in Japan with the single, "Endless Story", which was used as one of the theme songs for the popular 2005 film ''Nana''; she also starred in the film, portraying Reira Serizawa. In 2006, Ito reprised her role as Reira for the sequel of the film singing the theme song, "Truth". In 2007, Ito released her debut album, ''Heart'', which debuted atop the Oricon chart. Biography Early life and music interest Ito was born to a Korean-Japanese mother and a Japanese father in Los Angeles, California. She has a younger brother, Johnny. Her family later moved to Oahu, Hawaii. From a young age, Ito dreamed about becoming a singer. She was inspired by the powerful vocals of Celine Dion. At the age of fifteen, she was offered a recording contract, but turned it down. She later explained: "They saw me as a girl and not a singer." Initially, wh ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hyde (singer)
, known by his stage name Hyde (stylized as HYDE or hyde), is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actor. Best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band L'Arc-en-Ciel since 1991, he is also the lead vocalist of Vamps and has a solo career. Hyde rose to fame in the 1990s as part of L'Arc-en-Ciel, who have sold over 40 million records and were the first Japanese act to perform a solo show at Madison Square Garden. He began a successful solo career in 2001, releasing several number one singles, and many of his albums have reached the top five on the Oricon chart. In 2008, Hyde teamed up with K.A.Z to form the hard rock duo Vamps. Through both his solo career and Vamps, Hyde has collaborated/toured with artists such as Apocalyptica, Motionless in White, Starset, Yoshiki, Sixx:A.M., In This Moment, and Danzig, and producers such as Kane Churko, Nicholas Furlong, Drew Fulk, and Howard Benson. Career L'Arc-en-Ciel In 1991, Hyde left his band Jelsarem's ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
L'Arc-en-Ciel
L'Arc-en-Ciel ( French: 'The Rainbow', stylized as L'Arc~en~Ciel), also known as Laruku, is a Japanese rock band, formed in Osaka in 1991 by bassist tetsuya and vocalist hyde. Following the departure of original members hiro and pero, guitarist ken and drummer sakura were recruited to replace them in 1992 and 1993, respectively. While they first got their start as a visual kei band, L'Arc-en-Ciel have not had any association with the movement since their major label debut in 1994. sakura left the band in 1997 and was replaced by yukihiro in January 1998, completing the current line-up. With a reported 40 million records sold, L'Arc-en-Ciel were the first Japanese act to headline at Madison Square Garden. In 2003, they were ranked 58 on a list of the top 100 Japanese pop musicians by HMV Japan. History 1991–1997: Formation, major label debut and sakura's departure In February 1991, bassist tetsuya (then known as TETSU) recruited vocalist hyde (then known as HIDE),As used in ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ai Yazawa
is a Japanese manga author. While most of Yazawa's manga is published in Japan by Shueisha, publishers of ''Ribon'' and ''Cookie'' (''Nana'' was serialized in the latter), series like ''Paradise Kiss'' have appeared in non-Shueisha magazines such as ''Zipper'', published by Shodensha. Career Yazawa's most famous manga include ''Tenshi Nanka Ja Nai'', '' Neighborhood Story'', ''Paradise Kiss'', and ''Nana''. She also voiced an animated rendition of herself that made a cameo appearance in the final episode of the ''Neighborhood Story'' anime. All five volumes of ''Paradise Kiss'' were released in English by Vertical, Inc. ''Nana'' ran in now-defunct American manga magazine ''Shojo Beat''. In 2003, Yazawa was awarded the Shogakukan Manga Award for ''Nana''. ''Nana'' was made into an anime (produced by Madhouse) and a successful movie with a sequel in Japan. In June 2009, it was revealed that Yazawa had contracted a sudden illness, and had to be sent to the hospital for treatmen ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Glamorous Sky
"Glamorous Sky" is Mika Nakashima's 16th single overall, her 1st under the name ''Nana starring Mika Nakashima'', and the second most successful single in her career after "Stars". It is her first rock song and it was used as one of the image songs for the film Nana (as one of the bands Black Stones' song). Hyde of L'Arc-en-Ciel composed "Glamorous Sky". The second and third B-sides, "Blood" and "Isolation" were used as CM songs for Kate cosmetics. Mika Nakashima graces the cover of the single as Nana Osaki. The song is featured as a cover by a jrock band, Girugamesh, in the Konami music games, BEMANI for Drummania V3 and Guitarfreaks V3, as well as the iNiS rhythm game Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Damashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan 2. Track list CD Vinyl TV performances *2005-11-21 – Best Hit Kayousai 2005 *2005-11-30 – NTV's Best Artist *2005-12-07 – FNS Kayousai *2005-12-23 – Music Station *2005-12-31 – CDTV *2005-12-31 – Japan Record Awards Charts This is Nakashi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aoi Miyazaki
is a Japanese actress. She is known for her roles in ''Nana'' and '' Virgin Snow''. Career Miyazaki started working in the entertainment industry at the age of four. Initially she appeared mostly in commercials, magazine advertisements, and as an extra in television dramas. Miyazaki made her film debut in ''Ano Natsu no Hi'' at the age of 14. Also at the age of 14, Miyazaki began to draw international attention for her role as the survivor of a traumatic bus hijack in Shinji Aoyama's ''Eureka''. The film won the International Federation of Film Critics Prize at the Cannes Film Festival 2000, and resulted in her receiving the Best Actress award at the Japanese Professional Movie Awards. She also made her musical debut in ''The Little Prince'' in 2003. Later, Miyazaki won Best Actress award in the Cinemanila International Film Festival for her performance in ''Harmful Insect''. She teamed up with Aoyama again in '' Eli, Eli, Lema Sabachthani?'', an Un Certain Regard selection a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Best (Mika Nakashima Album)
''Best'' is the first Japanese compilation album and sixth overall album release by Mika Nakashima. It contains 14 songs. Two new re-recordings were made: one of her first single, 'Stars,' and the other of 'Amazing Grace (05),' the latter of which was included in a Suntory commercial for Freixnet Champagne and made as a radio-only single to promote the album in Japan. A music video compilation, also called 'BEST,' was released in Japan and Southeast Asia in December 2005. It contains the music videos for all of Mika's first 18 singles – from 'Stars' to 'Glamorous Sky' – and the promotional videos for 'Amazing Grace (05)' and a previously unreleased live recording of the song 'Blood.' ''Best'' debuted at #1 in the Japan Oricon 200 Album Chart when it was released, selling 480,097 copies in its first week – bettering the first-week sales of her first album, True. It was the #5 album of 2006. Since its release, BEST has sold 1,204,996 copies. Therefore, BEST is the second bes ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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