Aiko (singer)


Aiko Yanai, known by her stage name Aiko, is a Japanese pop singer and songwriter.

Music career

In April 1996, Aiko became a radio host of FM Osaka after graduating from college. She released a CD which she produced independently with her friends of college in August. She participated in "The 5th Music Quest Japan Final" on 10 October, 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

Tours

Shorts

Aiko has presented several regular radio programs, including local radio programmes in the Kansai area before she achieved widespread fame in July 1998.

Books

YearTypeTitle
1996Music Quest Japan FinalExcellence Prize – Himawari ni Nattara
2000Teen's Music Festival FinalTeen's Grand Prize – Aitsu o Furimukaseru Hoho
2000Saku ya Kono Hana Award, Music * This award is given to a person or an organisation who contributes to a promotion of Osaka culture.
2002Metropolitan Action on Smoking or HealthStop-smoking Grand Prize
2002The Japan Gold Disc AwardRock Album of the Year – Natsufuku
2004The Japan Gold Disc AwardRock & Pop Album of the Year – Akatsuki no Love Letter
2018MTV VMAJBest Female Video -Japan-
2020Space Shower Music AwardsBEST POP ARTIST