Chitose Hajime


Chitose Hajime is a Japanese singer from Amami Ōshima. She sings in the shima-uta style particular to that region, with distinctive falsetto effects.

History

Early life

Chitose Hajime began learning shamisen under her mother's encouragement from a young age. At age 10 she began to pick up shima-uta, a style of singing passed down through generations.
She won many folk and other song competitions during her teens, traveling to events across Japan. She released two traditional folk albums on cassette on an indie label, the first at age 15, and at age 18 was approached by numerous record labels following a grand prize win at a local folk song contest. Stating in a later interview that she was "suspicious of them", she decided not to join the labels or pursue music, and instead chose to study to become a beautician, following in the footsteps of her older sister. She moved to Osaka in 1998. However, she suffered from asthma and had severe allergic reactions to many of the chemicals used by beauticians. She withdrew from school, but before returning home to Amami Ōshima she contacted the artist management company Office Augusta, the only company that had gone all the way to visit her on her home island during the flurry to sign her at age 18.

Music career

In March 2001, she released a self-titled mini-album through Augusta Records. The album of cover versions included four English-language songs performed originally by Carole King, The Sugarcubes, Jimi Hendrix and Velvet Underground, but was so well received that Hajime was pushed to release another mini-album less than five months later. In August 2001, Chitose released her second mini-album with Augusta Records entitled Kotonoha, this time featuring five original tracks.
In 2002, she released her first major label single on Epic Records – Wadatsumi no Ki. It was the third highest selling single of the year behind only Hikaru Utada's "traveling", and Ayumi Hamasaki's "H", selling an estimated 850,000 copies. Three months later, she released a brand new single, "Kimi o Omou". While also very popular, it was not nearly the success that her first single was, although it did help to cement her as a permanent artist.
Her first major album, Hainumikaze, followed later in the year. It sold 800,000 copies, charted for 57 weeks, and was the 16th highest selling album of the year.
She released three more singles before her second major album, Nomad Soul, was released in 2003. Shortly after a concert tour, and the release of a live album and DVD in 2004, Hajime announced that she would be getting married, and was to have her first child in 2005.
She returned to the music industry in November 2005 with the single "Kataritsugu Koto", the ending theme for the anime series BLOOD+. The single was a hit, reaching No. 12 on the Oricon charts. She followed this success with "Haru no Katami", the ending theme for the anime AYAKASHI – Japanese Classic Horror. The single sold 6,050 copies in its first week, and remained on the charts for seven weeks total. A third single, "Ao no Requiem", as well as a DVD containing the music videos for "Kataritsugu Koto", and "Haru no Katami".
Following Hanadairo, Hajime took an extended break to spend time with her family and moving to Okinawa. She returned in 2008 with the release of "CASSINI", based on the theme of family and bonding.
In August 2010 she released two albums simultaneously, the Japanese language "Orient" and the English language "Occident".

Influence

Studies have revealed that her particular style of singing, including aspects of traditional Amami-Ōshima music, has a relaxing effect that has been observed in electroencephalograms taken from the brains of people listening to her singing.

Discography

Indie albums

Side A
  1. Naga Asabana Bushi
  2. Shonjoshu Bushi
  3. Kurudando Bushi
  4. Magaryo Takajichi Bushi
  5. Rankan Boshi Bushi 　　　　 　　　
  6. Amagurumi Bushi
  7. Shumichi Nagahama Bushi
  8. Honen Bushi
  9. Komori Uta
Side B
  1. Yukyunnya Kana Bushi
  2. Nagakumo Bushi
  3. Shunkane Bushi
  4. Yoisura Bushi
  5. Kunnyori Yoneago Bushi
  6. Kantsume Bushi
  7. Shogachi Gin
  8. Choukikujo
  9. Mucha Kana Bushi
  1. Asakasetsu
  2. Nagatomohanasetsu
  3. Shonjoshusetsu
  4. Kurudandosetsu
  5. Kantsumesetsu
  6. Shonkanesetsu
  7. Rankanhashisetsu
  8. Amekurumisetsu
  9. Shusetsunagahamasetsu
  10. Yoshinori Nabe Kanasetsu
  11. Kunnyoriyoneagosetsu
  12. Osakumosetsu
  13. Mucha Kanasetsu
  14. Chookikujosetsu
  15. Itoayatsurisetsu
  16. Yoisurasetsu
  17. Ikyonnyakanasetsu
  18. Ikyooresetsu
  19. Kubamehasetsu
  20. Magaryo Takachidjisetsu
  21. Shoogatsugin
  22. Hoonensetsu
The songs in the two albums above are folk music songs of Amami Islands sung in Amami language.
  1. Birthday
  2. Namae no nai Tori
  3. Sweet Jane
  4. Little Wing
  5. Fuyu no Sanitorium
  6. Home Again
  1. Kotonoha
  2. Yakusoku
  3. Ryuuguu no Tsukai
  4. Seirei
  5. Sanhachigatsu

    Major albums

  1. Sango Jugoya
  2. Wadatsumi no Ki
  3. Natsu no Utage
  4. Hikaru Kaigara
  5. Shinshin Raika
  6. 37.6
  7. Hatsukoi
  8. Hainumikaze
  9. Kimi wo Omou
  10. Rinto Suru
  1. Triangle
  2. Neiro Nanairo
  3. Sen no Yoru to Sen no Hiru
  4. Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi
  5. Hisui
  6. Aurora Sora Kara Mitsumete Iru
  7. Kono Machi
  8. Getsurei 17.4
  9. Yuri Collection
  10. Uragano Oka
Disc 1
  1. Kotonoha
  2. Triangle
  3. Byakuya
  4. Aurora no Sora kara Mitsumete Iru
  5. Getsurei 17.4
  6. Hainumikaze
  7. Kimi wo Omou
  8. Yuri Collection
  9. Yoru ni Yomeru Uta
  10. Namae no Nai Tori
  11. 37.6
  12. Shooryoo
  13. Kono Machi
Disc 2
  1. Sango Jugoya
  2. Shinshi Raika
  3. Sanpono no Susume
  4. Hummingbird
  5. Neiro Nanairo
  6. Wadatsumi no Ki
  7. Sen no Yoru to Sen no Hiru
  8. Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi
  9. Mihachigatsu
  10. Uruga no Oka
  11. Hikaru Kaigara
  1. Hitsuji no Dolly
  2. Maebure
  3. Ao no Requiem – theme song of a film "Hatsukoi / '" of Aoi Miyazaki
- Written and Composed by Sadayoshi Okamoto, – Arranged by COIL
  1. Yomihitoshirazu
  2. Hanadairo
  3. Haru no Katami – theme song of
- Written and Composed by Yumi Matsutoya, – Arranged by Masataka Matsutoya
  1. Tsuyukusa no Yoru
  2. Kyouryuu no Egaki Gata
  3. Reimei
  4. Amurita
  5. Kaze to Uta to Inori
  6. Kataritsugu Koto – ending theme song of Blood+
- Written by HUSSY R, – Composed, Arranged by Tashika Yuuichi, – Arranged by Shintarō Tokita
  1. Shinda Onna no Ko / '
- Written by Turkish poet Nâzım Hikmet, – Translated by Nobuyuki Nakamoto, – Composed by Yuzo Sotoyama, – Produced and played piano by Ryuichi Sakamoto
  1. Cassini
  2. Megumi no Ame
  3. Anata ga Koko ni Ite Hoshii
  4. Kasei Kuru Kuru
  5. Hotaru Boshi – Produced, Written and Composed by Shintarō Tokita from Sukima Switch
  6. Akakokko
  7. Miyori no Mori
  8. Niji ga Umareru Kuni – Produced by Paddy Moloney from the Chieftains
  9. Rokko Ballad
  10. Tama Yura
  11. Seiya Kyoku
  12. Sora ni Saku / ' – theme song of a drama "Boushi / "
- Written by Yoko Maruyama, – Supported by HUSSY R, – Composed by Yuichi Tajika, Yoshinobu Morikawa, Arranged by Takumi Mamiya

Singles

  1. Wadatsumi no Ki
  2. Maboroshi no Tsuki
  3. Yoru ni Yomeru Uta
  1. Kimi o Omou
  2. Oyasumi
  3. BLUE
  1. Kono Machi
  2. Hummingbird
  3. Rinto Suru -strings version-
  1. Sen no Yoru to Sen no Hiru
  2. Byakuya
  3. TRUE COLOURS
  1. Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi
  2. Sanpono no Susume
  1. Kataritsugu Koto
  2. Tsuki wo Nusumu
  3. Happiness is a Warm Gun
  1. Haru no Katami
  2. Ai to Iu Na no Okurimono
  3. Perfect
  1. Ao no Requiem
  2. Tooku e Ikitai
  1. Anata ga Koko ni Ite Hoshii
  2. Miyori no Mori
  3. Bojou Love is a Many Splendored Thing
  4. Ushinawareta Mono-tachi e
  1. Hotaru boshi
  2. Siuil A run
  3. Yasashii uta

    DVD

Music Film track list
  1. Kotonoha
  2. Triangle
  3. Hainumikaze
  4. Kimi o Omou
  5. Yuri Collection
  6. Hikaru Kaigara
  7. Seirei
  8. Kono Machi
  9. Shinshin Raika
  10. 37.6
  11. Wadatsumi no Ki
  12. Sen no Yoru to Sen no Hiru
  13. Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi
Bonus Live Material
  1. Kotonoha
  2. Triangle
  3. Getsurei 17.4
  4. Yoru ni Yomeru Uta
  5. 37.6
  6. Seirei
  7. Sango Jugoya
  8. Sanpo no Susume
  9. Hummingbird
  10. Neiro Nanairo
  11. Wadatsumi no Ki
  12. Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi
  13. Sanhachigatsu
  14. Uruga no Oka