Mai Kuraki

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Mai Kuraki
倉木 麻衣
Northern Music
  • East West Records
  • Bip! Records
    • Websitemai-kuraki.com
    Mai Kuraki
    YouTube information
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    Years active2006 -
    Subscribers156k[1]
    Total views83,002,020 million times[1]
    Last updated: January 15, 2024

    Mai Kuraki (倉木 麻衣, Kuraki Mai) (born October 28, 1982) is a Japanese pop and R&B singer-songwriter and record producer. After releasing her US debut single "Baby I Like" in 1999, Kuraki signed with Giza Studio and released her Japanese debut single "Love, Day After Tomorrow" in 1999. In 2000, she released her debut album, Delicious Way, which debuted at number-one and sold over 2.2 million copies in its first week. The album has spawned four top-three singles, "Love, Day After Tomorrow", "Stay by My Side", "Secret of My Heart", and "Never Gonna Give You Up". Eventually, the album sold over 3.5 million copies nationwide and became the best-selling album in Japan in 2000, and has been the ninth best-selling album in Japan of all-time.

    Her second album, Perfect Crime (2001) debuted atop in Japan and has sold over 1.3 million copies nationwide. After the success in Japan, Kuraki targeted the American market again, with the English-language studio album Secret of My Heart (2002), however it failed to enter any charts in the United States. Her third Japanese album, Fairy Tale was released in 2002 and topped the Oricon albums chart. The album has spawned one number-one song, "Winter Bells". Her fourth album, If I Believe become her fourth consecutive number-one album in Japan.[2] Her first compilation album, Wish You the Best (2004) sold nearly a million copies and became the seventh best-selling album of 2004 in Japan. Kuraki's succeeding albums, Fuse of Love (2005), Diamond Wave (2006), and One Life (2008) were released to less commercial success.

    In 2009, Kuraki saw a revival in her popularity with the increased television appearances and the promotion. Her eighth studio album, Touch Me!, debuted atop in Japan, becoming her first number-one album in five years. Her second compilation album, All My Best (2009) topped the chart in Japan, making her one of the two artists who sent two albums at the top spot on the chart in the year. Her next studio albums, Future Kiss (2010) and Over the Rainbow (2012) both reached top three in Japan. Her third compilation album, Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope (2014) managed to peak at number two in Japan and became the ninety-fifth best-selling album in Japan of the year. Her eleventh studio album, Smile (2017) sold less than her previous albums, partly due to the lack of the promotion.

    Released in 2017, the single "Togetsukyo (Kimi Omou)" peaked at number two in Japan and became the best-selling single for a solo female artist in 2017. The single marked Kuraki's second revival in charts, succeeded by the compilation album, Mai Kuraki x Meitantei Conan Collaboration Best 21: Shinjitsu wa Itsumo Uta ni Aru! (2017), which peaked at number four in Japan and charted on the year-end album chart in 2017 and 2018. Her twelfth and thirteenth albums, Kimi Omou: Shunkashūtō (2018) and Let's Goal!: Barairo no Jinsei (2019) were both moderate success, reaching top three in Japan. Her fifth compilation album, Mai Kuraki Single Collection: Chance for You was released in 2019, in celebration of her 20th anniversary. In 2021, Kuraki released her fourteenth studio album Unconditional Love, which peaked at number four in Japan and spawned a number-one single "Zero kara Hajimete".

    Kuraki is best known for singing the theme songs for the Japanese television

    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 career beginnings

    Mai Kuraki was born on October 28, 1982, to entrepreneur, film director and actor, Isomi Yamasaki. Her grandfather is Saneharu Yamasaki, a poet, and her aunt is Reiko Takizawa, an actor. Upon hearing Whitney Houston's music and seeing the dance moves of Michael Jackson, Kuraki dreamed to be a singer.[4] While in high school, with the help of her father, who was a friend of the music label, Giza Studio, Kuraki sent a demo tape to the label and contracted a record deal with them.[5] However, before Kuraki made her debut in Japan, she made her American debut.[4][5] Under Giza USA and Bip! Records, Kuraki released the single, "Baby I Like" under the stage name Mai K. The cover of Yoko Black. Stone song, even impressed executives from the major label East West Records, prompting the label to distribute it.[6] However, the song failed to chart on the Billboard charts and Giza sent her back to Japan.[4][7]

    2000–2001: Delicious Way and Perfect Crime

    After coming back to Japan, Kuraki began working on her J-pop materials. She released her Japan debut single, "

    Japan Gold Disc Award for "Song of the Year" and was chosen as the theme song to the television anime series, Case Closed
    , for which Kuraki would be known for singing the multiple theme songs. In 2000, Kuraki sent six singles inside the top 100 on the Oricon Yearly Singles chart.

    In July 2001, Kuraki released her second album, Perfect Crime. The album sold over 800,000 copies in its first week and debuted atop on the Oricon chart. The album has sold over 1.3 million copies and been certified Million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).[17][4][18][19] Perfect Crime won "Rock album of the Year".[20] The album has spawned six singles, including platinum-certified singles, "Reach for the Sky", "Tsumetai Umi"/"Start in My Life", and "Stand Up".[21][22][23][24][25] In August 2000, Kuraki embarked on her first promotional tour, Sokenbicha Natural Breeze 2001 Happy Live, supported by Coca-Cola, as their advertising campaign for their brand, Sokenbicha.

    2002: Secret of My Heart and Fairy Tale

    In January 2002, Kuraki released her first English-language album, Secret of My Heart in the United States. The album included the English versions of her hit songs as well as her US single, "Baby I Like". Like the single, Secret of My Heart commercially failed in the US market.[26] In the same month, Kuraki embarked on her first nationwide headlining tour, Mai Kuraki "Loving You..." Tour 2002. The fourteen-show tour was attended by approximately 150,000 audience.[27] In April, Kuraki signed a promotional deal with Shiseido for their brand, Sea Breeze. her song, "Feel Fine!" was used for their television commercial, in which Kuraki herself appeared. In June 2002, Kuraki made her television appearance, performing at the 2002 FIFA World Cut Official Concert Korea/Japan Day with the other artists such as Lauryn Hill and Ken Hirai.

    Her third studio album,

    Like a Star in the Night", and "Winter Bells", which peaked at number one in Japan.[29][30][31] Fairy Tale won the "Rock & Pop album of the Year" award at the Japan Gold Disc Awards.[32]
    In the same month, Kuraki embarked on the Mai Kuraki Fairy Tale Tour 02–03 in support of the album. In December 2002, Kuraki published her first autobiographical book, Myself Music.

    2003–2004: If I Believe and Wish You the Best

    Kuraki released her fourth studio album,

    Time After Time: Hana Mau Machi de", "Kiss" and "Kaze no La La La", all of which reached number three in Japan.[35][36][37][38] In October 2003, Kuraki was featured as a guest vocalist for Tak Matsumoto's single, "Imitation Gold", the cover of Momoe Yamaguchi. The single debuted at number one and has sold over 80,000 copies, earning Matsumoto his first number one single. The song was included on his eighth studio album, The Hit Parade (2003). In December 2003, Kuraki made her first appearance at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen and performed "Stay by My Side" at Tō-ji in Kyoto
    .

    Wish You the Best, her first compilation album was released on the New Year's Day of 2004. The album became her fifth consecutive number-one album and has been certified million by RIAJ, although the album entirely consisted of previously released songs.[39][40] In April 2004, Kuraki embarked on the Mai Kuraki 2004 Live Tour Wish You the Best: Grow, Step by Step. The tour was attended by the audience of 117,000. In December 2004, Kuraki performed her single, ""Ashita e Kakeru Hashi" (明日へ架ける橋) at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

    2005–2006: Fuse of Love and Diamond Wave

    Her fifth studio album, Fuse of Love was released in August 2005. The album failed to match the success of her previous albums, only peaking at number three on the Oricon chart, while it managed to enter the Taiwan's newly established G-Music chart at number thirteen.[41] Fuse of Love has spawned four singles, including three top five singles: "Ashita e Kakeru Hashi", "Love, Needing" and "Dancing".[42][43][44] The music video of "Dancing" was directed by Nigel Dick, who also directed the music video of the artists like Britney Spears, Guns N' Roses, and Backstreet Boys. The album was later certified gold by the RIAJ and has sold over 185,000 copies nationwide.[45] Kuraki embarked on the Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2005 Like a Fuse of Love, in September 2005. In December 2005, Kuraki made her third appearance at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen, perfotming her debut single, "Love, Day After Tomorrow".

    In August 2006, Kuraki released her sixth studio album, Diamond Wave. The album was a moderate success, peaking at number three in Japan and number thirteen in Taiwan.[46] It has sold over 132,000 copies and has certified gold by the RIAJ.[47] Diamond Wave has spawned three top ten singles: "Growing of My Heart", "Best of Hero" (ベスト オブ ヒーロー), and "Diamond Wave".[48][49][50] From August 2006 to November 2006, Kuraki embarked on the Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2006 Diamond Wave to promote the album.

    2007-2009: One Life, Touch Me!, and All My Best

    In June 2007, Kuraki left

    Be With U".[53][54][55]

    In October 2008, Kuraki embarked on the Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2008 "Touch Me!" to promote her then unreleased eighth studio album,

    ZARD's posthumous single, "Sunao ni Ienakute
    ", The single peaked at number 5 in Japan, selling over 36,000 copies nationwide.

    In July 2009, Kuraki embarked on the Asia tour, titled 10th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Tour 2009 "Best", in celebration of her tenth debut. Her second compilation album, All My Best was released to a commercial success, debuting atop on the Oricon chart, making her among the two artists who sent two albums atop on the chart in 2009, the other being Greeeen. The album has sold over 250,000 copies nationwide and been certified platinum by the RIAJ, as well as enter the year-end album chart at number twenty-five. The album has spawned two top three singles, "Puzzle" and "Beautiful".[61][62] The lead track from the album, "Watashi no, Shiranai, Watashi." was used in the television commercials for the cosmetic company, Kosé, in which she was featured as a model. The song peaked at number twenty on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, even though it was not released as a single. The double A-side single, "Puzzle"/"Revive" became Kuraki's first top three single in 5 years since "Ashita e Kakeru Hashi" (2004). On 31 October 2009, Kuraki held a Halloween concert, titled 10th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2009 "Best" Happy Happy Halloween Live at Nippon Budokan. "Puzzle" was used as the ending theme for the thirteenth movie Detective Conan: The Raven Chaser, while "Revive" was used as the twenty-fifth opening theme song for the TV series.[63][64]

    2010–2012: Future Kiss and Over the Rainbow

    In March 2010, Kuraki released the double A-side single, "

    Drive Me Crazy". The former was used in the television commercial for Kosé, while the latter was used as the Japanese theme song to the American television series, Heroes Season 3. The single peaked at number four in Japan and fifteen in Taiwan. In November 2010, her ninth studio album, Future Kiss was released. The album debuted at number three and has sold over 65,000 copies in Japan. It also peaked at number eleven in Taiwan, making her highest-charting album in the country to date. The album has spawned four top five singles, "Revive", "Beautiful", "Drive Me Crazy", and "Summer Time Gone". The title track of the album was performed on the several television programs including SMAP×SMAP and Music Station, making it peak at number thirteen on the Billboard Japan Hot 100. Another song from the album, "Tomorrow Is the Last Time" was used as the theme song to the anime, Case Closed and charted on the RIAJ Digital Track Chart at number forty-two. In November 2010, Kuraki performed at Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto, the UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a part of the Tokyo FM
    's 40th anniversary campaign.

    In March 2011, Kuraki sang the national anthem at the soccer charity match, titled "The Tohoku Earthquake recovery support charity match Ganbarou Nippon!", at

    Mou Ichido", "Your Best Friend", and "Strong Heart". From the same month, she embarked on the Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2012: Over the Rainbow in support of the album. In April 2012, Kuraki won The Most Popular Asian Influential Japanese Singer at the 2012 Channel V "Migu" Chinese Music Award, which was held in Macau. In June 2012, she signed a promotional deal with NGW Japan to promote their bottled mineral water series, Ice Field. In September 2012, Kuraki held her first orchestral concert titled Mai Kuraki Symphonic Live -Opus 1- at Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre. In December 2012, she released an orchestral compilation album, Mai Kuraki Symphonic Collection in Moscow. The lead track from the album, "Hakanasa" was chosen as the Japanese theme song to the Chinese fantasy film, Painted Skin and the television series adapted from the film
    .

    2013–2014: Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope

    In February 2013, Kuraki released a single "

    JICA's Nantokashinakya! Project, Kuraki visited Siem Reap, Cambodia to support and help education system in Cambodia. After the visit, Kuraki started the project to raise fund to found a school in Trei Nhoar, Puok District, Cambodia. In February 2016, the project was completed, and Trey Nhoar Community Learning Center was founded. From June 2014, Kuraki embarked on two tours, 15th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2014 Best "151A": Fun Fun Fun and 15th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2014 Best 151A: Muteki na Heart. During the former tour, Kuraki performed at the relatively small music venues while she performed at the music halls during the latter tour. In November 2014, Kuraki released her third compilation album Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope in celebration of her fifteenth debut anniversary. The album peaked at number two in Japan and has sold over 67,000 copies, certified gold by the RIAJ.[69] It also chart in Taiwan at number nineteen. Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope has yielded six top ten singles, "Koi ni Koishite"/"Special Morning Day to You", "Try Again", "Wake Me Up", "Muteki na Heart"/"Stand by You".[70]

    2015–2017: Smile and "Togetsukyo (Kimi Omou)"

    In May 2015, Kuraki released a promotional single "

    Recochoku weekly chart. In November 2015, Kuraki and other musicians including Kazufumi Miyazawa, Tetsuya Takeda, and Ai Kawashima recorded the charity single "Hitori, Hitotsu" to support the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. In April 2016, Kuraki held her first concert in Russia, at the Mariinsky Theatre. In May 2016, Kuraki signed an ambassador deal with Nihon Unisys and wrote the image song to the company, "Make That Change". In September 2016, Kuraki embarked on the China tour, Mai Kuraki "Time After Time" Chine Live Tour.[72] In January 2017, Kuraki released "Yesterday Love" as the first VR single in Japan.[73][74] In the following month, her first studio album in five years, Smile was released to a minor commercial success.[75][76] The album managed to peak at number four and has sold over 29,000 copies in Japan. The album was preceded by one single, "Yesterday Love", and two promotional singles, "Serendipity" and "Sawage Life". To promote the album, Kuraki embarked on the Mai Kuraki Live Project 2017 Sawage Live.[77]

    In April 2017, Kuraki released the single "

    Guinness World Record for singing the most theme songs in a single anime series (Case Closed).[78] Kuraki's fourth compilation album Mai Kuraki x Meitantei Conan Collaboration Best 21: Shinjitsu wa Itsumo Uta ni Aru!, a collaboration with Case Closed, was released on October 25, 2017. The album was a commercial success, peaking at number four and selling over 79,000 copies in Japan. In December 2017, Kuraki made her first appearance at the Kōhaku Uta Gassen
    in twelve years, performing "Togetsukyo (Kimi Omou)".

    2018–2020: Kimi Omou: Shunkashūtō and Let's Goal!: Barairo no Jinsei

    In September 2018, Kuraki appeared on the television commercials of

    Kyoto City, as an Kyoto sightseeing ambassador. In October 2018, Kuraki was chosen as an image character for the department store chain Parco, for their Chinese New Year campaign. In the same month, Kuraki released her first concept album, Kimi Omou: Shunkashūtō. The album peaked at number three and has sold approximately 30,000 copies in Japan. The album has spawned five singles, "Togetsukyo (Kimi Omou)", "We Are Happy Women", "Do It!", "Light Up My Life", and "Koyoi wa Yume wo Misasete". From 13 October 2018, she embarked on the Mai Kuraki Live Project 2018 "Red It Be": Kimi Omou Shunkashūtō to promote the album. "Light Up My Life" served as the theme song to the Japanese tactical role-playing game, Valkyria Chronicles IV
    .

    In March 2019, Kuraki released a double A-side single "Kimi to Koi no Mama de Owarenai Itsumo Yume no Mama ja Irarenai"/"Barairo no Jinsei". Both songs served as the theme songs to the special episodes of Case Closed, "The Scarlet School Trip", on which Kuraki appeared as a voice actor.[79] The song peaked at number four, becoming her forty-second consecutive top ten CD single since her debut "Love, Day After Tomorrow", extending her record for being the only female artist in Japan to do so. In celebration of 20th anniversary of debut, Kuraki embarked on the Asia tour 20th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2019 in Asia from July 2019. In August 2019, she released her thirteenth studio album Let's Goal!: Barairo no Jinsei. The album debuted at number three and has sold over 29,000 copies in Japan.[80][81] In support of the album, she embarked on the tour, 20th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2019 "Let's Goal!: Barairo no Jinsei" from August to November 2019.

    In December 2019, Kuraki released her fifth compilation album Mai Kuraki Single Collection: Chance for You. The album peaked at number six and has sold over 29,000 copies in Japan. The four-disc single collection was mastered by the Grammy-nominated/winning engineers, Ryan Smith, Chris Gehringer, Randy Merrill, Joe LaPorta, and Ted Jensen. In October 2020, Kuraki wrote All at Once's song, "Just Believe You", which also sampled Kuraki's single, "Secret of My Heart".

    2021-present: Unconditional Love

    On 6 March 2021, Kuraki released the first single in approximately two years, "

    video single. The single topped on the Oricon
    Weekly DVD chart, becoming Kuraki's first number-one on the chart since Mai Kuraki Clip & Live Selection "My Reflection" debuted atop in January 2004.

    In August 2021, Kuraki announced the release of her thirteenth studio album, Unconditional Love. The singer will also embark on the tour, Mai Kuraki Live Project 2021 in support of the album.

    On 26 January 2022, the website Goo Ranking released a survey of "TOP49 female celebrities who might surprise you to know they are 40 years old in 2022". She ranked 2nd with 97 votes.[82] The survey was based on the vote of 500 people, made of 50% females and 50% males, with age around 20~40 years.[83]

    Artistry

    Influences

    Jackson performing in June 1988
    Mariah Carey in November 2018
    Kuraki credits artists such as Michael Jackson (left) and Mariah Carey (right) as major musical influences

    Kuraki has cited Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Lauryn Hill as being major influence in her career. She cites the live performance of Houston and the music videos of Jackson as the mains reasons why she started to dream of becoming a singer. In the interview with Natalie, Kuraki stated that she practiced vibrato, singing "Man in the Mirror" by Jackson. She has covered several songs from Jackson's discography, including "I'll Be There", "Smile", and "I Just Can't Stop Loving You". In the 2014 interview with Barks, Kuraki told that she sang "

    MAX at the audition. Kuraki also named Michael Bublé, Shakira, Christina Aguilera, Janet Jackson, Stacie Orrico, Britney Spears, and Jennifer Lopez
    as sources of inspiration.

    Kuraki has been cited by many musicians as their main influence.

    Like a Star in the Night" and Ai Takahashi sang "Tsumetai Umi
    " for their auditions.

    Musical style

    Rodney Jerkins at the ARIA Music Awards of 2013
    Kuraki has enlisted artists such as Rodney Jerkins (left) and Fernando Garibay (right) as the writers

    Kuraki's songs are often written and produced by the fellow musicians from her label,

    kayokyoku on "Time After Time (Hana Mau Machi de)". On the album, she recorded a song, "Tonight, I Feel Close to You" with a Singaporean singer Stefanie Sun
    .

    Her fifth and sixth studio albums Fuse of Love (2005) and Diamond Wave (2006) saw the drastic change in her musical style, diverting into the

    Nash Overstreet and Porcelain Black. After the gagaku-influenced song "Togetsukyo (Kimi Omou)" (2017) commercially succeeded, Kuraki veered into incorporating the traditional Japanese sounds on her songs. Her twelfth studio album Kimi Omou: Shunkashūtō (2018) mixed elements of J-pop, R&B, gagaku, kayokyoku, and rock. For her thirteenth studio album Let's Goal!: Barairo no Jinsei (2019), Kuraki enlisted the Western musicians such as Fernando Garibay, Benjamin Ingrosso, and Quiz & Larossi. The works of Kuraki have been remixed by prominent DJs, including Johnny Vicious, Justin Strauss, Mark Kamins, and Ken Ishii
    .

    Image

    Upon her debut in December 1999, Kuraki scarcely made the appearances on the television shows or the concerts, with people calling her "the Veiled Diva". The similar strategy have taken for the other artists from her label, Being Group, including Zard, Maki Ohguro, and Miho Komatsu. Her first performing took place at the first show on the Sokenbicha Natural Breeze 2001 Happy Live in August 2000. Kuraki her made her first appearance on the live broadcasting television show when she performed "Stay by My Side" on the Kōhaku Uta Gassen in December 2003. She began to appear on multiple television show after performing "Touch Me!" on the television show, Music Station in February 2009.

    Legacy

    As of 2020, Kuraki has sold over 20 million albums and singles worldwide, and is

    Japan Gold Disc Awards. Kuraki is the only female artist in Japan who has sent all her forty-two singles within the top ten on the Oricon
    weekly singles chart, since her debut single "Love, Day After Tomorrow" (1999).

    Her debut album, Delicious Way sold over 2,210,000 copies in its first week and it has remains as the biggest first week sales for the debut album by a Japanese artist. The album is also the third best-selling debut album and the ninth best-selling album overall in Japan. Kuraki's music is known throughout East Asia, winning The Most Popular Asian Influential Japanese Singer at the Chinese Music Awards in 2012.

    Other ventures

    Products and endorsements

    In March 2000, Kuraki collaborated with entertainment company Konami and released a puzzle video game for the PlayStation, Techno BB. Kuraki designed the main character in the game, called Mai B Bear. In April 2001, Kuraki teamed up with Coca-Cola Japan to promote their beverage product, Sokenbicha. Those who bought the product could apply for the tickets to attend Kuraki's first promotional tour, Sokenbicha Natural Breeze 2001 Happy Live. In December 2001, Kuraki appeared in the television advertisements for the Shiseido's product, Sea Breeze. Three of her songs, "Feel Fine!", "Kiss", and "If I Believe" have been used for the advertisement series.

    In 2009, she signed a deal with cosmetic company Kosé to promote their Esprique Precious collection. From August 2009 to 2011, Kuraki was featured in five television advertisements for the collection. Her songs, "Watashi no, Shiranai, Watashi.", "Eien Yori Nagaku", "Summer Time Gone", "Boyfriend", and "1000 Mankai no Kiss" were all used in the ads. She has also endorsed several brands, U-Can, Clevery Home, Icefield, JR-West, Parco, and Dwango. City of Kyoto has appointed Kuraki as an ambassador of the city and starred her in their television advertisements after the hit of "Togetsukyo (Kimi Omou)". The advertisements featured Kuraki's song, "Hanakotoba".

    Many of Kuraki's songs have been used in television advertisements. In 2017, her song "Kimi e no Uta" was used in the television commercial by Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers. In 2009, "Top of the World", the Carpenters' cover by Kuraki, was used in the advertisements by Lion Corporation, for their detergent brand Top.

    Philanthropy

    Kuraki has been involved with many charities and philanthropies. In April 2006, Kuraki performed at the Cosmo Earth Conscious Act Earth Day Concert at

    Wangari Maathai. Following these events, Kuraki stated that she would begin to start working on global environmental conservation. Kuraki had been a member of the governmental project, Team Minus 6%, which was established to reduce the emission of greenhouse gas. During the Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2006 Diamond, Kuraki invited a Japanese politician Yuriko Koike
    on the stage to talk about the environmental issues.

    Kuraki was among the first and biggest artists to work on the charities and philanthropies after the

    Yanmar Stadium Nagai allowed them to use the stadium free of charge, to send as much donation as possible to the victims. The match was played on March 29, 2011, as well, and Kuraki performed the national anthem again. On April 11, 2011, Kuraki released a charity single, "Anata ga Irukara". The proceeds from the single was donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society. In August 2011, Kuraki visited Onagawa, Miyagi, to do a soup-run and perform a concert. She has visited the city several times since 2011, performing at the music festival Gareki Stock and including the city on her tours. In October 2011, Kuraki held a charity concert, Mai Kuraki Premium Live One for All, All for One at Nippon Budokan. The video of the concert was included on the video album of the same title and was released in March 2012. Another charity single, "Strong Heart" was released in November 2011. In June 2013, Kuraki participated in the Green Wall Project, which aims to plant evergreen broad-leaved trees to work as natural tide embankments in Iwanuma, Miyagi, where the tsunami killed 180 people in March 2011. To promote the project, Kuraki performed at the symposium, in January 2013. Following the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes in April 2016, Kuraki took part in the volunteering project in Mashiki, Kumamoto by soup-running and performing the live. In October 2017, Kuraki visited the city again to participate in the conference titled "Mirai Talk", where the citizens in the city talked about the strategy for reconstruction. In September 2019, after the Typhoon Faxai hit Chiba Prefecture
    , Kuraki performed at the public school Nagasaku Gakuen to cheer up the elementary school students in the prefecture. In June 2011, Kuraki performed at the charity concert to encourage blood donation, Love in Action Meeting, as a headliner.

    In March 2014, as a part of

    JICA's Nantokashinakya! Project, Kuraki visited Siem Reap, Cambodia to support the education system in Cambodia. After the visit, Kuraki started her own project with the support by JICA, called Minna de Cambodia ni Terakoya wo Tateyou! Project to found a school in Trei Nhoar, Puok District, Cambodia. Kuraki raised a fund by selling charity merchandises, raising a donation, and auctioning. In February 2016, the project was completed, and Trey Nhoar Community Learning Center, the first school in the village, was founded. The project was featured as a documentary television program titled Mai Kuraki Cambodia no Uta: Sore ga Yume no Hajimari ni naru. Her single, "Stand by You
    " (2014) was written based on her experience in the country.

    Personal life

    She is the eldest daughter of the Japanese movie director and actor, Isomi Yamasaki. In 2000, he published a book about Kuraki, containing photos from her childhood, however the book was not published with the approval of Kuraki herself.[84] In 2001, Yamasaki directed an adult home video record titled Utahime Densetsu for the adult-video actress Mai Kuramoto.[85] Due to the similarity of their names and of their facial features, people temporarily believed that it was actually Kuraki herself who appeared in the video.[85] Isomi Yamasaki died of heart failure in 2020.[86][87]

    Mai owns a dog - a mix of Papillon and Poodle, "Benito" since 2022.[88] She previously owned a Border Collie, named "Casper", which died in 2016 at the age of 14.[89] The announcement of the dog's death has been made through her blog.

    Discography

    Main article: Mai Kuraki discography

    Filmography

    Main article: Mai Kuraki videography

    Books

    Tours

    • Sokenbicha Natural Breeze 2001 Happy Live (2001)
    • Mai Kuraki Loving You... Tour 2002 (2002)
    • You & Mai First Meeting 2002 (2002)
    • Giza Studio Hotrod Beach Party (2002) (As Mai-K and Friends)
    • Mai Kuraki Fairy Tale Tour 02-03 (2002–2003)
    • Giza Studio Valentine Concert (2003) (co-headlined with Rina Aiuchi and Garnet Crow)
    • Mai Kuraki 2004 Live Tour Wish You The Best: Grow, Step by Step (2004)
    • Mai-K a Tumarrow 2005 (2005)
    • Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2005 Like a Fuse of Love (2005)
    • Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2006 Diamond Wave (2006)
    • Mai-K.net "De Ma Chi" Live de Show (2006)
    • Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2007 Be With U (2007)
    • Mai-K.net Exclusive Live: You & Mai Summer 2008 (2008)
    • Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2008 "Touch Me!" (2008)
    • 10th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2009 "Best" (2009)
    • Mai Kuraki Live Tour "Future Kiss" (2010–2011)
    • Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2012: Over the Rainbow (2012)
    • Mai Kuraki Live Project 2013 "Re:" (2013)
    • 15th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2014 "151A": Fun Fun Fun (2014)
    • 15th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2014 "151A": Muteki na Heart (2014)
    • Mai Kuraki Live Project 2017 "Sawage Live" (2017)
    • Mai Kuraki Live Project 2018 "Red It Be": Kimi Omou Shunkashūtō (2018)
    • 20th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2019 in Asia (2019)
    • 20th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2019 "Let's Goal!: Barairo no Jinsei" (2019)

    Accolades

    Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
    2001
    15th Japan Gold Disc Award
    		 Rock Album of the Year Delicious Way Won [92]
    Song of the Year "Secret of My Heart" Won [93]
    2002
    16th Japan Gold Disc Award
    		 Rock Album of the Year Perfect Crime Won [94]
    2003
    17th Japan Gold Disc Award
    		 Rock Album of the Year Fairy Tale Won [95]
    2004
    18th Japan Gold Disc Award
    		 Rock & Pop Album of the Year If I Believe Won [96]
    2005
    19th Japan Gold Disc Award
    		 Rock & Pop Album of the Year Wish You the Best Won [97]
    2010 21st RTHK International Pop Poll Award Top Japanese Gold Song "Beautiful" Won [98]
    Kodansha Advertising Awards Best Character Award KOSE, "Esprique Precious" Won [99]
    2012 China Music Awards The Most Popular Asian Influential Japanese Singer herself Won [100]
    2016 Fresh Asia Chart Award Best International Artist herself Won [101]
    2017 Guinness World Records Most Theme Songs Performed by a Single Artist for an Anime Series collaboration with Detective Conan Won [102][103]
    2018
    32nd Japan Gold Disc Award
    		 Best 5 Songs By Download Togetsukyo (Kimi Omou) Won [104][105]
    2021 Line Blog Monthly MVP (July 2021) "👄🎶"[106] [107]

    See also

    References

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    2. ^ "BoA、オリジナル1stから5作連続首位！" (in Japanese). Oricon. January 23, 2007. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    3. ^ 倉木麻衣、10年目突入でアルバム1位獲得 (in Japanese). Livedoor. January 27, 2009. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    4. ^ a b c d Eremenko, Alexey. "allmusic ((( Mai Kuraki – Biography )))". AllMusic. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    5. ^ a b McClure, Steve. "Nippop | Mai Kuraki". Nippop. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    6. ^ "Giza USA Artists". Giza USA. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
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    36. ^ "Time After Time: Hana Mau Machi de Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
    37. ^ "Kiss Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
    38. ^ "Kaze no Lalala" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
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    41. ^ 2005年09月第1週の邦楽アルバムランキング情報 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    42. ^ "Ashita e Kakeru Hashi Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    43. ^ "Love, Needing Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    44. ^ "Dancing Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    45. ^ 2005年8月度 認定作品 (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    46. ^ 2006年08月第2週の邦楽アルバムランキング情報 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
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    48. ^ "Growing of My Heart Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    49. ^ "Best of Hero Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    50. ^ "Diamond Wave Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    51. ^ "One Life Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    52. ^ ゴールド等認定作品一覧 2008年2月 (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
    53. ^ "Shiroi Yuki Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    54. ^ "Season of Love Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
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    58. ^ "Yume ga Saku Haru/You and Music and Dream Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    59. ^ "Ichibyōgoto ni Love for You Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    60. ^ "24 Xmas Time Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 18, 2009.
    61. ^ "倉木麻衣、CMタイアップ新曲がデイリー初日首位" (in Japanese). Oricon. June 11, 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
    62. ^ "GIRL NEXT DOORがデビュー以来初の首位獲得" (in Japanese). Oricon. June 16, 2009. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
    63. ^ "Puzzle/Revive Oricon page" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
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    65. ^ "Maimai (Wish me mell)" (in Japanese). Sanrio. Retrieved August 18, 2012.
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    67. ^ "Sanrio, Mai Kuraki's Animated Music Video Clip Streamed". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
    68. ^ "Kuraki Mai to release new album, "OVER THE RAINBOW" | tokyohive.com". www.tokyohive.com. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
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    71. ^ Inc., Natasha. "倉木麻衣、JR西日本CM曲を配信＆京都を歩く". {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
    72. ^ MUSIC, NORTHERN (October 16, 2023). "INFORMATION｜倉木麻衣 Official Website".
    73. ^ Music video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoxGyDsIVwM
    74. ^ Announcement (in Japanese) headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20161122-00000075-spnannex-ent
    75. ^ Article about announcement http://www.natalie.mu/music/news/217111
    76. ^ Secondary article about announcement https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000137140
    77. ^ MUSIC, NORTHERN. "LIVE｜倉木麻衣 Official Website".
    78. ^ "Weltrekord für Mai Kuraki: Die meisten Titellieder in einem Anime". ConanNews.org. July 26, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
    79. ^ "倉木麻衣「名探偵コナン」本人役で声優に初挑戦＆主題歌も". Cinema Today. December 7, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
    80. ^ "祝・デビュー20周年！ 倉木麻衣、今夏オリジナルアルバム『Let's GOAL！〜薔薇色の人生〜』をリリース". M-On Music. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
    81. ^ "倉木麻衣、アルバム『Let's GOAL！〜薔薇色の人生〜』今夏発売＋薔薇色ライヴ開催". Barks. April 15, 2019. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
    82. ^ "2022年で「40歳」と知って驚く女性有名人ランキング 1位から10位".
    83. ^ "gooランキングの第518回の調査結果について".
    84. ISBN 9-7848-72788235
      .
    85. ^ a b "倉木麻衣ソックリAVで大騒動に…くらもとまいさんの引退後". nikkan-gendai.com. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
    86. ^ "倉木麻衣父"倉木パパ"こと山前五十洋さん逝く「麻衣に会いたい」の言葉残し". asagei.biz. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
    87. ^ "歌姬「最低級父親」離世 享壽76歲". yahoo (Taiwanese). April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
    88. ^ "ベニート♡🖤⭐️". Mai Kuraki Blog hosted by Livedoor blog. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
    89. ^ "The One☆". Mai Kuraki Blog hosted by Livedoor blog. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
    90. ^ Myself Music by Mai Kuraki (Google Books)
    91. ^ 倉木麻衣　デビュー20周年記念出版！　トレジャーブック
    92. ^ Billboard Staff (March 15, 2001). "Beatles Win Japan's Gold Disc Award". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
    93. ^ Recording Industry Association of Japan (2001). "15th Japan Gold Disc Awards". Japan Gold Disc Awards (in Japanese). Retrieved August 13, 2021.
    94. ^ Recording Industry Association of Japan (2002). "16th Japan Gold Disc Awards". Japan Gold Disc Awards (in Japanese). Retrieved August 13, 2021.
    95. ^ Recording Industry Association of Japan (2003). "17th Japan Gold Disc Awards". Japan Gold Disc Awards (in Japanese). Retrieved August 13, 2021.
    96. ^ Recording Industry Association of Japan (2004). "18th Japan Gold Disc Awards". Japan Gold Disc Awards (in Japanese). Retrieved August 13, 2021.
    97. ^ Recording Industry Association of Japan (2005). "19th Japan Gold Disc Awards". Japan Gold Disc Awards (in Japanese). Retrieved August 13, 2021.
    98. ^ “RTHK International Pop Poll” Award Presentation Reveals the Top Ten Foreign Music Awards. Published on 2010-26-04. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
    99. ^ Mai Kuraki receives “Best Character Award”. Published on 2010-22-12. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
    100. ^ Mai Kuraki Won The Best International Artist in Special Category. syncmusic.jp. Published on 2012-07-04. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
    101. ^ Mai Kuraki, awarded at Asia’s Biggest Music Festival & Theme Song of a Hit Movie in China. syncmusic.jp. Published on 2016-18-11. Retrieved 2021-13-21.
    102. ^ Mai Kuraki, awarded at Asia’s Biggest Music Festival & Theme Song of a Hit Movie in China. aramajapan.com. Retrieved 2021-13-08.
    103. ^ Japanese singer Mai Kuraki claims animation theme songs record for Detective Conan aka Case Closed. guinnessworldrecords.com. Published on 2017-27-07. Retrieved 2021-13-08.
    104. ^ Recording Industry Association of Japan (2018). "32nd Japan Gold Disc Awards". Japan Gold Disc Awards (in Japanese). Retrieved August 13, 2021.
    105. ^ The Winners of The Japan Gold Disc Award 2018 Announced. aramajapan.com. Retrieved 2021-13-21.
    106. ^ Mai Kuraki (July 3, 2021). "👄🎶" (in Japanese). Retrieved August 27, 2021.
    107. ^ Line Blog (August 26, 2021). "2021年7月「LINE BLOG月間MVP」は、『名探偵コナン』主題歌のMV撮影を振り返った倉木麻衣さん！ 編集部おすすめ記事も発表". Line Corporation (in Japanese). Retrieved August 27, 2021.

    External links

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