#25 years of KOKIA in flashback

[kokiafans]

KOKIA in 2023

Happy 25th anniversary to KOKIA!

April 29, 2023 marks KOKIA's 25th anniversary as a singer. An amazing milestone for any artist, especially after these past couple of years. She's been a very prolific artist throughout these 25 years, taking us along through different worlds and her own story. I hope this little '25 years of KOKIA in flashback' project has done its job in showing just how much she's done.

By the time this post goes live, KOKIA will have completed her anniversary concert you and me, and is hopefully enjoying this milestone in her career on the day itself to the fullest.

KOKIA, thank you so much for sharing your music with the world these past 25 years! May you be able to continue creating and sharing your art for as long as you wish to do so.

#KOKIA #25 years of kokia in flashback

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KOKIA in flashback - 1998

Counting down to her 25th anniversary on April 29, 2023, I will be making 26 posts in total to commemorate each year in KOKIA's career, of course ending with the present. To start us off, we're traveling back to the year it all began: 1998!

KOKIA makes her official debut in 1998, when she is still in university. A demo tape she had made before her debut catches the eye of a studio executive, and she signs under Ponyo Canyon to perform an insert song for the Fuji TV drama series Brothers. This becomes the single Ai shite iru kara ('Because I love you'), with the song You as B-side, both songs also appearing on the soundtrack for Brothers. With the single and soundtrack releasing on April 29, this day becomes KOKIA's day of debut, and the day she refers to as her anniversary day.

It is technically not her first officially released song: that is For little tail, the theme song for the game Tail Concerto. She performs that song under her real name, Akiko Yoshida, before reversing the syllables of her first name to create her stage name KOKIA.

※ All information below starting with ◆ Lives and events ◆ is translated from her official biography page (with the period 1998-2005 from an earlier version). This goes for all future posts in this series.※

◆ Lives and events  ◆

November 23 Tokyo University of Science's 50 Annual Science Festival (Tokyo University of Science, Kagurazaka Campus)

◆ Releases ◆

April 29 Release of debut single Ai shite iru kara ('because I love you') (Ponyo Canyon) ※ Insert song for the Fuji TV drama Brothers

November 18 Release of single Tears in Love ('Ponyo Canyon') ※AIR-G' FM Hokkaido 'KOKIA Innocent Time' theme song

◆ Other releases ◆

April 16 Release of the PlayStation game Tail Concerto (Bandai) ※ wrote and sung the theme song For Little Tail

April 29 Release of Brothers original soundtrack (Ponyo Canyon) ※ Original soundtrack for the Fuji TV drama Brothers. Recorded the insert songs Ai shite iru kara ('because I love you') and You.

May 21 Release of the single Ai no field ('Field of love') (Victor Entertainment) ※ Ending theme for the WOWOW animated series Brain Powerd. Performed the title song Ai no field ('Field of love').

August 5 Release of Brain Powerd original soundtrack 1 (Victor Entertainment) ※ Original soundtrack for the WOWOW animated series Brain Powerd. Recorded the vocals for the ending theme Ai no field ('field of love').

#KOKIA #25 years of KOKIA in flashback

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KOKIA in flashback - 2003

It is KOKIA's 5th anniversary in 2003, and she gets busy this year! She releases the singles Kawaranai koto ~since 1976~ ('things that won't change'), with the year referring to her own year of birth, and The Power of Smile/Remember the kiss. The latter remains one of her best-selling singles ever, and both single A-sides are used for commercials and TV programs, boosting their fame. Kawaranai koto ~since 1976~ features in the Fuji TV drama series Itoshiki no mono e ('to those I love') as its theme song, and The Power of Smile makes a splash on the music TV show Music Station. These land her many performances that year.

The title tracks of the singles end up on KOKIA's third album, Remember me, which releases late 2003 and breaks into the Oricon charts top 20. She tours to promote the album with her first concert tour, Remember me ~watashi wa koko ni iru yo~ ('I am here').

◆ Lives and events ◆

April 26 KOKIA Live Kawaranai koto ('things that won't change') (SHIBUYA BOXX)

May 18 In-store live to commemorate the release of Kawaranai koto ~since 1976~ ('things that won't change') (Tokyo, Laforet Harajuku)

May 31 NEW MAZDA DEMIO Luci & Caz CoolStyle in Maru building (Tokyo, Marunouchi building, 1F MARUCUBE) ※live recording opening TOKYO FM

June 1 NEW MAZDA DEMIO Luci & Caz CoolStyle in Maru building (Tokyo, Marunouchi building, 1F MARUCUBE)

June 14 In-store live to commemorate the release of Kawaranai koto ~since 1976~ ('things that won't change') (Hyôgo, HMV Sannomiya)

June 14 In-store live to commemorate the release of Kawaranai koto ~since 1976~ ('things that won't change') (Osaka, Shinsaibashi Parco)

June 15 In-store live to commemorate the release of Kawaranai koto ~since 1976~ ('things that won't change') (Aichi, Aeon Higashiura shopping center)

June 15 In-store live to commemorate the release of Kawaranai koto ~since 1976~ ('things that won't change') (Aichi, Yamagiwa Soft Nadya Park)

June 19 AIR-G' clock tower acoustic live vol.43 KOKIA (Sapporo clock tower 2F hall) ※live recording for AIR-G'

June 21 In-store live to commemorate the release of Kawaranai koto ~since 1976~ ('things that won't change') (HMV Yokohama Kôhoku)

June 21 In-store live to commemorate the release of Kawaranai koto ~since 1976~ ('things that won't change') (HMV Ikebukuro Metropolitan Plaza)

June 22 In-store live to commemorate the release of Kawaranai koto ~since 1976~ ('things that won't change') (HMV Shibuya)

June 22 In-store live to commemorate the release of Kawaranai koto ~since 1976~ ('things that won't change') (Tower Records Shinjuku store)

June 29 Atto! monthly live (Queen's Square Yokohama 1F Queen's Circle)

June 30 Tokyo Shimbun charity concert for child victims of the Iraq War (Roppongi Velfarre)

July 13 Oasis 21 Tanabata star festival (Aichi, Oasis 21)

July 19 Car life navi @ summer selection in super Autobacs TOKYO BAY Shinonome (Tokyo, super★AUTOBACS TOKYO BAY Shinonome)

August 10 Sanctuary (Shibuya CLUB QUATTRO)

August 11 Music week Ongaku no sohara in Kurumayama kogen (Nagano, Kurumayama plateau)  ※ FM Nagano RemixSight live performance

August 23 24 hour TV charity live 2003 (Aichi, Nissan Nagoya Gallery) (special stage at Sakae, Hisaya-odori Park) (Laguna Gamagôri) ※ 3 performances in 1 day, different locations

August 24 ZIP-FM 10th Anniversary presents TREASURE MAP 052～DIAMOND WEEK～《FINAL》(Aichi, Club Diamond Hall)

August 30 Kobe collection 2003 A/W ~Kobe Fashion City announcement 30th anniversary~ (Kobe Fashion mart, 1F Atrium Plaza)

August 31 au EZ Chaku-uta ('truetone') LIVE STATION (Aichi, Hoshigaoka Terrace)

September 8 Your Side ~motto soba ni~ ('even closer') (Shibuya CLUB QUATTRO)

September 12 Gyokkodo/PALS21 G-LIVE5-Autumn Voice- (Hokkaido, KRAPS HALL)

September 30 KOKIA vs grass hockey (Aichi, ell. FITS ALL)

October 1 Takashi Tachibana and Mamoru Môri talk event Uchuu, kore kara ('space and beyond') (Tokyo, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, 1st floor, Symbol Zone)

October 13 fm fukuoka presents KOKIA first live in GAYA (Fukuoka, fm fukuoka GAYA)

November 16 In-store live to commemorate the release of the album Remember me (HMV Yokohama)

November 24 Zaza City Hamamatsu 3th anniversary 'birthday festival' free live (Zaza City Hamamatsu)

【KOKIA 2003 concert tour Remember me ~Watashi wa koko ni iru to~ ('I am here')】

December 1 - Aichi, Imaike Gas Hall December 2 - Osaka, Nanba Hatch December 3 - Fukuoka, NTT Tenjin Hall December 7 - Tokyo, Tokyo International Forum Hall C December 11 CAMPARI RED PASSION in Omotesando ~opening ceremony~ (Aoyama Diamond Hall Patio)

December 20 FM Yokohama live broadcast, Queen's Square Yokohama presents AIR CRUISE Christmas Special (Queen's Square Yokohama 1F Queen's Circle)

December 23 ZIP-FM HOLIDAY SPECIAL DREAM Xmas for ZIPPIE (Aichi, Nadya Park 2F Atrium)

December 24 KISS ME ODAIBA ~hoshi ni negai o. koi ga kanau machi☆Odaiba~ ('Wishing on a star. The city where love comes true☆Odaiba~') (Fuji TV company office building, pond square)

◆ Releases ◆

May 21 Release of the single Kawaranai koto ~since 1976~ ('Things that won't change') (Victor Entertainment) ※ Used as theme song for the Fuji TV drama Itoshiki mono e ('to those I love'). The B-side song tell tell bouzu (spell for good weather) is used as the second end theme for the animated series Hungry heart -WILD STRIKER-.

September 24 Release of the single The Power of Smile / Remember the kiss (Victor Entertainment) ※ Used in a commercial for KAO Essential Damage Care.

November 12 Release of original album Remember me (Victor Entertainment)

◆ Other releases ◆

January 22 Release of the FAKE? album TOMORROW TODAY (Warner Music) ※ Part of the chorus of the song CARE.

March 19 Release of J.LEAGUE ANTHEM 'THE GLORY' (Sony Music Entertainment) ※ Part of the chorus of the song THE GLORY (Triumph Mix).

◆ Other ◆

June Performed the song Natsu no tobira ('Door to summer') (original by Seiko Matsuda) for the Kirin green tea TV commercial (wisteria version).

December 2003 - January 2004 Recording of the KOKIA song Yuukyuu no mori ('forest of eternity') for NHK's Minna no uta ('songs for everyone').

#KOKIA #25 years of KOKIA in flashback

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KOKIA in flashback - 2014

KOKIA starts off 2014 by returning to Japan for her third New Year's concert, looking back on a turbulent year with a smile towards the future. She also releases her first ever live recorded album: COLOR OF LIFE, the recording of her 15th anniversary concert by the same name. The darker cover is an alternative one for pre-orders.

KOKIA is also included on another Yuri Hiranuma album: PRISM, featuring song covers of songs used by figure skaters in their programs. KOKIA covers Hana ni nare ('become a flower') in English, with the original song used by Yuzuru Hanyu in one of his past routines. KOKIA actually forgot to talk about it in her blog until watching the Olympics this year, where Hanyu goes on to win gold (albeit with a different song).

She returns to London again after her early year activities, only to return in May for her big venue concert Release, which gets an additional concert as the original 2 days sell out quickly.

Just ahead of the concert, KOKIA announces she's getting married this year, and when she goes back to London this time, it's with wedding dress in tow, so she can take commemorative pictures in England as well. She also ends the year with something exciting: her first ever concert backed by a full orchestra, appropriately titled Falling in love with the orchestra.

◆ Lives and events ◆

January 10-11 KOKIA New Year Concert 2014 ~musical greetings vol.3~ (Tokyo, Suntory Hall Blue Rose) ※ 2 performances on January 11, 3 performances total (Promotion: New Year's Concert 2014)

January 25 Konna ajitsuke ni narimashita! ('Flavored like this!') (Tokyo, Haremame (haretara sora ni mame maite) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Translated blog entry)

January 31 smoothes feat. KOKIA (Roppongi STB139 Sweet Basil)  ※jazz live under the name smoothes (Translated blog entry)

May 17-May 18 KOKIA 2014 Spring concert ~Release~ (Tokyo International Forum Hall C) ※ Additional performance on May 25 (Promotion: spring 2014)

June 1 Tales of Festival 2014 (Yokohama Arena) (Tales of festival 2014)

October 12-October 13 KOKIA salon (Harajuku Quest Hall) ※ Event limited to members of the KOKIA fan club, club ancoro, 3 performances in total (Translated blog entry, additional info)

October 29 KOKIA LIVE @ Billboard Live TOKYO  (Billboard Live TOKYO) ※ 2 performances in 1 day

October 31 KOKIA LIVE @ Billboard Live OSAKA (Billboard Live OSAKA) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: billboard october)

December 23 KOKIA Falling in love with the Orchestra (Tokyo (Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre concert hall) ※ 2 performances in 1 day. KOKIA's first full orchestrated concert (Promotion: Orchestra 2014)

◆ Releases ◆

February 12 Release of live album COLOR OF LIFE (Victor Entertainment) ※ KOKIA's first live album, sore wa maru de, kiki de miru concert ('It’s just like you can see the concert with your ears') (Color of Life live)

August 13 Release of concert DVD KOKIA 2014 spring concert ~Release~ (anco&co.) (Promotion: spring 2014)

◆ Other releases ◆

January 22 Release of the Yuri Hiranuma album PRISM (Kino music) ※ Translated and performed the song Hana ni nare ('become a flower') (Translated blog entry)

April 23 Release of Seiken densetsu RISE of MANA original soundtrack (Mana: RISE of MANA) (SQUARE ENIX) ※Original soundtrack of the smart phone app game Seiken densetsu RISE of MANA. Wrote, composed and performed the theme song Believe in the Spirit (Mana: Rise of Mana)

◆ Other ◆

March 1 Screening of the animated movie Arumoni (Harmonie) ※ Performed the theme song Arumoni (Anime mirai 2014)

◆ Videos with links to watch ◆

Theme song for the 2014 animated movie Arumoni (Harmoni): Blu-ray and DVD special edition release trailer

Theme song Believe in the Spirit for the 2014 release of Seiken densetsu RISE of MANA (Mana: RISE of MANA): (Release on iOS on March 6, 2014; on Android on June 26, 2014; and for PlayStation Vita on May 14, 2015) PlayStation Vita Seiken densetsu RISE of MANA trailer

#KOKIA #25 years of kokia in flashback

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KOKIA in flashback - 2010

KOKIA has caught the travelling bug ahead of 2010, which is the year her album REAL WORLD comes out. For the concept of this album, she travels to the Sahara, Tunisia in November 2009, getting inspired by the sceneries she comes across. The promotional video for her song The woman is recorded in the desert, and her journey also results in a photobook and photo exhibition later that year.

It inspires her Japan concert tour oto no tabibito ('sound traveler') in April, selling out the Tokyo Bunkamura Orchard Hall on the final day of that tour. She uses lights and sounds more whimsically than before, taking her audience on a journey through the heart. As a fun tidbit, one of the dresses she wears in this concert is dyed with curry!

However, her 2010 travel doesn't end there; for the fifth year in a row, KOKIA returns to Europe, spreading her wings even further than before. Her REAL WORLD tour in October takes her through 8 different countries for 12 performances: Hungary, Russia, Poland, Austria, Germany, Spain, England and France.

In between it all, KOKIA still manages to release the final chapter of her Life trilogy (with the title tracks of all 3 singles ending up on the REAL WORLD album) and her first ever cover album, Musique a la Carte. This is also the year when For little tail, her song that preceded her actual debut, gets an official release with the digital single Road to Glory ~long journey~.

◆ Lives and events ◆

February 28-March 1 KOKIA Live in Naeba Prince Hotel white notes Vol.4 (Naeba Prince Hotel Chatelaine)

【KOKIA concert tour 2010 oto no tabibito ('sound traveler')】 April 12 - Fukuoka, IMS Hall April 19 - Aichi, Telepia Hall April 24-25 - Osaka, Osaka Business Park round hall April 30 - Tokyo, Shibuya Bunkamura Orchard Hall

April 17 Dragon Nest full presentation party (Shibuya O-EAST)

June 29 SPLASH SUMMER in Otodama: OTODAMA SEA STUDIO (Kanagawa, OTODAMA SEA STUDIO)

July 11 Concert sponsored by the Yamagata Block Council of the Junior Chamber (Yamagata prefecture, Higashine city comprehensive insurance welfare facility, Sakuranbo Tantokuru Center)

July 27 KOKIA 2010 Summer Tour (Kashiwazaki Industrial and Cultural Center Cultural Hall) ※ Kashiwazaki municipal government enforcement 70th anniversary support project - event concert to commemorate 3 years of recovery from the Niigata-Chûetsu offshore earthquake

August 1 Song for you (Zepp NAGOYA)

August 7 UNITED EARTH Studio Alta (Shinjuku Studio Alta)

August 15 Hangame summer festival (Belle Salle Akihabara) ※ Release event for the mini album Road to Glory ~long journey~

August 28 ~Magokoro~ tanshin festa ('~sincerity~ from the heart') (Hyôgo, Tanba Forest Park) ※ Mini live at the food festa of the 43rd membership meeting of the Japan Junior Chamber's Kinki District Hyogo Block Council

September 4 (September 5/September 11) tokai no kakurega concert 2 ('hideout in the city’) (Tokyo, sonorium) ※ Event exclusively for members of the KOKIA fanclub, club ancoro, 5 performances total

September 20 Musique a la carte release event (Tokyo, Printemps Ginza)

September 23 KOKIA Musique a la Carte Special Live (Roppongi STB139 Sweet Basil) ※2 performances, Irish live with Irish guitarist Seán Whelan

September 25 Travel exposition 2010 (Tokyo Big Sight) ※Mini-Live as an event of the Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia

【KOKIA REAL WORLD Tour 2010】 ※ European tour, amounting to 12 performances in 8 countries October 2 - Extra performance (Budapest, Mondocon) ※event attendance October 8 - Moscow, Koncert October 9 - Poznań, Blue Note October 12 - Vienna, Haus der Muzik October 13 - Munich, Feierwerk October 15 - Marseille, Le Poste a Galene October 16 - Barcelona, Sidecar October 17 - Toulouse, la Dynamo October 20 - Brest, la Carene October 22 - London, Islington Academy 2 October 23 - Cologne, Cafe Lichtung October 24 - Paris, Theatre Michel

November 6 Kyoto School of Computer Science November festival (Kyoto School of Computer Science)

November 13 Sagami Lake Illumination lighting ceremony (Kanagawa, Sagami Lake Resort, Pleasure Forest) ※ Mini live and lighting ceremony broadcasted on November 16 by FM Yokohama as Sagami Lake Illumination SPECIAL

December 11 KOKIA 2010 Winter Rose Concert (Tokyo, Suntory Hall Blue Rose) ※ 2 performances in 1 day

December 21 Marunouchi Bright Christmas 2010 KOKIA Special LIVE (Tokyo, Maru building, Maru Cube)

◆ Releases ◆

March 17 Release of the iTunes Store exclusive digital EP Kodoku na ikimono/ano hi no watashi ni ('Lonely beings/To the me of those days’) (Victor Entertainment) ※ Chapter 3 in the <Life Trilogy ~inochi no 3-busaku~> ('trilogy of life’). Mini album with 4 tracks

March 31 Release of original album REAL WORLD (Victor Entertainment) ※ Release of the French edition on April 7 (Wasabi Records)

August 1 Release of DVD 2010 OTO NO TABIBITO KOKIA CONCERT TOUR (anco&co)

September 15 Release of cover album Musique a la Carte (Victor Entertainment) ※ First KOKIA cover album (includes songs recorded in Ireland)

◆ Other releases ◆

January 27 Release of the soundtrack for PlayStation 3 game Ar tonelico 3: Sakiya rumei ('blooming night') ~Ar tonelico III hymmnos concert side. Aoi ('blue') (Frontier Works) ※ Performed EXEC_REBIRTHIA=PROTOCOL/., EXEC_COSMOFLIPS/. and Hikari no naka ni ('Into the light')

May 26 Release of the single Fate (Lantis) ※ Opening theme of the animated movie Break Blade

July 7 Release of mini album 'Bungaku shoujo' Memorial Soundtrack I - yume miru shoujo no zensoukyoku  ('Book girl: the dreaming girl’s overture’) (GloryHeaven) ※ Wrote and performed Koto no ha ('literary words'), the ending theme for the animated series 'Bungaku shoujo' Memorial I - yume miru shoujo no zensoukyoku (prelude) ('Book girl: the dreaming girl’s overture’)

August 11 Release of the digital ESCOLTA single SANCTUS ~Voice Of Peace~ feat.KOKIA ※ Also included on the ESCOLTA album GLORIA SIRENA, released on November 24

August 18 Release of mini album Road to Glory ~long journey~ (Voice Records) ※ Theme song of the online game Dragon Nest, Road to Glory~ for Dragon Nest White Version

December 8 Release of the Yuki Kajiura soundtrack album The Works for Soundtrack (Ariola Japan) ※ Performed the main theme song Rainbow ~Main Theme~ and insert song Lost Home for the movie Rainbow, which was theatrically released in July 1999

◆ Books ◆

March 31 Release of the album concept photobook REAL WORLD PHOTO BOOK

April 12 Piano and voice sheet music collection otonami book (anco&co.) ※ Includes a bonus CD with Nukumori (piano self-accompanied version) ('warmth')

◆ Other ◆

Springtime Music video broadcast at Astrovision in the atrium of Osaka Business Park Twin21 (spring) ※ First screening of the music video The woman for the album REAL WORLD

June 17-June 20  ~shashin kara fureru KOKIA no oto no sekai~ ('the musical world of KOKIA touchable from photos') KOKIA × photographer Yutaka Nakamura (Paris, L'Atelier Gustave) ※ Photo panels on display at the gallery (masterpieces, signed, lot numbered) are sold at the venue

September 23 TV Tokyo's 45th anniversary program: Fuuin sareta sanzou houshi no nazo ~ Silk Road 30,000 kilo ni idonda otoko ('The mystery of the sealed Sanzo monk ~The man who took on the 30,000 km Silk Road~') ※ Wrote and performed the theme song Toki no tabibito ('time traveler')

#KOKIA #25 years of kokia in flashback

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KOKIA in flashback - 2009

After her 10th anniversary year, KOKIA does decidedly not take it easier in 2009. She releases two albums on the same day: KOKIA∞AKIKO ~Balance~ and AKIKO∞KOKIA ~Balance~, to celebrate the conclusion of her 10th anniversary year. The AKIKO album is only available via her webshop and at concert venues and is distributed via her own office, anco&co, whereas the KOKIA album is distributed via Victor Entertainment. She explains that the AKIKO album deals more with her ‘inner’ songs, as she feels she is both KOKIA the artist and Akiko the person.

She departs on a world tour this year, called infinity (as the ∞ symbol from her albums is the symbol for infinity), starting in Japan before traveling to France, Ireland, Poland, Belgium and Germany. This results in two concert DVDs: 2009 infinity tour at Tokyo, recording the performance in Tokyo, and Wherever I am, a 3 disc documentary covering her journey and performances abroad.

2009 also marks the start of her Life Trilogy digital singles, with the first two releasing this year. The final one will come out next year.

◆ Lives and events ◆

January 16 Essential Time (Ebisu LIQUIDROOM)

February 28-March 1 KOKIA Live in Naeba Prince white notes vol.3 (Naeba Prince Hotel Chatelaine)

March 31 YOU SING, YOU WANT (Shibuya DUO Music Exchange)

【KOKIA world tour 2009 「∞」 Infinity】 April 29 - Tokyo, Bunkamura Orchard Hall May 4 - Osaka, Sankei Hall Breeze June 12 - European tour 2009: Paris, La Cigale June 13 - performance on a cruise over the Seine river June 14 - Paris, Le Divian du Monde June 16 - Dublin, Button Factory June 17 - Poznań, Blue Note June 19 - Brussels, Botanique-Orangerie June 20 - Cologne, Blue Shell

July 11 4th Keyaki festival (Niigata, Nagaoka City School for Handicapped Children gymnasium)

July 20 8th Kobe Love Port - Port Festival (Kobe Meriken Park)

July 21 Eclipse festival KOKIA talk session & mini concert (Kagoshima Port, Honkô-ku, Waterfront Park)

July 26 Gion Kashiwazaki festival (Minatomachi beachside park, sunset dome)

August 7 D-51×KOKIA BEACH LIVE in OTODAMA SEA STUDIO (Kanagawa, Zushi Kaigan OTODAMA SEA STUDIO)

August 29 KOKIA sebone LIVE 2009 (Aichi, Arc Riche Toyohashi, The Grace)

September 12 (September 26/October 10) KOKIA tokai no kakurega concert ('hideout in the city’) (Tokyo, sonorium) ※ Event exclusively for members of the KOKIA fanclub, club ancoro, 4 performances total

October 17 Niigata Prefectural Niitsu-minami senior high school memorial ceremony on the 30th anniversary of its founding: KOKIA live (Niitsu-minami senior high school)

November 21 BREEZE BREEZE Music Live KOKIA (Osaka, Breeze Breeze Media Court)

November 26 Uiguru kara kita shounen ('Boy from the Uyghurs’) screening & KOKIA mini live (Tokyo, Uplink Factory) ※Movie for social awareness, Uiguru kara kita shounen ('Boy from the Uyghurs’) which uses KOKIA’s Lacrima ('Tear’) as end theme

November 28 Saturday Hot Request (Tokyo, NHK broadcasting center) ※ Public live broadcast by NHK-FM

December 5 SATURDAY GO AROUND from Jazz Dream Nagashima ※ Public live broadcast by ZIP-FM

【KOKIA Winter Live Tour 2009 12 gatsu no okurimono ('December present’)】 December 11 - Aichi, Nagoya City Chikusa small theater December 13 - Fukuoka, Hakata Gate's7 December 14 - Hiroshima, Club Quattro December 15 - Osaka, Sankei Hall Breeze December 21 - Miyagi, Sendai retro Back Page December 23-24 - Kanagawa, Yokohama Landmark Hall

December 25 KOKIA Kokoro no akari live ('light in the heart’) vol. 2 in KYOTO 2009 (The Museum of Kyoto, Annex Hall)

◆ Releases ◆

March 4 Release of the French edition of Fairy Dance ~KOKIA meets Ireland (Wasabi Records)

March 18 Release of original album KOKIA∞AKIKO ~balance~ (Victor Entertainment)

March 18 Release of original album AKIKO∞KOKIA ~balance~ (anco&co.) ※ Simultaneous release of a mainstream version and indie version, KOKIA and AKIKO, two albums that are each other’s counterparts (On April 29, a ∞ album 2 disc collection BOX including both albums gets released. It includes image clips for Ooki na senaka ('Broad back’).)

May 20 Release of the French edition of Balance (Wasabi Records) ※ 2-disc box with KOKIA∞AKIKO ~balance~ and AKIKO∞KOKIA ~balance~

July 22 Release of concert DVD KOKIA 2009 infinity tour at Tokyo (anco&co.)

August 5 Release of the iTunes Store exclusive digital EP Kimi o sagashite/last love song ('searching for you’) (Victor Entertainment) ※ Chapter 1 in the <Life Trilogy ~inochi no 3-busaku> ('trilogy of life’). Mini album with 4 tracks

September 23 Release of the European Tour documentary DVD Wherever I am ~wordt tour 2009 in Europe~ (Victor Entertainment)

November 18 Release of the iTunes Store exclusive digital EP single mother/Christmas no hibiki ('Christmas echo’) (Victor Entertainment) ※ Chapter 2 in the <Life Trilogy ~inochi no 3-busaku> ('trilogy of life’). Mini album with 4 tracks

December 2 Release of best-of album Coquillage ~The Best Collection II~ (Victor Entertainment)

December 2 Release of the French edition KOKIA COLLECTION 2 (Wasabi Records) 3-disc collection box including the albums KOKIA∞AKIKO ~balance~, AKIKO∞KOKIA ~balance~ and Fairy Dance (French edition of each)

◆ Other releases ◆

January 21 Release of the omnibus album Okaeri ('Welcome home’) (Sony Music) ※ Concept album collecting only timeless classics sung about great love for humans. Arigatou… (the pearl edition) ('Thank you…’) is included on this.

February 5 Release of the PlayStation 3 game Demon’s Souls ※ Vocals and chorus for the opening theme song Demon’s Souls and the end theme Return to Slumber

February 18 Release of Dare mo shiranai nakeru uta official compilation album (‘songs no-one knows that make you cry’) (VAP) ※ Official CD for the Nippon TV show Dare mo shiranai nakeru uta (‘songs no-one knows that make you cry’). Includes Watashi ni dekiru koto ('the things I can do’)

February 18 Release of Dare mo shiranai nakeru uta gaiden ~ staff ga erabu kokoro no best one ~ (‘songs no-one knows that make you cry extra – best from the heart chosen by staff’) (Victor Entertainment) ※ Official program album for the Nippon TV series Dare mo shiranai nakeru uta (‘songs no-one knows that make you cry’), Victor Entertainment compilation. Includes Watashi ni dekiru koto ('the things I can do’)

April 22 Release of the single KARMA (Glory Heaven) ※ Opening theme for the animated TV series Phantom -Requiem for the Phantom

August 15 Release of the image sound album Bungaku shoujo to yumeutsutsu no senritsu (‘Book girl and the half-asleep melody’) (Lantis) ※ Performed the song Anata to deatte (‘Meeting you’)

August 26 Release of the single Transparent (Glory Heaven) ※ end theme for the animated TV series Phantom -Requiem for the Phantom

October 21 Release of Kidou senshi gundam 00 ('Mobile Suit Gundam’) Voice actor single Ayahi Takagaki come across Feldt Grace (Inori †/Justice) ('prayer’) (flying DOG) ※ First single produced by KOKIA. Also did the chorus for the B-side song Justice.

#KOKIA #25 years of kokia in flashback

[kokiafans]

KOKIA in flashback - 2008

We have made it to 2008, the year of KOKIA's 10th anniversary! She celebrates this milestone and her new-found independence accordingly with multiple (!) new albums: the anniversary album The VOICE (with a Japanese and European release), the album Fairy Dance which she records in Ireland, and Christmas gift, a Christmas album (with once again a Japanese and European release). We also get the complete collection 1998-1999, gathering all her songs from her Ponyo Canyon era.

She also returns to Europe, this time performing not only in Paris, but also Brussels, Belgium. She draws 1,800 people to her performances in France, expanding her scope there.

At the end of the year, she travels to the United States for her Music Gift project, where she hands out 10,000 copies of the single Music Gift by herself dressed as Santa in New York City, in memoriam of the 9/11 attacks. She includes a new version of remember the kiss on this; Remember the kiss (dedicated to "New" NY).

◆ Lives and events ◆

February 16 ＋0°C snow music festival 08 (Niigata, Tôkamachi, Echigo-Tsumari gathering hall Kinare) ※ Charity event for recovery after the Chûetsu offshore earthquake

February 23-24 KOKIA Live in Naeba Prince white notes Vol.2 (Naeba Prince Hotel Chatelaine)

【KOKIA European Tour 2008】 March 22 - Best-of, Paris, La Mutalité March 23 - VIP, Paris, Café de la Danse March 25 - Intime, Brussels, Le Botanique

【KOKIA The VOICE~10th Anniversary concert】 April 11 - Osaka, Osaka Kōsei Nenkin Kaikan, arts hall April 16 - Tokyo, Tokyo International Forum Hall C

April 21 20th peach blossom viewing festival (Niigata, Kariwamura 2nd gymnasium) ※ 2 performances in 1 day

May 11 Sakae Minami music festival '08 (Aichi, Yaba Park)

June 28 (July 13/August 16/September 14/September 15) Afternoon tea party with KOKIA (Tokyo, Club PASONA Omotesando) ※ Event exclusive for members of the KOKIA fan club, club ancoro. 5 tea parties in total

July 12 KOKIA special concert in Ario Nishiarai (Tokyo, Ario Nishiarai) ※ 2 performances in 1 day

July 26 Gion Kashiwazaki festival fireworks stage ~restoration support concert~ (Minatomachi beachside park, sunset dome)

August 2 SURFSIDE RADIO '08 in Fukuma beach (Fukuoka, Fukuma beach SURF SIDE CLUB) ※ Live recording broadcasted by CROSS FM

August 3 Marinoa City Fukuoka presents FM Fukuoka Summer Special ~Summer Mari '08~! (Marinoa City Fukuoka) ※ Live recording broadcasted by FM FUKUOKA

September 27 Fairy Dance~KOKIA meets Ireland~ (Roppongi STB139 Sweet Basil) ※ 2 performances in 1 day

September 28 Troubadour LIVE for TENSEI (Tokyo, Katsushika Symphony Hills) ※ charity concert to help Tensei Iwata, who is battling a disease called idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy)

October 4 TOKYO Music Marathon music festival in Tokyo International Forum supported by Victor 80th anniversary (Tokyo International Forum Hall C)

October 13 KOKIA Special Live in Ario Soga (Chiba, Ario Soga) ※ 2 performances in 1 day

November 2 Azabu University festival 2008~KOKIA concert (Kanagawa, Azabu University)

November 8 Ritsumeikan University School Festival UK with JP~2 way love special screening after the presentation, KOKIA LIVE & TALK (Shiga, Ritsumeikan University Biwako Kusatsu Campus)

November 16 KOKIA Christmas gift Concert 2008 (Tokyo, Dai-ichi Seimei Hall) ※ Extra performance on November 20

November 21 My Space cafe presents at Spuma escala party vol.2 (Shibuya Spuma)

November 30 LOVE FM AIR-STAGE World AIDS day Fukuoka (Fukuoka, Tenjin IMS, IMS Plaza) ※ Live performance broadcasted by LOVE FM

December 15 Apple Store Shibuya in-store live (Apple Store Shibuya)

December 23 Uta no Chikara tour '08 ('The power of song') (Fukuoka, Gate's 7)

December 24 ZIP-FM Xmas Square KOKIA LIVE (Aichi, SUNSHINE SAKAE) ※ Live performance broadcast ZIP-FM

December 25 Uta no chikara tour '08 ('The power of song') (Annex Hall of The Museum of Kyoto)

December 26 KOKIA Kokoro no akari live ('light in the heart') (Annex Hall of The Museum of Kyoto)

◆ Releases ◆

February 20 Release of original album The VOICE (Victor Entertainment and others) ※ CD to commemorate her 10th anniversary. Simultaneous relesae in Japan, Europe and Asia.

July 16 Release of concert DVD The VOICE 10th anniversary concert (Victor Entertainment)

September 24 Release of the album Fairy Dance ~KOKIA meet Ireland recorded in Ireland (Victor Entertainment) ※ First album recorded overseas

October 22 Release of the French edition of Christmas gift (Wasabi Records)

October 22 Release of the French edition KOKIA COLLECTION (Wasabi Records) ※ Collection box of 3 albums: Christmas gift, The VOICE and aigakikoeru (listen for the love) (French edition for each). The French release of Christmas gift is ahead of the Japanese release.

November 12 Release of Christmas album Christmas Gift (Victor Entertainment) ※ First Christmas Album

December 3 iTunes Store exclusive distribution of the EP Love Tears (Victor Entertainment) Mini album with 4 songs, including Arigatou... (from KOKIA 2007) ('Thank you...') and Watashi ni dekiru koto ('the things I can do').

◆ Other releases ◆

January 23 Release of the single Tatta hitotsu no omoi ('Only one thought') (Marvelous Entertainment) ※ Opening theme of the animated TV series GUNSLINGER GIRL - IL TEATRINO-

September 17 Release of best-of album KOKIA complete collection 1998-1999 (Ponyo Canyon) ※Album collecting the best of from her Ponyo Canyon era.

◆ Books ◆

April 11 Release of the KOKIA 10th anniversary book KOKIA 10th memorial book ※ Lavish memorial book talking about her 10 years as KOKIA and half her life as Akiko Yoshida. Includes a DVD with bonus footage and her first directed movie, Ojiichan no chuuripu ('Grandpa's tulips').

◆ Other ◆

May 27~ Sang the main song for the 'promise version' of the TV commercial for Mitsuya Cider

Fiscal year of 2008 Winner of the Ningenryoku taishou ('Grand prize of social grace') Won due to the song Watashi ni dekiru koto ('the things I can do'), created to encourage people struck by disaster

December 9 Appearance in the Nippon TV national network series Dare mo shiranai nakeru uta (songs no-one knows that make you cry') ※ Episode introducing and self-accompanied piano performance of Watashi ni dekiru koto ('the things I can do')

December MUSC GIFT project Handed out copies herself in New York of her CD MUSIC GIFT, including Remember the kiss~dedicated to "New" NY, the song that she initially wrote after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 and recorded anew in New York with the choir from the New York church

The album The VOICE wins the Domestic World/New Age Award at the ADLIB sponsored ADLIB Awards 2008

◆ Videos with links to watch ◆

Opening theme Tatta hitotsu no omoi ('just one thought') for the 2008 series GUNSLINGER GIRL -IL TEATRINO- 

#KOKIA #25 years of kokia in flashback

[kokiafans]

KOKIA in flashback - 2007

After her performances in France last year, KOKIA returns to Paris in 2007 to hold two successful performances at Le Bataclan, with the recording of the concert ending up on her first own concert DVD later this year. She promotes her new album aigakikoeru, which gets its Japanese release this year, and draws 1,200 people to her Paris performances. It's a big success and draws attention in Europe, with Japanese musicians pioneering on the continent.

KOKIA has performed for charity causes over the years, and this year she releases the single Watashi ni dekiru koto ('the things I can do') as a charity single for the victims of the Chûetsu offshore earthquake that year.

She also directs a movie this year, Ojiichan no chuuripu ('Grandpa's tulips'), which she dedicates to her grandfather, as something permanent to leave an impression. An earlier song which she has never released, Grandfather's ship, was dedicated to him while he was still alive, as he was the manager of a shipbuilding company.

On a lighter note, this year also marks her second successful tie-in single: Follow the Nightingale, for the Nintendo DS game Tales of Innocence, which uses KOKIA-go ('KOKIA language') like she did before in Chouwa oto ('Sound of harmony') before.

◆ Lives and events ◆

January 19 In-store live in Paris (Paris, Fnac Italie 2)

January 20 KOKIA Live in Paris 2007 (Paris, Le Bataclan)

February 25 <Tasuke-ai ('love in help'), Yubari, LIVE> KOKIA 47 stories in Hokkaido (Zepp Sapporo) ※ Screening of the first KOKIA directed movie Ojiichan no Chuurippu ('Grandpa's tulips') and live performance

February 26 KOKIA Fure-ai ('love in touch') LIVE in Yubari (Yubari Hotel Shuparo) ※ Yubari International Student Film Festival 2007 event

March 3-4 KOKIA Live in Naeba Prince white notes (Naeba Prince Hotel Chatelaine)

April 7 KOKIA 47 stories in NARA Light up concert (Nara, Tsubosaka-dera temple)

April 15 ALWAYS' MUSIC LIVE ※BS Asahi live performance for raffle winners

May 3 ZIP-FM HOLIDAY SPECIAL AMERICAN EXPRESS presents RELAXING MOMENTS (Matsuzakaya, Nagoya store, south building, Organ plaza) ※ Live recorded performance by ZIP-FM

May 5 club ancoro 2007 (Tokyo Kinema Club) ※ Event limited to members of the KOKIA fan club, club ancoro

May 13 Sakae Minami music festival (Aichi, Yaba Park)

【KOKIA tour of 2007 Listen for the Love】 June 12 - Tokyo, Sogetsu Hall June 21 - Osaka, Recital Hall June 22 - Aichi, Imaeki Gas Hall

July 20 KOKIA 47 stories in FUKUOKA (Fukuoka Gate's 7)

August 6 Kashiwazaki concert Mirai ni habatake ('spread one's wings into the future') (in front of the Kashiwazaki public plaza) ※ Live performance in prayer for recovery from the Niigata-Chûetsu offshore earthquake. Sang while accompanied by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force East band, Watashi ni dekiru koto ('the things I can do') etc.

August 19 24 hour TV Ai wa chikyuu o sukuu ('love saves the world'), Nagaoka assembly hall KOKIA LIVE (Community square in front of Kome hyappyo no gunzou)

September 17 KOKIA presents Watashi ni dekiru koto ('the things I can do') concert (Kashiwazaki public plaza) ※ Commemorating the sale of Watashi ni dekiru koto. Also visited the local elementary school to mix in and perform before the concert.

October 3 Mizu no oto ('sound of water') Vol.11 (SHIBUYA O-WEST)

October 21 Soai University festival Blue Ocean Festival 2007 KOKIA Live (Osaka, Soai University, south harbor hall)

November 30 Eastern Army music festival 2007 Uta no chikara, burasu no chikara ('Strength of songs, strength of brass') (Wako public culture center Sunazalea)

December 22 Jump festa 2008 Yappari 'Tales of' stage ('After all') (Chiba, Makuhari Messe)

December 24 Marunouchi Music Cube Christmas Special KOKIA LIVE (Tokyo, Maru building, Maru Cube)

December 25 KOKIA 2007 Christmas Dinner concert ~1 nenkan no jibun e no gohoubi ni~ ('a reward to oneself after a full year') (Tokyo, Hotel Grand Pacific Meridian Palais Royal)

◆ Releases ◆

March 16 Release of the single Arigatou... ('thank you...') (Victor Entertainment) ※ Single cut from the best of-album 'pearl ~The Best Collection~. The B-side, Utau hito ('singing people') is used as end theme for the theatrical release of the animated movie Furusato - JAPAN ('hometown').

May 5 Release of concert DVD KOKIA Live in Paris 2007 les couleurs de Paris (anco&co.) ※ First KOKIA concert DVD

May 23 Release of original album aigakikoeru (listen for the love) (Victor Entertainment)

September 16 Release of the single Watashi ni dekiru koto ('the things I can do') (anco&co) ※ Released 2 months after the earthquake disaster)

November 21 Release of the single Follow the Nightingale (JVC Entertainment) ※ Opening theme for the Nintendo DS game Tales of Innocence. B-side say goodbye & good day is the end theme for the same game.

◆ Other releases ◆

January 17 Release of TV ANIMATION RED GARDEN ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK (Ponyo Canyon) ※ Original soundtrack for the TV animated series RED GARDEN. Sang 5 songs: Ai~wazuka na omoide (‘indigo ~merely memories’), Katsu ~mabara na hikari (‘brown ~sparse light’), Kurenai ~negai (‘crimson ~wish’), Sumire ~you to tomo ni (‘violet ~together with the sun’) and Shiro ~watashi tachi no hibiki (‘white ~our sounds’).

◆ Other ◆

April 7 Opening of the theatrical release of the long animated film Furusato-JAPAN ('hometown') ※ Utau hito ('singing people') was used as end theme

◆ Videos with links to watch ◆ 2007 thetrical release of long animated movie Furusato-JAPAN ('hometown'), end theme utau hito ('singing people') 【Trailer】Furusato-JAPAN

#KOKIA #25 years of kokia in flashback

[kokiafans]

KOKIA in flashback - 2006

The year of 2006 is an exciting one for KOKIA. She has gone abroad to perform before, but now she makes it all the way to Europe for concerts in Paris, France and represents Japan at MIDEM 2006, the World Music Market, in Cannes. Her new album aigakikoeru ('listen for the love') even gets a French/European release in November, ahead of the Japanese release next year and with an exclusive track. It is not her first album this year; she has enough songs to compile her first best of-album, resulting in the release of Pearl and Jewel, collecting her best of songs and promotional videos respectively.

Although KOKIA has been creating music for games and (animated) series and movies since the beginning of her career, the start of 2006 puts the spotlight on her with the single Ai no melody/chouwa oto ('melody of love/sound of harmony'), the opening and ending song for the movie Origin: Spirits of the Past (Giniro no kami no Agito in Japanese). Especially Chouwa oto ~with reflection~ turns into a much-requested hit, with KOKIA still regularly performing this song almost 20 years later. It is a new version of Chouwa, the first song on her album trip trip from 2002, which incorporates KOKIA-go ('KOKIA-language') by reversing the syllables of the Japanese lyrics.

And last but most definitely not least, 2006 is the year KOKIA becomes independent. In May, she decides to start her own private office, anco&co, which she runs to this day, in order to more freely express herself as an artist rather than being tied to the Japanese music scene. Aigakikoeru is her first release after her independence.

She starts her 47 Stories concerts this year, intending to visit all 47 prefectures of Japan, although in the end doesn't manage to get to all 47.

◆ Lives and events ◆

January 5 Giniro no kami no Agito (Origin: Spirits of the past) New Year's special event (Kawasaki, CLUB CITTA)

January 21 KOKIA Live in France: Bonjour Paris Bonjour mon ami! ('Hello Paris, hello my friend!') (Paris, L’espace Saint Martin) ※ First performance in Paris

January 23 MIDEM 2006 JAPAN NIGHT (Cannes, HOTEL MAJESTIC)

【KOKIA album tour 2006 Thank u!】 February 9 - Aichi, Electric Lady Land February 10 - Osaka, BIGCAT February 17 - Tokyo, DUO MUSIC EXCHANGE

February 26 Song for Winter Lovers in FACTORY (Sapporo Factory Atrium)

June 14 KOKIA 2006 keep moving vol.1 (Roppongi STB139 Sweet Basil) ※ 2 performances in 1 day. First live after going independent. Monthly performances spanning half a year.

July 1 at! Music Live (Queen's Square Yokohama)  ※ 2 performances in 1 day

July 14 Enoshima Live Party 2006 (Enoshima Yacht Harbor Terrace)

July 24 KOKIA 2006 keep moving vol.2 ~birthday party~ (Roppongi STB139 Sweet Basil)

July 29 MAKE a day 06 in TIVOLI (Okayama, Kurashiki Tivoli park, Plainen stage)

August 12 First Izumo Legends festival (Shimane prefecture, Izumo city, Hamayama park)   ※ Performed as a surprise guest

August 16 KOKIA 2006 keep moving vol.3 ~my favorite songs~ (Roppongi STB139 Sweet Basil)

August 27 6th Yuukyuu no mori ('forest of eternity') Shirakami festival (Akita, Goshonodai Fureai Park)

September 10 KOKIA concert ~47 stories in Shimane~ (Big Heart Izumo)

September 21 KOKIA 2006 keep moving vol.4 ~chello ni idakarete ♪~ ('embraced by the cello') (Roppongi STB139 Sweet Basil)

September 23 Kunimi mountain base music festival '06 (Nagasaki, Kunimi forest park)

October 14 Barefoot Kugenuma '06 Barefoot Concert (Prefectural Shônan Kaigan park, Surf Village, beach in front of the water plaza (mizu no hiroba)

October 22 KOKIA 2006 keep moving vol.5 ~neoclassic~ (Roppongi STB139 Sweet Basil)

November 27 KOKIA 2006 keep moving vol.6 ~finale~ (Roppongi STB139 Sweet Basil)

December 2 YAMAHA Stadium Mini Live (Shizuoka, Yamaha Stadium) ※ A capella opening live (Amazing Grace) and mini live after the match

December 8 KOKIA 47 stories in concert in Fukui (Mikuni cultural Miraikan)

December 24 KOKIA 2006 Christmas Dinner concert ~1 nenkan no jibun no gohoubi ni~ ('a reward to oneself after a full year') (Tokyo, Hotel Grand Pacific Meridian Palais Royal)

◆ Releases ◆ 

January 1 Release of the single Ai no melody/Chouwa oto ~with reflection~ ('melody of love/sound of harmony') (Victor Entertainment) ※ Both songs were used in the theatrically released animated movie Giniro no kami no Agito (Origin: Spirits of the past) as the ending and opening theme respectively

February 1 Best of album Pearl ~The Best Collection~ (Victor Entertainment) ※ First best of album. First released in France and Spain on January 20 with an European version (Discmedi)

February 1 Release of the DVD jewel ~The Best Video Collection~ (Victor Entertainment) ※ First video release. Collection of best music clips.

November 29 Release of original album aigakikoeru (listen for the love) (Wasabi Records) ※ First album after independence. Release in France ahead of Japanese release.

◆ Other releases ◆

January 7 Release of Giniro no kami no Agito (Origin: Spirits of the past) original soundtrack (Victor Entertainment) ※ Recorded the opening theme chouwa oto ~with reflection~ ('sound of harmony') and the end theme Ai no melody ('melody of love')

January 18 Release of the Yuki Ootake album Nemuru Kujaku ('Sleeping peacock') (King Records) ※ Composed the song Tokai no hitsuji (‘sheep of the city’) 

March 24 Release of the Shirakami mountain region image song collection Shirakami no shi ('Poems of Shirakami') ※ Recorded and sang Yuukyuu no mori ('Forest of eternity')

April 19 Release of Iruka wan no koibito (‘lovers of the dolphin bay’) original soundtrack (Rock Records) ※ Japanese version of the soundtrack of the popular Taiwanese drama. The songs I catch a cold and shiroi yuki ('white snow') were used as background music in the drama. (Taiwanese version released on January 1, 2003.)

June 7 Release of compilation album THANK YOU!! (Victor Entertainment) ※ Victor version of the compilation album of the 39 (sankyuu ('thank you')) project by Fuji TV's Mezamashi TV ('wake-up TV'). Performed Kawaranai koto ~since 1976~ ('things that won't change')

June 7 Release of compilation album Arigatou THANK YOU (Ponyo Canyon) ※Ponyo Canyon version of the compilation album of the 39 (sankyuu ('thank you')) project by Fuji TV's Mezamashi TV ('wake-up TV'). Performed Arigatou... ('thank you...')

◆ Books ◆

August 30 Release of the piano score Arigatou... ('thank you...') (anco&co)

◆ Other ◆

April Sang the commercial song for KOMATSU Ltd.

May 21 Started the company anco (independent)

July 14~ Sang the song Tatta hitotsu no hada e hen ('just one collection for your skin') for the POLA cosmetics APEX-i commercial

August Shiawase no hanataba ('bouquet of happiness') is used as image song for the Red Feather Central Community Chest of Japan

October 2 Start of her internet radio program KOKIAyakkyoku ('musical medicine') (until March 20, 2012) ※ Live internet radio program held every first and third Tuesday of the month

#KOKIA #25 years of kokia in flashback

[kokiafans]

KOKIA in flashback - 2005

After a busy year, 2005 is slightly calmer for KOKIA. There is no full album release this year, although she does release two new singles and features in other projects. She has been performing more often over the last couple of years, and that trend definitely continues from now on. It may be in preparation for next year, which will prove to be a big milestone in her career. There are also some events for the movie Origin: Spirits of the past (Giniro no kami no agito ('silver-haired Agito') in Japanese), for which KOKIA provided the opening and ending songs. But we'll see those again next year!

◆  Lives and events ◆

January 22 Social Welfare Corporation Habataki medical-induced AIDS chairt concert (Aichi prefecture Kinrô Kaikan hall)

February 2 Mizu no oto Vol.10 ('sound of water') (Shibuya O-West)

February 6 Aeon Yono city store KOKIA LIVE (Saitama, Aeon Yono) ※ 2 performances in 1 day

February 11 Zexy Ibaraki/Tochogi/Gunma version  presents Happy Valentine Radio (FM Gunma) ※ Live broadcast by FM Gunma

March 20 NTT DoCoMo presents EXPO LIVE PARK 2005 (Aichi, Oasis 21, Milky Way Square)

March 27 National Junior High and High School Student Selection audition! Ima doki? ('Right now?') idle contest (Shibuya BOXX) ※ live guest performance

April 28 KOKIA Special Live for Mother's Day ※ Live broadcast by OCN MUSIC WEB

April 30 ORC200 12th anniversary, Radio Osaka 47th anniversary, Festival of Thanks song festival (Osaka, ORC200 2F atrium, ORC square)  ※ Live recorded broadcast by Radio Osaka

May 8 VOICE2005 Kikoemasu ka? Chikyuu no utagoe ga... ('Can you hear it? The singing voice of Earth...') (Aichi, Ai-chikyuuhaku ('Love the Earth expo'), Nagakute site of the Ai-chikyuuhaku venue)

May 29 Daido Institute of Technology school festival (Aichi, Daido Institute of Technology, closing party performance)

【KOKIA June Garden (Tokyo, Blue Jay Way)】 June 7 - KOKIA June Garden ~talk talk~ June 9 - KOKIA June Garden ~girl talk~ ※ladies only performance June 10 - KOKIA June Garden ~talk talk~

July 24 KOKIA SEASIDE LIVE with Takeshi Senoo ~crystal sound meets amazing voice~ (Kamakura Prince Hotel, banquet hall Shichirigahama beach)

【KOKIA Summer Live ~Taiyou kara no okurimono~ ('A gift from the sun')】 ※ live tour for people who bought the single time to say goodbye in-store and won the raffle August 22 - Osaka, Flamingo August 23 - Fukuoka, ROOMS August 25 - Tokyo, Shinjuku, Minotaur 2 August 29 - Hokkaido, Kuu August 30 - Aichi, Club H

August 28 7th (21 seiki no mori ('Forest of the 21th century') outdoors musical festival (Gunma prefectural forest park, 21 seiki no mori forest venue)

September 16 KOKIAn 2 year anniversary commemorative performance (Tokyo Metropolitan Teian Art Museum) ※ fan club-exclusive event

September 19 COCOON 1st Anniversary Special Live (Saitama, COCOON new urban center, Cocoon Plaza)

October 18 KOKIA LIVE Aki kana tsukimikai ('autumn moon viewing party') in MANDALA ~hokkori shimasho poku poku no yoru~ ('let's get warm and fluffy for a rhythmical night') (South Aoyama MANDALA) Additional performances on October 19 and 21 for 3 in total

October 22-23 NTT DoCoMo presents MUSIC LIVE IN Okinawa & new musical mobile phone experience event (Mihama multipurpose venue, Carnival Park Mihama) ※ 2 performances on both days, for a total of 4 performances

November 5 Special live talk to commemorate the opening of the mobile site and forest page of Giniro no kami no Agito (Origin: Spirits of the Past) (Shibuya DUO)

November 6 Double GIFT ~Cafe Classics Vol.4~ Genta Utsumi album 'preview' and Yuri Hiranumi album release commemorative live (Tokyo, HAKUJI HALL)  ※ Surprise guest performance of the song Daiji na no wa tsuyoku omou koto (‘the important things are the ones you think about often’)

November 10 Otani University school festival, Shimei festival ~garden party~ (kyoto, Otani University)

November 26 JA BANK Presents LIVE in MIE 2005 ACOUSTIC COLLABORATION 4 (Mie prefecture culture hall, big hall)

November 27 AIR-G' presents KOKIA Talk & Live (Aeon Sapporo Naebo shopping center) ※ 2 performances in 1 day

December 11 Special Christmas ceremony for the movie Giniro no kami no Agito (Origin: Spirits of the Past) (Tokyo, ADK Shouchaku square)

December 12 KOKIA LIVE in Motion Blue ~NY, Manhattan no yoru o mou ichido ('night at Manhattan, one more time')~ (Motion Blue, Yokohama) ※ 2 performances in 1 day.

December 17 DoCoMo×LACHIC SWEET CHRISTMAS KOKIA special live (Aichi, LACHIC 1F passage)

December 20 Xmas Live 2005 KOKIA dinner live. Sparkling Christmas! ~oshii jikan ni kanpai~ ('a toast to a delicious time') (Tokyo, Hotel Grand Pacific Meridian Palais Royal)

◆ Releases ◆

February 23 Release of the single dandelion (Victor Entertainment) ※ end theme for the Nippon TV show Super TV jouhou saizensen ('front line of the news')

July 21 Release of the single time to say goodbye (Victor Entertainment) ※end theme for the Fuji TV show Kinyou entertainment ('Friday entertainment') B-side song Shiawase no hanataba ('bouquet of happiness') is the end them for the Nippon TV show Shin! Dotchi no Ryôti Show ('The New Dotch Cooking Show')

◆ Other releases ◆

February 23 Release of the Hiroshi Ashino album Côte d’azur kara no kaze (la brise de la Côte d'Azur) ('breeze from the Côte D'Azure') (King Records) ※ Composed the song Larme ('tear')

March 30 Release of the DVD Minna no uta best hit collection ('songs for everyone') (EMI Music Japan) ※ Recording of Yuukyuu no mori ('forest of eternity')

July 27 Release of the singe Peace road under the name Roppongi Dansei Gasshoudan Club with KOKIA (Colombia Records) ※ Song commissioned by Samsung Japan for mine clearance on the Thai-Cambodian border. Performed only the title song, Peace road.

November 2 Release of the Yuri Hiranuma album Mada minu eiga no tame no ongaku ('Songs for movies you haven't seen yet') (Dreamusic) ※ Wrote and performed the song Daiji na no wa tsuyoku omou koto (‘the important things are the ones you think about often’)

◆ Books ◆

March Release of the piano score collection Piano hikigatari KOKIA / uta ga chikara + dandelion ('voice accompanied by piano / songs are strength') (Doremi Music Publishing Co.,Ltd.)

◆ Other ◆

Performed the song This is your life for a TV commercial for Olympus China.

#KOKIA #25 years of kokia in flashback

[kokiafans]

KOKIA in flashback - 2000

Moving into the new century, KOKIA stops releasing music under the Ponyo Canyon label in 2000. She doesn't release any albums or singles with only her name on the cover, but instead collaborates, mostly with Ryuichi Kawamura's ЯKS production project, providing the vocals for five songs total. With the singles and album published under Victor Entertainment, this paves the way for KOKIA's releases next year.

◆ Lives and events ◆

January 19 Female Vocal Night (Harajuku Ruido)

February 29 Female Vocal Night (Harajuku Ruido)

March 19 13th Hong Kong-Japan joint charity concert (Hong Kong, cultural center concert hall)

April 29 9th GREEN PARADISE (Hibiya outdoor concert hall)

◆ Other releases ◆

February 3 Release of the album Planet of Love (Oneness Music) ※ Charity CD for landmine disaster relief. Recorded the vocals for the song Dreaming.

March 23 Release of Karakurizoushi Ayatsuri sakon ('Doll puppeteer Sakon') original soundtrack II (Victor Entertainment) ※ Wrote and performed the song Sayonara wa iwanaide ('don't say goodbye').

May 10 Release of Gensou suikoden II ongakushuu ('song collection') ORRIZONTE~orizonte~ (Konami Digital Entertainment) ※ Song collection for the PlayStation computer RPG Suikoden II. Performed the song Currents.

July 26 Release of the single goes on forever (Victor Entertainment) ※ Produced by ЯK (Ryuichi Kawakura). Single released under the name of ЯK Standard feat. KOKIA.

September 21 Release of the single melody (Victor Entertainment) ※ Produced by ЯK (Ryuichi Kawakura). Single released under the name of ЯK Standard feat. KOKIA.

September 27 Release of the album Uta - uta - uta vol. 5 ashita no omoide (‘song song song – memories of tomorrow’) by Saori Yumi and Sachiko Yasuda (Universal Music) ※ In charge of writing the lyrics for the song Hatsukoi ('first love').

October 25 Release of the single Toki no Kizahashi ('Stairs of time') by Hideki Saijou (Polydor) ※ Part of the chorus in the song Toki no kizahashi ('stairs of time')

December 16 Release of the album Kanata made ('until the other side') (Victor Entertainment) ※ The first ЯK Standard album produced by ЯK (Ryuichi Kawakura).

◆ Other ◆ Performed the song Schubert's lullaby for the Menicon Menicon Z TV commercial.

#KOKIA #25 years of KOKIA in flashback

[kokiafans]

KOKIA in flashback - 1999

The year of 1999 marks the first year KOKIA releases a full album by herself, and also the year of her first single that she wrote herself: Arigatou... ('thank you'), still one of her most famous songs, having received many new versions and releases over the past years.

It is her third single, and it ranks third in the Hong Kong International Popular Music Awards that year. Arigatou... is covered in Cantonese by Sammy Cheng, a famous singer from Hong Kong, and that version tops the Hong Kong music charts.

KOKIA's first album, songbird, is the first and last album she releases under the Ponyo Canyon label. Much later, in 2008, the album will be released again as a complete collection from her Ponyo Canyon years 1998 and 1999, including some extra songs from those years.

◆ Lives and events ◆

April 8 AIR-G'clock tower acoustic live vol. 3 (Sapporo clock tower, 2F hall)

April 25 SNOW BOUND PARTY Vol.3 (Tokyo, Arena Hall)

May 27 Osaka Gakuin University Phoenix Festival (Osaka Gakuin University)

June 3 90's POP GARDEN Vol.3 (Kanagawa, CLUB CITTA')

June 25 GETS 12 (Takadanobaba AREA)

July 8 Female Vocal Night (Shibuya Egg-man)

July 31 Kunimi mountain base music festival vol.4 (Nagasaki Green Sports special forest performance)

August 12 Female Vocal Night (Harajuku Ruido)

August 21-22 24 hour TV charity live 1999 (Fukuoka assembly hall)

August 26 Kousetsu Minami's Ôishida town Last Summer Concert (Yamagata, Ôishida park)  ※ Opening act

August 28 Barefoot concert Kugenuma beach (Kanagawa, Kugenuma swimming beach)

September 10 Piano night (Kichijôji, Star Pine's Cafe)

September 18 Ise Shozo's self-accompanied live in Verga (Yamanishi, Hakushu Oshiro forest Meisui park Verga, forest event space)  ※ Opening act

October 1 Hiroko Sohma & KOKIA Acoustic Live (Ikebukuro MET Hall)

October 10 29th Naha festival (Okinawa, Naha city)

December 11 Female Vocal Night (Harajuku Ruido)

December 24 Evening of stars and music 'Christmas music special edition -holy night-' (Tokyo, Gotô planetarium)

First ever solo performance in Hong Kong was also this year.

◆ Releases◆

June 17 Release of the single Arigatou... ('Thank you...') (Ponyo Canyon)

July 16 Release of original album songbird (Ponyo Canyon) ※ The song Watashi wa utau kotori desu ('I am a little songbird') recorded for this album is used as a commercial in Hong Kong for Fancl.

◆ Other releases ◆

September 7 Release of Nesia no tabibito original soundtrack ('Voyagers of Nesia') (True Project) ※ Wrote and performed the theme song Nesia no tabibito ~umi to kaze to hito no uta ('Voyagers of Nesia - Sea, wind and man') for Nesia no tabibito, the TV Tokyo 35th anniversary special program.

#KOKIA #25 years of KOKIA in flashback

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KOKIA in flashback - 2021

Unfortunately, the year of 2021 is not quite what any of us had probably hoped it would be. KOKIA's activities dwindle down to very sparse opportunities to perform, and so she seeks new ways to reach her fans as yet. Last year's 1 to 1 Live for you livestreams were all free to watch, with the occasional chance to pay optional tickets, but this year, she also hosts streams that are only accessible for a paying audience. These recorded concerts are recorded in big venues in Blu-ray quality to justify the price, and later get a Blu-ray release for those who missed out.

Since August last year, KOKIA has been spending more and more time in London, eventually mostly returning to Japan for business. She still manages to release a new album this year: Kono sekai no katasumi de ('In this corner of the world'), the second entry in her Stars mini-album series. Unfortunately, one of the songs has a sad note to it: she dedicates one to Titti, her dog who sadly passes away this year.

On the other hand, this album is also proof of how many people around the world KOKIA has touched over the years: she requests for her fans to send in a recording of them saying Hello in their native language, and she gets so many replies in just one week that she worries if she can even use them all. The song Hello World ends up collecting as many as she could!

◆ Lives and events ◆

January 10 KOKIA utau tada sore dake nano ni ('I just sing, that's all') (Billboard Live OSAKA) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: Billboard Osaka 2021)

February 13 1 to 1 live for you vol.12 (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

February 27 Livestream event ※Event exclusively for members of the KOKIA fanclub, club ancoro (Translated blog post)

April 17 KOKIA ~ongaku o kudaru basho~ Vol.4 ('The place where music falls') (Nagano, Yatsugatake Kogen Music Hall) (Promotion: Yatsugatake 2021)

April 29 1 to 1 live for you vol.13 ※ 23rd anniversary stream; KOKIA chats from London (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

July 24 1 to 1 live for you vol.14 ※ Emergency livestream to replace the postponed Billboard Live YOKOHAMA performance (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

August 21 KOKIA 2021 Bon Odori ('Bon Festival Dance') (Billboard Live OSAKA) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: Billboard Osaka summer 2021)

August 29 KOKIA 2021 Natsu matsuri ('Summer festival') (Billboard Live YOKOHAMA) ※ 2 performances in 1 day ※Postponed from July 25 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Promotion: Billboard Yokohama 2021)

September 18 2021 KOKIA live stream concert - THE MISSING PIECE- (online; recorded from Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall) ※ first paid-only concert stream (Promotion: the missing piece)

November 20 1 to 1 live for you vol.15 (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

December 4 2021 KOKIA live stream concert - Missing you (online; recorded from Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall) ※ Paid-only stream exclusive for China (Promotion: Missing you)

December 28/30/31 KOKIA home live Welcome to 1 to 1 live for you (KOKIA private studio) ※Event exclusively for members of the KOKIA fanclub, club ancoro (Blog post 1, blog post 2)

◆ Releases ◆

April 6 Release of original album Kono sekai no katasumi de ('In this corner of the world') (anco&co.) ※ second chapter in the Star series. Mini album consisting of 7 songs (Kono sekai no katasumi de)

October 5 Release of the Blu-ray THE MISSING PIECE & Missing You (anco&co.) ※ Collection of the recordings of this year's paid concert streams (2021 livestream bluray)

◆ Other releases ◆

April Update of the smartphone app game RED - Pride of Eden ※ Performed the new song Nice memories (RED Pride of Eden)

May 25 Release of the smartphone app game Artery Gear: Fusion ※ Performed the theme song Satellites (Artery Gear Fusion)

June 1 Release of the digital album Synapusyu no uta 2 ('Songs of Synapusyu') (tuneCORE) ※ Performed the March theme song Ready to Rock n' Roll (Synapusyu)

December 1 Release of the album Synapusyu aiue-o! de hajimaripushu ('Synapusyu let's start with the ab-c!') ※ Performed the March theme song Ready to Rock n' Roll (Synapusyu)

◆ Other ◆

March Broadcasting of the TV Tokyo program Synapusyu ※ Performed the March theme song Ready to Rock n' Roll (Synapusyu)

August 19 Showcase trailer of the smartphone app and PC game Gran Saga ※ Performed the song Inochi no monogatari ('Story of Life') (Gran Saga)

December NC Japan K.K. 20th Special Thanks ※ Used the song Arigatou... ('Thank you...') (NC Japan)

◆ Videos with links to watch ◆

Showcase trailer of the smartphone app and PC game Gran Saga, song Inochi no monogatari ('Story of Life'): 【Gran Saga】 showcase 【Gran Saga】 KOKIA: Inochi no monogatari

#KOKIA #25 years of kokia in flashback

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KOKIA in flashback - 2020

And then, the year is 2020.

It probably goes without saying that this year isn't what KOKIA had hoped it would be at the end of 2019, and that likely goes for all of us. The world goes into lockdown, and KOKIA has to cancel one planned concert after the other.

She looks for something to do, to offer support as much as she can. And thus, she settles on a thing she tried for the first time a year ago: a livestream, to share her music with her fans around the world. Her first one in the 1 to 1 Live for You streams is hosted on Facebook, but she quickly switches over to YouTube, and hosts many a livestream, initially even every weekend. Her second stream replaces her much anticipated big venue Masquerade concert, and she debuts the song I LOVE YOU 2020 here.

Confined to mostly online activities, KOKIA releases quite some digital singles this year, but also releases two new albums: the first chapter in her new Stars series, and the third album in the ton ton ton project. The latter gets renamed to Animal CD, with the first two CDs repackaged and no longer released in tins.

KOKIA's official biography page, which I have been translating in the activities section in these posts so far, doesn't cover the years after 2019. As such, I will rely on her blog entries and my own notes from 2020 onwards. I will still maintain the layout I have used so far. I will list the canceled performances for completion's sake; KOKIA did this herself too in earlier years.

◆ Lives and events ◆

February 29 KOKIA 2020 Live in Shanghai 星空花宴 ~中国音旅5th纪念with大平贵之星象仪~ (‘flower party under starry skies ~Fifth anniversary of being a sound traveller in China with Takayuki Oohira’s planetarium~') (Shanghai Daning Theatre) ※ 2 performances in 1 day ※ Postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Promotion: Shanghai 2020)

March 1 KOKIA树荫下~生物的音乐会 ('Concert of living beings under the KOKIA tree') (Shanghai, VAS LIVE) ※ Postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Promotion: Ikimono no ongakkai Shanghai 2020)

April 4 Facebook Live 1 to 1 live for you ※ First livestream from the KOKIA studio (Promotion: Facebook live 2020)

April 18 1 to 1 live for you vol.2 ※ First livestream on YouTube (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

April 25-April 26 KOKIA 2020 MASQUERADE - the other side of me - (Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall) ※ Performance canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Promotion: Masquerade 2020)

April 25 1 to 1 live for you vol.3 (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

May 2 1 to 1 live for you vol.4 (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

May 16 1 to 1 live for you vol.5 (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

May 23 1 to 1 live for you vol.6 (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

May 30 KOKIA ~yume miru abuku~ vol.2 ('Dreaming bubbles') (Billboard Live TOKYO) ※ 2 performances in 1 day ※ Performance canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Promotion: Billboard Tokyo 2020)

June 6 KOKIA ~ongaku o kudaru basho~ Vol.3 ('The place where music falls') (Nagano, Yatsugatake Kogen Music Hall) ※Postponed from March 7 due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Promotion: Yatsugatake 2020)

June 27 1 to 1 live for you vol.7 (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

July 18 KOKIA Remember this summer (Tokyo, Suntory Hall Blue Rose) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: Remember this summer 2020)

August 8 KOKIA live de o-aimashou! ('Let's meet at a live!') (NAGOYA Blue Note) ※ 2 performances in 1 day ※ Performance canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Promotion: Nagoya Blue Note 2020)

August 15 1 to 1 live for you vol.8 (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

September 26 1 to 1 live for you vol.9: Hello from London ※ recorded performance broadcasted from London (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

December 25 1 to 1 live for you vol.10: A Candle in our Heart ※ Christmas livestream (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

December 26 1 to 1 live for you vol.11 ※ Final livestream of 2020 (1 to 1 live for you, recap)

◆ Releases ◆

January 1 Release of DVD KOKIA×Orchestra DVD (anco&co.) ※ 2-disc release containing her 2014 and 2016 orchestra concerts (KOKIA x orchestra)

August 2 Release of the digital single Happy Birthday to You (tuneCORE) (Happy birthday to you)

August 27 Release of the album Animal CD vol.3 (anco&co.) ※ third album in the ton ton ton project, now Animal CD (tontonton, Animal musical volume 3)

August 27 Release of the digital single Yagi ~ninja yagi ya~ ('The goat ~I am the ninja goat~') (tuneCORE) ※ From Animal CD vol.3 (Yagi ninja yagi ya)

September 9 Release of the digital single Fukurou ~Fukurou ga shiraseru kyaku ga kita to~ ('The Owl ~The owl tells that we have uninvited guests~') (tuneCORE) ※ From Animal CD vol.1 (Fukurou ga shiraseru kyaku ga kita to)

September 17 Release of the digital single Hebi ~hanihohebi tanchou fujin~ ('Snake ~madam minor scale snake~') (tuneCORE) ※ From Animal CD vol.2 (Hebi hanihohebi tanchou fujin)

September 17 Release of the digital single I LOVE YOU 2020 (tuneCORE) (I love you 2020)

September 18 Release of original album Hoshi no uta kaze no naka ('Song of stars in the wind') (anco&co.) ※ first chapter in the Star series. Mini album consisting of 6 songs (Hoshi no uta kaze no naka)

◆ Other releases ◆

December 2019~ Release of Chinese smartphone app game 山海鏡花 (Shan-hai Jinghuā, ‘Flowers in the mirror of mountains and seas’) ※ Performed the theme song Hoshi no keiji ('Star revelation') in Chinese and Japanese, as well as the end theme  命永遠 (Myoueien, 'Eternal life') (Shanhai Jinghua)

February Chinese audio drama 魔道祖師 (Mo Dao Zu Shi, 'Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation') ※Translated and performed the theme song Kono uta ni chikaou (Let's vow to this song') (MDZS)

May 15 Release of the digital album ton ton ton - le concert des animaux (Spotify, Deezer) ※ French release of the album Doubutsu no ongakkai / Animal CD vol.1 on streaming services (Relevant post)

July 9 Release of the smartphone app game RED - Pride of Eden ※ Performed the theme song Tsubasa o hirogete ('spread your wings') and the insert song Kono sora de anata o matteru ('I’m waiting for you under this sky') (RED Pride of Eden)

#KOKIA #25 years of kokia in flashback

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KOKIA in flashback - 2019

KOKIA continues her 20th anniversary celebrations in 2019. The DVD release Journey to Me compliments last year's retrospective Bird Watching in that it only covers her performances from the year before, so the anniversary that Bird Watching was leading up to. Her March concerts are fittingly called Graduation, as she graduated from the 20 years before, and looks towards the future.

On April 29, her 21th anniversary and thus the end of her 20th anniversary year, KOKIA releases  ALIVE - The live history -, her first live best-of album, with the limited first edition in an LP-sized jacket (it still has CDs in it, not an LP). For the first time, KOKIA holds a live stream today: her LINE Live, in which she performs and chats about the album ánd her first book, Happii ryoku ('happy power'). It's about child rearing, which KOKIA now has experience with as Leo is turning 3 years old this year. The theme kind of carries over as she also releases her first ever picture book, Mama no daijisan (My life with my precious), with text in both English and Japanese. Finally, she releases her second jazz album, Watching from Above vol. 2, once again featuring Leo on the cover.

KOKIA also brings back her 2016 concert LAYERS, although this time, she brings it over to Shanghai!

◆ Lives and events ◆

January 1

New year concert 2019 KOKIA with super 5 ~Passion＋Technique＋Heart＝WOW~ (Tokyo, Suntory Hall Blue Rose)   ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: KOKIA with super 5)

March 2

KOKIA ~ongaku o kudaru basho~ Vol. 2 ('The place where music falls') (Nagano, Yatsugatake Kogen Music Hall) (Promotion: Yatsugatake 2019)

March 28-March 29 KOKIA Graduation ~finally I can be KOKIA~ (Shibuya Cultural Center Owada, Denshou Hall) (Promotion: KOKIA Graduation 2019)

April 29 Live best album ALIVE release commemorative special program LINE LIVE ※ First ever live broadcast via LINE LIVE (Promotion: Line Live 2019)

June 29-June 30 KOKIA visuals and music music in the air (Tokyo, sonorium) ※ 2 performances on both days (Promotion: music in the air 2019)

July 13-July 14 KOKIA 2019 LAYERS in Shanghai (Shanghai Himalayas Center Daguan Theatre) (Promotion: Shanghai Layers 2019)

August 3 KOKIA 2019 Ikimono no ongakukai with ikimono ('concert of living beings') (TOKYO FM Hall)  ※ Two performances in 1 day. The afternoon portion was a concert that could be attended by parents with pre-school children. (Promotion: ikimono no ongakkai 2019)

September 7 KOKIA 2019 Watching from Above (NAGOYA Blue Note)  ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: Nagoya Blue Note 2019)

October 19 KOKIA Go back in time (Billboard Live OSAKA) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: Billboard Osaka 2019)

November 4 KOKIA Aki no utakai~omoi uta ('Autumn song party~songs of thoughts') (Tokyo, Haremame (Haretara sora ni mame maite) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: haremame autumn 2019)

December 25-December 26

KOKIA Chapel concert 2019 Prayers (Tokyo, Shinagawa Church Gloria Chapel) (Promotion: Shinagawa Church 2019)

◆ Releases ◆

March 28 Release of the DVD Journey to Me (anco&co.) ※ With her first performance in Paris in 8 years at the center, this is a video collection chasing after KOKIA for a year as she ran through her 20th anniversary year. (Journey to Me)

April 29 Release of live best-of album ALIVE -The live history- (Victor Entertainment) ※Hand-picked selection of audio recordings from concerts from 2010 to 2018, making her first live best-of release as the last cherry on top of her 20th anniversary memorial year. The first edition limited release comes in an Anniversary LP-sized jacket. (Alive the Live History)

June 12 Digital release in Korea and China of the live album ALIVE

September 7 Release of the jazz cover album Watching from Above vol.2 (anco&co.) (Watching from Above volume 2)

◆ Books ◆

May 23 Release of the book Happii ryoku, oyako no 'happii' o sodateru ('Happy Power - Raising 'happii' parents and children') (ASA Publishing Co.,Ltd.) ※ KOKIA's first book (Happii ryoku)

August 9 Release of picture book Mama no daijisan (My life with my precious) (Shufu to seikatsu sha Co., Ltd.) ※ KOKIA's first picture book. Advance sale at the concert venue of her August 3 performance, Ikimono no ongakukai ('concert of living beings'). (Mama no daijisan)

◆ Other ◆

June~ In-train advertisements for cocochia in the Mita and Oeda subway lines ※ Ads for cocochia, the organic product brand KOKIA has been modeling for with her son since 2018, are pasted in the trains of Mita and Oeda subway lines over the priority seats. (Promotion: cocochia)

#KOKIA #25 years of kokia in flashback

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KOKIA in flashback - 2018

Time flies, and in 2018, KOKIA celebrates her 20th anniversary! She counts down to it with many new releases, starting with her 4-disc (!) best of album EVOLVE to LOVE, which gets a special big package release along with the normal version. On the video side, we get the 3-disc DVD release Bird Watching, looking back on her career in clips going as far back as 2002 and commentary throughout. Just ahead of her actual anniversary, she releases her new album Tokyo Mermaid, and finally, she celebrates her anniversary proper with the big venue concert Beyond Imagination.

Rather than ending her 20th anniversary there, she kicks off the celebrations proper, continuing to perform in both Japan and abroad, visiting China again, and even returning to France once more. The Tokyo Mermaid album is the first album in a while to get a French release, too.

KOKIA is also on a roll with the ton ton ton animal project and releases the second album in the series, again released in tin packages, and also releases merchandise as planned, including animalthemed cookies.

A first this year for KOKIA is a Blu-ray release. So far, her concerts have only been published on DVD, but her 20th anniversary concert gets both a DVD and Blu-ray release. Later this year, her 2016 LAYERS concert also gets a Blu-ray upgrade.

And finally, KOKIA starts a collaboration with cocochia, an organic brand, modelling for them together with her son Leo.

◆ Lives and events ◆

February 26 Mini live and autograph session to celebrate the KOKIA release EVOLVE to LOVE -20 years Anniversary BEST- (TOWER RECORDS Shibuya, B1F CUTUP STUDIO) (Promotion: mini live 20th anniversary)

March 3 KOKIA ~ongaku no kudaru basho~('the place where music falls') (Nagano, Yatsugatake Kogen Music Hall) (Promotion: Yatsugatake 2018)

April 29-April 30 KOKIA 2018 20 years Anniversary Concert ~Beyond Imagination~ (Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall) (Promotion: 20th anniversary concert)

May 3 E-ne! ~good for you~ Holiday School Special (ueen’s Square Yokohama 1F, Queen’s Circle) ※ Live performance broadcasted by FM Yokohama

May 12 Mario Tashiro's classical crossover - concert Primo! with the Tokyo Chamber Orchestra (Tokyo, Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall) ※ guest performance (promotion: Primo)

July 29 KOKIA premium symphonic concert ~KOKIA 20th Anniversary Fireworks Festival~ (Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, grand hall) (Promotion: fireworks festival 2018)

August 11 KOKIA 2018 in Nagoya Yume no tsuzuki ('sequel to a dream') (NAGOYA Blue Note) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: Nagoya Blue Note 2018)

August 17 KOKIA 2018 20周年纪念中国巡演 ('20th anniversary China tour') (Guangzhou Friendship Theatre) ※ 20th anniversary concert (Promotion: China 2018)

August 18 KOKIA 2018 动物音乐会 (Guangzhou Grand View Theatre) ※ Animal concert (Promotion: animal concert China 2018)

August 19 KOKIA 2018 20周年纪念中国巡演 ('20th anniversary China tour') (Shanghai Bandai Namco) ※20th anniversary concert

September 15 KOKIA Ikimono no ongakukai ('concert of living beings') (Tokyo, Haremame (Haretara sora ni mame maite) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: ikimono no ongakkai concert)

October 5 KOKIA Tokyo Mermaid ~yume miru abuku~ ('Dreaming bubbles') (Billboard Live TOKYO) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: Billboard 2018)

October 21 KOKIA Salon (Harajuku Quest Hall) ※Event exclusively for members of the KOKIA fanclub, club ancoro, 2 performances total (Promotion: KOKIA Salon 2018)

November 11 KOKIA 20 Years Anniversary Stage (France, La Cigale) ※ First performance in Paris after 8 years (Promotion: Paris 2018)

November 24 KOKIA I remember YOU (Billboard Live OSAKA) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: I remember you 2018)

◆ Releases ◆

February 21 Release of best-of album EVOLVE to LOVE -20 years Anniversary BEST- (Victor Entertainment) ※ First all-time best-of album consisting of 62 songs on 4 CDs, collected from over 8 labels, to commemorate 20 years since her debut. The first edition limited version contains a lavish booklet and 4-disc digipack. (EVOLVE to LOVE)

March 14 Release of the 20th anniversary complete video collection Bird Watching (anco&co.) ※ 3-disc DVD looking back on the 20 years since her debut via video and images (Bird watching)

April 25 Release of original album Tokyo Mermaid (Victor Entertainment) ※ First original album in 3 years released for her 20th anniversary year (Tokyo Mermaid)

July 27 Release of the DVD and Blu-ray of KOKIA 20th Anniversary concert Beyond Imagination (anco&co.) ※ First Blu-ray release (Promotion: 20th anniversary concert)

September 15 Release of the album Ikimono no ongakukai ('concert of living beings') (anco&co.) ※ second album in the ton ton ton project (tontonton, ikimono no ongakkai)

November Release of the Blu-ray KOKIA 2016 Concert LAYERS ~lights and shadows~ (anco&co.) ※Blu-ray version of the previously released DVD (Promotion: Layers concert)

◆ Other releases ◆

January 25 Release of the smartphone app game LibraryCross∞ ('Library Cross Infinite') ※ Wrote, composed and performed the theme song, Tomatta toki ~Library Cross~ (’Halted time’) (library cross) September 6 Release of the Monet single Egao no kisetsu ('Season of smiles') ※ Offered the end theme Egao no kisetsu ('Season of smiles') for Sun TV's Wagging Tail

◆ Other ◆

February 20-February 26 KOKIA EVOLVE to LOVE -20 years Anniversary BEST- Special Panel exhibition ※ On display at Tower Records Shinjuku and Tower Records Umeda Osaka Maru building (Translated blog entry)

April 9-April 15 Special broadcast on the Yunika Vision screen in front of Seibu Shinjuku station ※ Footage of performances from the 20th anniversary KOKIA complete video collection 3-disc DVD Bird Watching (yunika vision)

October Designs the brand logo for Dr. Recella's organic brand cocochia. Also models with her son for promotional images. (Promotion: cocochia)

#KOKIA #25 years of kokia in flashback