Tomoko Yamaguchi (Japanese: 山口 智子, Hepburn: Yamaguchi Tomoko; née Yoshiura (吉浦); born 14 January 1958), known…Tomoko Yamaguchi (Japanese: 山口 智子, Hepburn: Yamaguchi Tomoko; née Yoshiura (吉浦); born 14 January 1958), known professionally as Tomoko Aran (亜蘭 知子, Aran Tomoko), is a Japanese singer-songwriter and book author. After starting her songwriting career in the late 1970s, she had released nine albums and eight singles for Warner Pioneer and CBS/Sony from 1981 to 1990. She returned to public attention in the 2010s amidst the rise of city pop to popularity.
Akiko Yano (矢野 顕子, Yano Akiko; born Akiko Suzuki (鈴木 顕子, Suzuki Akiko); February 13, 1955) is a Japanese pop and jazz…Akiko Yano (矢野 顕子, Yano Akiko; born Akiko Suzuki (鈴木 顕子, Suzuki Akiko); February 13, 1955) is a Japanese pop and jazz musician and singer. Born in Tokyo, she was raised in Aomori and began her singing career in the mid-1970s. She has been called "one of the major musical talents of the Japanese popular music world". Her vocals and eclectic style have often been compared to her slightly later English contemporary Kate Bush. She has recorded with Yellow Magic Orchestra and its members Ryuichi Sakamoto, Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, as well as with Swing Out Sister, Pat Metheny, The Chieftains, Lyle Mays, members of Little Feat, David Sylvian, Mick Karn, Kenji Omura, Gil Goldstein, Toninho Horta, Mino Cinelu, Jeff Bova, Charlie Haden, Peter Erskine, Anthony Jackson, David Rhodes, Bill Frisell, Thomas Dolby, the band Quruli, Rei Harakami as Yanokami and her daughter Miu Sakamoto.
Yoshi Ikuzō (吉幾三; born 11 November 1952, Goshogawara, Aomori) is the stage name of Yoshihito Kamata (鎌田 善人, Kamata…Yoshi Ikuzō (吉幾三; born 11 November 1952, Goshogawara, Aomori) is the stage name of Yoshihito Kamata (鎌田 善人, Kamata Yoshihito), a Japanese enka singer-songwriter. He has released several popular albums of enka music, a genre akin to Japanese folk or blues music in the Western world. Amongst his most famous hits are "Sake yo", "Suika", and "Yuki Guni". Additionally, he is self-described as the "first popular hip hop artist in Japan" due to the 1984 release of "Ora Tōkyō sa Iguda" (lit. "I'm going to Tokyo"), sung in his native Tsugaru dialect of Japanese. He has been on tour with fellow Japanese star Fukui Kodai. Ikuzō is married. His wife is named Hisako, and they have a daughter, Ikumi. His stage name is a pun for the common Japanese phrase "Yoshi, ikuzo!" (よし、いくぞー!, Alright, let's go!).
Kan Mikami (三上 寛, Mikami Kan; born March 20, 1950) is a Japanese folk singer-songwriter and actor. His music, heavily…Kan Mikami (三上 寛, Mikami Kan; born March 20, 1950) is a Japanese folk singer-songwriter and actor. His music, heavily influenced by American blues, was popular in Japan in the 1970s. He re-wrote the lyric of the song "Yume wa Yoru Hiraku" for his cover version in 1972, which was banned for its negative portrayal of modern Japanese culture. Mikami also acted in cinema and is notable for collaborations with Shūji Terayama and his avant-garde theater Tenjō Sajiki. His autobiography, A Life in Folk, was translated into English and published in 2017 by Public Bath Press of Nara, Japan.
Noriko Awaya (Japanese: 淡谷 のり子, Hepburn: Awaya Noriko; August 12, 1907 – September 22, 1999) was a Japanese female…Noriko Awaya (Japanese: 淡谷 のり子, Hepburn: Awaya Noriko; August 12, 1907 – September 22, 1999) was a Japanese female soprano chanteuse and popular music (ryūkōka) singer. She was dubbed the "Queen of Blues" (ブルースの女王, Burūsu no Joō) in Japan.
Miki Furukawa (古川 美季, Furukawa Miki; professionally written as フルカワミキ) (born February 19, 1979) is a Japanese musician.…Miki Furukawa (古川 美季, Furukawa Miki; professionally written as フルカワミキ) (born February 19, 1979) is a Japanese musician. From 1995 to 2005 she was the bass player and vocalist of the indie rock band Supercar. She released her first solo record in 2006.