Namie Amuro is a Japanese former recording artist, producer, lyricist, dancer, model, actress and entrepreneur who was active between 1992 and 2018. A leading figure of the Japanese entertainment industry since the early 1990s, Amuro is known for breaking the youthful idol stereotype of J-Pop, changing the fashion trends and lifestyle of women in Japan, her experimentation across music styles, and for her visual imagery in music videos and live performances. Due to her career longevity, resilience, professionalism, efforts behind-the-scenes in the music industry, and her way of life, she is considered a pop culture icon in Japan and Asia. She has been referred to as "Diva of Heisei Era" and the "Queen of Japanese Pop", and has been recognized as having the influence and career impact domestically equivalent to artists such as Janet Jackson and Madonna in Western music and pop culture.
Akina Nakamori is a Japanese singer and actress. She is one of the most popular and best-selling artists in Japan. Akina achieved national recognition after winning the 1981 season of the talent show Star Tanjō!. Her debut single "Slow Motion" was released to moderate success, peaking at number thirty on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart. Nakamori's popularity increased with the release of her follow-up single, "Shōjo A", which peaked at number five on the Oricon charts and sold over 390,000 copies. Her second album Variation became her first number-one on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart, staying in that position for three weeks. She made her acting debut in 1985 with an appearance in the Japanese romance movie Ai, Tabidachi. After an extended hiatus from 2010 to 2014, Akina released two compilation albums, All Time Best: Original and All Time Best: Utahime Cover, both of which were commercially successful. As of 2011, Akina has sold over 25.3 million records and was named the third best-selling female Japanese idol singer of all time.
Yui, stylized as YUI or yui, is a Japanese singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In her solo career, she sold more than 5 million physical copies in Japan. She is popular in Japan and in surrounding countries, ranking number one in 2011 Count Down TV "Dearest Female Artist" and Music Station "Artist You Most Want to Marry" polls, as well as Radio Television Hong Kong's "Most Popular Japanese Artist".
Best Fiction is the third greatest hits album by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro, and the final greatest hits release from Avex Trax, her record company since 1995. The release follows her two previous greatest hits albums, 181920 (1998) and Love Enhanced Single Collection (2002). The compilation was released as a stand-alone CD and a deluxe CD/DVD package including music videos. The album includes two new tracks; "Sexy Girl" and "Do Me More", and spawned an extended play 60s 70s 80s.
"Smile for.../Mō Ichido Dake" is the sixteenth single by Japanese recording artist Aya Ueto. It was released on June 24, 2009, as the lead single from Ueto's fifth studio album Happy Magic: Smile Project. The single was issued in three formats: the limited edition, which includes a bonus DVD, "Reborn!" edition, which comes with a Katekyō Hitman Reborn! cover artwork, and standard CD-only edition.
"Stand by U" is South Korean pop group Tohoshinki's twenty-eighth Japanese language single. "Stand by U" was released on July 1, 2009 by their label Rhythm Zone and was released in two formats: CD and CD+DVD. The track serves as the final single promoted by the group as a five-piece, following which legal troubles caused the group to go on an extended hiatus.
The following is a list of notable events and releases that occurred in 2010 in Japanese music.
"Gloria" is Japanese pop rock singer-songwriter Yui's fifteenth single. "Gloria" was released on January 20, 2010, by her label Studioseven Recordings and was released in two formats: CD and CD+DVD. The single debuted atop the Oricon Weekly Single Chart becoming her sixth number-one single.
Ai Shinozaki is a Japanese gravure idol, singer, and a former member of "AeLL.", a musical idol group.
"Manatsu no Sounds Good!" is the 26th single by the Japanese girl idol group AKB48, released in Japan on May 23, 2012.
"Chankapāna" is a song by Japanese music group NEWS. It is their 14th single and their first since the departure of Tomohisa Yamashita and Ryo Nishikido from the group. Written by Hacchin' Maya and her0ism, the single was released in Japan on July 18, 2012, under Johnny & Associates in six editions: a CD-only edition, limited editions N, E, W, and S, and a limited box set edition. "Chankapāna" debuted at number one on the weekly Oricon singles chart. The single has charted for three weeks and has sold over 272,000 copies in Japan. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).
"Fukkatsu Love" (復活LOVE) is the 48th single by Japanese boy band Arashi. It was released on February 24, 2016 under their record label J Storm. "Fukkatsu Love" was used as the background song for the NTT DoCoMo d hits commercial. The single sold over 485,000 copies in its first week and topped the weekly Oricon Singles Chart. "Fukkatsu Love" was certified for Double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ).
Orange Garden Pop is the second compilation album by Japanese singer-songwriter Yui. It was released on December 5, 2012, simultaneously with another compilation album Green Garden Pop. The album reached #3 on Oricon. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. In South Korea, the album reached #87 on the Gaon Album Chart.
Green Garden Pop is the second compilation album by Japanese singer-songwriter Yui. It was released on December 5, 2012, simultaneously with another compilation album Orange Garden Pop. The album reached #2 on Oricon. It was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. In South Korea, the album reached #86 on the Gaon Album Chart.
The year 2018 in Japanese music.
Zyyg is a Japanese rock band under B-Gram Records label. Their management office was Seas Music Factory. On April 1, 2019, it was announced their activities would resume after more than two decades.
"Nagaredama" is the third single by Japanese idol group Sakurazaka46 after their 2020 renaming. It was released on October 13, 2021. The title track features Tamura Hono as center. The music video was premiered on YouTube a month in advance of the single, on September 12, 2021. The single debuted atop the Oricon Singles Chart and the Billboard Japan Hot 100, selling over 375,000 copies in Japan in its first week of release.
"Rojo (Tierra)" (ロホ・ティエラ, Roho Tiera) is the 49th single by Japanese entertainer Akina Nakamori. Written by Minako Kawae, Nakamori (under the pseudonym "Miran:Miran"), and Daisuke Asakura, the single was released on January 21, 2015, by Utahime Records and Universal Music Japan in two editions: CD single and the limited edition CD + DVD edition. It was also the lead single from her 24th studio album Fixer.
