Namie Amuro is a retired Japanese singer. She rose to prominence as a teen idol, and transitioned into a leading pop artist due to her versatility across music styles and visual presentation. Due to her career reinventions and longevity, she is known as an icon across Japan and Asia. She has been referred to as the "Queen of Japanese Pop", and her influence domestically has drawn equivalent comparisons to artists such as Janet Jackson and Madonna in Western pop culture.
Salyu is a Japanese singer, produced by Takeshi Kobayashi. She debuted in 2000 as the fictional singer Lily Chou-Chou for the film All About Lily Chou-Chou, and later debuted as a solo artist in 2004. She is best known for her charity single collaboration with Bank Band in 2006, "To U." Salyu has also worked as a voice actress for the Japanese-language version of the game Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (2007), in which she voiced the character Mrs. Rose. In 2011, Salyu embarked on a new solo project going by the name salyu × salyu.
The discography of Japanese recording artist Gackt consists of eight studio albums, eight compilation albums, one extended play, and forty-eight singles. In 1999 Gackt signed a recording contract with Nippon Crown. His breakthrough success was the EP Mizérable, which peaked at number 2 on the Oricon albums chart. His single "Returner ", released on June 20, 2007, was his first and only single to reach the number one spot on the Oricon charts to date. In 2007, his entire back catalogue, with live song recordings from Drug Party tour, was released on the iTunes Store, video collection "The Greatest Filmography" was released in the United States and Canada, and his album Diabolos was released in 18 European countries. From November 2008 until March 2010 his records were released under his own independent label Dears, but still supported by Nippon Crown. In April 2010, Gackt transferred to Avex Group. Since February 2014 they're released by his independent record label G&Lovers, which is supported by Crown Tokuma. As a solo artist, since 2009 are reported sales of over 10 million, and holds the male soloist record for most top ten consecutive chart singles as of July 18, 2011.
The discography of Japanese R&B singer Misia consists of nine studio albums, three compilation albums, one extended play (EP), one live album, six remix albums, twenty-six singles, twelve promotional singles, eighteen video albums and thirty-seven music videos. In 1997, Misia signed a recording contract with BMG Japan and joined the then up-and-coming talent agency, Rhythmedia. Under the sub-label Arista Japan, Misia released her first single, "Tsutsumikomu Yō ni..." in February 1998, followed by "Hi no Ataru Basho" in May. In June, her debut album, Mother Father Brother Sister, opened at number three on the Oricon chart. The album peaked at number one three weeks later and stayed in the top five for eleven consecutive weeks. Mother Father Brother Sister was certified double million and won a Japan Record Award for Best Album, as well as a Japan Gold Disc Award for Pop Album of the Year. In 2000, Misia's second studio album, Love Is the Message, debuted at number one and was certified double million. It won a Japan Record Award for Best Album and a Japan Gold Disc Award for Pop Album of the Year. The album spawned three top ten hits: "Believe," "Wasurenai Hibi" and "Sweetness." Misia's first remix album, Misia Remix 2000 Little Tokyo, was released three months later and shot to number one. It sold over 800,000 copies and is the second best-selling remix album of all time in Japan.
The discography of Mika Nakashima includes 11 studio albums, 7 compilation albums, 45 singles and 20 video albums. These have all been released through Sony Music Entertainment Japan.
Pacific is the second studio album by Japanese musical group NEWS, released on November 7, 2007. The album reached the number one position on the Oricon Daily Album Chart and Oricon Weekly Album Chart. Four singles have been released from this album. The limited edition includes a 74-page photobook, while the regular edition comes with an 18-page booklet and 2 bonus tracks. It was released simultaneously with the single "Weeeek."
J Album is the eleventh studio album released by Japanese duo KinKi Kids on December 9, 2009. The album was certified gold by the RIAJ for 100,000 copies shipped to stores in Japan.
The Japanese boy band Kanjani Eight is a pop idol group managed by Johnny & Associates and works released by Infinity Records. The group, currently, has a total of 36 released singles, 9 studio albums, one mini album, and fifteen DVD releases. Thirty three of thirty six singles have placed at number-one on the Oricon singles chart. 47, the concert DVD for their 2007 nationwide tour, was the top selling music DVD of 2008.
Fuyumi Sakamoto is a Japanese female enka singer under EMI Music Japan.
The following is a list of notable events and releases that occurred in 2010 in Japanese music.
The discography of Salyu consists of six studio albums, one compilations album, and 14 solo singles, four collaboration singles and one DVD. Out of her releases, her 2007 album Terminal is her most successful, being certified gold by the RIAJ.
Best Selection 2010 is the first Japanese greatest hits album from South Korean pop group Tohoshinki, released in Japan on February 17, 2010, by Rhythm Zone. It contains songs from their albums Heart, Mind and Soul (2006), Five in the Black (2007), T (2008) and The Secret Code (2009). It also features four new singles, two of which are certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ). Best Selection 2010 is the final album release by the group with its original five-member lineup.
"Gake no Ue no Ponyo" is the eponymous theme song to the Studio Ghibli film Ponyo, released on December 5, 2007. It was performed by folk group Fujioka Fujimaki and then eight-year-old Nozomi Ōhashi.
Change Myself is the debut Japanese-language studio album by South Korean singer-born in Japan Iconiq, released on March 10, 2010. The album was initially planned for a February 24 release, which was postponed for two weeks.
"Toilet no Kamisama" is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Kana Uemura, recounting her thoughts about her late grandmother. It was the leading track from her extended play Watashi no Kakera-tachi, released on March 10, 2010. The song was re-recorded with Kotaro Oshio, and used as a promotional track from Uemura's self-cover album, Kana: My Favorite Things, later in September 2010.
The Best Bang!! is Japanese rock singer-songwriter Masaharu Fukuyama's fourth compilation album, released on November 17, 2010. The compilation was an all-time greatest hits album, featuring Fukuyama's songs from both his time with record labels BMG Japan and Universal Music Japan.
"Dada" is a Japanese-language song by Japanese rock band Radwimps, released on January 12, 2011, as the first of two singles leading up to the band's sixth album, Zettai Zetsumei.
Uncontrolled is the 10th studio album by Japanese pop and R&B musician Namie Amuro, released on June 27, 2012. The album was released before her 20th anniversary concerts — one in Okinawa in September, and seven across Japan in November and December 2012. The album consists mostly of songs sung in Japanese, however this was the first album of Amuro's to feature several songs sung entirely in English. The album met favorable reception by music critics, and was nominated the Album of the Year by the Asia Association Music Awards.
