Mai Kuraki is a Japanese pop and R&B singer-songwriter and record producer. After releasing her US debut single "Baby I Like" in 1999, Kuraki signed with Giza Studio and released her Japanese debut single "Love, Day After Tomorrow" in 1999. In 2000, she released her debut album, Delicious Way, which debuted at number-one and sold over 2.2 million copies in its first week. The album has spawned four top-three singles, "Love, Day After Tomorrow", "Stay by My Side", "Secret of My Heart", and "Never Gonna Give You Up". Eventually, the album sold over 3.5 million copies nationwide and became the best-selling album in Japan in 2000, and has been the ninth best-selling album in Japan of all-time.
Delicious Way is the debut album by Japanese recording artist Mai Kuraki. It was released by Giza Studio and Giza Inc. in Japan on June 28, 2000. The album was entirely co-written by Kuraki herself, with the help of Michael Africk and Yoko Blaqstone in some tracks, while production was handled by Kanonji. The album's background and development started in mid-to-late 1999 after her American debut single "Baby I Like", where East West Records and Giza Studio sent her back to Japan. To promote the album, four singles were released; "Love, Day After Tomorrow", "Stay by My Side", "Secret of My Heart", and "Never Gonna Give You Up".
"Love, Day After Tomorrow" is a song recorded by Japanese singer Mai Kuraki, taken as the lead single of her debut studio album Delicious Way (2000). It was released on December 8, 1999, via Giza Studio and Tent House in two physical editions: a CD single and 12-inch vinyl. The track was written by Kuraki herself, while production was handled by Kanonji. The conception of the song started after the commercial failure of her English language single "Baby I Like", which led her American label Bip! Records to send her back to Japan, and she subsequently reverted to the Japanese market.
"Never Gonna Give You Up" is a song recorded by Japanese singer Mai Kuraki. It was released on June 7, 2000, in Japan as a CD single and as a 12" vinyl by Giza Studio, Giza Inc., and Tent House as the fourth and final single from her debut studio album, Delicious Way (2000). The track features lyrics in Japanese and English language, written by Kuraki and Michael Africk, respectively. He also served as the single's composer, backing singer and producer, alongside Kanonji, Miguel Sá Pessoa, and Perry Geyer. The CD release of the track included the B-side recording "Trying to Find My Way". Musically, "Never Gonna Give You Up" is an R&B and pop song whose lyrics delve on themes of love and relationships, a common trait on its parent album.
"Feel Fine!" is song by Japanese singer songwriter Mai Kuraki, taken from her third studio album Fairy Tale (2002). It was released on April 24, 2002 by Giza Studio, simultaneously with her first remix album Cool City Production Vol. 3 "Mai-K's Club Side". The song was written by Kuraki herself and Akihito Tokunaga and served as the commercial song to Shiseido's brand "Sea Breeze". The remixes of the song Cool City Production Vol. 4 "Mai-K" Feel Fine! was released later.
"Dancing" ("ダンシング") is a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Mai Kuraki from her fifth studio album, Fuse of Love (2005). The song was written by Kuraki and her long-time collaborator, Akihito Tokunaga, and produced by Kuraki herself. The song served as Dwango's television commercial song. The single was released on 23 March 2005 through Giza Studio as the third single from Fuse of Love.
Over the Rainbow is the tenth studio album by Japanese singer and songwriter Mai Kuraki. It was released on January 11, 2012, by Northern Music. Some of the songs on Over the Rainbow are themed about the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, from which Kuraki has continuously contributed to the reconstruction in several ways.
Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope is the third Greatest Hits album released by the Japanese singer Mai Kuraki. It was released on 12 November 2014 on the Northern Music label.
"Try Again" is a song by Japanese singer songwriter Mai Kuraki, taken from her third compilation album Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope (2014). It was released on 6 February 2013 by Northern Music. The song was written by Kuraki herself and her long-time collaborator Akihito Tokunaga.
Michael Africk is an American singer, songwriter, multi-platinum record producer and software entrepreneur. After signing with Disney's Hollywood Records and releasing a solo album in 1999, he toured with N'Sync and Britney Spears. He collaborated with Mai Kuraki on several singles, including the platinum Never Gonna Give You Up. Africk also collaborated with her on the album Delicious Way which debuted at number one on the Oricon Albums Chart and had the highest first week sales for a debut album in Japanese music history and sixth overall. In 2011, Africk released his second studio album with Japanese record label Northern Music/Being Music. The album was co-produced by Africk and Louis Bell.
"Togetsukyo (Kimi Omou)" (渡月橋 ～君 想ふ～, Togetsu-kyō Kimi Omou, lit. "Togetsu-kyō: Think of You") is a song by Japanese singer songwriter Mai Kuraki, taken from her fourth compilation album Mai Kuraki x Meitantei Conan Collaboration Best 21: Shinjitsu wa Itsumo Uta ni Aru! (2017). It was released on April 12, 2017 on physical format and April 19, 2017 on digital format by Northern Music and served as the theme song to the 2017 Japanese animated film Detective Conan: Crimson Love Letter. "Togetsukyo (Kimi Omou)" is a Gagaku-inspired ballad. The song was written by Kuraki herself and her long-time collaborator Akihito Tokunaga. The song was later included on Kuraki's twelfth studio album Kimi Omou: Shunkashūtō.
"Yesterday Love" is a song by Japanese singer songwriter Mai Kuraki, taken from her eleventh studio album Smile (2017). It was released on January 11, 2017 digitally and as a video single by Northern Music. The song was used as the ending fifty-third theme to the animation TV program Case Closed.
"Muteki na Heart" is a song by Japanese singer songwriter Mai Kuraki, taken from her third compilation album Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope (2014). It was released on August 27, 2014, and served as the theme song to the Japanese animation Case Closed. It was released as a double-A side with "Stand by You".
"Stand by You" is a song by Japanese singer songwriter Mai Kuraki, taken from her third compilation album Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope (2014). It was released on August 27, 2014 and served as the nonfiction TV program Mai Kuraki's the Song of Cambodia: Dreams Start from Here. It was released as a double-A side with "Muteki na Heart".
"Koi ni Koishite" is a song by Japanese singer songwriter Mai Kuraki, taken from her fourth compilation album Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope (2014). It was released on August 15, 2012, and served as the song to the Japanese animation Case Closed. It was released as a double-A side with "Special Morning Day to You".
"Special Morning Day to You" is a song by Japanese singer songwriter Mai Kuraki, taken from her fourth compilation album Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope (2014). It was released on 15 August 2012 through Giza Studio as a double-A sid single with "Koi ni Koishite". The song was written by Kuraki herself and her long-time collaborator Akihito Tokunaga, and produced by Kuraki herself and Kannonji. "Special Morning Day to You" served as the television commercial song to the Canadian mineral water brand, Icefield.
Kimi Omou: Shunkashūtō is the first concept album by Japanese singer and songwriter Mai Kuraki. It was released on October 10, 2018, via Northern Music.
Japanese singer-songwriter Mai Kuraki has released twenty-five video albums and three video singles, and been featured in sixty-six music videos, two television series, and eleven commercials. Kuraki debuted in 1999, while she was still in high school, through Giza Studio. The label initially marketed Kuraki in the United States under the name Mai K, and released the single "Baby I Like" (1999). However, the single was a commercial failure which prompted the label to send her back to Japan. There, they released her single "Love, Day After Tomorrow", which peaked at number two on the Oricon Singles Chart and was certified million by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAJ). The second single, "Stay by My Side" became her first number one single on the chart. Kuraki's debut album, Delicious Way, topped the Oricon Albums Chart and was certified triple million by the RIAJ.
"Zero kara Hajimete" is a song recorded by Japanese singer songwriter Mai Kuraki. It was written by Kuraki, Erik Lidbom, Jon Hällgren, and Youth Case, while the production was taken by Kuraki herself. It was released as the lead single from her thirteenth studio album Unconditional Love, through Northern Music for digital download and streaming on 6 March 2021. The song served as the opening song to the Japanese animated television series Case Closed from its 1000th episode which was broadcast on 6 March 2021. "Zero kara Hajimete" was released as a video single on 2 June 2021.
"Doushite Suki Nandarou" is a song recorded by Japanese rapper and record producer Nerdhead, featuring Japanese singer songwriter Mai Kuraki under the moniker Mai K. It was written and produced by Nerdhead himself. The song was released by Universal Music Japan on June 1, 2011, as the lead single from Nerdhead's second album Behind the Truth (2011). The ringtone of the song was released on April 29, 2011, ahead of its official release. "Doushite Suki Nandarou" is a middle-tempo ballad song with influences of R&B music and hip-hop.
