Hikaru Utada, also known by the mononym Utada, is a Japanese-American pop singer, songwriter and producer. Utada is one of the most influential and best-selling musical artists in Japan.
Loveppears is the second studio album by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released in Japan, Hong Kong and China on November 10, 1999, through Avex Trax and the China Record Corporation, and distributed worldwide on April 10, 2001, by Avex Entertainment Inc. It was entirely written by Hamasaki herself, while the production was handled by Japanese musician Max Matsuura. Musically, Loveppears is a dance album and lyrically focuses on themes of love, frustration of life, loneliness, and individualism.
"Love (Destiny)" (stylized as "LOVE ~Destiny~") is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki, serving as the second single for her second studio album, Loveppears (1999). It was released by Avex Trax in Japan and Taiwan on April 14, 1999, and through Avex Entertainment Inc. worldwide in September 2008. The track was written by Hamasaki herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Three versions of the recording have been made available—a ballad version arranged by Tsunku, an edited version with vocals by Tsunku, and a dance-influenced version included on Loveppears.
"Boys & Girls" is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki, serving as the fourth single for her second studio album, Loveppears (1999). It was released by Avex Trax in Japan and Hong Kong on July 14, 1999, and through Avex USA in North America in early 2001, while being re-distributed in 2003. "Boys & Girls" marks Hamasaki's first single to be made available for purchase as a maxi single with additional remixes. The track was written by the singer herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Musically, the song is a dance recording, a genre that heavily influences Loveppears. The single's lyrical content is written in third-person perspective.
"Traveling" is a song recorded by Japanese–American recording artist Hikaru Utada. It was released as the second single from her fourth studio and third Japanese language album, Deep River (2002). The track was written and composed by Utada, whilst production was handled by Utada, her father Teruzane Utada, and long-time collaborator Akira Miyake. Musically, "Traveling" is a dance-pop song, influenced by house music. Lyrically, it discusses human activities and dreams.
Best: Second Session is the second greatest hits album released by Japanese pop-R&B singer Koda Kumi. It was released in March 2006 and contained all of her singles used in her 12 Singles Collection. It charted at number 1 on the Oricon charts, making it her second album to reach the spot, and stayed on the charts for 78 weeks.
"Kiss & Cry" is a song recorded by Japanese American recording artist Hikaru Utada for their seventh studio and fifth Japanese album, Heart Station (2007). It was written, composed, and arranged by Utada, whilst production was handled by Utada, their father Teruzane Utada, and Akira Miyake. The single premiered on May 31, 2007 as the third single from the album in Japan. It was re-released as a double A-side single with "Beautiful World", which also appeared on the parent album on August 29 in Japan, and digitally worldwide. Musically, "Kiss & Cry" is an R&B song, influenced by pop and hip-hop music. Lyrically, it discusses both Utada's upbringing and social beliefs between both Western and oriental regions.
"Together When..." is a song recorded by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released by Avex Trax on December 5, 2007, and Rhythm Republic on April 9, 2008 as a double A-side with one of Hamasaki's tracks "Game" as the third and final single from her ninth studio album, Guilty (2008). It was released as Hamasaki's first digital single in Japan, and was Avex Trax's first single to be distributed as a digital download only. The track was written by Hamasaki herself, while production was handled by long-time collaborator Max Matsuura. Musically, "Together When..." is a power ballad. The lyrical content is about the finishing and separation of a relationship between lovers.
Heart Station is the seventh studio and fifth Japanese-language album by Japanese–American recording artist Hikaru Utada. It was released on March 19, 2008, by EMI Music in Japan, and globally on March 26, 2008. It is Utada's eighth consecutive studio album to be fully written and produced by her, with the help of her father Teruzane Utada and long-time collaborator Miyake Akira through the production. Recorded between 2006 and 2008, it was worked on whilst she was recording her ninth studio and second English-language studio album, This Is the One (2009). With the album artwork photographed by Japanese photographer Mitsuo, Heart Station was released in two formats: a physical CD, and as a digital download.
Guilty is the ninth studio album by Japanese recording artist Ayumi Hamasaki. It was released on January 1, 2008 by Avex Trax. Guilty marks Hamasaki's ninth consecutive album to be fully produced by Japanese producer and manager Max Matsuura, while she contributes to the album as the lead vocalist, background vocalist, and songwriter to all songs. Recorded in Japanese with minor phrases in English, Guilty is a rock album with numerous musical elements such as pop rock, heavy metal, synthrock, and power ballad melodies.
Supreme Show is the seventh and most recent studio album by Japanese singer Ami Suzuki. Avex Trax distributed it in CD and DVD formats on November 12, 2008. It was released ten months after her previous studio album, Dolce, and was promoted to commemorate the singer's tenth career anniversary. Yasutaka Nakata, who had previously appeared as a featured artist and produced on Dolce, handled the album in its entirety. Crafted to re-invent her sound and image, Supreme Show is an electronic album with additional dance notes, and includes tracks in English and Japanese language.
Aira Mitsuki (アイラミツキ) is a Japanese singer. She debuted on August 8, 2007 with "Colorful Tokyo Sounds No. 9" and released her debut album, Copy on September 3, 2008.
"Wild" is a song by Japanese recording artist Namie Amuro from her ninth studio album Past<Future (2009). The song was released as the album's lead single on March 18, 2009, featuring the b-side "Dr." "Wild" was written and produced by Michio and T. Kura, while the latter track was written and produced by long-time collaborator Nao'ymt. The songs are electropop tracks, which features instrumentation from synthesizers and keyboards. "Wild" and "Dr." appeared as the advertising theme songs for Coca-Cola Zero and a Vidal Sassoon commercial.
Saori@destiny is a Japanese singer-lyricist. She made her independent debut on December 5, 2007, with the single "My Boy", followed by her major-label debut single "Sakura" on March 26, 2008 under D-topia Entertainment. During her time as a major-label artist, Saori was produced by former artist Terukado Ōnishi, and she released two studio albums and two EPs that time: Japanese Chaos (2008), Wow War Techno (2009), World Wild 2010 (2010) and Domestic Domain (2011). After leaving D-topia in April 2012, Saori went on a two-year hiatus and returned in 2014 as Saoriiiii. On January 1, 2023, Saori announced that she has changed her stage name again to Saori Rinne.
D-topia Entertainment is a Japanese record label produced by Terukado Ōnishi, officially established in public prior to December 14, 2007. The label is dedicated to promoting girls' entertainment, particularly the music of female singers. It was formed as a business partnership between Avex Group, its co-area promoter, and Victor Entertainment, its distributing label.
I'm Taking Off is the second solo album released in 2011 by Backstreet Boys member Nick Carter. The album was initially released on his own record label, Kaotic INC. The album sold over 20,000 copies during first week in Japan alone.
6 Force is the first mini album of electronica singer-lyricist Aira Mitsuki. It was released on June 2, 2010 in Japan by D-topia Entertainment, and is her last release under the label. It reached #11 on the Oricon Daily charts and #34 on the Oricon Weekly charts, where it charted for two weeks, selling 3,391 copies. The mini-album marks Aira's experimentation with rock music, such that half of the mini-album didn't much involve the characteristic use of autotune and vocoders and are in a new-wave rock style, showing Aira's true voice for the first time.
KARA Best 2007-2010 is the first Japanese greatest hits album by the South Korean girl group Kara. It was released on September 29, 2010 in Japan in 2 editions: CD+DVD and CD only.
Domestic Domain is the second EP by Japanese electronica singer-lyricist Saori@destiny, released on June 15, 2011 under D-Topia Universe with distribution to be done by Universal Music Japan. This is Saori's first release from the label. The album debuted and peaked at the No. 176 spot in the Oricon albums chart for a week, however, ranking lower than her previous full-length album World Wild 2010.
"My Boy" is the debut independent single of Japanese electronica singer Saori@destiny, released on December 5, 2007 on D-topia's independent subsidiary D-topia Independent. The single reached number 138 on the Oricon singles chart and only charted for one week.
