Fuyumi Sakamoto
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese female enka
singer under EMI Music Japan.
Kōhaku Uta Gassen
(New Year's Eve 'song battle') for the first time. As of 2009, she has taken part 21 times.
Sakamoto was also a vocalist of rock
band HIS with bassist Haruomi Hosono
and guitarist Kiyoshiro Imawano
, though Imawano died in 2009. The band's name is an acronym coming from their names Hosono, Imawano and Sakamoto. The band released their album on July 19, 1991.
In the 1993 Kōhaku Uta Gassen she played Sailor Mercury
with Hiroko Moriguchi
as Sailor Moon and Hikaru Nishida
as Sailor Mars.
"Yozakura Oshichi" (1994) is one of her most famous songs. Although her songs are not usually popular with young people, this was the exception.
On January 7, 2009, Sakamoto released the double A-side single . The single debuted at No. 13 on the Japanese Oricon
weekly charts. "Mata Kimi ni Koi Shiteru" was her cover version
of Billy BanBan's song. The double A-side single "Asia no Kaizoku/Mata Kimi ni Koi Shiteru" peaked at number three on the Oricon
Weekly Charts, becoming her biggest hit in Japan.
The song rose to the number-one spot on the RIAJ Digital Track Chart
between March 31 and April 6, 2010. On July 13, 2010, Sakamoto's album has sold a total of 202,000 copies since its release in October 2009, making her the first female enka singer to have an album reach 200,000 in sales since Teresa Teng
in 1989.
On September 14, 2011, "Okaeri ga Omamori (Welcome back is my charm) "the song about her love for Wakayama (her home town) was released.
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
singer under EMI Music Japan.
Career
On March 4, 1987, Sakamoto debuted as a recording singer with the single "Abare Daiko". In 1988, she took part in the 39th NHKNHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
Kōhaku Uta Gassen
Kohaku Uta Gassen
, more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual music show on New Year's Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both television and radio, nationally and internationally by NHK's networks and some overseas broadcasters which bought the program...
(New Year's Eve 'song battle') for the first time. As of 2009, she has taken part 21 times.
Sakamoto was also a vocalist of rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band HIS with bassist Haruomi Hosono
Haruomi Hosono
, also known as Harry Hosono, is a Japanese popular musician, best known internationally as a key member of the rock band Happy End and the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra.-Biography:...
and guitarist Kiyoshiro Imawano
Kiyoshiro Imawano
, born , was a Japanese rock musician, lyricist, composer, musical producer, and actor from Tokyo, Japan. He was dubbed "Japan's King of Rock". He formed and led an influential rock band RC Succession....
, though Imawano died in 2009. The band's name is an acronym coming from their names Hosono, Imawano and Sakamoto. The band released their album on July 19, 1991.
In the 1993 Kōhaku Uta Gassen she played Sailor Mercury
Sailor Mercury
, in Japan, is one of the central characters in the Sailor Moon metaseries. Her real name is , a genius schoolgirl who can transform into one of the series' specialized heroines, the Sailor Senshi....
with Hiroko Moriguchi
Hiroko Moriguchi
is a female Japanese singer from Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.- Theme songs :* "Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete" , second opening theme song from TV series Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam...
as Sailor Moon and Hikaru Nishida
Hikaru Nishida
is a Japanese J-pop singer and actress. She was born in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, and made her singing debut with the release of the single Fifteen on April 6, 1988, named after her age at the time....
as Sailor Mars.
"Yozakura Oshichi" (1994) is one of her most famous songs. Although her songs are not usually popular with young people, this was the exception.
On January 7, 2009, Sakamoto released the double A-side single . The single debuted at No. 13 on the Japanese Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
weekly charts. "Mata Kimi ni Koi Shiteru" was her cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Billy BanBan's song. The double A-side single "Asia no Kaizoku/Mata Kimi ni Koi Shiteru" peaked at number three on the Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
Weekly Charts, becoming her biggest hit in Japan.
The song rose to the number-one spot on the RIAJ Digital Track Chart
RIAJ Digital Track Chart
The is chart ranks the best selling digital singles in Japan, provided by the Recording Industry Association of Japan since April 2009. The chart measures cellphone downloads ....
between March 31 and April 6, 2010. On July 13, 2010, Sakamoto's album has sold a total of 202,000 copies since its release in October 2009, making her the first female enka singer to have an album reach 200,000 in sales since Teresa Teng
Teresa Teng
Teresa Teng , was an immensely popular and influential Chinese pop singer from Taiwan. Teresa Teng's voice and songs are instantly recognized throughout East Asia and in areas with large Asian populations...
in 1989.
On September 14, 2011, "Okaeri ga Omamori (Welcome back is my charm) "the song about her love for Wakayama (her home town) was released.