is a Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

ese musical group from Okinawa that debuted in 1996.

History

Kiroro first debuted in 1996 as an independent band, and later made their major debut in 1998 with the song "". They performed on 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...

 in 1998, 1999 and 2001.

In January 2005, vocalist Chiharu Tamashiro announced that she was engaged. On April 17 (which coincided with her birthday), she and her fiancé entered the family registry

Koseki

A is a Japanese family registry. Japanese law requires all Japanese households to report births, acknowledgements of paternity, adoptions, disruptions of adoptions, deaths, marriages and divorces of Japanese citizens to their local authority, which compiles such records encompassing all Japanese...

. In May, pianist Ayano Kinjo announced her pregnancy and marriage. In July, Tamashiro announced her pregnancy. In September 2005, they held their "four person concert" in Okinawa with the finale, Wasurenaide ("Don't Forget") before their maternal leave. Kinjo gave birth to a baby girl in November 2005. Tamashiro gave birth to a baby boy in February 2006. In March 2007, Tamashiro announced her second pregnancy.

Etymology

When vocalist Chiharu Tamashiro was in her primary school days, she visited Ikedamachi, Hokkaido, for a regional exchange program. The Ainu language

Ainu language

Ainu is one of the Ainu languages, spoken by members of the Ainu ethnic group on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō....

 made a deep impression on her. With the Ainu words 'Kiroru' and 'Kiroro-an', Tamashiro and Kinjo decided on the name "Kiroro" for the group; "Kiroru" meaning a wide walking path and "Kiroro-an" meaning "resilient" and "healthy."

The name "Kiroro," however, was already registered in 1981 to the Yamaha Organization in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka, for the Kiroro Resort in Akaigawa Village, Hokkaido. Victor Entertainment made agreements with the Yamaha organization for use of the name.

Members

- vocals

• • born in Okinawa, Japan - keyboard
  • born in Okinawa, Japan

Albums

1. - October 1, 1998
   1. Nagai Aida
   3. Mirai e
2. - September 22, 1999 (Ayano Kinjo's solo album)
3. - December 8, 1999
4. - September 26, 2000 (Concept Album)
5. TREE OF LIFE - January 13, 2001 (Taiwan), January 24, 2001 (Japan) (It is the first time (and only time, up to the album Wonderful Days) that the date of release in Taiwan is earlier than Japan.)
6. - February 21, 2002 (Best Album)
7. Four Leaves Clover - December 18, 2002
8. Diary - March 3, 2004
9. - January 21, 2005 (Okinawa limited edition), June 23, 2005 (National edition) (Mini album) (Dedicated to their homeland, Okinawa. The 'national level' edition also contains an introductory flash clip that describes the places of interest in Okinawa.
10. Wonderful Days - November 23, 2005
11. - March 29, 2006 (Best album by fan votes)
12. - March 7, 2007 (Played by Ayano, a lullaby album for babies)
13. - March 7, 2007 (A collector's edition)

Singles

1. - March 1, 2001
   1. Nagai Aida
   3. Nagai Aida (Original Karaoke)
   4. Sannin no Shashin (Original Karaoke)
2. - June 24, 1998
   1. Mirai e, later covered by René Liu
      René Liu
      René Liu was born June 1, 1969. She is a Taiwanese actress and singer. She is the first to win Best Actress awards at the Asia Pacific Movie Festival in both television and film productions...
      
      
   3. Mirai e (Original Karaoke)
   4. Tenki ga Ii Asa (Original Karaoke)
3. - November 21, 1998
   1. Fuyu no Uta
   3. Fuyu no Uta (Original Karaoke)
   4. Kiseki (Original Karaoke)
4. - February 24, 1999
   1. Ao no Jumon
   3. Ao no Jumon (Original Karaoke)
   4. Haru no Kaze (Original Karaoke)
5. - June 23, 1999
   1. Saigo no Kiss
   3. Saigo no Kiss (Original Karaoke)
   4. Chokin (Original Karaoke)
6. - November 10, 1999
   1. Suki na Hito
   3. Suki na Hito (Original Karaoke)
   4. Chance (Original Karaoke)
7. - March 23, 2000
   1. Himawari
   3. Himawari (Original Karaoke)
   4. Nawatobi (Original Karaoke)
8. - July 26, 2000
   1. Namida ni Sayonara
   2. Blue Sky
   3. Namida ni Sayonara (Original Karaoke)
   4. Blue Sky (Original Karaoke)
9. - December 6, 2000
   1. Aitai
   3. Aitai (Backing Track)
   4. Yoru o Miagete (Backing Track)
10. Best Friend - June 6, 2001
    1. Best Friend
    2. again
    3. Best Friend (Backing Track)
    4. again (Backing Track)
11. - August 21, 2002
    1. Aisanai
12. - December 4, 2002
    1. Hitotsubu no Namida
13. - November 21, 2003
    1. Bokura no Messēji
14. - January 21, 2004
    1. Mou Sukoshi
15. - July 6, 2005 (Mushiking anime opening theme song)
    1. Ikitekoso
16. - October 21, 2005 (with special edition)
    1. Wasurenai de ~Live at Okinawa '05~
    2. Beginning
17. - December 3, 2008
18. - March 4, 2009 (Anime movie Chō Gekijōban Keroro Gunsō: Gekishin Dragon Warriors
    Sgt. Frog
    Sgt. Frog, known in Japan as , is a manga series by Mine Yoshizaki. It was later serialized into a TV anime series directed by Junichi Sato. Both the anime and manga are comedies that follow the attempts of a platoon of frog-like alien invaders to conquer Earth...
    
    theme song)

• Note: All singles from Nagai Aida up to Suki na Hito were released again on February 21, 2002.