Mai Kuraki
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese pop
and R&B
singer-songwriter
and producer
from Funabashi
, Chiba
. Kuraki debuted in 1999 with the single, "Love, Day After Tomorrow
". In 2000, she released her debut album, Delicious Way
, which debuted at number-one and sold over 2,210,000 copies in its first week. Kuraki is one of a few female artists in Japan to have their first four studio albums to debut atop of the Oricon
album chart.
In 2009, Kuraki saw a revival in her popularity. Her eighth studio album, Touch Me!, debuted atop the Oricon album charts; becoming her first number-one album in five years. Kuraki holds the record for being the only female artist to have all of her singles consecutively debut in the Top 10 since her debut. To date, Kuraki has six number-one albums and two number-one singles.
's music and seeing the dance moves of Michael Jackson
, Kuraki decided to become a singer. While in high school, Kuraki sent a demo tape to Giza Studio
and they signed her to the label. However, before Kuraki made her debut in Japan, she made her American debut. Under Giza USA and Bip! Records, Kuraki released the single, "Baby I Like" under the stage name
Mai K. The single even impressed executives from the major label East West Records
, prompting the label to distribute it. But the song failed to chart on the Billboard
charts and Giza sent her back to Japan.
", on December 8, 1999. The single entered the Oricon
single chart at #18. In March 2000, after slowly rising on the chart "Love, Day After Tomorrow" peaked at #2 on the chart. Her second single and third singles: "Stay by My Side
" and "Secret of My Heart
" proved to share the success of "Love, Day After Tomorrow". "Stay by My Side" was released on March 15, 2000 and debuted atop the Oricon chart, while "Secret of My Heart", released April 26, 2000 debuted at #2. "Secret of My Heart" was certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan
and won a Japan Gold Disc Award
for "Song of the Year".
In June 2000, Kuraki released her fourth single, "Never Gonna Give You Up
" and her debut album Delicious Way
. The former debuted at #2 while the latter debuted at number-one on the album chart selling over 2,210,000 copies in its first week. Delicious Way sold over three million copies and was certified 3x million by the and won "Rock album of the Year" at the 16th annual Japan Gold Disc Awards.
From September 2000 to June 2001, Kuraki released five singles: "Simply Wonderful
", "Reach for the Sky
" (both 2000), "Tsumetai Umi/Start in My Life
", "Stand Up
" and "Always
" (all 2001). All of the singles had entered the Top 3. After the string of releases, Kuraki's second album Perfect Crime
(July 2001), which included all the singles expect "Simply Wonderful". Perfect Crime topped the album chart and was another million-selling album for the artist. The album was certified million by the RIAJ and like her debut album it won "Rock album of the Year". A month after the release of Perfect Crime, Kuraki released her last single of 2001, "Can't Forget Your Love/Perfect Crime: Single Edit", which debuted at #2 on the single chart.
" in January. "Winter Bells" debuted atop of the charts and was the tenth opening for the anime
adaptation of the manga
Case Closed
. Before releasing her third album, Fairy Tale
(October 2002), Kuraki released two single: "Feel Fine!" (April) and "Like a Star in the Night" (September) both singles entered Top 2. Like its predecessors Fairy Tale debuted atop of the Oricon. The album won the "Rock & Pop album of the Year" award at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. Kukari once again tried her hand in the U.S. market. She released her debut English-language album, Secret of My Heart, and like her single "Baby I Like" the album failed to chart.
Her fourth album If I Believe
was released on July 9, 2003. Prior to the albums release, Kuraki released four singles: "Make My Day" (2002), "Time After Time: Hana Mau Machi de
", "Kiss" and "Kaze no La La La"; all of which were Top 3 singles. If I Believe continued Kuraki's number-one album streak and was certified 2x platinum.
In 2004 on New Year's Day, Kuraki released her first greatest hits
album, Wish You the Best
. The album debuted atop the chart and was certified million and would become her last album to achieve that status. After Wish You the Best, she released her fifth studio album Fuse of Love
(2005). The album spawned four singles: (2004), "Love, Needing", "Dancing" and "P.S My Sunshine" (all 2005). "Ashita e Kakeru Hashi" debuted in the Top 3; while the others debuted outside the Top 3, a first for Kuraki. Fuse of Love debuted at #3 on the album chart ending Kuraki's number-one album streak. It was later certified gold by the RIAJ. In 2006, Kuraki released a new album, Diamond Wave
. The album debuted at #3 on the charts and was certified gold. The singles from the album, "Growing of My Heart
" (2005), and "Diamond Wave" were Top 10 singles.
Kuraki ended the year with a new single, "Shiroi Yuki
", which placed #4 on the single chart. In 2007, Kuraki released her last single under Giza Studio, "Season of Love". The single charted at #6. After releasing "Season of Love", Kuraki transferred from Giza Studio to its then newly-launched sister label, Northern Music. Under Northern she released her twenty-seventh single, "Silent Love: Open My Heart/Be With U" before releasing her seventh album, One Life
on New Year's Day 2008. "Silent Love: Open My Heart/Be With U" debuted at #9 and One Life debuted at #14, on their respective charts. One Life was certified gold by the RIAJ.
Kuraki released three singles in 2008: "Yume ga Saku Haru/You and Music and Dream
", "Ichibyōgoto ni Love for You", "24 Xmas Time
" the singles like their predecessors entered the Top 10.
". Both songs were used as tie-ins for Case Closed. "Puzzle" was used as the ending theme for the thirteenth movie Case Closed: The Raven Chaser
, while "Revive" was used as the twenty-fifth opening theme song for the series seventeenth season. "Puzzle/Revive" debuted at #3 on the Oricon single chart, making it her first single to enter the Top 3 since 2004's "Ashita e Kakeru Hashi".
Kuraki released her thirty-third single "Beautiful
" on June 10, 2009. "Beautiful" was used as the commercial song for cosmetic company Kose's Coseport Salon Style. "Beautiful" debuted at #2 on the Oricon single chart making it Kuraki's third-second single to debut in the Top 10, extending her record.
Kuraki started 2010 with a new single, "Eien Yori Nagaku/Drive Me Crazy
", which was released on March 3, 2010. On August 31 Mai has released her 34th single "Summer Time Gone
". This single was out the same day of summer ending in Japan.
Kuraki released her album titled titled "Future Kiss
" on November 17, 2010.
A new single "1000 Mankai no Kiss
" was released on March 9, 2011.
On March 29, 2011, a soccer charity match, called “The Tohoku Earthquake recovery support charity match Ganbarou Nippon!“, was held at Nagai Stadium, Osaka, and Kuraki Mai showed up to sing the national anthem. Kuraki also revealed that she is currently working on making a charity song to help fundraising the Japanese victims of tsunami and earthquake in March 2011.
Another new single "Mou Ichido" was released on May 25, 2011.
"Your Best Friend
" was released on October 19, to be followed by "Strong Heart", her first single to be released in DVD
, on November 23.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
from Funabashi
Funabashi, Chiba
is a city located in northwestern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 609,157 and a population density of 7110 persons per km². The total area was 85.64 km². It is the 7th most populous city in Greater Tokyo....
, Chiba
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
. Kuraki debuted in 1999 with the single, "Love, Day After Tomorrow
Love, Day After Tomorrow
"Love, Day After Tomorrow" is Mai Kuraki's debut single, released on December 8, 1999. The single debuted at #18 on oricon chart and gradually climbed to the 2nd place, right after Southern All Stars's best-selling single "Tsunami." This debut single of hers also turned out to be 4th best selling...
". In 2000, she released her debut album, Delicious Way
Delicious Way
- Charts, certifications and succession :- Procession and succession :...
, which debuted at number-one and sold over 2,210,000 copies in its first week. Kuraki is one of a few female artists in Japan to have their first four studio albums to debut atop of 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...
album chart.
In 2009, Kuraki saw a revival in her popularity. Her eighth studio album, Touch Me!, debuted atop the Oricon album charts; becoming her first number-one album in five years. Kuraki holds the record for being the only female artist to have all of her singles consecutively debut in the Top 10 since her debut. To date, Kuraki has six number-one albums and two number-one singles.
Early life and musical career
Upon hearing Whitney HoustonWhitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
's music and seeing the dance moves of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, Kuraki decided to become a singer. While in high school, Kuraki sent a demo tape to Giza Studio
GIZA studio
is a Japanese record label....
and they signed her to the label. However, before Kuraki made her debut in Japan, she made her American debut. Under Giza USA and Bip! Records, Kuraki released the single, "Baby I Like" under the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Mai K. The single even impressed executives from the major label East West Records
East West Records
East West Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group, and operates under WMG's Independent Label Group.-History:...
, prompting the label to distribute it. But the song failed to chart on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
charts and Giza sent her back to Japan.
2000-2001: Debut
Kuraki released her first single, "Love, Day After TomorrowLove, Day After Tomorrow
"Love, Day After Tomorrow" is Mai Kuraki's debut single, released on December 8, 1999. The single debuted at #18 on oricon chart and gradually climbed to the 2nd place, right after Southern All Stars's best-selling single "Tsunami." This debut single of hers also turned out to be 4th best selling...
", on December 8, 1999. The single entered 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...
single chart at #18. In March 2000, after slowly rising on the chart "Love, Day After Tomorrow" peaked at #2 on the chart. Her second single and third singles: "Stay by My Side
Stay by My Side
"Stay by My Side" is Mai Kuraki's second single, released on March 15, 2000.-Track listing:-Oricon Sales Chart:...
" and "Secret of My Heart
Secret of My Heart
"Secret of My Heart" is Mai Kuraki's 3rd single, released on April 26, 2000. It is also featured in the TV show Detective Conan.-Track listing:-Oricon Sales Chart:...
" proved to share the success of "Love, Day After Tomorrow". "Stay by My Side" was released on March 15, 2000 and debuted atop the Oricon chart, while "Secret of My Heart", released April 26, 2000 debuted at #2. "Secret of My Heart" was certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan
Recording Industry Association of Japan
The Recording Industry Association of Japan is an industry trade group composed of Japanese corporations involved the music industry...
and won a Japan Gold Disc Award
Japan Gold Disc Award
The Japan Gold Disc Awards for Music sales in the Recording Industry Association of Japan, is major music awards held annually in Japan also released as a CD.- List of the Artists of the Year :************...
for "Song of the Year".
In June 2000, Kuraki released her fourth single, "Never Gonna Give You Up
Never Gonna Give You Up (Mai Kuraki song)
"Never Gonna Give You Up" is the fourth single from Japanese pop-singer Mai Kuraki, released on June 7, 2000.-Track listing:-Oricon Sales Chart:...
" and her debut album Delicious Way
Delicious Way
- Charts, certifications and succession :- Procession and succession :...
. The former debuted at #2 while the latter debuted at number-one on the album chart selling over 2,210,000 copies in its first week. Delicious Way sold over three million copies and was certified 3x million by the and won "Rock album of the Year" at the 16th annual Japan Gold Disc Awards.
From September 2000 to June 2001, Kuraki released five singles: "Simply Wonderful
Simply Wonderful
"Simply Wonderful" is Mai Kuraki's 5th single, released on September 27, 2000.-Track listing:-Oricon Sales Chart:...
", "Reach for the Sky
Reach for the Sky (Mai Kuraki song)
"Reach for the Sky" is Mai Kuraki's 6th single, released on November 8, 2000.-Track listing:-Oricon Sales Chart:...
" (both 2000), "Tsumetai Umi/Start in My Life
Tsumetai Umi/Start in My Life
"" is Mai Kuraki's 7th single, released on February 7, 2001.-Track listing:-Oricon Sales Chart:...
", "Stand Up
Stand Up (Mai Kuraki song)
"Stand Up" is Mai Kuraki's 8th single, released on April 18, 2001.-Track listing:-Oricon Sales Chart:...
" and "Always
Always (Mai Kuraki song)
"Always" is Mai Kuraki's 9th single, released on June 6, 2001.-Track listing:-Oricon sales chart:...
" (all 2001). All of the singles had entered the Top 3. After the string of releases, Kuraki's second album Perfect Crime
Perfect Crime (album)
- Charts, certifications and succession :- Procession and succession :...
(July 2001), which included all the singles expect "Simply Wonderful". Perfect Crime topped the album chart and was another million-selling album for the artist. The album was certified million by the RIAJ and like her debut album it won "Rock album of the Year". A month after the release of Perfect Crime, Kuraki released her last single of 2001, "Can't Forget Your Love/Perfect Crime: Single Edit", which debuted at #2 on the single chart.
2002-2008: Decline in sales
Kuraki started 2002 with her eleventh single, "Winter BellsWinter Bells
-Track listing:-Oricon Sales Chart:...
" in January. "Winter Bells" debuted atop of the charts and was the tenth opening for the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
adaptation of the manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
Case Closed
Case Closed
Case Closed, known as in Japan, is a Japanese detective manga series written and illustrated by Gosho Aoyama. The series is serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Shōnen Sunday since February 2, 1994, and has been collected in 73 tankōbon volumes as of September 2011...
. Before releasing her third album, Fairy Tale
Fairy Tale (Mai Kuraki album)
- Charts, certifications and succession :- Procession and succession :...
(October 2002), Kuraki released two single: "Feel Fine!" (April) and "Like a Star in the Night" (September) both singles entered Top 2. Like its predecessors Fairy Tale debuted atop of the Oricon. The album won the "Rock & Pop album of the Year" award at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. Kukari once again tried her hand in the U.S. market. She released her debut English-language album, Secret of My Heart, and like her single "Baby I Like" the album failed to chart.
Her fourth album If I Believe
If I Believe
- Charts, certifications and succession :- Procession and succession :...
was released on July 9, 2003. Prior to the albums release, Kuraki released four singles: "Make My Day" (2002), "Time After Time: Hana Mau Machi de
Time After Time: Hana Mau Machi de
is Mai Kuraki's 15th single, released on March 5, 2003. The single carries the theme song for the seventh Case Closed film "Case Closed: Crossroad in the Ancient Capital".-Track listing:-Oricon Sales Chart:...
", "Kiss" and "Kaze no La La La"; all of which were Top 3 singles. If I Believe continued Kuraki's number-one album streak and was certified 2x platinum.
In 2004 on New Year's Day, Kuraki released her first greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
album, Wish You the Best
Wish You the Best
- Charts, certifications and succession :- Procession and succession :...
. The album debuted atop the chart and was certified million and would become her last album to achieve that status. After Wish You the Best, she released her fifth studio album Fuse of Love
Fuse of Love
- Charts, sales and certifications :...
(2005). The album spawned four singles: (2004), "Love, Needing", "Dancing" and "P.S My Sunshine" (all 2005). "Ashita e Kakeru Hashi" debuted in the Top 3; while the others debuted outside the Top 3, a first for Kuraki. Fuse of Love debuted at #3 on the album chart ending Kuraki's number-one album streak. It was later certified gold by the RIAJ. In 2006, Kuraki released a new album, Diamond Wave
Diamond Wave
- Charts, sales and certifications :- Release history :...
. The album debuted at #3 on the charts and was certified gold. The singles from the album, "Growing of My Heart
Growing of My Heart
-Track listing:-Oricon Sales Chart:...
" (2005), and "Diamond Wave" were Top 10 singles.
Kuraki ended the year with a new single, "Shiroi Yuki
Shiroi Yuki
is Mai Kuraki's twenty-fifth single, released on December 20, 2006. The song was first unveiled on the last day of Kuraki's Live Tour 2006 Diamond Wave and premiered on radio on Nippon Housou's "Azuma Takahiro no Young Peace" November 30. Shiroi Yuki is her first single in 5 years to be used as...
", which placed #4 on the single chart. In 2007, Kuraki released her last single under Giza Studio, "Season of Love". The single charted at #6. After releasing "Season of Love", Kuraki transferred from Giza Studio to its then newly-launched sister label, Northern Music. Under Northern she released her twenty-seventh single, "Silent Love: Open My Heart/Be With U" before releasing her seventh album, One Life
One Life (Mai Kuraki album)
- Charts, sales and certifications :- Release history :...
on New Year's Day 2008. "Silent Love: Open My Heart/Be With U" debuted at #9 and One Life debuted at #14, on their respective charts. One Life was certified gold by the RIAJ.
Kuraki released three singles in 2008: "Yume ga Saku Haru/You and Music and Dream
Yume ga Saku Haru/You and Music and Dream
is Mai Kuraki's twenty-eighth single, released on March 19, 2008. It was released in both limited and regular editions. The limited edition comes with an Eco bag as well as a bonus instrumental piano version of "You and Music and Dream"...
", "Ichibyōgoto ni Love for You", "24 Xmas Time
24 Xmas time
"24 Xmas Time" is Mai Kuraki's thirtieth single, released on November 26, 2008. It was released in two formats: limited CD+DVD edition and regular edition...
" the singles like their predecessors entered the Top 10.
2009-present: Revival in popularity
Kuraki's eighth studio album, Touch Me!, was released on January 21, 2009 and contained the singles released in 2008. Selling a little over 50,200 copies, Touch Me! debuted atop of Oricon album chart. Touch Me became Kuraki's first number-one album in five years, with her last number-one occurring in 2004 with her greatest hits album, Wish You the Best. The album was later certified Gold by the RIAJ. On April 1, 2009, Kuraki released her thirty-first single a double A-side "Puzzle/RevivePuzzle/Revive
"Puzzle/Revive" is Mai Kuraki's thirty-first single, released on April 1, 2009. The double A-side single carries the theme song for the thirteenth Case Closed film "Case Closed: The Raven Chaser" as well as the opening theme for the anime series. On February 24, her official website announced the...
". Both songs were used as tie-ins for Case Closed. "Puzzle" was used as the ending theme for the thirteenth movie Case Closed: The Raven Chaser
Case Closed: The Raven Chaser
Case Closed: The Raven Chaser, known as , is the 13th movie installment of the manga and anime series Detective Conan. The movie was released in Japan on April 18, 2009. This movie earned 3.5 billion yen in the domestic Japanese box office, making it the highest-grossing movie in the Detective...
, while "Revive" was used as the twenty-fifth opening theme song for the series seventeenth season. "Puzzle/Revive" debuted at #3 on the Oricon single chart, making it her first single to enter the Top 3 since 2004's "Ashita e Kakeru Hashi".
Kuraki released her thirty-third single "Beautiful
Beautiful (Mai Kuraki song)
"Beautiful" is Mai Kuraki's thirty-second single, released on June 10, 2009. The single comes in two formats: limited CD+DVD edition and regular edition...
" on June 10, 2009. "Beautiful" was used as the commercial song for cosmetic company Kose's Coseport Salon Style. "Beautiful" debuted at #2 on the Oricon single chart making it Kuraki's third-second single to debut in the Top 10, extending her record.
Kuraki started 2010 with a new single, "Eien Yori Nagaku/Drive Me Crazy
Eien Yori Nagaku/Drive me crazy
"Eien Yori Nagaku/Drive me crazy" is Mai Kuraki's thirty-third single, released on March 3, 2010.-Track listing:-Oricon sales chart:-Billboard Japan sales chart:...
", which was released on March 3, 2010. On August 31 Mai has released her 34th single "Summer Time Gone
Summer Time Gone
-Tie-up:*Kose Commercial Song（#1）*Yomiuri TV Television Anime Opening Theme（#1）*Music Focus For the month of August Ending Theme（#1）*Aviation 100 years Image Song（#2）-Track listing:-Oricon sales chart:...
". This single was out the same day of summer ending in Japan.
Kuraki released her album titled titled "Future Kiss
Future Kiss
- Charts and sales :- Release history :...
" on November 17, 2010.
A new single "1000 Mankai no Kiss
1000 Mankai no Kiss
- Charts and sales :- Release history :...
" was released on March 9, 2011.
On March 29, 2011, a soccer charity match, called “The Tohoku Earthquake recovery support charity match Ganbarou Nippon!“, was held at Nagai Stadium, Osaka, and Kuraki Mai showed up to sing the national anthem. Kuraki also revealed that she is currently working on making a charity song to help fundraising the Japanese victims of tsunami and earthquake in March 2011.
Another new single "Mou Ichido" was released on May 25, 2011.
"Your Best Friend
Your Best Friend
"Your Best Friend" is the 37th single by Japanese singer Mai Kuraki. It was released on October 19, 2011 on the Northern Music record label.-Information:...
" was released on October 19, to be followed by "Strong Heart", her first single to be released in DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
, on November 23.
Studio albums
- 2000: Delicious WayDelicious Way- Charts, certifications and succession :- Procession and succession :...
- 2001: Perfect CrimePerfect Crime (album)- Charts, certifications and succession :- Procession and succession :...
- 2002: Fairy TaleFairy Tale (Mai Kuraki album)- Charts, certifications and succession :- Procession and succession :...
- 2003: If I BelieveIf I Believe- Charts, certifications and succession :- Procession and succession :...
- 2005: Fuse of LoveFuse of Love- Charts, sales and certifications :...
- 2006: Diamond WaveDiamond Wave- Charts, sales and certifications :- Release history :...
- 2008: One LifeOne Life (Mai Kuraki album)- Charts, sales and certifications :- Release history :...
- 2009: Touch Me!
- 2010: Future KissFuture Kiss- Charts and sales :- Release history :...
External links
- Mai-Kuraki.com – official website
- Mai Kuraki at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Mai Kuraki on livedoorLivedooris an Internet service provider based in Tokyo, Japan, that runs a web portal and numerous other businesses. The company was founded and led in its first 10 years by Takafumi Horie, known as "Horiemon" in Japan...
- Mai Kuraki on OriconOricon, 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...
- Northern Music