Kokia

Akiko Yoshida (吉田亜紀子) is a Japanese singer and songwriter performing under the stage name Kokia (styled Kokia).

Her most well known songs are "Arigatō..."

(ありがとう...) (which reached number 2 in Hong Kong when it was covered by Sammi Cheng) and "The Power of Smile"

(which topped at No. 8 in the singles chart).

She is also recognized for her numerous contributions to anime/game soundtracks, the most notable being "Ai no Melody/Chōwa Oto (With Reflection)" for the film Origin: Spirits of the Past, "Follow the Nightingale" for the game Tales of Innocence, "Tatta Hitotsu no Omoi" for the anime Gunslinger Girl: Il Teatrino, "Dance of the Spirits" for the anime “Ancient Magus' Bride” and "For Little Tail" for the game Tail Concerto.

Kokia often performs in Europe, basing her activities in Paris and releasing music through Wasabi Records, a subsidiary of Kazé.

Kokia was born in 1976.

She started playing the violin when she was two and a half years old, but preferred the family piano.

Often instead of playing with toys, Kokia played with the family piano.

Kokia remembers putting picture books on the music stand and creating music that represented the scenes.

When Kokia was 10, she went abroad to America with her sister Kyoko to study at the Summer music school (and did so again when she was 14).

In high school, she studied in vocal music and opera, later majoring in opera at the Toho Gakuen School of Music.

While at university, a friend gave a demo tape Kokia had recorded to a record executive.

Her single "Kawaranai Koto (Since 1976)" was used as the drama Itoshiki Mono e's theme song, breaking Kokia into the top 50.

Her biggest hit, however, was "The Power of Smile/Remember the Kiss."

It gained notoriety after being used in a Kao haircare commercial.

After which, Kokia was asked to perform on popular music show Music Station.

The single broke the top 20 in Japan and was certified gold by the RIAJ.

The resulting album, Remember Me, also broke the top 20, and sold over 45,000 copies.

Kokia was then signed to Pony Canyon, and debuted in 1998 while still at university.

She created her stage name by reversing the syllables of her birth name, Akiko (something she had done as a game when she was very young).

Her first released song, "For Little Tail," was used as the opening theme song for the game Tail Concerto (although this was released as the secondary track to the "Road to Glory" single album.)

The leading single from the album, "Arigatō..."

(ありがとう...), found success in Hong Kong.

It was awarded third in the 1999 Hong Kong International Popular Song Award.

Hong Kong entertainer Sammi Cheng covered the song, and released it as the eponymous track from her album "Arigatou" in October 1999.

The song became a big hit in Hong Kong, reaching to no2 in the pop charts there.

After the release of her debut album, Kokia did not continue to release music with Pony Canyon.

Her first releases after this were five songs for Luna Sea vocalist Ryuichi Kawamura's production project, ЯKS, in 2000.

The album was released under Victor Entertainment, heralding in Kokia's relationship with the label.

In 2001, she re-debuted in proper under Victor, and released three singles.

Kokia continued to have success throughout Asia, with her music used in Asia-wide ad campaigns.

In 2001, she performed at two high-profile Chinese concerts: an anti-drugs concert to 30,000 people with the so-called Four Heavenly Kings of Hong Kong entertainment (Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok and Leon Lai), and also to over 120,000 people at a 2001 new year's countdown event in Taiwan.

In January 2002, Kokia released her second album, Trip Trip, her first album to be self-produced.

In 2003, however, Kokia first gained public notice.

Her Pony Canyon-era songs "I Catch a Cold" and "Shiroi Yuki" (白い雪) were used in the soundtrack for the popular Chinese drama At the Dolphin Bay in 2003.

Kokia's fourth album Uta ga Chikara (released in 2004) also found modest success, selling 20,000 copies.

The biggest single from this album, "Yume ga Chikara," was used as the encouragement song for the Japan team at the 2004 Athens Olympic games.

While Kokia has been associated with game/anime music since her debut, it was in 2006 when a theme song of hers became most successful.

Her single "Ai no Melody/Chōwa Oto (With Reflection)" was used as the two theme songs for the anime film Origin: Spirits of the Past, and it reached number 30 on Oricon's single charts.