Featured Artist: Yonekura Chihiro

Artist: Yonekura Chihiro 米倉千尋
Original Name: Koizumi Chihiro
Birth Date: 19/08/1972
Place of Origin: Yokohama state, Japan
Blood Type: A
Favourite artists: TORI AMOS, BETTE MIDLER, COURTNEY LOVE, KARLA BONOFF, BON JOVI, U2, ORWELL, ザ・ベイビースターズ (The Babystars), 玉置浩二 (Tamaki Kouji), CHARA, Cocco
Company: Bellwood, King Records

Her usual look. This is the best photo in my view. A variation of the picture shown on her 18th single (2002).

Her latest look, which i presume to be in line with her 10th Anniversary. This picture should be the cover of her next single, Towa no Hana. She's beautiful…(even though she's already past 30…)

Debut in January 1996 with her 1st single, Arashi no Naka de Kagayaite (C/W 10 YEARS AFTER), opening/ending theme for Mobile Suit Gundam 08 MS Team (OVA). She gain critical acclaim and instant fame because of her clear and strong voice, as well as her ability to display emotions in the songs i.e make the song alive. Her first album, Believe, is also an instant hit. Had her 1st live in 1999, and since then had one live concert every year. In 2000, she began to compose songs, and a radio program featuring her as the main cast begins (Yonekura Chihiro no SMILE GO HAPPY). In the ten years that follow, she goes on to become one of the most well-known anison/J-Pop singers, and has released 23 singles and 10 albums up til now.

in 2003, Yonekura Chihiro formed a temporary duo group with fellow singer Okui Masami, r.o.r/s (reflection of renaissance/sounds), for 4 months and their combination forms a chemistry never once known (well, both of them are of the same rare style, so their combo was like double the impact). In 2005, she joined JAM Project as a one-day temporary member in the Super Robot Spirits 2005 concert.

Some of her more well-known songs (anime):
Arashi no Naka de Kagayaite (1996, OP for Mobile Suit Gundam 08 MS Shoutai)
Mirai no Futari ni (1996, IN for Mobile Suit Gundam 08 MS Shoutai)
Eien no Tobira (1998, ED for Mobile Suit Gundam 08 MS Shoutai movie)
WILL (1999, OP for Senkaiden Houshin Engi)
FRIENDS (1999, ED for Senkaiden Houshin Engi)
Just Fly Away (2000, 1st OP for Rokumontengai Moncolle Knight)
Return to myself (2000, 2nd OP for Rokumontengai Moncolle Knight)
Butterfly kiss (2001, 1st OP for RAVE)
Kohaku no Yurikago (2001, 1st ED for RAVE)
Yakusoku no Basho e (2003, 2nd OP for Kaleido Star)
Tattoo Kiss (2003, 3rd OP for Kaleido Star, performed under r.o.r/s)
Boku no SPEED de (2005, ED for Mahoraba -Heartful days-)

r.o.r/s. the duo group of Okui Masami and Yonekura Chihiro.

Comments: Ever since i watched 08 MS Shoutai (in 2000 or 2001 i think), i got to know Yonekura Chihiro, who have since become my favourite artist ever. She's definitely more well-known for her anime songs, since she's considered a low-profile singer compared to other J-pop artists. (yes, she's actually a J-Pop singer who found her place in anime songs). Even so, she's rather well-known in the anime circle, and had been compared to the likes of big names in the anime circle in the past. Now, she joins them as one of the most influential anime singers around. Her true power other than her powerful clear voice can be seen in her anime songs. Mirai no Futari ni is a truly sentimental song depicting a couple (Shiro & Aina in 08 MS Shoutai) in a cruel war. Just Fly Away is a cute song that add colours to the wacky fantasy/adventure Rokumontengai Moncolle Knight. Butterfly kiss and Kohaku no Yurikago are the best representatives in how OP and EDs should be like, especially in shounen anime like RAVE. She has been improving year after year and her skills of composing music has went from bad to good. Her voice remains an unchanged entity that will lives on as a legend in the anime world (or so I think).

The cover of her best album, BEST OF CHIHIROX. This is also the first time she's being animated. Guess that shows how much her success is being linkedto anime. And, man, she's cute…I even use this picture as the wallpaper for my hp…goes to show how much i like her.

This year, she steps into her 10th year and it's created to be an anniversary year for her. With her best album (BEST OF CHIHIROX) released last year as a commemoration, she starts off the 1st half-year with the 23rd and 10th Anniversary single "Boku no SPEED de", her 10th Anniversary (and "coincidentally" the 10th one) album "Cheers" and her 2005 live concert "Cheers". She is also a special guest in 2 prominent anime event concerts, namely ANIpara Ongakukan 2005 and Super Robot Spirits: Haru no Jin 2005.

In the later half of the year, she will be releasing her 24th single "Towa no Hana", which is also the OP/ED themes for the PS2 game "Fushigi Yuugi Genbu Kaiden: Gaiden Kagami no Miko", and the live dvd of her 2005 live concert on the same day, 06 July 2005.

Her style is uncommon in the anime world, and in my view only Okui Masami, Sakamoto Maaya and Matsumoto Rica are rather close. KOTOKO, Lia, Arisaka Mika and See-Saw are also somewhere there. The powerful voice that will make cute songs bearable and sentimental songs even sadder, and that's Yonekura Chihiro for you.

Yonekura Chihiro's Official Website: http://www.kingrecords.co.jp/bellwood/chihiro/

~ by rei_andrew29 on 14 June, 2005.