KOKIA
Kokia (コキア) is a Japanese singer-songwriter from Tokyo. She is known mostly for her performances in video game and anime soundtracks; having appeared in eight different game/anime soundtracks to date. Kokia is also known for her vocal range, and ability to hold long-tone opera notes, having done so for 29 seconds during a television appearance. She is most well-known in Hong Kong and Taiwan for her song "Arigatou...", which achieved commercial success, and was covered by star Sammi Cheng. Her biggest hit in Japan is the single "The Power of Smile / Remember the Kiss", which reached number 15 on the Oricon charts.
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Pre-debut - Pony Canyon
Kokia studied Opera and classical music while in University. During her time there, she caught the eye of a scouter from Pony Canyon, and in 1998 while still at University debuted with the single "Aishiteiru Kara" under the stage name "Kokia". This stage name that she created for herself was both her first name reversed (A-Ki-Ko -> Ko-Ki-A), as well as the name of a Hawaiian Hibiscus flower, which blooms during her birthday. "Aishiteiru Kara" and its B-side, "You", were used as insert songs for the Fuji TV drama, Brothers. However, this single was not her first release into the Japanese market, as two weeks prior the Tail Concerto OST had been released. The soundtrack contained "For Little Tail", the opening theme for the game, which Kokia had sung. Kokia's next release was a song called "Ai no Rinkaku", which was used as the ending theme song for the anime, Brain Powerd (the song was composed by the well-known composer, Yoko Kanno). Kokia followed up this single six months later with her second single, "Tears in Love".
Kokia's next single, "Arigatou...", was the first song that she had fully written and composed herself. It was used as the theme song for the TBD drama, Dotsuzen Oyako. While this did not propel her to stardom in Japan, Kokia became extremely famous in Hong Kong and Taiwan. "Arigatou..." won her the third place prize in the Hong Kong International Popular Music Awards. Popular Cantonese singer, Sammi Cheng, even recorded a Cantonese language cover of the song. This was followed up with Kokia's debut album, Songbird.
