Ua (singer)
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Template:Nihongo (born March 11, 1972), simply known by the stage name Ua (Template:IPA), is a Japanese singer. She made her debut under Speedstar Records in 1995 with the single "Horizon".<ref name="jame">Template:Cite news</ref>She is also the vocalist for AJICO.
Biography
Ua was born Kaori Shima and grew up in Suita, Osaka. After graduating from Saga University of Arts in Kyoto, she worked as a lounge singer in Osaka. There in 1994, she was scouted by a music agency there. She took on the unusual stage name of Ua (a Swahili word that means both "flower" and "kill") and made her debut with the Hiroshi Fujiwara-produced "Horizon".<ref name="barks">Template:Cite news</ref> Her fourth single "Jōnetsu" became a smash hit and Ua was recognized all over Japan.<ref name="jame" />
After releasing her first album, 11, Ua married actor Jun Murakami and gave birth to a son, Nijirō, in 1997, who is also an actor.<ref name="tokyograph">Template:Cite news</ref> The couple divorced in 2006.<ref name="tokyograph" /> In 2000, after two more albums, Ametora and Turbo, Ua took a hiatus from her solo work and formed the band Ajico with Kenichi Asai.<ref name="jame" /> She resumed her solo activities in 2002 and released her fourth album, Dorobō. The same year she made her acting debut as the leading role in the film Mizu no Onna, as well as contributing to the soundtrack.<ref name="jame" /> The film went on to win the Golden Alexander prize for Best Feature-Length Film at the International Thessaloniki Film Festival and was screened at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival.<ref name="jame" />
In 2003, Ua released Illuminate: The Very Best Songs, her first compilation album.<ref name="excite">Template:Cite news</ref> In April that year, she expanded her activities by becoming the hostess named ううあ (the pronunciation remains the same since it is meant to be a phonetic representation of her usual stagename) of an educational TV program on NHK called Do Re Mi no TV, designed to pass along Japanese traditional songs to children.<ref name="jame" /> Utauua, a compilation of the songs performed, was released in 2004.<ref name="livedoor">Template:Cite news</ref> The same year she released her fifth album, Sun, which was mastered by Ted Jensen.<ref name="jame" /> In 2005, she released her sixth album, Breathe, and a compilation album of collaborations titled Nephews to mark her 10th anniversary.<ref name="oops1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="oops2">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2006, Ua collaborated with renowned jazz musician Naruyoshi Kikuchi on the album Cure Jazz.<ref name="oops3">Template:Cite news</ref> In 2007, in addition to releasing her seventh album Golden Green, Ua made a second foray into acting by appearing in Hitoshi Matsumoto's directorial debut Dai Nipponjin.<ref name="oops4">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="oops5">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2008, Ua revealed that she married again and gave birth to a daughter, in August. In December, she released the single "2008", followed by her eighth album, Atta, in July 2009.<ref name="tokyograph" /><ref name="natalie1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="natalie2">Template:Cite news</ref> In April 2010, Ua released her fourth live album, entitled Haluto Live.<ref name="natalie3">Template:Cite news</ref> And also in June, as a celebration for her 15th anniversary from the debut, she released a cover album “KABA”.
In 2016, Ua released her new original album “JaPo”, it's been over 6 years since UA's last album.Template:Cn
In 2021, AJICO restarts after 20years and makes a big splash. Their tour sold out instantly. They also performed at Fuji Rock Festival. “UA x Naruyoshi Kikuch” they performed at blue note. Then, in 2022, Ua released her new original album “Are U Romantic？”, In August, she played Aretha Franklin in her first Broadway musical Janis.Template:Cn
In 2023, She released “Ainiikou”, it's used JR Tokai commercial jingle.She wrote the lyrics for the "Kamiyama marugoto kosen" school song with Ryuichi Sakamoto.
In 2024, AJICO released new original alubm “Love no Genkei”, followed by a domestic tour “AJICO no Genkei”.
In June 2025, UA celebrated her 30th anniversary with concerts in Osaka and Tokyo.
Discography
- 11 (1996)
- Ametora (1998)
- Turbo (1999)
- Dorobō (2002)
- Sun (2004)
- Breathe (2005)
- Golden Green (2007)
- Atta (2009)
- JaPo (2016)
- Are U Romantic?(2022)
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Mizu no Onna | Ryo Shimizu | Lead role |
| 2007 | Dai Nipponjin | Manager Kobori | |
| 2009 | Eatrip | Herself | Documentary |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | Shiritsu Tantei Hama Mike | Naomi | Episode 2 |
| 2003–2006 | Do Re Mi no TV | Uua | |
| 2025 | Queen of Mars | Emma | Miniseries<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
References
External links
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