J-pop solo artist: Koda Kumi

Koda Kumi made her debut in late 2000, but it wasn't until 2002 that her debut album, affection, made its way onto the scene. She has only recently started to gain some more wide-spread popularity, thanks to reasons such as her appearing on the Japanese soundtrack of Final Fantasy X-2, her fresh Urban music style, her revealing photo-shoots as well as her "12 Days of Christmas" wide-scale releases of one single every week starting in December 2005. She has also been named by Oricon as the top seller of Japan in 2006 and 2007. She is misono's older sister.




Biography
Koda Kumi was the first girl born into her family in a number of generations. She dreamed of becoming a singer ever since she was in elementary school. She auditioned alongside Goto Maki for the 3rd generation of Morning Musume when she was seventeen, but didn't make it. Coincidentally, Goto would join Avex Trax years later. She was noticed by Avex Trax, however, and was signed and began releasing pop music with an urban feel.

Koda officially debuted with the single TAKE BACK in December 2000 and later in May 2001, her second single, Trust Your Love, charting at #59 and #18 respectively. They were also released in the United States with TAKE BACK charting at #18 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales while Trust Your Love took #19 position on the Billboard Hot 100 Sales Chart and #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales Chart. After two more singles, COLOR OF SOUL and So Into You, she released her first studio album affection in 2002, which charted at #12.

Despite her charting failures, Koda remained positive and released her fifth single, love across the ocean debuting at #19.This was another disappointment for Koda and her following single, m.a.z.e, charted even poorer at #25.

Finally, some success came her way when she was asked to do the main songs of Final Fantasy X-2 with real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba(1000 words), while also providing the voice for the character Lenne in the Japanese version of the game and providing the motion capture for Yuna's dance during the opening.

This single proved to be a success, debuting at #3 and gaining her more recognition. Releasing her second studio album, grow into one, ensured Koda her first album to chart and continue the trend in the top ten, debuting at #9.

Koda went on to release three more singles, COME WITH ME, Gentle Words and Crazy 4 U which all took a place in the top twenties by charting at #14, #15 and #12 respectively, debuting much better than her early works. These were used for her next studio album, feel my mind which again showed Koda's determinated progress, charting at #7.

From here on, Koda's success would increase and her popularity rose with the release of her 11th single LOVE & HONEY debuting at #4, with the title track being the theme song for the anime Cutie Honey. This single also marks the start of Koda's new style: ero-kakoii (or ero-kawaii) which can be translated to "sexy-cool" or "sexy-cute". This new style was continued on to the following releases, Chase, Kiseki(miracle), hands & Hot Stuff debuting at #18, #7, #7 & #10 making Kiseki mark the start of Koda's string of top ten hits. With a release of a DVD girls ~selfish~, Koda releases her fourth album secret in February 2005, charting at an impressive #3 with 505,600 copies being sold, making it the #22 album of 2005.