miwa (singer)

miwa

Miwa on August 30, 2014
Background information
Born 15 June 1990
Origin Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
Genres Pop, pop rock
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, radio DJ
Instruments Vocals, guitar, piano[1]
Years active 2007–present
Labels private [2] (2007–2008)
Sony Music Entertainment Japan (2010–present)
Website miwa-web.com
Notable instruments
Gibson J-45
Joan Jett Model Gibson Melody Maker

Miwa is a Japanese singer and songwriter. She debuted in 2010 with the single "Don't Cry Anymore", which was used as the theme song for the drama Nakanai to Kimeta hi.

Biography

Miwa was born in Hayama, Kanagawa, however moved to Tokyo at a young age. Since her father had a great love for a music, miwa naturally began to enjoy music as she grew up.[3][4]

Miwa began writing songs at 15. She began to teach herself how to play the guitar after she entered high school, but gave up and paid for professional lessons after discovering she wasn't making much progress on her own.[5] Her high school had a ban on students having part-time jobs. Despite this, miwa secretly worked, and eventually used these savings by her second year of high school to buy a Gibson J-45 guitar.[3][5] After this, miwa played live concerts mostly around Shimokitazawa in Tokyo and in Okinawa in the summer (her parents had a house there). Due to her high school also having a ban on students working in the entertainment business, she had to do these lives in secret (without even telling her school friends). In this time, miwa released two self-published independent singles, "Song for You/Today" and "Soba ni Itai Kara" in 2007 and 2008.[6]

miwa was signed to Sony Music Entertainment Japan during her third year of high school.[3] She debuted as an artist in 2010, while attending Keio University.[7] Her debut single, "Don't Cry Anymore," was chosen to be used for the drama Nakanai to Kimeta Hi's theme song.[7] The single was a minor commercial success, breaking the top 20 on Oricon's single charts and being certified by the RIAJ as selling 100,000 full length cellphone downloads a month after its release.[8][9] In April 2010, the song won the award for best drama theme song at the 64th The Television Drama Academy Awards. miwa released her second single, "Little Girl," in late June.[10] Her third single, "Change," was the twelfth opening theme song for the Bleach anime,[11] and was a top 10 single.[12]

For the animated film adaptation of Eto Mori's novel Colorful, miwa covered two songs by famous Japanese artists. Yutaka Ozaki's "Boku ga Boku de Aru Tame ni" was used as the film's image song, and The Blue Hearts' song "Aozora" was used as the ending theme song of the film. Both songs were released as digital downloads on August 12, 2010.[13]

miwa considers her favorite Western musicians to be Sheryl Crow, Deep Purple, Carole King, Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift.[4] Her favorite Japanese musicians are Aiko, Angela Aki, Radwimps and Yuki.[14][15]

miwa previously been a DJ on monthly radio show on All Night Nippon, miwa no All Night Nippon R (miwaのオールナイトニッポンR), every third Monday from 3:00am to 5:00am.[16] It has since then been changed into a weekly show, now known as miwa no All Night Nippon (miwaのオールナイトニッポン), airing every Tuesday (early Wednesday) from 1:00am to 3:00am.[17]

miwa released her first album Guitarissimo on April 6, 2011 (was scheduled to release a week earlier on end of March but was delayed due to the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and its aftereffects). The charts performance was miwa's best overall: the album reached No. 1 in the Oricon's album charts, making miwa the first Heisei period-born solo singer to reach a No. 1 on the album charts in the history of the Oricon.[18]

She will play a flautist in the upcoming film Maestro!.[19][20]

Discography

Studio albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions Sales (JPN)[21] Certifications
JPN
[22]		 KOR
Overseas
[23][upper-alpha 1]		 TWN East Asian
[27][upper-alpha 2]
Guitarissimo
  • Released: April 6, 2011 (JPN)
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download
 1 31 3 71,000
Guitarium
  • Released: March 14, 2012 (JPN)
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download
 3 30 14 67,000
Delight
  • Released: May 22, 2013 (JPN)
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download
 1 25 18 130,000
Oneness
  • Released: April 8, 2015 (JPN)
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download
 3 TBA TBA 62,000

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales (JPN)[21] Certifications Album
JPN Oricon
[22]		 JPN Hot 100
[31][upper-alpha 3]
"Song for You" 2007 — — Non-album singles
"Today" —
"Soba ni Itai Kara" (そばにいたいから, "Because I Want to Be Near You") 2008 — —
"Don't Cry Anymore" 2010 11 2 23,000
  • RIAJ (download): Platinum[51]
 Guitarissimo
"Little Girl" (リトルガール Ritoru Gāru) 18 34 8,000
"Change" 8 12 20,000
  • RIAJ (cellphone): Gold[52]
"Otoshimono" (オトシモノ, "Lost Item") 14 39 18,000
  • RIAJ (download): Gold[51]
"Haru ni Nattara" (春になったら, "When It Becomes Spring") 2011 11 22 16,000
"441" (Yon Yon Ichi) 7 11 21,000 Guitarium
"Friday-Ma-Magic" 9 15 19,000
"Kataomoi" (片想い, "Unrequited love") 2012 7 8 22,000
  • RIAJ (download): Gold[51]
"Hikari e" (ヒカリヘ, "To the Light") 4 4 81,000
  • RIAJ (cellphone): 3× Platinum[53]
  • RIAJ (physical): Gold[54]
 Delight
"Whistle (Kimi to Sugoshita Hibi)" (ホイッスル～君と過ごした日々～, "Whistle (Days Spent with You)") 2013 4 2 41,000
"Miracle" (ミラクル Mirakuru) 6 4 34,000
"Faraway" 6 6 30,000 Oneness
"Kiss You" 20 Non-album single
"Faith" 2014 4 2 46,000 Oneness
"Kimi ni Deaeta Kara" (君に出会えたから, "Because I Met You") 4 2 34,000
  • RIAJ (download): Gold[56]
"Kibō no Wa" (希望の環（WA）, "Circle of Hope") 10 10 26,000
"Gesshoku (Winter Moon)" (月食, "Lunar Eclipse") —
"Fighting-φ-Girls" (Faitingu Fai Gāruzu) 2015 5 6 24,000
"360°" 5 5 30,000

Promotional singles

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
JPN Hot 100
[31][upper-alpha 3]
"Kitakaze (Kimi ni Todokimasu Yō ni)" (北風～君にとどきますように～, "North Wind (So that I Can Reach You)") 2011 99 We Love Mackey
"Ikutsu ni Natte mo" (いくつになっても, "No Matter How Old I Get") 2012 —[upper-alpha 4] Guitarium
"Delight" 2013 43 Delight
"It's You!" 2014 96 "Faith" (single)
"Oneness" 2015 15 Oneness

Other charted songs

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
JPN RIAJ
Digital
Track
Chart
[upper-alpha 5][upper-alpha 6]
"Boku ga Boku de Aru Tame ni" (僕が僕であるために, "For Me to Be Me") 2010 42 "Haru ni Nattara" (single)
"Chasing Hearts" 2011 60 "441" (single)

Video albums

List of media, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN DVD
[22]		 JPN Blu-ray
[22]
Miwa Live Tour 2011 "Guitarissimo"
  • Released: December 21, 2011 (JPN)
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
 29 28
Miwa Clips Vol. 1
  • Released: June 6, 2012 (JPN)
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
 8 7
Miwa Concert Tour 2012 "Guitarium"
  • Released: December 5, 2012 (JPN)
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
 5 10
Miwa Live at Budōkan: Sotsugyōshiki (武道館 ～卒業式～, "Graduation Ceremony")
  • Released: July 24, 2013 (JPN)
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
 8 17
Miwa Concert Tour 2013 "Delight"
  • Released: January 8, 2014 (JPN)
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
 3 10
Miwa Spring Concert 2014 "Shibuya Monogatari: Kan"" (渋谷物語～完～, "Shibuya Story: Perfect")
  • Released: Aug 13, 2014 (JPN)
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
 3 3

Notes

  1. ↑ Week references for Gaon: Guitarissimo,[24] Guitarium,[25] Delight.[26]
  2. ↑ Position were taken as follows: Guitarium 2012 week 12, Delight 2013 week 21.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sources for chart positions are as follows: "Don't Cry Anymore",[32] "Little Girl",[33] "Change",[34] "Otoshimono",[35] "Kitakaze (Kimi ni Todokimasu Yō ni)",[36] "Haru ni Nattara",[37] "441",[38] "Friday-Ma-Magic",[39] "Kataomoi",[40] "Hikari e",[41] "Whistle (Kimi to Sugoshita Hibi)",[42] "Miracle",[43] "Delight",[44] "Faraway",[45] "Kiss You",[45] "Faith",[46] "It's You!"[46] "Kimi ni Deaeta kara",[47] "Kibō no Wa",[48] "Fighting-φ-Girls",[49] "360°".[50]
  4. ↑ Charted at number 73 on the Hot Top Airplay chart.[57]
  5. ↑ The RIAJ Digital Track Chart is a depreciated chart that ran from 2009 until early 2012 and tracked full-length cellphone downloads.
  6. ↑ Sources for chart positions are as follows: "Boku ga Boku de Aru Tame ni",[58] "Chasing Hearts".[59]

References

  1. ↑ Go!Go! Guitar (April 2010). "Interview Miwa" 13 (4). Yamaha Music Media. p. 16.
  2. ↑ Well-informed sources indicates that 2 title "Song for You/Today" and "Soba ni Itai Kara" was released by her hand-made but published from N3 Entertainment, even though she was supported by N3 Entertainment then.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Miwa Official Website. バイオグラフィ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 MUSICSHELF (2010-03-02). "miwa Special Interview" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 mFound entertainment (2010-03-24). "miwa スペシャル・インタビュー" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  6. ↑ MOD'S SHOP. "Miwa" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 BARKS (2010-01-17). "慶応大学在学中の19歳miwa、ドラマ主題歌で鮮烈デビュー" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  8. ↑ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved May 10, 2011. (subscription only)
  9. ↑ レコード協会調べ　3月度有料音楽配信認定 ＜略称：3月度認定＞. RIAJ (in Japanese). 2010-04-22. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  10. ↑ BARKS (2010-04-28). "miwa、セカンドシングル「リトルガール」は6月発売" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  11. ↑ Oricon Style (2010-04-28). アニメ＆主題歌特集『1日の原動力はやっぱりアニメ！2010年春 注目のアニメ＆主題歌』 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  12. ↑ Oricon. ｃｈＡｎｇＥ（初回生産限定盤） - ｍｉｗａ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  13. ↑ Barks (2010-07-03). "miwa、尾崎豊とブルハのカバーを映画『カラフル』に提供" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  14. ↑ Musicshelf (2010-03-02). "朝起きた時に聴きたい曲". Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  15. ↑ Miwa's All Night Nippon R (miwaのオールナイトニッポンR). Nippon Broadcasting System. Tokyo, 2010-04-17, 2010-05-15.
  16. ↑ Tristone (2010-03-24). "ニッポン放送「オールナイトニッポンr」レギュラー決定！" (in Japanese). Retrieved 2010-04-30.
  17. ↑ Tristone (2011-03-10). 「オールナイトニッポン」パーソナリティ決定！ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  18. ↑ "現役大学生miwa、平成生まれのソロ歌手初の1stアルバム首位". Oricon (in Japanese). April 12, 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Live-Action Maestro Film's Teaser Video Streamed". Anime News Network. August 22, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  20. ↑ マエストロ！(2015). allcinema.net (in Japanese). Stingray. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved November 12, 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 "miwaの作品" [Miwa Works]. Oricon. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Gaon Album Chart 국외". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  24. ↑ "2011년 21주차 Album Chart 국외". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  25. ↑ "2012년 12주차 Album Chart 국외". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  26. ↑ "2013년 23주차 Album Chart 국외". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Korea Music Content Industry Association. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  27. ↑ "G-Music J-Pop Chart" (in Chinese). G-Music. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
  28. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2011年12月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (December 2011)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. January 10, 2012. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  29. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2013年3月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (March 2013)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. April 10, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
  30. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2013年5月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (May 2013)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. June 10, 2013. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard.
  32. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). March 10, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). July 7, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). September 8, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). December 8, 2010. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  36. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). January 19, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). March 2, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  38. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). July 6, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  39. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). September 28, 2011. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  40. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). February 8, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). August 22, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  42. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). January 23, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). May 1, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). May 1, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). September 11, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  46. ↑ 46.0 46.1 "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). February 19, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  47. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). July 9, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  48. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). November 19, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  49. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). February 4, 2015. Retrieved February 4, 2015.
  50. ↑ "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). March 4, 2015. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 レコード協会調べ　1月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: January Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. February 28, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  52. ↑ レコード協会調べ　7月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: July Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. August 20, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  53. ↑ レコード協会調べ　2月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: February Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. March 20, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  54. ↑ ゴールド等認定作品一覧　2012年10月 [Works Receiving Certifications List (Gold, etc) (October 2012)] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. November 10, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  55. ↑ レコード協会調べ　8月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: August Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. September 20, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  56. ↑ レコード協会調べ　3月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: March Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. April 20, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
  57. ↑ "Hot Top Airplay". Billboard (in Japanese). March 29, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  58. ↑ "レコード協会調べ 2010年08月18日～2010年08月24日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞" [Record Association report: 2010.08.18~2010.08.24 <abb. Reco-kyō Chart 'Chaku-uta Full'>] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. August 27, 2010. Archived from the original on October 1, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
  59. ↑ "レコード協会調べ 2011年06月29日～2011年07月05日 ＜略称：レコ協チャート（「着うたフル(R)」）＞" [Record Association report: 2011.06.29~2010.07.05 <abb. Reco-kyō Chart 'Chaku-uta Full'>] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. July 8, 2011. Archived from the original on November 12, 2014. Retrieved November 12, 2014.

External links