The discography of Japanese-American singer-songwriter Ai consists of thirteen studio albums, four extended plays (EP), eight compilation albums, one live album, one mix tape, ten video albums and numerous solo and collaboration singles.
Ai debuted as a musician through RCA in 2000, though which she released a single album, My Name Is Ai (2001). In 2002, Ai signed to Def Jam Japan, a subsidiary of Universal Music Japan, and released her second studio album, Original Ai (2003).[1]2004 Ai, her third studio album, peaked at number three on the Oricon Albums Chart and received a Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan. Signing to Island Records near the end of 2004, Ai released the ballad "Story" in 2005, which became one of the most digitally successful songs of all time in Japan, becoming 3× Million certified for ringtones and million for downloads to cellphones. Following this success, her fourth studio album, Mic-a-holic Ai (2005), was released and peaked at number 4 on the Oricon charts and was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAJ and became one of Ai's best-selling albums. In 2006, Ai released the songs "Believe" and "I Wanna Know". Both singles peaked in the top ten of the Oricon Singles Chart. Ai's fifth studio album, What's Goin' On Ai (2006), was released shortly after and peaked at number 2. The next year, Ai released her sixth studio album, Don't Stop Ai (2007), which saw similar success, peaking at number 4. Ai's seventh studio album, Viva Ai (2009), was released and peaked at number 10. It was supported by the singles "I'll Remember You", "One" and "Taisetsu na Mono". Both "I'll Remember You" and "One" were certified Gold by the RIAJ. Later that year, Ai scored her first number one with her greatest hits album, Best Ai (2009).
Ai's eighth studio album, The Last Ai (2010), was released in celebration of her tenth anniversary in the music industry. The album featured a variety of artists, including American rapper Snoop Dogg, Japanese singer Namie Amuro, Miliyah Kato and American singer Chaka Khan. Both Khan and Ai were nominated for and won the International Collaboration Special Award at the 2010 Billboard Japan Music Awards for the song "One More Try" and a cover of "Through the Fire".[2] In 2011, Ai left Universal and signed a global publishing deal with EMI.[3] Signing to EMI Music Japan, she released her ninth studio album, Independent (2012), which served as her international debut. The album was led by the single "Letter in the Sky", which featured American pop band The Jacksons. Its second single, "Happiness", was used as a commercial theme song for Coca-Cola's Christmas campaign in Japan from 2011 to 2015. Near the end of 2012, Ai announced she would release an album in the United States, however the album was never released.[4]
In 2013, EMI was acquired by Universal, which led to Ai returning to Universal under the EMI Records Japan label.[5] Her tenth studio album, Moriagaro (2013), was released and peaked at number five on the Oricon charts. A re-issue album, Motto Moriagaro, was released later that year. In 2014, Ai was transferred to EMI Records as Nayutawave Records and EMI Records Japan were merged to form the label. In 2016, Ai's sales were revitalized from the sleeper hit, "Minna ga Minna Eiyū". The song was included on a 2016 deluxe release of her greatest hits album, The Best. The album peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart and was certified Gold by the RIAJ. She later signed a record deal with Def Jam Recordings alongside her current record deal with EMI.
In June 2021, Ai's previous releases with Universal Sigma, Island Records and Def Jam Japan were made available for digital streaming outside of Asia.[6] In November 2021, she released the single "Aldebaran", which received critical acclaim from critics.[7][8] The song ultimately boosted the sales of her twelfth studio album, Dream (2022), which peaked at number 12 on the Oricon Albums Chart and number 11 on the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart.
Studio albums
List of studio albums, with selected chart positions and certifications
"—" denotes items which were released before the creation of the Japan Hot Album charts, items which were released before the creation of the Oricon Combined Albums charts, or items that did not chart.
"—" denotes items which were released before the creation of the Japan Hot Album charts, items which were released before the creation of the Oricon Combined Albums charts, or items that did not chart.
Extended plays
List of extended plays, with selected chart positions
"Ai no Uta" (アイノウタ, "Love Song") (MC2 featuring Ai and Co-key)
2010
—
—
Energy
"Wavin' Flag (Coca Cola Celebration Mix) (Sekai ni Hitotsu no Hata)" (ウェイヴィン・フラッグ コカ・コーラ(R)・セレブレイション・ミックス～世界に一つの旗, "One Flag in the World") (K'naan featuring Ai)
"—" denotes items which were released before the creation of the Billboard Japan Hot 100, items that did not chart or items that were ineligible to chart because no physical edition was released.
Promotional singles
List of promotional singles, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
^It's All Me, Vol. 2 did not enter the Oricon Combined Albums chart, but peaked at number 50 on the Oricon Digital Albums chart.[23]
^Self Selection "Hip Hop" did not enter the Billboard Japan Hot Albums chart, but peaked at number 70 on the Billboard Japan Download Albums chart.[37]
^ abcdeSources for chart positions on the Billboard Japan Hot 100:
^Position for 2009 edition of the song, "Story (Re-born)". Original version also charted at number 67 in 2009.[69]
^Two versions of "So Special" have been released with both Ai and Atsushi as primary artists. "Version Ai" features a different melody, structure and lyrics than "Version Exile".
^Charted at number 66 on the Billboard Japan Hot Singles Sales chart.[104]
^"Nakama did not enter the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, but peaked at number 82 on the Billboard Japan Download Songs chart.[108]
^"Beautiful Things" did not enter the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, but peaked at number 67 on the Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay chart and 83 on the Hot Top Airplay chart.[109][110]
^"Hanabi" did not enter the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, but peaked at number 93 on the Billboard Japan Adult Contemporary Airplay chart.[111]
^Charity theme song of National Student Organization Summit, to children in Fukushima disaster area.
^"Minna ga Minna Eiyū 2024" did not enter the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, but peaked at number 69 on the Billboard Japan Download Songs chart.[113]
^"AI、約30公演80000人動員の全国ツアーを10月より開催＋2023年第一弾シングルリリース決定" [AI to hold 30 performances in a nationwide tour with 80,000 people from October + first single release in 2023]. BARKS (in Japanese). April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
^"AIの新曲、佐藤浩市＆横浜流星W主演の映画「春に散る」主題歌に決定（コメントあり / 動画あり）" [AI's new song to be used as theme song for movie "Haru ni Chiru" starring Koichi Sato & Ryusei Yokohama]. Music Natalie (in Japanese). Retrieved June 1, 2023.
