Asaka (musician)

Asaka
亜咲花
Born (1999-10-07) October 7, 1999 (age 25)
Nagoya, Japan
GenresJ-pop, anison
OccupationSinger
Years active2016–present
Labels5pb. Records
Websiteasaka1007.jp

Asaka (亜咲花, born October 7, 1999)[1] is a Japanese singer from Nagoya who is signed to 5pb. Records. She made her debut in 2016 with the release of her first single "Open your eyes", which was used as the ending theme to the 2016 anime television series Occultic;Nine. Her music has also been featured in the anime series A Centaur's Life and Laid-Back Camp. She made her first U.S. appearance at Anime Boston 2018.[2] In 2024 she made her debut as a voice actress in Uma Musume Pretty Derby, where she voiced Espoir City.

Biography

Asaka was born in Nagoya on October 7, 1999. At the age of three, her family moved to Michigan, where she would stay for five years.[1] While in America, she had become exposed to anime series Crayon Shin-chan and Doraemon, which led her to become interested in anime.[3] After returning to Japan, she initially wanted to move to Tokyo, but instead she moved back to Nagoya.[3] While in Japan, she watched the anime series Inazuma Eleven and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya; she was inspired by characters singing and playing the guitar in Haruhi Suzumiya, which led her to study about character songs.[3] Although she considered becoming an interpreter because of her knowledge of English,[4] after watching the series Macross Frontier and listening to May'n, the singing voice of the character Sheryl Nome, she decided that she wanted to become an anison singer.[3] At the encouragement of her father, and after listening to the singer Konomi Suzuki, Asaka decided to pursue a career in music.[4] Prior to debuting as a singer, she also appeared at various events as a cosplayer.[5]

Asaka began participating in competitions, winning a singing contest in Chubu in 2014.[1] She later participated in an anison contest sponsored by NHK as the representative of the Chubu region in 2015.[1] Following this, she made her debut as a musician in 2016 with the release of her first single "Open your eyes", the title track of which was used as the ending theme to the 2016 anime television series Occultic;Nine.[6] Her second single "Edelweiss" was released in 2017; the title track is used as the ending theme to the anime series A Centaur's Life.[7] Her third single "Play the game", released in November 2017, was used as the opening theme to the Occultic;Nine visual novel.[8] Her fourth single "Shiny Days" was released on January 24, 2018; the title track is used as the opening theme to the anime series Laid-Back Camp, which aired on January 4, 2018.[9] Asaka also performed the ending theme to the Laid-Back Camp spin-off Heya Camp, titled "The Sunshower" which was released as her seventh single.[10] Her fifth single "Eternal Star" was released on August 15, 2018; the title track is used as the ending theme to the anime series Island.[11] She released a mini-album titled 19Box on January 9, 2019.[12] Her sixth single "Kono Yo no Hate de Koi o Utau Shōjo" (この世の果てで恋を唄う少女) was released on April 24, 2019; the title track is used as the opening theme to the anime series YU-NO: A Girl Who Chants Love at the Bound of this World.[13]

In April 2020, it was announced that she would take a one-month hiatus from music activities to recover from vocal cord surgery.[14] She released her eighth single "I believe what you said" on October 14, 2020; the title track is used as the opening theme to the anime series Higurashi: When They Cry – GOU.[15] Her ninth single "Seize the Day" was released on January 27, 2021; the title track is used as the opening theme of the second season of Laid-Back Camp.[16] She released her second album Pontoon on August 11, 2021. Her song "Believe Myself" was used as the opening theme of the 2021 anime series Shikizakura.[17] The song was released as her tenth single on November 10, 2021. Her eleventh single "Ready Set Go!!" was released on January 26, 2022. The title's track was used as the opening theme to the anime series She Professed Herself Pupil of the Wise Man.[18] Her twelfth single "Sun Is Coming Up" was released on June 29, 2022. The title's track was used as the opening theme to the anime movie Laid-Back Camp.[19] Her thirteenth single "Natsuyume Noisy" (夏夢ノイジー) was released on August 10, 2022. The title's track was used as the second opening theme to the anime series Summer Time Rendering.[20]

Discography

Singles

Title Oricon peak position Album
1st "Open your eyes"
  • Release date: October 26, 2016
 89[21] HEART TOUCH
2nd "Edelweiss"
  • Release date: July 26, 2017
 74[22]
3rd "Play the game"
  • Release date: November 8, 2017
 47[8]
4th "Shiny Days"
  • Release date: January 24, 2018
 32[23]
5th "Eternal Star"
  • Release date: August 15, 2018
 46[11]
6th "Kono Yo no Hate de Koi o Utau Shōjo" (この世の果てで恋を唄う少女)
  • Release date: April 24, 2019
 48[13]
7th "The Sunshower"
  • Release date: January 29, 2020
 32[24] Pontoon
8th "I believe what you said"
  • Release date: October 14, 2020
 23[25]
9th "Seize The Day"
  • Release date: January 21, 2021
 19[26]
10th "BELIEVE MYSELF"
  • Release date: November 10, 2021
 41[27] Who's Me?
11th "Ready Set Go!!"
  • Release date: January 26, 2022
 44[28]
12th "Sun Is Coming Up"
  • Release date: June 29, 2022
 25[29]
13th "Natsuyume Noisy" (夏夢ノイジー)
  • Release date: August 10, 2022
 54[30]
14th "Wayawayawaa—!" (わやわやわー！)
  • Release date: February 7, 2024
 42[31] Non-album single
15th "So Precious"
  • Release date: April 24, 2024
 34[32]
16th "Give & Take"
  • Release date: February 26, 2025
 TBA

Digital singles

Year Song Album
2021 See The Light
  • Release date: November 11, 2021
 Who's Me?
2022 Easy Life, Easy Curry
  • Release date: March 11, 2022
2023 Touka
  • Release date: January 25, 2023
Tsuisou
  • Release date: June 21, 2023
All is mind!
  • Release date: October 12, 2023
 Non-album single

Mini-albums

Title Oricon peak position
1st 19Box
  • Release date: January 9, 2019
 49[12]

Albums

Title Oricon peak position
1st HEART TOUCH
  • Release date: October 7, 2019
 40[33]
2nd Pontoon
  • Release date: August 11, 2021
 45[34]
3rd Who's Me?
  • Release date: June 28, 2023
 70[35]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Other appearances

Title Album Oricon peak position
Never ending true stories
  • Release date: September 27, 2018
 Yuusha Neptunia Sekaiyo Uchuuyo Katsumokuseyo Ultimate Rpgsengen (Theme of "Yuusha Neptunia Sekaiyo Uchuuyo Katsumokuseyo Ultimate Rpgsengen") 148[36]
Konobasyode
  • Release date: March 31, 2021
 TV Animation "Laid-back Camp Season 2" Original Soundtrack 21[37]
Hikarito kageno laplace
  • Release date: September 22, 2021
 SINce Memories hoshinosoraoshitade shudaikashu 111[38]
See The Light
  • Release date: November 11, 2021
 Switch/PS4 "Yurucamp Have a nice day!" OP&ED —
Mob's God's
  • Release date: July 28, 2022
 ANONYMOUS;CODE Theme Song Book —

Filmography

Anime

Video games

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Official profile" (in Japanese). Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  2. ^ "Asaka is our second Japanese Guest of Honor for 2018". Anime Boston. December 15, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "＜亜咲花インタビュー連載Vol.1＞ 現役女子高生の日常、二次元への溢れる愛情" (in Japanese). Billboard Japan. June 24, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "＜亜咲花インタビュー連載Vol.2＞ 「鈴木このみさんは目標にしている先輩」" (in Japanese). June 25, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  5. ^ "美人コスプレイヤー画像 in コミケ89【まとめ】 全40点【 3 / 40 】" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. January 4, 2016. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  6. ^ "Steins;Gate Creator Reveals Occultic;Nine TV Anime's 1st Video, Staff, Songs, October Debut". Anime News Network. August 12, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  7. ^ "A Centaur's Life Anime Casts Akane Kiryū as Shino". Anime News Network. May 6, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Play the game" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  9. ^ "Yurucamp Anime's Theme Song Artists, New Visual Unveiled". Anime News Network. November 24, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  10. ^ "Laid-Back Camp Anime's Heya Kyan Anime Shorts Reveal Theme Song Artist, January 6 Premiere". Anime News Network. November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Eternal Star" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  12. ^ a b "19Box" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  13. ^ a b "この世の果てで恋を唄う少女" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  14. ^ "Singer Asaka Takes 1-Month Hiatus to Recover from Vocal Cord Polyp Surgery". Anime News Network. April 4, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  15. ^ "New Higurashi: When They Cry Anime Reveals 'True' Title, Visual, Songs" (in Japanese). Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  16. ^ "Seize The Day(アニメ盤)" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  17. ^ "Shikizakura Anime's Video Previews Asaka's Opening Song". Anime News Network. July 28, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  18. ^ "She Professed Herself Pupil of the Wise Man Anime's Video Reveals More Cast & Staff, Theme Song Artists". Anime News Network. November 6, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
  19. ^ "Laid-Back Camp Movie's Teaser Previews Cast, Now Grown-Up". Anime News Network. March 31, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  20. ^ "Asaka Performs 2nd Opening Theme Song for Summer Time Rendering Anime". Anime News Network. May 24, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  21. ^ "Open your eyes" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  22. ^ "Edelweiss" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  23. ^ "SHINY DAYS" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  24. ^ "The Sunshower" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  25. ^ "I believe what you said" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  26. ^ "Seize The Day" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  27. ^ "Believe Myself" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  28. ^ "Ready Set Go!!" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  29. ^ "Sun Is Coming Up" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  30. ^ "Natsuyume Noisy" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  31. ^ "Wayawayawaa—!" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  32. ^ "So Precious" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  33. ^ "HEART TOUCH" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 18, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  34. ^ "Pontoon" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  35. ^ "Who's Me?" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  36. ^ "Yuusha Neptunia Sekaiyo Uchuuyo Katsumokuseyo Ultimate Rpgsengen (Theme of "Yuusha Neptunia Sekaiyo Uchuuyo Katsumokuseyo Ultimate Rpgsengen")" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 16, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  37. ^ "TV Animation "Laid-back Camp Season 2" Original Soundtrack" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 8, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  38. ^ "SINce Memories hoshinosoraoshitade shudaikashu" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  39. ^ アニメ「うたごえはミルフィーユ」第1弾キービジュ解禁、総監督は佐藤卓哉. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 22, 2024. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
  40. ^ 『ウマ娘』新たに9キャラ発表で話題 オルフェーヴルやジェンティルドンナ…「やばすぎ!」「ビビった!」. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  41. ^ Uma Musume Pretty Derby [@uma_musu] (March 12, 2024). 【新キャラ登場】トランセンドの育成ストーリー内にエスポワールシチーが登場！ (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved March 12, 2024 – via Twitter.