Yumi Matsutoya

Yumi Matsutōya (松任谷由実, Matsutouya Yumi), nicknamed "Yuming", also known as maiden name Yumi Arai (荒井由実, Arai Yumi) (January 19, 1954 - ) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. She used to be a top-selling solo music artist in Japan.

From 1972 through 1976, she worked as her birthname "Yumi Arai", and made strong impact on Japanese popular music scene. In those years, she wrote some unforgettable classics such as "Yasashisa ni Tsutsumaretanara" (1974) "Rouge no Dengon" (1976), and her first big-hit "Ano Hi ni Kaeritai" (1976).

After the marriage with her producer Masataka Matsutoya, she changed her own artist name to "Yumi Matsutoya". In 1980s and 1990s, she released many hit songs such as "Mamotte Agetai"(1981) "Anniversary" (1989) "Manatsu no Yo no Yume"(1993) and "Hello, My Friend" "Haru yo, Koi" (1994). From 1988 through 1995, she released eight studio albums and all of them sold over million copies. Particularly, The Gates of Heaven(1990) became the first double million-selling album in Japan.

Yumi Matsutoya was the most successful and influential Japanese singer-songwriter in 20th century. She has kept on working as an artist up until now. Almost half of her album reached number one at Oricon, and all her albums reached top 10 since her first album Hikōki-gumo(1973). She has sold over 37,800,000 copies of albums and singles, and also has 12 million-selling records. According to the data by RIAJ, now she is the sixth best-selling music artist in Japan.

Biography

Early years

In 1954, Yumi Arai was born in Hachioji, Tokyo. She had three brothers and sisters, and her family had run draper's shop which called "Arai Gofukuten" established in 1912. When she was Junior high school student, she used to go to Itarian restaurent which called "Chianti". In those days, many celebrities had gone to this reastaurant; Akira Kurosawa, Yukio Mishima, Robert Capa, Kobo Abe, Seiji Ozawa, Ryu Murakami, Taro Okamoto, Kishin Shinoyama and her first record producer Hiroshi "Monsieur" Kamayatsu.

When she was 14 years old, she experienced work of musician for the first time. Having worked as a studio musician, she also wrote many stocks of original songs. At the age of 17, her first original song titled "Ai wa Totsuzen ni" was released. It was sung by Katsumi Kato, the former guitarist of 1960s Japanese influential band The Tigers.

In April of 1972, Arai entered in Tama Art University. At the same time, she signed to Alfa Records as an music artist. At first, she wanted to be a songwriter. However, the founder of this record company Kunihiko Murai encouraged her to work as singer-songwriter.

Music career

Early career; works as Yumi Arai

On July 5 1972, Arai released her debut single Henji wa Iranai. It was produced by Hiroshi "Monsieur" Kamayatsu, the former vocalist of The Spiders. Her first single sold only 300 copies, but her backgrounds was on hold.

Production works

Songwriter

As a songwriter and lyricist, Yumi Matsutoya wrote hundreds of songs for Hi-Fi Set, Asami Kobayashi, Kenji Sawada, Hiromi Go, Toshihiko Tahara, Reimy and many other artists. Some of them became big hits, such as "Ichigo Hakusho o Mou Ichido"(Performed by Banban, 1975) "Machibuse" (Performed by Seiko Miki, Hitomi Ishikawa, originally released in 1975). Most of their hit tunes were sung by an idol singer Seiko Matsuda. The several songs which sung by Matsuda reached number one at Oricon singles chart. The several songs sung by Matsuda had reached number one at Oricon singles chart; such as "Akai Sweet Pea""Nagisa no Balcony"(1982) and "Hitomi wa Diamond"(1986) . Their hit songs are known as notable Matsuda's song. Matsutoya has ever collaborated with many songwriters and lyricists; Yosui Inoue, Takashi Matsumoto, Koki Mitani, Kunihiko Kase, Shizuka Ijuin and many others. When Matsutoya wrote song for other singers, she often used pseudonyms Karuho Kureta (呉田軽穂, Kureta Karuho). It was parody from name of Greta Garbo, who was a Swedish legendary actress.

Collaboration with other artists

In her career over 30 years, she has often collaborated with a lot of other artists. In 1985, she released the single with Kazumasa Oda and Kazuo Zaitsu. This song titled "Imadakara" reached number one at Oricon weekly singles chart.

Album discography

Studio albums

Released as Yumi Arai

ひこうき雲 (Hikōki-gumo) (1973)
Misslim (1974)
Cobalt Hour (1975)
14番目の月:The 14th Moon (14-banme no Tsuki) (1976)— Including theme song of the animation film, Kiki's Delivery Service.

Released as Yumi Matsutoya

紅雀 (Benisuzume) (1978)
流線形'80 (Ryūsenkei '80) (1978)
Olive (1979)
悲しいほどお天気:Gallery in My Heart (Kanasii hodo Otenki) (1979)
時のないホテル(Toki no Nai Hotel) (1980)
Surf and Snow Volume One (1980)
水の中のASIAへ (Mizu no Naka no Asia e) (1981)
昨晩お会いしましょう (Sakuban Oaisimashō) (1981)
Pearl Pierce (1982)
Reincernation (1983)
Voyager (1983)
No Side (1984)
DA-DI-DA (1985)
ALARM à la mode (1986)
ダイアモンドダストが消えぬまに:Before the DIAMOND DUST fades... (Daiamondodasuto ga Kienumani) (1987)
Delight Slight Light KISS (1988)
Love Wars (1989)
天国のドア (The Gates of Heaven) (1990)
Dawn Purple (1991)
Tears and Reasons (1992)
U-miz (1993)
The Dancing Sun (1994)
Kathmandu (1995)
Cowgirl Dreamin' (1997)
スユアの波 (Suyua no nami, the Wave of Zuvuya) (1997)
Frozen Roses (1999)
Acacia (2001)
Wings of Winter, Shades of Summer (2002)
Yuming Compositions:FACES (2003)
VIVA! 6×7 (2004)
A Girl in Summer (2006)

Live albums

Yuming Visualive DA-DI-DA (1986)
Yumi Arai the Concert with Old Friends (1996)

Compilation albums

Released as Yumi Arai

Yuming Brand (1976)
Yuming Brand Part-two (1979)
Yuming Brand Part-three (1981)
Yuming Singles 1972-1976 (1987)
Yuming History (1987)
決定盤～荒井由実　ベストセレクション (Ketteiban: Yumi Arai Best Selection) (1990)
Yuming Collection (1992)
Super Best Of Yumi Arai (1996)
Yumi Arai 1972-1976 (Studio Albums box-set Compilation, 2004)

Released as Yumi Matsutoya

Album (1977)
Neue Musik:Yumi Matsutoya Complete Best Volume One (1998)
Yumi Matsutoya 1978-1989 (Studio Albums box-set Compilation, 1999)
Sweet, Bitter Sweet:Yuming Ballad Best (2001)

Reference

Article of Yumi Matsutoya on ja:wikipedia org

External links

YUMING SOUND LIBRARY— Matsutoya's official site by Toshiba EMI (Japanese)
Nippop Profile | Yumi Matsutoya

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