Maaya Sakamoto
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
singer-songwriter
, actress, and voice actress
. She made her debut as a voice actress in 1992 as the voice of Chifuru in the anime
series Little Twins, but is more well known for her role as Hitomi Kanzaki in the hit anime
series The Vision of Escaflowne
. She released her debut single Yakusoku wa Iranai
, in collaboration with Yoko Kanno
under Victor Entertainment
on April 24, 1996.
Since her 1996 debut, she is among the more popular voice actresses who have also branched into singing, performing songs in both English
and Japanese
. As well as being a prolific seiyū, she has also had several successful releases; despite initially only modestly selling, her singles Tune the Rainbow, Loop
, Ame ga Furu
, and Triangler
have all reached the top 10 Oricon
singles chart: Triangler in particular charted at #3 and remained charting for 26 weeks. Her albums have had similar success, with Shōnen Alice and Yūnagi Loop both reaching the top 10 Oricon albums chart; and her newest album, You Can't Catch Me
, released on January 12, 2011, became her first release to ever reach #1.
She held a concert at the Nippon Budokan
on March 31, 2010, her thirtieth birthday.
On August 8, 2011, Sakamoto married fellow voice actor and frequent co-star Kenichi Suzumura
. She announced their marriage on her official site five days later.
with a Bachelor's degree
in Sociology
in the spring of 2002. Her favorite colors are blue and gold, while her hobbies are performing, reading, and singing. She was one half of the seiyū duo Whoops!!, alongside Chieko Higuchi
. She has been called , a respectful way of saying "older sister" by her Ouran High School Host Club
co-star Ayaka Saitō
.
in her 1996 debut single, "Yakusoku wa Iranai
" ("Promises Not Needed"), which was used as the opening theme for the anime series The Vision of Escaflowne
. Kanno collaborated with Sakamoto up until her fifth album, Yūnagi Loop, which has no songs composed by Kanno. Sakamoto also performed three songs for the series Wolf's Rain
, for which Kanno was the composer: "Gravity
" (which is sung completely in English), "Tell Me What The Rain Knows" (with lyrics by Chris Mosdell
) and "Cloud 9". She performed "Hemisphere", the opening theme of the series RahXephon
, as well as two songs for the series' theatrical version RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio: "Tune the Rainbow" and "The Garden of Everything" (duet with Steve Conte
). In 2008, Sakamoto and Kanno collaborated again for "Triangler
", the opening theme song for the series Macross Frontier
. She also performed the song "cream" with HIDE, which was featured in the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
mini album be Human.
In addition, in the first Seiyū Awards
, she was nominated for "Best Actress in a leading role" for her portrayal of Haruhi Fujioka in Ouran High School Host Club
as well as "Best Musical Performance" for Tsubasa Chronicles ending theme Loop.
- A monthly column
- An essay collection (out of print) – April 18, 2008
- A photo and lyrics book compilation
- An essay collection
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, actress, and voice actress
Seiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
. She made her debut as a voice actress in 1992 as the voice of Chifuru in the anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series Little Twins, but is more well known for her role as Hitomi Kanzaki in the hit anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series The Vision of Escaflowne
The Vision of Escaflowne
is a 26-episode Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise Studios and directed by Kazuki Akane. It premiered in Japan on April 2, 1996 on TV Tokyo, with the final episode airing on September 24, 1996. Sony's anime satellite channel, Animax also aired the series, both in Japan and on its...
. She released her debut single Yakusoku wa Iranai
Yakusoku wa Iranai
is the first single by singer Maaya Sakamoto and was released on April 24, 1996. This was her debut single under composer Yoko Kanno. The songs were used in her debut anime, The Vision of Escaflowne.-Track listing:####-Charts:...
, in collaboration with Yoko Kanno
Yoko Kanno
is a composer, arranger and musician best known for her work on the soundtracks for many games, anime films, TV series, live-action movies, and advertisements...
under Victor Entertainment
Victor Entertainment
is a subsidiary of Japan Victor Company that produces and distributes music, movies and other entertainment products such as anime and television shows in Japan. It was formerly known as...
on April 24, 1996.
Since her 1996 debut, she is among the more popular voice actresses who have also branched into singing, performing songs in both English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
. As well as being a prolific seiyū, she has also had several successful releases; despite initially only modestly selling, her singles Tune the Rainbow, Loop
Loop (song)
-Charts:...
, Ame ga Furu
Ame ga Furu
' is Maaya Sakamoto's seventeenth single. The title track was used as the ending theme for the mecha anime Linebarrels of Iron.-Track listing:-Charts:...
, and Triangler
Triangler (Maaya Sakamoto song)
' is Maaya Sakamoto's sixteenth single. The title track was used as the opening theme for the popular mecha anime Macross Frontier and won the 2008 Animation Kobe award for best theme song...
have all reached the top 10 Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
singles chart: Triangler in particular charted at #3 and remained charting for 26 weeks. Her albums have had similar success, with Shōnen Alice and Yūnagi Loop both reaching the top 10 Oricon albums chart; and her newest album, You Can't Catch Me
You Can't Catch Me (Maaya Sakamoto album)
-Charts:-References:...
, released on January 12, 2011, became her first release to ever reach #1.
She held a concert at the Nippon Budokan
Nippon Budokan
The , often shortened to simply Budokan, is an indoor arena in central Tokyo, Japan.This is the location where many "Live at the Budokan" albums were recorded...
on March 31, 2010, her thirtieth birthday.
On August 8, 2011, Sakamoto married fellow voice actor and frequent co-star Kenichi Suzumura
Kenichi Suzumura
is a Japanese voice actor who was born in Niigata Prefecture, but raised in Osaka Prefecture. He is currently affiliated with Arts Vision. He made his television animation debut on Macross 7 in 1994...
. She announced their marriage on her official site five days later.
Early life
Born in Tokyo, Sakamoto grew up within a family of her parents and her older brother, who sustained a serious motorcycle accident in 1999 or 2000 (he married in 2002 and had a daughter in 2004). Sakamoto graduated from Toyo UniversityToyo University
Toyo University is a university with several branches in Japan, including .- Overview :...
with a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
in the spring of 2002. Her favorite colors are blue and gold, while her hobbies are performing, reading, and singing. She was one half of the seiyū duo Whoops!!, alongside Chieko Higuchi
Chieko Higuchi
is a female Japanese voice actress and singer. She is in the two-person group "Whoops!!" with Maaya Sakamoto.-Career:Higuchi made her debut in 1996, before she had finished high school, in Mizuiro Jidai, voicing the character of Takako Takahata...
. She has been called , a respectful way of saying "older sister" by her Ouran High School Host Club
Ouran High School Host Club
is a manga series by Bisco Hatori, serialized in Hakusensha's LaLa magazine since August 5, 2003. The series follows Haruhi Fujioka, a scholarship student at Ouran High School, and the other members of the popular host club. The romantic comedy focuses on the relationships within and without the...
co-star Ayaka Saitō
Ayaka Saito
is a Japanese voice actress who voiced Momiji Sohma in Fruits Basket, Tomoka Rana Jude in Girls Bravo, and Mitsukuni Haninozuka in Ouran High School Host Club.-TV anime:*Boogiepop Phantom as Akane Kojima...
.
Collaborations
Sakamoto first teamed up with composer Yoko KannoYoko Kanno
is a composer, arranger and musician best known for her work on the soundtracks for many games, anime films, TV series, live-action movies, and advertisements...
in her 1996 debut single, "Yakusoku wa Iranai
Yakusoku wa Iranai
is the first single by singer Maaya Sakamoto and was released on April 24, 1996. This was her debut single under composer Yoko Kanno. The songs were used in her debut anime, The Vision of Escaflowne.-Track listing:####-Charts:...
" ("Promises Not Needed"), which was used as the opening theme for the anime series The Vision of Escaflowne
The Vision of Escaflowne
is a 26-episode Japanese anime television series produced by Sunrise Studios and directed by Kazuki Akane. It premiered in Japan on April 2, 1996 on TV Tokyo, with the final episode airing on September 24, 1996. Sony's anime satellite channel, Animax also aired the series, both in Japan and on its...
. Kanno collaborated with Sakamoto up until her fifth album, Yūnagi Loop, which has no songs composed by Kanno. Sakamoto also performed three songs for the series Wolf's Rain
Wolf's Rain
is an anime series created by writer and story editor Keiko Nobumoto and produced by Bones Studio. The series was directed by Tensai Okamura and featured character designs by Toshihiro Kawamoto with a soundtrack produced and arranged by Yoko Kanno. It focuses on the journey of four lone wolves...
, for which Kanno was the composer: "Gravity
Gravity (Maaya Sakamoto song)
Gravity is a song by Maaya Sakamoto that is sung in the English language. An abridged version is played as the closing theme of Wolf's Rain...
" (which is sung completely in English), "Tell Me What The Rain Knows" (with lyrics by Chris Mosdell
Chris Mosdell
Chris Mosdell is a British lyricist, poet, author, composer, vocalist and illustrator, based in Tokyo, Japan, and Boulder, Colorado, USA.He has worked with a wide range of Japanese musicians and artists—the documentary Ink Music: In the Land of the Hundred-Tongued Lyricist bills him as the...
) and "Cloud 9". She performed "Hemisphere", the opening theme of the series RahXephon
RahXephon
is a Japanese anime series about 17-year-old Ayato Kamina, his ability to control a godlike mecha known as the RahXephon, and his inner journey to find a place in the world...
, as well as two songs for the series' theatrical version RahXephon: Pluralitas Concentio: "Tune the Rainbow" and "The Garden of Everything" (duet with Steve Conte
Steve Conte
Steve Conte is an American singer and rock musician and lead singer of the band The Contes, along with his brother John Conte, both formerly members of the band Crown Jewels. He is perhaps more popularly known for his collaborations with composer Yoko Kanno, as well as being former lead guitarist...
). In 2008, Sakamoto and Kanno collaborated again for "Triangler
Triangler (Maaya Sakamoto song)
' is Maaya Sakamoto's sixteenth single. The title track was used as the opening theme for the popular mecha anime Macross Frontier and won the 2008 Animation Kobe award for best theme song...
", the opening theme song for the series Macross Frontier
Macross Frontier
is a Japanese animated science fiction space drama that aired in Japan on MBS from April 3, 2008 to September 25, 2008. It is the most recent Japanese anime television series set in the Macross universe. Animated by Satelight, premiered Japan on MBS on April 3, 2008...
. She also performed the song "cream" with HIDE, which was featured in the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
is an anime television series produced by Production I.G and based on Masamune Shirow's manga Ghost in the Shell. It was written and directed by Kenji Kamiyama, with original character design by Hajime Shimomura and a soundtrack by Yoko Kanno...
mini album be Human.
Awards and nominations
In the 23rd Anime Grand Prix, she ranked tenth place under the seiyū category with 126 votes.In addition, in the first Seiyū Awards
Seiyu Awards
The are award ceremonies for the recognition of voice acting talent for outstanding performance in anime and other media in Japan...
, she was nominated for "Best Actress in a leading role" for her portrayal of Haruhi Fujioka in Ouran High School Host Club
Ouran High School Host Club
is a manga series by Bisco Hatori, serialized in Hakusensha's LaLa magazine since August 5, 2003. The series follows Haruhi Fujioka, a scholarship student at Ouran High School, and the other members of the popular host club. The romantic comedy focuses on the relationships within and without the...
as well as "Best Musical Performance" for Tsubasa Chronicles ending theme Loop.
Studio albums
- 1997: GrapefruitGrapefruit (album)-Charts:-Other track appearances:* "Yakusoku wa Iranai" has been used as part of the soundtrack for the Vision of Escaflowne anime....
- 1998: Dive
- 2001: LucyLucy (Maaya Sakamoto album)Lucy is Maaya Sakamoto's third studio album. In addition to writing the lyrics of seven of the songs, she added her own acoustic guitar playing to the mix of several tracks.-Track listing:-Charts:...
- 2003: Shōnen Alice
- 2005: Yūnagi Loop
- 2009: KazeyomiKazeyomi-Charts:...
- 2011: You Can't Catch MeYou Can't Catch Me (Maaya Sakamoto album)-Charts:-References:...
- 2011: Driving in the Silence
Compilation albums
- 1999: Single Collection+ Hotchpotch
- 2003: Single Collection+ Nikopachi
- 2010: EverywhereEverywhere (Maaya Sakamoto album)-Charts:...
Webcast
- Maaya Sakamoto's Full Moon Recital Hall (September 23, October 23, November 22, December 21, 2010) -UstreamUstreamUstream is a website which consists of a network of diverse channels providing a platform for lifecasting and live video streaming of events online. Established in March 2007, the site has over 2,000,000 registered users who generate 1,500,000+ hours of live streamed content per month with over ten...
- reading of Japanese literary works
- one of the special projects offered by a Japanese online magazine "Saizensen"
Serialization
- Sakamoto Maaya no Manpukuron – Currently in NewtypeNewtype (magazine)is a monthly magazine publication originating from Japan, covering anime and manga . It was launched by publishing company Kadokawa Shoten on March 8, 1985 with its April issue, and has since seen regular release on the 10th of every month in its home country...
.
- A monthly column
Books
– December 9, 2005- An essay collection (out of print) – April 18, 2008
- A photo and lyrics book compilation
- from everywhere. – February 21, 2011
- An essay collection