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Ai Kawashima
Japan Day 2009 - Ai Kawashima 2.jpg
Ai Kawashima performing at Japan Day 2009 in Central Park, New York City
Background information
Birth name 川島 愛
Born (1986-02-21) February 21, 1986 (age 39)
Fukuoka, Japan
Genres J-pop
Occupation(s) Singer-songwriter, pianist
Years active 1999–present
Labels Tsubasa, Sony Music Japan
Associated acts I Wish

Ai Kawashima (born February 21, 1986) is a Japanese pop singer, songwriter, and pianist. She is famous for her beautiful songs and her powerful voice. Ai Kawashima is also known for performing many times on the street. She started her career by singing on busy street corners. She also helps children in need around the world.

Early Life and Music

Ai Kawashima was born in Fukuoka, Japan. She had a difficult childhood. Her mother passed away when Ai was only three years old. Her father was not around, so she went to an orphanage.

Later, she was adopted by the Kawashima family. Sadly, her foster father died when she was ten. Her foster mother also passed away when Ai was sixteen.

Ai started playing the piano at age three. She loved music and dreamed of becoming a singer. After finishing middle school, she moved to Tokyo to follow her dream.

Music Career

Ai Kawashima first tried to become an enka singer. Enka is a traditional Japanese music style. When she was about ten, she even performed at Carnegie Hall in New York. However, her first songs did not sell well. This project ended after a few months.

After this, Ai decided to try something new. She began singing her own songs on the streets of Shibuya, Tokyo. She used only a microphone and a radio cassette player. Her goal was to perform 1,000 times on the street to become famous.

At first, not many people stopped to listen. But slowly, more and more people gathered to hear her. She met people who supported her music. This led to her big break in 2003.

Big Success

In 2003, Ai Kawashima released her hit song "Asueno tobira" (Door to Tomorrow). She sang this song as part of a duo called I Wish. The song sold over 900,000 copies!

The duo "I Wish" broke up in 2005. Since then, Ai Kawashima has been performing solo. Her second solo song, "12-ko no Kisetsu" (12 Seasons), became very popular. It reached 10th place on the Billboard Hits of the world, Japan chart.

Even after becoming famous, she continued her street performances. In 2005, she reached her goal of 1,000 street shows. She says these performances helped build the foundation for her music. In 2009, she performed at Japan Day in Central Park, New York.

Helping Others

Ai Kawashima uses her time and money to help children. She has a special project to build schools in developing countries. So far, three schools have been built. Her big goal is to build 100 schools!

Every year, she holds a special concert on August 20. This concert is a memorial for her mother.

A Song of Hope

On March 11, 2011, a terrible tsunami hit Japan after the Tohoku earthquake. Many elementary school students had to flee. They spent the night in a local Shinto shrine. To comfort each other, they sang "Tabidachi no hi ni" (On the day of departure). They had been practicing this song for their graduation.

When Ai Kawashima heard their story, she visited the students. On April 6, she went to their shelter and sang the song with them. Later, on August 21, she visited them again. She attended their delayed graduation ceremony and sang the song with them once more. The song ends with hopeful words: "Let us bloom from this bud."

Music in Games and Anime

Many of Ai Kawashima's songs have been used in popular anime shows and video games.

  • "Zetsubou to Kibou" is the theme song for the game Shining Force Neo.
  • "Compass" is the theme song for the One Piece movie Episode of Alabasta: The Desert Princess and the Pirates.
  • "Kimi no Koe" is the ending theme song for the movie The Place Promised in Our Early Days.
  • "Door Crawl" is the theme song for the game Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon.

Singles

  • [2003.08.21] Tenshitachi no Melody / Tabidachi no Asa (「天使たちのメロディー/旅立ちの朝」)
  • [2004.02.18] 12-ko no Kisetsu ~4 Dome no Haru~ (「12個の季節～4度目の春～」)
  • [2004.05.25/06.02] Page 525 (525ページ)
  • [2004.08.04] Mermaid (「マーメイド」)
  • [2004.11.17] 'Sayonara' 'Arigatō' ~Tatta Hitotsu no Basho~ (「さよなら」「ありがとう」～たった一つの場所～)
  • [2005.04.06] Zetsubō to Kibō (「絶望と希望」)
  • [2005.08.24] ...Arigatō... (「・・・ありがとう．．．」)
  • [2006.02.01] Dear / Tabidachi no Hi ni... (Dear/旅立ちの日に...)
  • [2006.04.19] Mienai Tsubasa (「見えない翼」)
  • [2006.10.11] Taisetsu na Yakusoku / Mou Hitotsu no Yakusoku (「大切な約束/もう１つの約束」)
  • [2007.02.14] My Love
  • [2007.03.14] Compass
  • [2007.05.30] Kimi ni..... (「君に･････」)
  • [2007.10.03] Shiawase Desu ka / Suitcase (「幸せですか/スーツケース」)
  • [2007.12.12] Door Crawl (「ドアクロール」)
  • [2008.08.20] Kakera (「カケラ」)
  • [2009.04.08] Daijōbu da yo (「大丈夫だよ」)
  • [2009.12.16] Daisuki da yo (「大好きだよ」)
  • [2010.04.07] haru no yume (「春の夢」)
  • [2010.12.16] I Remember feat. Joe Sample
  • [2013.04.10] Yes/No / T
  • [2014.02.19] Sora wa koko ni aru (「空はここにある」)
  • [2015.07.01] Tobira (「とびら」)

Mini Albums

  • [2002.07.13] Kono Basho Kara... (「この場所から・・・」)
  • [2002.10.18] Habatakeru Hi Made... (「はばたける日まで・・・」)
  • [2002.12.26] Ayumi Tsuzukeru Tame ni... (「歩みつづけるために・・・」)
  • [2003.03.08] Yuki ni Saku Hana no yō ni... (「雪に咲く花のように・・・」)
  • [2003.05.23] Ashita o Shinjite... (「明日を信じて・・・」)
  • [2003.08.02] Utai Tsuzukeru Kara... (「歌いつづけるから・・・」)

Albums

  • [2005.05.18] 12-ko no Uta (Message) (12個の歌(メッセージ))
  • [2005.09.28] Rojōshū 1-gō (「路上集I号」)
  • [2006.05.24] Thank You! (サンキュー!)
  • [2006.08.23] Piano Songs: Rojōshū 2-gō (Piano Songs～路上集2号～)
  • [2007.06.27] Ashiato (足あと)
  • [2008.04.23] Café & Musique: Rojōshū 3-gō (Café & Musique ～路上集3号～)
  • [2008.06.04] Single Best
  • [2008.06.04] Coupling Best
  • [2009.06.03] Simple Treasure
  • [2010.05.26] 24/24
  • [2011.06.29] My favorite songs – Wing
  • [2012.02.22] My favorite songs – Tabidachi
  • [2013.06.26] One song
  • [2014.06.25] Shutter
  • [2015.10.21] Be Your Side

DVDs

  • [2004.12.01] 道の途中で...。 (Michi no Tochuu de...)
  • [2005.06.08] ライブ1000回達成記念～1136日の記録～ (Live 1000-kai Tassei Kinen 1136 Nichi no Kiroku)
  • [2005.12.21] PV Collection +α
  • [2006.11.01] ドラマ (大切な約束) (Drama (Taisetsu na Yakusoku))
  • [2006.11.29] つばさ祭'06～秘密の陣～ (Tsubasa-Sai '06: Himitsu no Jin)
  • [2006.12.20] 川嶋あいConcert Tour2006 ～サンキュー！～ (Kawashima Ai Concert Tour 2006: Thank You!)
  • [2007.04.11] 2003.8.20 渋谷公会堂 ～旅立ちの朝～ (2003.8.20 Shibuya Kōkaidō: Tabidachi no Asa)
  • [2007.06.27] つばさ祭'07～春の陣～ (Tsubasa-Sai '07 ~Haru no Jin~)
  • [2007.12.26] Ai Kawashima Concert 2007 足あと (Ai Kawashima Concert 2007 Ashi Ato)
  • [2009.04.08] The Best: Seventeenfivetwentyto- Ai Kawashima Concert Tour 2008
  • [2010.01.13] What's your Simple Treasure? Special Ai Kawashima Concert Tour 2009 渋谷C.C.Lemonホール (What's your Simple Treasure? Special Ai Kawashima Concert Tour 2009 Shibuya C.C.Lemon Hall)
  • [2012.01.08] WING 〜Ai Kawashima Live Concert 2011〜
  • [2012.12.26] My Room – 8 Gatsu 20 Ka 10 Kai Kinen

See Also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ai Kawashima para niños

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