Kuraki Mai (倉木麻衣) is a singer-songwriter and record producer from Funabashi, Chiba. After releasing her US debut single "Baby I Like" in 1999, Kuraki signed with Giza Studio and released her Japanese debut single "Love, Day After Tomorrow" in 1999. In 2000, she released her debut album, delicious way, which debuted at number-one and sold over 2.2 million copies in its first week. Eventually, the album sold over 3.5 million copies nationwide and became the best-selling album in Japan in 2000, and has been the ninth best-selling album in Japan of all-time.
Her second album, Perfect Crime (2001) debuted atop in Japan and has sold over 1.3 million copies nationwide. After the success in Japan, Kuraki targeted the American market again, with the English-language studio album Secret of my heart (2002), however it failed to enter any charts in the United States. Her third Japanese album, FAIRY TALE was released in 2002 and topped the Oricon albums chart. Her fourth album, If I Believe become her fourth consecutive number-one album in Japan. Her first compilation album, Wish You the Best (2004) sold nearly a million copies and became the seventh best-selling album of 2004 in Japan. Kuraki's succeeding albums, FUSE OF LOVE (2005), DIAMOND WAVE (2006), and ONE LIFE (2008) were released to less commercial success.
In 2009, Kuraki saw a revival in her popularity with the increased television appearances and the promotion. Her eighth studio album, Touch Me!, debuted atop in Japan, becoming her first number-one album in five years. Her second compilation album, ALL MY BEST (2009) topped the chart in Japan, making her one of the two artists who sent two albums at the top spot on the chart in the year. Her next studio albums, FUTURE KISS (2010) and OVER THE RAINBOW (2012) both reached top three in Japan. Her third compilation album, Mai Kuraki Best 151A: Love & Hope (2014) managed to peak at number two in Japan and became the 95th best-selling album in Japan of the year. Her eleventh studio album, Smile (2017) sold less than her previous albums, partly due to lack of promotion.
Released in 2017, the single "Togetsukyou ~Kimi Omou~" peaked at number two in Japan and became the best-selling single for a solo female artist in 2017. The single marked Kuraki's second revival in charts, succeeded by the compilation album, Mai Kuraki x Meitantei Conan Collaboration Best 21: Shinjitsu wa Itsumo Uta ni Aru! (2017), which peaked at number four in Japan and charted on the year-end album chart in 2017 and 2018. Her twelfth and thirteenth albums, Kimi Omou ~Shunkashuutou~ (2018) and Let's Goal!: Barairo no Jinsei (2019) were both moderate success, reaching top three in Japan. Her fifth compilation album, Mai Kuraki Single Collection ~Chance for you~ was released in 2019, in celebration of her 20th anniversary. In 2021, Kuraki released her 14th studio album Unconditional Love, which peaked at number four in Japan and spawned a number-one single "Zero kara Hajimete".
Kuraki is best known for singing the theme songs for the Japanese television anime series, Detective Conan. As of October 2020, she has recorded twenty-three songs for the series and earning her a Guinness World Record for singing the most theme songs for the same television series. Kuraki also holds the record for being the only female artist to have all of her singles consecutively debut in the Top 10 since her debut in 1999, and is the 38th best-selling Japanese music artist of all time. To date, Kuraki has seven number-one albums (five originals and two compilations) and two number-one singles.
History[]
2024[]
- On January 1, she announced the lifting of the ban on subscriptions to her music in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of her career.[1]
Discography[]
Studio Albums[]
- [2000.06.28] delicious way
- [2001.07.04] Perfect Crime
- [2002.01.22] Secret of my heart (as Mai-K)
- [2002.10.23] FAIRY TALE
- [2003.07.09] If I Believe
- [2005.08.24] FUSE OF LOVE
- [2006.08.02] DIAMOND WAVE
- [2008.01.01] ONE LIFE
- [2009.01.21] touch Me!
- [2010.11.17] FUTURE KISS
- [2012.01.11] OVER THE RAINBOW
- [2017.02.15] Smile
- [2018.10.10] Kimi Omou ~Shunkashuutou~ (君 想ふ ~春夏秋冬~)
- [2019.08.14] Let's GOAL! ~Barairo no Jinsei~ (Let’s GOAL!~薔薇色の人生~)
- [2021.10.27] Unconditional Love
Compilation Albums[]
- [2004.01.01] Wish You The Best
- [2009.09.09] ALL MY BEST
- [2014.05.30] REQUEST BEST "MY & MAI"
- [2014.11.12] MAI KURAKI BEST 151A -LOVE & HOPE-
- [2017.10.25] Mai Kuraki x Meitantei Conan Collaboration Best 21: Shinjitsu wa Itsumo Uta ni Aru!
- [2019.12.25] Mai Kuraki Single Collection ~Chance for you~
Live Albums[]
- [2000.11.08] First Cut
- [2001.09.19] Mai Kuraki & Experience First Live 2001 in Zepp Osaka
- [2001.11.21] Mai Kuraki & Experience First Live Tour 2001 Eternal Moment
- [2002.04.03] Mai Kuraki "Loving You..." Tour 2002 Final 2.27 in Yokohama Arena
- [2002.05.15] Mai Kuraki "Loving You..." Tour 2002 Complete Edition
- [2004.01.07] My Reflection
- [2005.01.05] Mai Kuraki 5th Anniversary Edition Grow, Step by Step
- [2006.02.22] Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2005 Like a Fuse of Live and Tour Documentary of "Chance for You"
- [2007.08.22] Brilliant Cut: Mai Kuraki Live & Document
- [2009.05.06] Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2008 "Touch Me!"
- [2009.12.23] 10th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Tour "Best"
- [2011.10.19] Happy Happy Halloween Live 2010
- [2011.11.23] Strong Heart
- [2012.03.14] Mai Kuraki Premium Live One for All, All for One
- [2012.08.15] Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2012: Over the Rainbow
- [2012.12.19] Mai Kuraki Symphonic Collection in Moscow
- [2013.07.03] Mai Kuraki Symphonic Live: Opus 1
- [2013.12.04] Mai Kuraki Live Project 2013 "Re:"
- [2014.03.26] Mai Kuraki Symphonic Live: Opus 2
- [2014.02.26] Wake me up
- [2015.05.27] 15th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2014 BEST "151A" ~Premium~
- [2016.01.27] Mai Kuraki Symphonic Live: Opus 3
- [2017.08.16] Mai Kuraki Live Project 2017: Sawage Live
- [2019.11.27] Mai Kuraki Live Project 2018 "Red It be: Kimi Omou Shunkashūtō"
- [2020.06.24] 20th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2019 "Let's Goal!: Barairo no Jinsei"
Remix Albums[]
- [2001.08.18] Cool City Production Vol. 2 "Mai-K's Re-Mix"
- [2002.04.24] Cool City Production Vol. 3 "Mai-K's Club Side"
- [2002.10.23] Cool City Production Vol. 4 "Mai-K" Feel Fine!
EPs[]
- [2024.07.03] forever for YOU
CD Singles[]
- [1999.10.20] Baby I Like (as Mai-K)
- [1999.12.08] Love, Day After Tomorrow
- [2000.03.15] Stay by my side
- [2000.04.26] Secret of my heart
- [2000.06.07] NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP
- [2000.09.27] Simply Wonderful
- [2000.11.08] Reach for the sky
- [2001.02.07] Tsumetai Umi / Start in my life (冷たい海 / Start in my life)
- [2001.04.18] Stand Up
- [2001.06.06] always
- [2001.08.29] Can't forget your love / PERFECT CRIME -Single Edit-
- [2002.01.17] Winter Bells
- [2002.04.24] Feel fine!
- [2002.10.04] Like a star in the night
- [2002.12.04] Make my day
- [2003.03.05] Time after time ~Hana Mau Machi de~ (Time after time ~花舞う街で~)
- [2003.04.30] Kiss
- [2003.05.28] Kaze no Lalala (風のららら; Lalala of the Wind)
- [2004.05.19] Ashita e Kakeru Hashi (明日へ架ける橋; The Bridge to Tomorrow)
- [2005.01.26] Love, needing
- [2005.03.23] Dancing (ダンシング)
- [2005.06.01] P.S ♡ MY SUNSHINE
- [2005.11.09] Growing of my heart
- [2006.02.08] Best of Hero (ベスト オブ ヒーロー)
- [2006.06.21] Diamond Wave
- [2006.12.20] Shiroi Yuki (白い雪; White Snow)
- [2007.02.14] Season of love
- [2007.11.28] Silent love ~open my heart~ / BE WITH U
- [2008.03.19] Yume ga Saku Haru / You and Music and Dream (夢が咲く春 / You and Music and Dream)
- [2008.07.09] Ichibyou Goto ni Love for you (一秒ごとにLove for you)
- [2008.11.26] 24 Xmas time
- [2009.04.01] PUZZLE / Revive
- [2009.06.10] Beautiful
- [2010.03.03] Eien Yori Nagaku / Drive me crazy (永遠より ながく / Drive me crazy)
- [2010.08.31] SUMMER TIME GONE
- [2011.03.09] 1000 Mankai no Kiss (1000万回のキス; Ten Million Times Kiss)
- [2011.05.25] Mou Ichido (もう一度; Once More)
- [2011.10.19] Your Best Friend
- [2012.08.15] Koi ni Koishite / Special Morning day to you (恋に恋して / Special Morning day to you)
- [2013.02.06] TRY AGAIN
- [2014.08.27] Muteki na Heart / STAND BY YOU (無敵なハート / STAND BY YOU)
- [2017.04.12] Togetsukyou ~Kimi Omou~ (渡月橋 ~君 想ふ~)
- [2019.03.20] Kimi to Koi no Mama de Owarenai Itsumo Yume no Mama ja Irarenai / BARAIRO NO JINSEI (きみと恋のままで終われない いつも夢のままじゃいられない / 薔薇色の人生=)
Digital Singles[]
- [2009.02.11] touch Me! -High touch mix-
- [2010.06.09] chance for you ~cinema ver.~
- [2011.04.11] Anata ga Iru Kara (solo or Fantasy on Ice 2011 version with Arakawa Shizuka)
- [2015.05.20] Serendipity (solo or featuring Sensation)
- [2016.07.30] SAWAGE☆LIFE
- [2018.03.02] We Are Happy Women
- [2018.03.09] Do It!
- [2018.03.16] Light Up My Life
- [2018.08.08] Koyoi wa Yume wo Cassette
- [2021.03.06] ZERO KARA HAJIMETE (ZEROからハジメテ)
- [2021.04.21] Can You Feel My Heart
- [2021.08.01] Hitori janai
- [2022.10.04] Secret, voice of my heart
- [2023.10.28] Unraveling Love ~SUKOSHI no YUUKI~ (Unraveling Love ~少しの勇気~)
- [2023.12.22] You & I
Vinyls[]
- [1999.11.27] BABY I LIKE
- [2000.03.08] Love, Day After Tomorrow
- [2000.06.19] NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP
- [2000.11.22] Reach for the sky
- [2001.05.03] Stand Up / YES or NO
Tours[]
- Sokenbicha Natural Breeze 2001 Happy Live (2001)
- Mai Kuraki Loving You... Tour 2002 (2002)
- You & Mai First Meeting 2002 (2002)
- Giza Studio Hotrod Beach Party (2002) (As Mai-K and Friends)
- Mai Kuraki Fairy Tale Tour 02-03 (2002–2003)
- Giza Studio Valentine Concert (2003) (co-headlined with Aiuchi Rina and GARNET CROW)
- Mai Kuraki 2004 Live Tour Wish You The Best: Grow, Step by Step (2004)
- Mai-K a Tumarrow 2005 (2005)
- Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2005 Like a Fuse of Love (2005)
- Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2006 Diamond Wave (2006)
- Mai-K.net "De Ma Chi" Live de Show (2006)
- Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2007 Be With U (2007)
- Mai-K.net Exclusive Live: You & Mai Summer 2008 (2008)
- Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2008 "Touch Me!" (2008)
- 10th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2009 "Best" (2009)
- Mai Kuraki Live Tour "Future Kiss" (2010–2011)
- Mai Kuraki Live Tour 2012: Over the Rainbow (2012)
- Mai Kuraki Live Project 2013 "Re:" (2013)
- 15th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2014 "151A": Fun Fun Fun (2014)
- 15th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2014 "151A": Muteki na Heart (2014)
- Mai Kuraki Live Project 2017 "Sawage Live" (2017)
- Mai Kuraki Live Project 2018 "Red It Be": Kimi Omou Shunkashūtō (2018)
- 20th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2019 in Asia (2019)
- 20th Anniversary Mai Kuraki Live Project 2019 "Let's Goal!: Barairo no Jinsei" (2019)