About Me
Biography
Mika Nakashima
.. (born 1983-02-19) is a Japanese singer, model, and actress from Japan.
Born in Kagoshima-Ken, Kyushu, Japan, she had always dreamed of becoming a singer since she was a child. She decided not to attend high school, and pursued her dream in a musical career. The very first demo-tape she sent to a record company had given her the chance. She was chosen out of 3000 girls, as the heroine of the 2001 fall season drama, Kizudarake no Love Song (Scarred Love Song) of the Fuji TV station. In November, she made her sensational debut from Sony Music Associated Records, with the song "Stars", which was also the theme song of the drama. Her second single "Crescent Moon", a groovy track with an 80's flavor, was the limited product of 100,000 copies only. Amazingly, it sold out the first day of its release. In March of 2002 she released her third single "One Survive" (which received great feedback) and her first video "Film Lotus", in May her 4th single "Helpless Rain", in August her 5th single "Will" was released, tying-up to the sales of over 200,000 and Top Ten hits.
Her first album True released in August 2002 was a ..1 hit in the Oricon charts. In only 3 weeks, True became a million seller. Then as commemoration of one year since her debut, Mika released a Premium EP Resistance, which hit the charts ..1 spot two weeks in a row. On December 18, a documentary video Kiseki: the document of a start was released.
Mika has won her a vivid public recognition and aroused the excitement in many listeners of her generation. It was not a surprise that 2002 was a great year for Mika as she received "New Artist of the Year" from The Japan Gold Disc Awards, "Best New Artist of the Year" from All Japan Request Awards 2002, and "New Artist of the Year" from the 44th Japan Record Awards.
Mika became one of the most popular female vocalists in Japan. Her popular songs include Gundam Seed's ending song "Find the Way", "Sakurairo Maukoro", and "Yuki no Hana" which was covered by Korean male singer Hyo-Shin Park and this covered song is inserted in popular Korean drama Mianhada Saranghada (Sorry, I Love You). It was also one of the most popular karaoke songs in Japan in 2004. In 2004 she sang the ending theme of the anime series based on the manga Hi no tori as aired on NHK.
In 2005 she costars alongside Aoi Miyazaki in the live-action movie Nana, based on the manga of the same name, which was released 2005-09-10. Mika also sang one of the theme songs for the movie, which was released as a single under the name "Nana starring Mika Nakashima". The single, titled "Glamorous Sky" was written by the manga's author, Ai Yazawa and composed by L'Arc~en~Ciel frontman Hyde. It was Mika's first ..1 single on Oricon charts. The single has sold over 423,000 copies making it the best-selling female single of the year and the tenth highest selling overall. The single continued selling well into the next year and sold 442,000 copies, which was about 25,000 copies less then her Nana co-star, Yuna Ito's "Endless Story".
Mika was recently nominated at the MTV Video Music Japan as "Best BuzzASIA from Japan" for "Amazing Grace '05", and the "Glamorous Sky" video was nominated as "Best Female Video" and "Best Video from a Film". She won the "Best Video from a Film" award.
Mika's latest single, her 19th single, "My Sugar Cat", which is scheduled for release on 2006-07-26, is known to be a free and easy summer song.
Due to the success of Nana, a sequence will be released in December, 2006 as well as new songs by Mika under the name Nana starring Mika Nakashima. The theme song to Nana 2 movie is "Hitoiro", which is also written by Yazawa, while the music is composed by Glay's leader Takuro, who is also the author of the coupling song "Eyes for the Moon". Besides the single, Mika will release the mini-album The End, featuring all her songs under the name Nana starring Mika Nakashima.
On December 18, 2006 Nakashima and Yui Ichikawa came to New York City for the International Premier of NANA 2 at the IFC Center.
Following the release of the Nana movie, Nakashima started another project. Beginning with the heavily gospel-influenced "Cry No More" and going into the New Orleans charity tribute. Later she teamed up with famed jazz pianist/musician Alan Toussaint and releasled another single All Hands Together. A month after Mika released another single "My Sugar Cat" following the same theme of "Cry No More" and "All Hands Together", her earlier 2006 singles. "My Sugar Cat" drop out of Top 50 a week after releaesed.
On February 21, 2007 Nakashima's 21st single "Mienai Hoshi" (?????) was released. The single is the theme song for japanese drama ????????, to be aired starting Jan 10th 2007. The b-side track is "I LOVE YOU," a cover of the Ozaki Yutaka ballad. There will be a promotional video for both songs. On March 14, 2007 Mika's 5th studio album "Yes" was released. "Yes" which also is a one-word follow up like some of her previous titles such as "Love" and "True". There is also a release of a new single on the same day as the album. The single is called "Sunao na Mama."
Trivia
* Mika has a cat named Dio, and Dio also has a daughter named Donna.
* Her ethnic background has always been a controversial issue.[citation needed] Some people think that she is Hispanic but she is pure Japanese.
* She smokes cigarettes but not very often.
* She is also a member of the White Band: End Poverty Association.
* She is the first Japanese to receive an Honorary Citizenship from Memphis.
* She likes to sleep because she likes dreams.
* "Glamorous Sky" will be featured in Konami's guitar/drum simulation game GuitarFreaks and Drummania V3.
* Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
* Blood Type: A
* HeightWeight: 160cm40kg
* Family Members: Dad, Mom, 2 sisters (older)
* Childhood Dream Occupation: Nurse
* Hobby: Collecting shoes, Aroma therapy, Writing lyrics, Drawing, Photography and Nail art
* Favorite Artists: Dreams Come True, Namie Amuro, YUKI and UA
* Favorite Love Song: "Countdown" by Cocco
* Favorite Foods: Boiled white rice, Miso, and Chinese noodles
* Favorite Childhood Snacks: Malt coffee and Rice balls
* Favorite Seasoning: Mayonnaise
* Favorite Dessert: Candy
* Favorite Perfume: Vanilla and White musk (The Body Shop)
* Favorite Character: Doraemon
* Favorite Flower: Lotus
* Favorite Animal: Tapir
* Favorite Insect and Reptilia: Spider and Butterfly
* Favorite Brand: Vivienne Westwood
* Favorite Season: Winter
* Favorite Weather: Rainy
* Favorite Color: Black and Purple
* Favorite Accessory: Silver accessory
* She is currently in a relationship with Nagase Masatoshi.
~~~NEW:* She is a member of the White Band: End Poverty Association.
*
~DISCOGRAPHY~
Albums
1st) True* Released: 2002-08-08 - Sold: Over 1,172,000 Copies
2nd) Love* Released: 2003-11-06 - Sold: Over 1,411,000 Copies
3rd) Music* Released: 2005-03-09 - Sold: Over 546,000 Copies
4th) The End* Released: 2006-12-13 - Sold: Over 180,758 Copies
5th) YES* Released: 2007-03-14 - Sold: Over 48,558 Copies (still charting)
Compilations
1st) Best* Released: 2005-12-07 - Sold: Over 1,134,510 Copies
Mini-Albums
1. Resistance (2002-11-07) - Sold: Over 196,000 Copies
2. Oborodzukiyo ~Inori (Night With a Hazy Moon ~Prayer)(2004-09-15) - Sold: Over 111,000 Copies
DVDS
1. FILM LOTUS (March 27, 2002)
2. KISEKI - The Document Of A Star (December 18, 2002)
3. FILM LOTUS II (March 5, 2003)
4. THE FIRST TOUR 2003- Live & Document (May 2, 2003)
5. FILM LOTUS III (December 3, 2003)
6. CONCERT TOUR 2004 "LOVE" FINAL (August 25, 2004)
7. FILM LOTUS IV (March 24, 2005)
8. LET's MUSIC TOUR 2005 (November 9, 2005)
9. BEST (December 28, 2005)
10. FILM LOTUS V (September 6, 2006)
Singles
1. "Stars" (2001-11-07) - Sold: Over 469,180 Copies
2. "Crescent Moon" (2002-02-06) - Sold: Over 98,570 Copies (100,000 limited copies)
3. "One Survive" (2002-03-06) - Sold: Over 86,600 Copies
4. "Helpless Rain" (2002-05-15) - Sold: Over 82,830 Copies
5. "Will" (2002-08-07) - Sold: Over 144,771 Copies
6. "Aishiteru" (I Love You) (2003-01-29) - Sold: Over 104,680 Copies
7. "Love Addict" (2003-04-09) - Sold: Over 68,943 Copies
8. "Seppun" (Kiss) (2003-06-25) - Sold: Over 38,429 Copies (50,000 limited single)
9. "Find The Way" (2003-08-06) - Sold: Over 124,489 Copies
10. "Yuki no Hana" (Snow Flower) (2003-10-01) - Sold: Over 248,167 Copies
11. "Seven" (2004-04-07) - Sold: Over 53,207 Copies
12. "Hi no Tori" (Phoenix) (2004-06-02) - Sold: Over 40,115 Copies
13. "Legend" (2004-10-20) - Sold: Over 67,527 Copies
14. "Sakurairo Maukoro" (When We Dance In The Cherryblossom's Color) (2005-02-02) - Sold: Over 105,631 Copies
15. "Hitori" (Alone) (2005-05-25) - Sold: Over 26,275 Copies
16. "Glamorous Sky" (2005-08-31; released under the name "Nana starring Mika Nakashima") - Sold: Over 439,666 Copies
17. "Cry No More" (2006-02-22) - Sold: Over 36,828 Copies
18. "All Hands Together" (2006-06-07) - Sold: Over 26,688 Copies
19. "My Sugar Cat" (2006-07-26) - Sold: Over 13,484 Copies
20. "Hitoiro" (One Color) (2006-11-29); released under the name "Nana starring Mika Nakashima") - Sold: Over 94,603 Copies
21. "Mienai Hoshi" (Unseen Star/Invisible Star) (2007-02-21) - Sold: Over 53,445 Copies
22. "Sunao na Mama" (Honestly) (2007-03-14) - Sold: (still being charted)
Other Titles
1. Sakushi Katsudo 20shunen Kinen Yasushi Akimoto song "Stars"
2. Radioactive (2002-03-20) song "Helpless Game" (with Heartsdales)
3. Body Rock (2002-08-28) song "Helpless Game (play it on the radio mix)" (with Heartsdales)
4. Before the Dawn (2003-01-29) song "Let's Get Together Now" (with Daisuke Kawaguchi)
5. Heart Attack! - The Remixes & Video Clips (2004-02-25) song "Helpless Game" (with Heartsdales)
6. Eternal Love - For Marriage (2004-06-02) song "Yuki no Hana"
7. Dramania Second Season (2004-12-15) song "Stars"
8. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Original Soundtrack IV (2004-12-16) song "Find the Way (TV Mix)"
9. Drag-On Dragoon 2 Original Soundtrack (2006-07-20) song "Hitori"
10. Hit Style (2006-01-25) song "Sakurairo Maukoro"
11. Love II ~Memory of Melody~ (2006-02-22) song "Yuki no Hana"
12. The Japan Gold Disc Award (2006-03-01) song "Sakurairo Maukoro"
