Ami Suzuki
Musical artist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ami Suzuki (鈴木亜美, Suzuki Ami, born 9 February 1982) is a Japanese recording artist, DJ, and actress from Zama, Kanagawa, Japan. Having been discovered at the talent TV show Asayan, she was one of the most popular female teen idols in the late 1990s.[1] However, in 2000, Suzuki faced legal problems with her management company resulting in a controversial blacklisting from the entertainment industry.[2] Suzuki attempted to resurrect her career under her own steam with two indie singles before signing to Avex Trax in 2005. She released "Delightful", a dance song that reached No. 3 on the Japanese Oricon charts with a style similar to electronic club music, significantly different from her pop idol days. Since her appearance in the 2006 film Rainbow Song, Suzuki has gradually made a name for herself in the acting field, starring in various movies, television series, and musicals.[3][4]
Ami Suzuki | |
|---|---|
鈴木亜美 | |
Ami Suzuki in November 2008 | |
| Born | 9 February 1982 Zama, Japan |
| Alma mater | Nihon University |
| Occupations |
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| Spouse |
Unknown (m. 2016) |
| Children | 3 |
| Musical career | |
| Also known as | Ami-Go (あみ～ゴ) |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
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| Years active |
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| Labels |
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| Website | avexnet |
Biography
Summarize
Perspective
1998: Asayan and debut
While attending high school, Ami auditioned for Japanese talent show Asayan, which was searching for a young vocalist under the direct guidance of Tetsuya Komuro. She initially preferred athletics to auditions and was reluctant to travel from her home in Kanagawa, but was convinced by a school friend.[2] The TV contest became very popular and the number of viewers watching it grew and grew as the series progressed; its popularity was such that soon it was aired in other Asian countries. From 13,500 contestants, only five girls were chosen to be in the final round, and 15-year-old Suzuki won the competition supported by 802,157 phone calls from the audience.[5] She later explained her win as being down to her showing her natural-self, as opposed to rehearsing intensely like other contestants.[2]
Sony Music signed her to the label, and producer Tetsuya Komuro sponsored her career producing all of her material, together with other members of the Komuro Family, such as Marc Panther, Cozy Cubo and Takahiro Maeda. Her debut single, "Love the Island", was released on 1 July 1998. The song was used to promote Japanese tourism in the island of Guam, with Suzuki herself starring in the TV commercials. The song was well promoted, with Ami appearing on covers of magazines like Young Jump and even traveling to Guam to promote the song live on the local version of the international music channel MTV. The single became a hit, debuting at number five on the Oricon charts. On 17 September 1998, her second single "Alone in My Room" was released. This song was also used for Guam tourism campaigns, and also did well on the charts, debuting at number three on Oricon and selling even better than its predecessor. In October 1998, Suzuki started her own radio show on Nippon Hōsō called Run! Run! Ami-Go!, which topped the radio rankings in popularity. She also signed a deal with the Japanese product Kissmark for advertisements and promotion all around Asia. Sony then began promoting her third single, "All Night Long". The dance song was featured constantly at the most famous discothèque of Japan at that time, Velfarre, and was a big hit. It debuted at number 2 on the Oricon charts. Later that year, Ami Suzuki won various awards including the Japan Record Award for Best New Artist.
1999–2000: SA, Infinity Eighteen
In 1999, Suzuki released her first photo book, titled Ami-Go, which sold around 200,000 copies. In March, her debut album SA was released, becoming one of the top ten best selling albums of 1999. At the release of her seventh single "Be Together" (which was a cover of a song by TM Network), Ami competed with "rival" Ayumi Hamasaki for the first time for the top position in the charts. Her next single, titled "Our Days", ranked number one in the charts later that year. At the end of the year, Suzuki released her eighth and last single in 1999 entitled "Happy New Millennium", which debuted at number two and sold 364,000 copies.[citation needed]
In January 2000, Suzuki released "Don't Need to Say Good Bye" which debuted at number 5.[6] A week later, the singer released her second studio album, Infinity Eighteen Vol. 1, which debuted at number one. Suzuki has said of this first period of her career that she was not free to do what she wanted and only followed what she was told, leaving her feeling "pretty disheartened and down, like there was no future".[2] Suzuki had been writing lyrics from an early age and passing them to her manager and producers. The first song to feature them, with the help of Mitsuko and Tetsuya Komuro, was her tenth Sony single, "Don't Need to Say Goodbye". The lyrics were influenced by events occurring in her personal life at that time, Suzuki commenting: "Putting my thoughts and feelings into my singing is more important to me than sales, and chart rankings."[2]
Three months after Infinity Eighteen Vol.1, Suzuki released "Thank You 4 Every Day Every Body"in the beginning of April, and her third studio album, Infinity Eighteen Vol.2, later that same month. "Reality/Dancin' in Hip-Hop" was Suzuki's 12th single released under the Sony Music Japan label, on 27 September 2000.
2000–2002: Industry blacklisting, Fun for Fan
In 2000 Suzuki's career came to a halt when Eiji Yamada, the President of her production company AG Communication, was convicted on tax evasion charges. AG Communication had evaded tax by under-reporting their earnings, and by consequence were underpaying royalties to artists. Suzuki's parents Tadao and Miyako Suzuki[2] sued AG Communication for termination of her contract on these grounds, and that the association would taint her image. The Tokyo District Court ruled in Suzuki's favor, but the lawsuit resulted in Suzuki's blacklisting from the entertainment industry.[7] In court documents, it was revealed that AG Communication had paid her very little: despite eight-figure record sales that year, Suzuki earned just $1500 a month at the start of her career, and a 0.4% royalty rate on CDs, raised to 0.55% in 1999.[8]
Having lost all of her endorsements, Suzuki was faced with the problem of production companies refusing to work with her publicly. Her relationship with long-time collaborator Tetsuya Komuro also ceased.[9] A compilation album of Suzuki's tracks, Fun for Fan, was released on 30 May 2001. It reached number one on the Oricon charts, despite the fact that Sony had ceased all public promotions and removed her back catalogue from stores.[10]
In 2003, Suzuki finally negotiated an out-of-court agreement with Sony. Her contract with the label was scheduled to end in December 2004.[9] Eiji Yamada was subsequently fined for his role in the tax evasion. Government officials linked to the scandal included former Education Minister Takashi Kosugi and two other legislators, who allegedly received 34 million yen in unofficial payments for referring AG Communication and other clients seeking tax evasion.[7] About this period, Suzuki herself has said "I really didn't know what was going on, there were many lies were being thrown about in the media. For people to hear things and believe that to be the truth was a surprise, and I suddenly realized the kind of world I was in. What kept me going was the thought of one day being able to tell the truth myself."[2]
2003–2004: Independent activities, Ami's Love for You
Following the blacklisting, Suzuki changed her stage name from 鈴木あみ (kanji/hiragana) to 鈴木亜美—her real name written in kanji. In April 2004, without a major record deal, the singer found "after some research, that adding a CD to a book, such as those found in language-teaching books, would be a possible alternative."[2] She thus released a photo book called Tsuyoi Kizuna that included a CD single, published by Tokyo-based Bungeishunjū. The photobook went to sell over 150,000 copies[2] despite low promotion, reaching number one of best-selling non-fiction books in Japan. In August of the same year, she released another single titled "Forever Love", this time on her own independent label Amity. The release reached number twenty-one on the Oricon chart, and number one in Oricon's Indies Singles Chart.[11] In addition, a four-track mini concert DVD titled 2004 Summer Fly Hight: Ami Shower was released on 17 November 2004. Throughout October and November 2004 she began a tour through university festivals, and in December she began another tour called Ami's Love for You – Live.
2005–2006: Around the World
At the last venue on Suzuki's nationwide Ami's Love For You – Live tour, she officially announced her transfer to Avex and her comeback to the major music industry.[2] On 1 January 2005, her official website under the Avex label was officially opened. Her first song under her new label, "Hopeful", was released digitally on 9 February, and on 25 March her first physical single, titled "Delightful", was released. Her second single under the Avex label, titled "Eventful", was released on 25 May 2005. The third Avex single, "Negaigoto", was released on 17 August 2005. Its b-side, "Times", was used as the theme of a TV commercial for N's Street Online Shopping, starring Suzuki herself. During August 2005, her new official Mobile Fan Club "Ami Sapuri" was opened, and Suzuki announced that a live tour would start in the following months. This year she also participated for the first time in A-Nation, a yearly concert of the most popular artists of Avex Trax.
Suzuki released her first studio album in five years, Around the World, on 12 October 2005, with the simultaneous release of a single of the same name.[12] In November 2005, celebrating the Japanese 55th Anniversary of Snoopy, Suzuki released a single titled "Happiness is...", which was sold exclusively at the Snoopy Life Design Happiness is the 55th Anniversary event held in Tokyo. On 7 December 2005, Suzuki released her 5th Avex single, Little Crystal. On December 31, 2005, Suzuki was awarded with the a Gold Prize for Best New Artist at the 47th Japan Record Awards.
On 8 February 2006, Suzuki released her sixth Avex single, "Fantastic", which was used as third opening theme of the TV anime series Blackjack. On March 29, her first remix album, titled Amix World, was released. The album included remixed made by Japanese and international producers, including Space Cowboy, Clazziquai Project, Jonathan Peters and Ferry Corsten. For her fifth single "Alright!", released on 17 May 2006, she distanced herself from her previous trance-influenced dance material, exploring a more mainstream sound using arrangements by HΛL. Suzuki's eighth single on Avex, "Like a Love?", was released 26 July 2006. The song was composed by Ai Otsuka. In October of the same year, Suzuki debuted as a movie actress in Rainbow Song, directed by Naoto Kumazawa and produced by Shunji Iwai.[13] In late 2006, Suzuki covered two Disney songs, "Beauty and the Beast" and also "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah", which were at first only available on the Disney Music Store Japan's website starting on December 20.[14]
2007–2008: Connetta and Dolce
In February 2007, Suzuki officially started a new project called "join", in which she would be collaborating with different artists and experimenting with various music styles.[15] The collaboration singles with Buffalo Daughter, THC!! and Kirinji were released in a three-week period starting on 28 February to 14 March.[16] Her "join" album and second Avex album, Connetta, was released on 21 March, and included collaborations with several artists including Hideki Kaji, Scoobie Do, Ayano Tsuji and Northern Bright.[15] The album peaked at number twenty-six on the Japanese Oricon charts.[17] Her acting career also continued; Suzuki starred in the live action drama Skull Man, and also recorded the Japanese-South Korean collaboration drama Under the Magnolia,[18][19] in which she starred the leading role along with Lee Wan.[20] She was also invited for a third time to perform at A-Nation, where she was chosen as the opening act.
Suzuki's fourth "join" single and first Avex double A-side single, "Free Free/Super Music Maker", was released on 22 August 2007. For this single's promotion Suzuki's image changed drastically; her new look was called as "ero-pop" by herself and by the media, with some comparing her to Koda Kumi.[21]
Suzuki's fifth collaboration single, "Potential Breakup Song", a cover of Aly & AJ's single of the same name produced by Sugiurumn, was released on 28 November 2007. Aly & AJ's version of the song was used as the theme song of horror/comedy film XX (X Cross), in which Suzuki starred as the lead role along with Nao Matsushita. Suzuki released her second "join" album and third Avex studio album, Dolce, on 6 February 2008. The album, which was much more dance-oriented than its predecessor, included collaborations with Ram Rider, Studio Apartment, Tomoe Shinohara, Captain Funk, and others. In December 2007 it was announced that Suzuki would be starring a new TV drama called Oishii Depachika. It premiered in January 2008 on TV Asahi.[22]
2009–2011: Supreme Show and DJ debut
In 2008, Suzuki celebrated her tenth anniversary in the music industry, leaving behind the "join" project and working once again with producer Yasutaka Nakata. The first anniversary single "One" was released on 2 July 2008. The song was used as the theme song for the Japan 28th National High School Quiz Championship, and charted at number 17 on the Oricon charts. At the release party of the single on 5 July, Suzuki officially launched her career as a DJ, and performed live along with Nakata.[23] The second anniversary single, titled "Can't Stop the Disco", was then released on 24 September 2008.[24] This same month, Suzuki debuted as the main character in the Avex 20th anniversary musical, Kokoro no Kakera, along with Yu-ki from TRF.[25] In November, Suzuki played the main role in another TV drama: this time for the 40th anniversary special remake of Ai no Gekijo's Love Letter.[2] Suzuki played the hearing-impaired Minami Tadokoro, whose dramatic love life was explored over a 15-year period. Her tenth anniversary album, Supreme Show, was released on 12 November 2008. The album was produced by Yasutaka Nakata.[26]
Suzuki's 28th single, "Reincarnation", produced by Taku Takahashi of M-Flo, was released on 25 February 2009.[27] From 27 September – 7 August 2009, Suzuki starred in her second musical: "Blood Brothers". Suzuki recorded a song called "Kiss Kiss Kiss", a cover of a song by Ananda Project which appeared on the House Nation compilation called Aquamarine released on 5 August and was later released as her 29th single on 28 October 2009.[28] In 2010, Suzuki's cover version of Kylie Minogue's international hit "Can't Get You Out of My Head" appeared on the compilation "Tokyo Girls Collection" 10th Anniversary Runway Anthem[29] She also collaborated with special unit Phoenix 2:00am, formed by Dj Koo from TRF and Motsu from m.o.v.e. She provided vocals for them in the song "Living in the Castle", which appeared on the compilation House Nation 3rd Anniversary.[30] They were formed exclusively to perform the theme song of a videogame event called Sengoku Busho Matsuri held at Saitama Arena on 6 and 7 March 2010.[31] In July 2010, Suzuki released Blooming, her first compilation album as a DJ. It was a 15-track collection of songs mixed by herself.[32] In August 2011, Suzuki worked with her former producer Tetsuya Komuro for the first time in ten years, providing vocals for his collaborative song "Thx A Lot".[33]
On 9 February 2011, a birthday concert live was broadcast online via the website Nico Nico Douga.[34] In March 2011, after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Suzuki joined Gackt's charity campaign "Show Your Heart" for collecting money for the victims.[35] On 27 July 2011, a newly recorded version of her debut single "Love the Island" was released as a special collaboration with clothing store Resoxy, and clients could download the song for free from the store's website. On 29 July the song was released on iTunes.[36] In October 2011, it was announced that Suzuki would be releasing her first Avex greatest hits album on 7 December. The album, titled Ami Selection, included most of her singles released under the Avex label, as well as new versions of various hit singles from the Sony era produced by Tetsuya Komuro, and her indie single "Tsuyoi Kizuna".[37]
2012–present: Snow Ring
In 2012, Suzuki started as the host of a series of parties under the name Who's Shining??, which she organized and participated as of the DJ acts. Several artists had participated in the Who's Shining? events, including Genki Rockets, May's and others.[38] She also took courses and started to work as food analyst, starting to become involved in the process of food production and dinner organizations for her events.[39][40] In July, she released a series of iPhone cases designed by herself,[41] and along with other Japanese celebrities, she designed a Hello Kitty which was exhibited in Tokyo.[42] In addition, in September 2012, she participated in the musical Hashire Melos along with musicians Ryuichi Kawamura, Kazumi Morohoshi, Izam and Nami Tamaki.[43]
In December 2012, it was announced that Suzuki would be releasing a new song, "Snow Ring", which would be used as theme song for the smartphone game Makina x Dolls. Snow Ring was released as a mini album on 6 February 2013, and included three new songs, a cover of "Can't Get You Out of My Head" by Kylie Minogue, and two remixes. The EP also included a DVD with the full Ami Suzuki 19th Anniversary Live concert.[44]
On 2 June 2014, it was announced that Suzuki would be releasing a new single titled "Graduation", produced by Tetsuya Komuro. The song, which commemorated Suzuki's 15th anniversary since her debut, was her first new song produced by Komuro since 2000. The song was released digitally on June 4.[45]
Personal life
On 1 July 2016, Suzuki married a private citizen.[46][47] They have two sons (born 12 January 2017 and 15 February 2020) and a daughter (born 15 August 2022).[48][49][50]
Discography
Studio albums
- 1999: SA
- 2000: Infinity Eighteen Vol. 1
- 2000: Infinity Eighteen Vol.2
- 2005: Around the World
- 2007: Connetta
- 2008: Dolce
- 2008: Supreme Show
Photobooks
- AmiGo, 1999
- Amix, 2000
- Ami '02 Natsu, 2002
- Ami Book, 2003
- Tsuyoi Kizuna, 2004
Awards
 | This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (May 2015) |
| Years | Awards |
|---|---|
| 1998 |
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| 1999 |
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| 2000 |
|
| 2001 |
|
| 2005 |
|
Filmography
Film
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Rainbow Song | Sayumi Kubo | |
| 2007 | X-Cross | Aiko Hiuke | Lead role |
| 2012 | Ghost Writer Hotel | Megumi Kamei | |
| Ouran High School Host Club | Kotoko Fujioka | ||
Television
| Year | TV show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Dive Deep | Kami Inoue | Lead role |
| 2007 | Skull Man: Prologue of Darkness | Michiko Komyōji | Lead role |
| Under the Magnolia | Miki | Lead role | |
| Itsumo Kimochi Switch o | Keiko Katakura | Guest in third episode | |
| 2008 | Oishii Depachika | Mari Hiuma | Lead role |
| Otome | Lead role in 5 episodes | ||
| Shichi-nin no Onna Bengoshi | Mutsumi Tashiro | Guest in first episode of season 2 | |
| Love Letter: Love Theatre, 40th Anniversary Show | Minami Tadokoro (adult) | Lead role | |
| 2009 | Mayonaka no Satsujinsha | Special of Yonimo Kimyō na Monogatari | |
| Love Game | Tsubaki Yayoi | Guest in third episode | |
| Ohitorisama | Chihiro Aoki | Guest in third episode | |
| 2010 | Face Maker | Nobuko Kisaragi (Ayumi Okamoto) | Guest in ninth episode |
| 2011 | Shin Keishichō Sōsa Ikka 9 Gakari | Kanazawa Misato | Guest in third episode of season 3 |
| Ouran High School Host Club | Kotoko Fujioka | Guest in first episode | |
| 2020 | The Way of the Househusband | Ayaka Chigira | Guest in third episode[51] |
Theater plays
- Kokoro no Kakera (2008)
- Blood Brothers (2009)
- King of the Blue (2010)
- Watashi no Atama no Naka no Keshigomu (2010)
- Genghis Khan: Wa ga Tsurugi, Nessa o Shime yo (2011)
- Hashire Melos (2012)
- Shinshū Tenma Kyō (2013)
TV commercials
- Guam Tourism Campaigns (June 1998 – December 1998)
- Alpen Snowboards' Kissmark (October 1998 – January 1999)
- PlayStation 2's Monster Rancher 2 (February 1999 – April 1999)
- Asahi Soft Drinks's Bireley's (March 1999 – December 2000)
- Kodak Cameras (April 1999 – March 2001)
- MOS Burger (July 1999)
- Kanebo Cosmetics' Prostyle (September 1999 – June 2001)
- ECCJ's Summer/Winter Energy Saving Campaign (February 2000 – August 2000)
- Bourbon (September 2000 – June 2001)
- Music.jp (November 2004 – December 2004)
- Nexus Web Marketing's N's Street (August 2005)
- Mister Donut/Avex CD Campaign (July 2008)
- Sanyo Shinpan Finance's Pocket Bank (May 2009)
- Nissei Advance 10th Anniversary (Oct 2011)
References
External links
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