Loading AI tools
Japanese pop rock duo From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Puffy, also known as Puffy AmiYumi, is a Japanese pop rock duo formed in Tokyo in 1995, consisting of singers Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura. In the United States, they adopted the name Puffy AmiYumi to avoid legal naming conflicts with Sean Combs, who also performed under the name Puffy. The duo sings in Japanese and English.
![]() |
Puffy AmiYumi | |
---|---|
![]() Yumi Yoshimura (left) and Ami Onuki (right) performing as Puffy at Japan Expo 2009 | |
Background information | |
Also known as | Puffy |
Origin | Tokyo, Japan |
Genres | |
Years active | 1995–present |
Labels | |
Members | Ami Onuki Yumi Yoshimura |
Website | Puffy.jp PuffyAmiYumi.com |
Onuki and Yoshimura were scouted by Sony-affiliated talent agencies and put together in the mid-1990s. Most of their work was produced or co-written by Tamio Okuda and Andy Sturmer, formerly of the bands Unicorn and Jellyfish, respectively.[1][2]
The duo's first single, "Asia no Junshin" (1996), sold one million records. They gained mainstream success in Japan in 1998 following the release of their album Jet-CD and continued with several more full-length releases (totaling 15 million sales in Japan).[3]
In 2004, an animated series featuring cartoon versions of Onuki and Yoshimura, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, premiered on the US Cartoon Network. Although their characters were voiced by different voice actresses, the singers portrayed themselves for short live-action segments taped in Japan.
When Onuki was in high school, she sang for a band called Hanoi Sex that participated in Sony SD Audition and passed, becoming employees of Sony Music Entertainment. She later took vocal lessons and attended a professional school to learn how to become a better performer. The band eventually disbanded, leaving only Onuki under Sony's employment. She was encouraged to stay despite lacking a band and a clear musical direction.[4]
Yoshimura had learned of the Chotto Sokomade talent search underway by Sony Music Artists at the age of 18. After passing the company's audition, Yoshimura moved on her own from Osaka to Tokyo, where she eventually met Onuki by chance in the Sony Music offices. Both felt alone within the large Sony organization and were not confident in their abilities as solo artists. Although Onuki had recorded a solo CD under the guidance of former Unicorn frontman Tamio Okuda, which later become half of solosolo, she and Yoshimura requested Sony pair them as a duo.[5]
Producer and American pop musician Andy Sturmer christened them "Puffy", and is considered by Ami and Yumi as "the godfather of Puffy". Ami had previously met Tamio Okuda at a Sparks Gogo concert, and he had produced her then-unreleased solo CD. He was eventually signed on to produce Puffy's first album AmiYumi. Their debut single, "Asia no Junshin", launched Puffy-mania. Asked if they were surprised by the attention after its success, Yumi told an interviewer "... everything that was put together for that song all came together and made it happen, but we didn't expect it. It was luck."[6]
On July 13, 2005, their song Song of Origin (はじまりのうた, Hajimari no Uta) was used as the ending theme of the eighth Pokémon film: Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.
Puffy made their first US appearance as part of Music Japan's "An Evening with Japan's All-Stars" showcase at the 2000 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas.[7] After their performance at SXSW, attorneys for Sean "Puffy" Combs sent the band a cease and desist letter asking them to change their name. After changing their name in the US to Puffy AmiYumi, they told Entertainment Weekly: [8]
Yumi: It doesn't bother us at all. We respect the fact that Puff Daddy is Puffy in the U.S.
Ami: The bottom line is that we don't know what puffy means. We were given our name by somebody else six years ago, and we really don't have a clue.
After Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Puffy ended production in 2002, Puffy focused on performing in the United States. Several of their previous Japanese albums were released for the US market and they recorded theme songs for the animated series Teen Titans and SD Gundam Force. They have also done a cover version with Cyndi Lauper of her hit "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". They also performed their songs "Hi Hi" and "Akai Buranko" (Red Swing)[9][better source needed] on the show. They came back to the US in 2006 for their Splurge Tour, and also toured with Tally Hall for Super-Ultimate Awesome Exploration America 2006[10] In January 2017, they announced for the US tour titled Puffy AmiYumi US Tour 2017: Not Lazy in April 2017.[11] In the same month, the band made an appearance at Anime Boston for autograph signings.[12]
On November 19, 2004, an animated series featuring cartoon versions of Ami and Yumi, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, premiered on the United States' Cartoon Network. Despite both of them being voiced by American actresses (although Janice Kawaye, who plays Ami, is of Japanese descent), the real life Puffy AmiYumi star in short live-action segments recorded in Japan. The series also featured some of the duo's songs.
Yoshimura said in an interview with LiveDaily:[13]
Yumi: The Cartoon Network show has given us a great opportunity to introduce the music to a new audience. When we toured, after the Cartoon Network show started, so many little kids came to our show. We always wanted as many people as possible to listen to the music.
Puffy AmiYumi made an appearance and performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2005 where they were also represented by their own Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi float and balloon.[14]
On January 16, 2006, Puffy AmiYumi was appointed goodwill ambassadors to the United States as part of the Japanese government's campaign to encourage tourism in Japan.[15]
Puffy AmiYumi also performed cameo voiceovers in an episode of the 2011 anime series, Bunny Drop, which aired on July 8, 2011. They also performed the opening theme to the anime.[16]
Puffy AmiYumi has collaborated with producer Tamio Okuda and American singer-songwriter Andy Sturmer. The duo's vocals have been compared to American vocal sister group The Roches.[17]
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.