Asuca Hayashi

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Asuca Hayashi 林明日香

Background information
Birth name	林明日香
Born	May 28, 1989 (1989-05-28) (age 19)
Origin	Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Genre(s)	J-pop, R&B, pop-fusion
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Years active	2003-present
Label(s)	Toshiba-EMI
Website	Official Website

Asuca Hayashi (林明日香, Hayashi Asuka^?) (born May 28, 1989) is a Japanese singer who debuted simultaneously in Japan and Taiwan with the song ake-kaze when she was 13 years old in January 2003. Her voice is known for being extremely strong and mature, sounding much like an Enka singer or an opera singer. Asuca also heads a band, entitled Belovelover. Hayashi got her contract with Toshiba-EMI when she was only 11 years old. Her debut album, called "Saku" (咲), was released on the same day in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China. She is known throughout Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States.

1 Biography
2 Discography
3 Miscellaneous Information
4 See also
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Biography

Born and raised in Osaka, Asuca always thought that she would become a singer. She grew up listening to Disney music and imitating foreign Divas as she listened to their music. Asuca managed to debut at such an early age by her piano teacher listening to her singing accompinament of the songs she was learning, and sent a demo tape into Toshiba EMI. She won a contract, and debuted simultaneously in Japan and Taiwan with the song ake-kaze in 2003. She was only 13 at the time. This song reached to number 14 on Oricon Charts; which was an impressive feat for a debut artist.

Her debut album, Saku (咲; or Xiao in Mandarin - means Bloom) was released in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and China in May of 2003. This was the first time a Japanese artist had debuted at the same time in both Japan and China. Saku also broke another record, for it's release made her the youngest artist to ever have a top ten weekly debut in Japan on Oricon charts. Later on in that year, her single Chiisaki Mono (小さきもの) was selected as the ending theme for Pokémon: Jirachi Wish Maker (Japanese: Nanayo no Negai Boshi; literally "Wishing Star of Seven Nights"). Later on for the English version of the movie, Asuca sung this in duet with Cindy Mizelle. Asuca's parts were sung in Japanese which had never happened before in Pokémon movies. However, The song was renamed "Make a Wish" for the English version.

Asuca has done a duet with Chinese arist Chen Min on Erhu entitled Tsubame ni Naritai (燕になりたい). There was also a version of this song sung in Mandarin, instead titled Wo Yuan Zuo Yi Zhi Xiao Yan (我願做-只小燕) Asuca also sung her song Renka (蓮花) in Mandarin (Pronounced Lian Hua in Mandarin).

Asuca won the award for New Artist of the Year Award at the 18th Japan Gold Disc Award. Currently Asuca's sales seem to be waining after the extreme success of ake-kaze and Chiisaki Mono.

As Asuca matured more in the music business, she took more control over her own career. Currently she has written the lyrics to the songs Jibun Shinjite (自分信じて), Mou Ichido Anata ni Aitai (もう一度あなたに会いたい), Snowdrop and Taisetsu ni Shiyou ne (大切にしようね), and even composed Snowdrop, Taisetsu ni Shiyou ne, and スノウドロップ herself. Asuca has even started her own rock band, called Belovelover (currently they have only performed live though). Her most recent album, Chou, was produced by herself (her being 16 at the time).

In the distant future, Asuca wants to sing internationally and to study gospel music in New York.^[1]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[2003.03.21] Saku (咲; Bloom)
[2004.07.14] Hatsukoi (初戀; First Love)
[2005.12.14] Chou (蝶; Butterfly)

[edit] Mini-Albums

[2005.03.02] Tsunaide (つないで; Tie Together)

[edit] Singles

[2003.01.22] ake-kaze (Dawn-Wind)
[2003.03.19] "Haha" (「母」; "Mother")
[2003.07.09] Chiisaki Mono / Tsubame ni Naritai (小さきもの/燕になりたい; Small Things / Like a Swallow)
[2003.11.19] Mou Ichido Anata ni Aitai (もう一度あなたに会いたい; I Want to Meet You Again)
[2003.12.17] Tsubame ni Naritai (Re-Release) (燕になりたい; I Want to Become a Swallow)
[2004.03.03] Rin no Kuni (凛の国; Stern Country)
[2004.06.30] SANCTUARY ~Yume no Shima e~ (SANCTUARY ~夢の島へ~; Going to the Dream Island)
[2004.10.14] Kimi wa Magnolia no Hana no Gotoku / Sayonara wa Yuubae no Naka de (君はマグノリアの花の如く / さよならは夕映えの中で; You Are Like a Magnolia Flower / Goodbye is in the Sunset Glow)
[2005.03.02] Renka (One Track First Press) (蓮花; Lotus Flower)
[2005.05.25] Renka (蓮花; Lotus Flower)
[2005.11.09] Koe (声; 'Voice)
[2007.03.21] Kokoro no Mama ni (心のままに; Unchanging Heart)

[edit] DVD / VHS

[2003.07.16] Chiisaki Mono (DVD Single) (小さきもの)
[2003.09.19] Mou Ichido Anta ni Aitai (DVD single) (もう一度あなたに会いたい)

[edit] Compilation / Other

[2004.05.19] Kikansha Sensei Original Soundtrack (SANCTUARY ~Yume no Shima e~)
[2005.03.23] Van Son in Tokyo (DVD) (Rin no Kuni Sung Live; Titled "Dat Nuoc Lam Liet")
[2005.03.30] VENUS JAPAN (Snowdrop)
[2005.03.30] Minna no Uta Best Hit Collection (DVD) (Snowdrop)

[edit] Miscellaneous Information

Age- 18
Grade- 2nd year at Senior High School
Blood Type- O
Height- 156.5cm (5'2") still growing!
Family- Father, mother, two older sisters and one younger brother
Favorite things/hobbies- Karaoke, Playing Golf, Purikura, Spending time with friends, Writing letters, Writing in her diary
Favorite Artists- Céline Dion, MISIA, Minnie Riperton, The Beatles, Whitney Houston, Yamazaki Masayoshi, and more!
Favorite Movies- I am Sam, あした元気にな～れ！～半分のさつまいも～
Good at- Mental Math
Dream- Wants to play more instruments and write more songs. Also wants to hold more concerts in more countries. She wishes to sing for patients and elderly in hospitals
Hope- Hopes that everybody can live in peace in a near future