misono

misono is a Japanese pop/rock artist, who was once the vocalist/lyricist for the band day after tomorrow. In 2006, she started her own solo project and has become well-known for such upbeat songs as "VS" and "Lovely♥Cat's Eye". misono is also an aspiring actress; debuting in the film world with a leading role in the movie Obachan Chips.

She is the younger sister and labelmate to the singer Koda Kumi.

Despite originating from Kyoto in Japan, misono went to study at the prestigious Okinawa Actors School in the southern islands of Japan. While at the school, she was a member in a popular group entitled "B.B.WAVES".

After being signed to the avex label, misono debuted in 2002 as the lead vocalist of a new band named day after tomorrow. Their self titled debut EP reached up to #10 on Oricon charts, and a following EP in November called "day after tomorrow II" reached even higher.

Despite this success, it would not be until 2003 when day after tomorrow would reach their peak in popularity. Their single "moon gate", being used as the theme song to the Namco game Tales of Symphonia, brought them their first #2 single. Two years later in 2005, the group disbanded.

However, in late March 2006, misono returned to the music scene as a solo artist with the single "VS". Interestingly enough, this single was released on the same day as fellow label mate and ex-Do As Infinity member Van Tomiko's debut solo album. By the end of the week, misono reached #4 on the charts (with her sister's album "BEST ~second session~" also charting at #4 in the very same week on the album chart).

The "VS" single was quickly followed in a month's time by a second ("Kojin Jugyou"), a third two months later ("Speedrive"), and a fourth at the beginning of November ("Lovely♥Cat's Eye"). These singles were not as successful as VS, but still charted within the top #20.

Mid-December 2006, a new MTV reality show started airing, starring misono. The show was called 【R-Joshi】misono meets beauty, and it followed misono around on an emotional journey to lose weight. She started the show with a weight of 56.2 kg with 32.1% body fat percentage. After dieting for three months she mangaged to bring her weight down to 48.5 kg, with 22.7% body fat.

After the release of five singles, misono released her debut album, titled "never+land". The album started the week off on the Oricon at #8, and dramatically fell every day after that. Unfortunately, the album flopped, ending the week at #20 and only selling a total of 12,789 (less then four of her previous singles). Originally, misono was to also release a mini-cover album on the same day, but it was pushed back due to fifth single's low sales. After the album's poor sales, this untitled mini-album was cancelled.

Three months after "never+land" another single was released, entitled "Pochi". It was followed four months later with the single "Zasetsu Chiten", which begun the three rock singles project - three singles each released two months after the other. The other two rock singles were "Juunin Toiro" and "Mugen Kigen", the former becoming misono's lowest ranking on the Oricon charts.

Being pushed back two months due to a busy schedule, a 10th single was released on June 25th 2008, "Ninin Sankyaku". The single was a success, and gave misono her highest first week sales since her debut single "VS", released over 2 years ago. Just three weeks after the single's release, a second album followed, entitled "Sei -say-".

Categories: Artists | J-Pop | J-Rock | Vocalist | Blood Type B | 1984 Births | Kyoto Artists | iTunes Artists