Picture of Namie Amuro

Namie Amuro Profile

Name: Namie Amuro
Japanese name: 安室奈美恵
DOB: September 20, 1977
Birth place: Naha, Okinawa, Japan
Height: 158cm
Blood type: O
Profession: Singer

(Also known as Amuro Namie, ‘Suite Chic’)

Namie Amuro Biography

Namie Amuro was discovered when she was 12 and was enrolled into Okinawa Actor’s School. When she was 14 she was drafted in “Super Monkeys”, a girls group formed with another 4 of her classmates.

Super Monkeys released their debut single in 1992 and achieved decent result; this prompted the girls to leave Okinawa to Tokyo. However, their later ventures were not really successful… they endured some changes before getting notice again in 1995, and Amuro was already the star of the group back then.

Super Monkeys was later signed by Avex Trax; with Amuro becoming a solo singer, while the remainders of the Monkeys formed another girls group MAX.

Amuro was assigned to famous producer Tetsuya Komuro and released her first solo single “Body Feels Exit” in October 1995. Her fame skyrocketed ever since, and she released another 3 successful singles before releasing her debut solo album, “Sweet 19 Blues” in 1996.

Besides her music, Amuro was also famous for her fashion and style – tanned skin, dyed hair, miniskirts and boots. Her imitators were dubbed Amuraa by the press (also Amurer or Amuroer), and we can still see Amuro’s fashion impact these days on Japanese and Asian streets.

In late 1997, Amuro shocked Japan when she announced her marriage to Masaharu Maruyama, known as Sam from pop group TRF. She was already 3 months pregnant during the announcement; she gave birth to a baby boy, Haruto in May 1998. The couple later divorced in 2002.

Amuro was still popular despite her marriage, but her domination was ended as new stars like Ayumi Hamasaki and Utada Hikaru began to replace her as the J-pop top diva.

For the past few years Amuro has reestablished herself as an R&B and hip-pop artist. Her latest album, “Play”, has clinched the #1 spot on Oricon charts… her first weekly number one album since 2000. Namie Amuro is back.

Namie Amuro Related Websites

Avexnet ll Namie Amuro Forum ll Buy Amuro’s albums

Picture of Erika Sawajiri

Erika Sawajiri Profile

Name: Erika Sawajiri
Japanese name: 沢尻エリカ
Nickname: Aachan, Kacchan
DOB: April 8, 1986
Place of birth: Nerima, Tokyo, Japan
Height: 160cm
Blood type: A
Profession: Actress, model and singer

(Also known as Sawajiri Erika, Kaoru Amane, Erica)

Erika Sawajiri Biography

Erika Sawajiri is born to a Japanese father and an Algerian-French mother. Her name Erika is derived from a flower’s name, Ericaceae’s Erica.

Erika started her entertainment career as a freelance teenage model before signing for Stardust (talent agency) after passing an audition in 1999. She entered the entertainment world because she wanted to meet her idol, Japanese pop star Namie Amuro.

Erika continued to work as a teenage model before making her TV debut in 2001 as a regular in a Japanese variety show. She extended her modelling career as a gravure idol (bikini model) at just about the same time.

Erika made her drama debut in 2003 with a small role in “Hotman”, starring Takashi Sorimachi. Her breakthrough came in 2004 with movie “Pacchigi” which won her multiple movie awards as best newcomer.

Erika then rose to super-stardom in 2005 with acclaimed TV drama “1 Liter of Tears”, in which she starred as a teenager with degenerative disease, based on a real life story.

Erika launched her music career in 2006, using the name Kaoru Amane, her character from TV drama “Taiyou no Uta” (not to be confused with same titled movie, starring another Japanese starlet Yui).

Erika’s debut single was quite a hit and topped the Oricon chart. She released her 2nd single, “Free” in July 2007 using her name Erika, and hit the #1 spot on Oricon chart once again.

Erika’s booming entertainment career however suffered a setback in Sept 2007 when she was promoting her movie “Closed Note” in an official event, where she showed some nasty attitude.

In a country (Japan) where politeness is everything, her gimmick drew huge criticism from the public. The media and some celebrities had openly criticised her attitude, and some of her fans had showed no mercy with this issue as well.

Erika had to make a career saving apology on her website a few days later.

Erika is currently taking a long break from her entertainment career; she left Japan for London in early January. Her future career plans remain uncertain.

Erika Sawajiri Related Websites

Official website (Japanese) ll Erika’s Forum ll Buy Erika’s dramas & movies ll Buy Erika’s albums