Utada's Accomplishments

Biography:

Born in New York City, bilingual Japanese pop singer Utada Hikaru is now one of the most popular and successful Japanese musicians to this day. At the mere age of twenty-three, she has already released seven albums (one compilation and two full-English), twenty-two singles, and several videos. As of 2006, she has sold a total of about 32,000,000 records in Japan alone, more than 40,000,000 worldwide. Her dad was a producer (he produced Utada's records as well!) and her mother was an enka singer, so she has a very musical background. Her husband, Kazuaki Kiriya, has directed several of her music videos including Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro and Hikari. Some records she has released include First Love, Distance, Deep River, Exodus, Ultra Blue, and her upcoming single Boku wa Kuma. As well as this, she is also known for having a rivalry with Ayumi Hamasaki, another very well known Japanese pop singer. Both of them have held singles at the top of the charts for weeks.

Awards:

1999: Yusen Awards- Special Prize, Best New Artist, Best Album, Best Song

2000: Golden Disk- Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Pop Album of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Best Selling Japanese Artist, Gold Award, Silver Award

2001: Golden Disk- Song of the Year | MTV Japan- Viewer's Choice Video

2002: SSTV- Best Art Direction Video, Best Female Video, Best Video of The Year | Golden Disk- Song of The Year (twice), Pop Album of The Year | JASRAC Silver Award

2003: World Music Awards- Best Selling Japanese Artist | J-Wave- Best Female Artist | SSTV- Best Female Video | MTV Japan- Best Female Video | Golden Disk- Song of The Year (for three of her songs), Rock & Pop Album of The Year, Music Video of The Year | JASRAC Silver Award (two)

2004: AMD Award for Best Music Composer | World Music Awards- Best-Selling Japanese Artist

2005: Golden Disk- Song of The Year, Rock & Pop Album of The Year, Music Video of The Year

2006: HMV's 10th Best Japanese Singer of All Time | Golden Disk- Song of the Year | 5 Straight Albums to sell over 500,000 copies


	Biography: Born in New York City, bilingual Japanese pop singer Utada Hikaru is now one of the most popular and successful Japanese musicians to this day. At the mere age of twenty-three, she has already released seven albums (one compilation and two full-English), twenty-two singles, and several videos. As of 2006, she has sold a total of about 32,000,000 records in Japan alone, more than 40,000,000 worldwide. Her dad was a producer (he produced Utada's records as well!) and her mother was an enka singer, so she has a very musical background. Her husband, Kazuaki Kiriya, has directed several of her music videos including Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro and Hikari. Some records she has released include First Love, Distance, Deep River, Exodus, Ultra Blue, and her upcoming single Boku wa Kuma. As well as this, she is also known for having a rivalry with Ayumi Hamasaki, another very well known Japanese pop singer. Both of them have held singles at the top of the charts for weeks. Awards: 1999: Yusen Awards- Special Prize, Best New Artist, Best Album, Best Song 2000: Golden Disk- Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Pop Album of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Best Selling Japanese Artist, Gold Award, Silver Award 2001: Golden Disk- Song of the Year \| MTV Japan- Viewer's Choice Video 2002: SSTV- Best Art Direction Video, Best Female Video, Best Video of The Year \| Golden Disk- Song of The Year (twice), Pop Album of The Year \| JASRAC Silver Award 2003: World Music Awards- Best Selling Japanese Artist \| J-Wave- Best Female Artist \| SSTV- Best Female Video \| MTV Japan- Best Female Video \| Golden Disk- Song of The Year (for three of her songs), Rock & Pop Album of The Year, Music Video of The Year \| JASRAC Silver Award (two) 2004: AMD Award for Best Music Composer \| World Music Awards- Best-Selling Japanese Artist 2005: Golden Disk- Song of The Year, Rock & Pop Album of The Year, Music Video of The Year 2006: HMV's 10th Best Japanese Singer of All Time \| Golden Disk- Song of the Year \| 5 Straight Albums to sell over 500,000 copies