Profile of Ai Otsuka on Famous Like Me

Ai Otsuka (大塚愛, Ōtsuka Ai, born September 9, 1982) is a Japanese pop female singer-songwriter from Osaka, Osaka Prefecture She is best-known for her 2003/2004 hit Sakuranbo, which stayed on the charts for 82 weeks.

Ai Otsuka is signed to record label avex trax, one of the biggest record labels in Japan which also manages other high-profile artists like Ayumi Hamasaki, Namie Amuro, Ami Suzuki, Every Little Thing, and EXILE.

Her first single, 2003's "momo no hanabira", peaking at #86, wasn't a big hit, but stayed on the charts for 17 weeks. Her next single, "sakuranbo", released on the December of the same year was one the 12th best selling single of 2004. Gradually climbing the charts to top 5, the single stayed on the chart for 82 weeks, and a special "encore press" version was comissioned, which peaked at #4. In March 2004, her first album "LOVE PUNCH" was released, which debuted at No. 3 on the Oricon Charts and sold more than 320,000 copies in its first week. She continued to release singles and gradually gained popularity among teenage girls. In November 2004, the follow-up to "LOVE PUNCH", "LOVE JAM" was released, which was also a success.

Her newest single, Planetarium was released on September 20th, 2005.

Otsuka has also appearanced in television commercials and acted in the drama Tokyo Friends, released on DVD. Her promotional videos are filmed as mini-dramas. She is qualified to teach kindergarten, and has said she will become a kindergarten teacher if her singing career collapses.

Discography

Singles

1. Momo no Hanabira (桃ノ花ビラ, Peach Flowerpetals) - #24 45,000 copies sold (September 10, 2003)
2. Sakuranbo (さくらんぼ, Cherry) - #5 520,000 copies sold (December 17, 2003)
3. Amaenbo (甘えんぼ, Spoiled child) - #6 106,000 copies sold (March 3, 2004)
4. Happy Days - #3 163,000 copies sold (July 7, 2004)
5. Kingyo Hanabi (金魚花火, Goldfish Fireworks) - #3 108,000 copies sold (August 18, 2004)
6. Daisuki da yo. (大好きだよ。, I love you.) - #3 157,000 copies sold (October 20, 2004)
7. Kuroge Wagyuu Joshio Tanyaki 680 Yen (黒毛和牛上塩タン焼680円, Salty Grilled Tongue of Black Japanese Beef 680 Yen) - #3 149,000 copies sold (February 9, 2005)
8. SMILY/Bidama (ビー玉, Marble) - #1 299,000 copies sold (May 11, 2005)
9. NEKO ni Fuusen (ネコに風船, Balloon for a Cat) - #3 108,000 copies sold (July 13, 2005)
10. PURANETARIUMU (プラネタリウム, Planetarium) - #1 over 158,000 copies sold (week 4) (September 21, 2005)

Albums

1. LOVE PUNCH (March 31, 2004)
2. LOVE JAM (November 17, 2004)
3. LOVE COOK ~Will Release on December 14, 2005~

Photobooks

• Kimi iro Omoi (キミイロオモイ) (March 1, 2005)

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