About Yumi Arai
Hometown
Japan
Genre
J-Pop
Since debuting in 1972, Yumi Arai—who later went by Matsutoya, her married name—has been one of Japan’s most successful pop/rock musicians, as both a songwriter and a vocalist.
∙ Arai was only 17 years old when her song “Ai wa Totsuzen ni” was recorded and released by Katsumi Kahashi of The Tigers.
∙ The backing band on her debut album, 1973’s Hikouki Gumo, was the famed Tin Pan Alley studio crew, featuring future Yellow Magic Orchestra cofounder Haruomi Hosono on bass.
∙ From 1981’s Sakuban Oaishimasho through 1997’s Cowgirl Dreamin’, she released 17 consecutive albums that topped the Japanese charts.
∙ Pop singer Seiko Matsuda, one of Japan’s most successful musical exports, had No. 1 hits in that country with several of Arai’s compositions, including “Hitomi Wa Diamond” in 1986.
∙ Her songs have been featured in such Studio Ghibli films as 1989’s Kiki’s Delivery Service (“Rouge No Dengon,”) and 2013’s The Wind is Rising (“Hikouki Gumo”).
∙ Released in 1990, her LP The Gates of Heaven was the first Japanese album to sell two million copies domestically.
Influenced by Yumi AraiYumi Arai has influenced the music of Rie Aono, kinako nishinakajima, kiss the gambler and more.
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