KOKIA

KOKIA (born 22 July 1976, real name Yoshida Akiko (吉田亜紀子)) is a japanese singer. She was a very musical child, all the way from childhood. She learned violin, and during her stay at a music university in the USA started to learn the piano (she also perfected her English there). When KOKIA returned home, she was accepted into the Toho Gakuen, the most prestigious musical school in Japan. She majored in opera, as this style showed off her voice to its full potential.

KOKIA's first single in 1998, Aishiteru Kara, reached the Top 20 in Japan. This caught the eye of well known producer/singer Kanno Yoko, and she offered to include KOKIA into the BRAIN POWERD soundtrack. Ai no Rinkaku, a duet between KOKIA and Kanno Yoko, was produced. In 2004, KOKIA's song Yume ga Chikara was used to support the Japanese team at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

'KOKIA' is 'Akiko' backwards in Japanese, and also the name of a Hawaiian Hibiscus.

She has since started thinking about a European singing career, forming a new fan club, and a new company. Following her 2006 best album, Pearl, she has become somewhat of an indie artist.