Miki Imai

Overview

Miki Imai (今井美樹, Imai Miki) is a Japanese pop singer and actress born on 14 April 1963 in Takanabe, Miyazaki Prefecture. She began as a magazine model before building parallel careers in acting and music. Her song "Piece of My Wish" became her first million-seller, and "Pride" (1996) is her biggest hit. She married guitarist Tomoyasu Hotei, formerly of BOØWY and COMPLEX, on 6 June 1999, and the family moved to London in 2012. Her labels have been For Life Records, Warner Music Japan, and EMI Music Japan (now Universal Music).

Career

Early years

Influenced by her jazz-loving father, she became devoted to Yumi Matsutoya as a junior high student and played piano while singing. In 1981 she competed in the national inter-high school championships in Yokohama in the 100m hurdles and relay. After graduating she moved to Tokyo hoping to become a flight attendant, and in 1983 debuted as a model in the magazine mc Sister. She began acting in 1984 in the drama "Kagayakitai no" (written by Taichi Yamada) and appeared in Kazuyuki Izutsu's film "Inuji ni Seshi Mono" in 1986, winning Best Newcomer at the 8th Yokohama Film Festival in 1987. In 1988 she received the Newcomer Award at the 2nd Takasaki Film Festival for "A la carte Company".

1980s

She debuted as a singer in 1986 with "Tasogare no Monorogu"; For Life Records director Tadashi Matsuda handled her until her move to Warner. After her first album "Femme" (1986), her second album "Elfin" (1987) was her breakthrough. Her fourth single, "Kanojo to Tip on Duo" (1988), was a Shiseido autumn campaign song and led to a string of hits. Albums such as "Bewith" (1988), "Mocha" and "Ivory" (1989) followed.

1990s

She starred in the drama "Omoide ni Kawaru made" in 1990 and voiced the heroine Taeko in the 1991 animated film "Only Yesterday" (Omohide Poroporo). She also starred in the drama "Ashita ga Aru Kara", whose theme "Piece of My Wish" she sang herself, becoming her first million-seller. For the 1992 album "Flow into Space", Joe Hisaishi produced most tracks, and Tomoyasu Hotei contributed songs for the first time; in 1993 she released "Bluebird", her first single composed by Hotei. "Pride" (1996), the theme of the drama "Doc", became her biggest hit and won the Theme Song Award at the 11th Television Drama Academy Awards. In 1998 she moved to Warner, releasing the single "flowers" and the album "Mirai". In 1999 she appeared in the drama "Yomigaeru Kinro" (her first TV drama in seven years) with the theme "Sleep My Dear", and married Hotei on 6 June.

2000s

In 2000 she starred in the drama "Brand" (her first lead role in about nine years); her self-sung theme "Goodbye Yesterday" was a hit. In August she held her first acoustic concerts at Gloria Chapel (Shinagawa Church). Her daughter was born on 26 July 2002, and that year she moved to EMI Music Japan, reuniting with earlier collaborators including lyricist Yuho Iwasato, arranger Jun Sato and director Tadashi Matsuda for the album "Pearl". In October 2004 she toured nationwide for the first time in four years, joined by Hotei, and released "Omoide ni Sasayagu" (composed by Yusaku Shimabukuro). The July 2005 single "Ai no Uta" was her first composed by Minako Kawae, who has composed all her singles since. A herniated disc forced the postponement of some concerts in 2005, but she resumed in Kobe in November. On 31 December 2006 she made her first appearance on NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen, singing "Pride" with Hotei on guitar. In 2007 she starred in the film "Zo no Senaka" as the wife of the protagonist played by Koji Yakusho. In 2008 she released the self-cover album "I Love a Piano", featuring leading jazz pianists such as Makoto Ozone, Satoru Shionoya and Yuji Ohno, followed by "Corridor" in 2009.

2010s and beyond

In May 2010, to mark her 25th anniversary, the concert "Voices feat. Miki Imai & friends" at Tokyo's Orchard Hall featured Lisa Ono, Minako Kawae, Asako Toki and Aoi Teshima covering her songs. In June she released "Taiyo no Melody", a relief song for victims of the Miyazaki foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, with Kentaro Kobuchi of Kobukuro and others. She returned to a TV series after 11 years with "Fuyu no Sakura" in January 2011 and won the music category of the 4th Best Mother Award in May. The family moved to London in 2012. She released "Dialogue: Miki Imai Sings Yuming Classics" (2013) and "Colour" (2015), and on 31 December 2015 made her second Kohaku appearance, nine years after her first, singing "Piece of My Wish". "Classic Ivory 35th Anniversary Orchestral Best" followed in November 2020. In 2021 she appeared in the film "Namo Naki Hi" and narrated "Benibana no Moribito". Her album "smile" was released on 11 February 2026.

Musical style

Her work spans kayokyoku, city pop, J-pop and enka. Shaped by her father's love of jazz and by Yumi Matsutoya, she has also made jazz-piano-centered work such as "I Love a Piano". Her records are characterized by long-running collaborators, including arranger Jun Sato, lyricist Yuho Iwasato, and composers such as Tomoyasu Hotei and Minako Kawae. She has also contributed vocals to other artists' work, including Yuji Ohno's Lupin III projects.