Emi Fujita

2.1. Childhood and Education

Emi Fujita was born on May 15, 1963, in Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan. Her entry into the entertainment world began in her kindergarten years, at the age of six, when her father submitted her application to Gekidan Himawari, a prominent Japanese theater company for children. During this period, she made her record debut as part of the group "Himawari Kitties" (ひまわりキティーズ^Japanese). As a child actor, she also appeared in various television productions, including the popular "Ken-chan Series". She completed her secondary education, graduating from NHK Gakuen High School.

2.2. Debut as Child Actor and Enka Singer

Building on her early start, Fujita transitioned into a professional singing career at a young age. In 1976, at just 13 years old, she professionally debuted as an enka singer under the stage name "Hanabusa Mika" (英実加^Japanese). This opportunity arose after her participation in a talent show called "Star ni Chōsen!!" (歌まね振りまねスターに挑戦!!^Japanese), again influenced by her father. Her career as an enka singer spanned until 1978. Fujita later expressed that she felt restricted during her time as a child actor and enka singer, often feeling compelled to act according to the instructions of adults around her, which ultimately led her to decide to leave the enka world due to the lack of creative freedom.

2.3. Amateur Activities and Band Formation

After her experience as an enka singer, Fujita sought a more independent musical path. At the age of 17, she developed a keen interest in bluegrass and country music, genres that resonated with her desire for creative freedom. She began her activities as an amateur singer, performing in various live houses while also working at a real estate agency. By the age of 20, her talent led her to become the inaugural vocalist for the house band at "Wishbone," a well-known country live house located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Her experiences in the amateur scene eventually set the stage for her future professional group activities.

3.1. Formation and Debut

In 1991, Emi Fujita married Ryuji Fujita, a guitarist. Together, they formed an original musical band. This collaboration culminated in their official debut as the husband-and-wife duo "Le Couple" in 1994, with their first album released in the same year. The duo quickly became a recognized presence in the Japanese music scene.

3.2. Major Success and Group Activities

Le Couple achieved their most significant breakthrough in 1997 with the release of their song "Hidamarino Uta" (ひだまりの詩^Japanese). The song gained immense popularity after it was selected as an insert song for the highly successful Japanese television drama "Hitotsu Yane no Shita 2". "Hidamarino Uta" went on to sell over 1.8 M copies, becoming one of the best-selling singles of its time. The immense success of the song led to Le Couple's appearance on the prestigious 48th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen at the end of that year, further cementing their status in the Japanese music industry. Parallel to her activities with Le Couple, Emi Fujita also participated in a masked unit called "ICE BOX BABY," where she was known as EMI in 1995.

3.3. Group Hiatus and Dissolution

After a successful run, Le Couple entered a period of hiatus in 2005. The group's activities officially ceased following Emi Fujita's divorce from Ryuji Fujita in February 2007. With the formal dissolution of Le Couple, Emi Fujita transitioned to focusing entirely on her independent solo career.

4.1. Camomile Series and Asian Success

Emi Fujita launched her solo career in 2001 with the release of her album "Camomile". This album, distinctive for its collection of covers of popular Western songs, quickly achieved significant success. The popularity of "Camomile" played a pivotal role in establishing her as a recognized solo singer across East Asia and Southeast Asian countries, including Hong Kong and Singapore. Capitalizing on this success, she released a second album with a similar concept, "Camomile Blend," in 2003, which also resonated well with audiences in Asian markets. Due to the sustained and strong demand from her Asian fanbase, Fujita released "Camomile Classics" in 2006, further expanding the popular series. "Camomile Classics" notably secured the number one position on the Hong Kong HMV charts for five consecutive weeks. Cumulatively, her "Camomile" series has achieved total sales exceeding 300 K copies across Asia, solidifying her influence in the regional music scene.

4.2. Audio Quality Albums and Critical Acclaim

Beyond commercial success, Emi Fujita has also been recognized for her commitment to audio quality. In 2005, she released "Rembrandt Sky" as Emi with MKB (a project collaborating with music producers Yoshiyuki Sahashi, Seiji Kameda, and Toshiyuki Mori). This album marked her first venture into original songs in her solo career and achieved a Platinum disc certification in Malaysia, reflecting its strong reception. Her dedication to high-fidelity sound production was further demonstrated in 2007 when she produced a Super Audio CD (SACD). This project was a collaboration with engineer Tetsuya Abe and Takashi Kanai, a prominent amplifier designer from Sony. The SACD received significant attention and critical acclaim, particularly after Tomoaki Ogura, a well-known audio enthusiast and host of Fuji TV's "Tokudane!" (情報プレゼンター とくダネ!^Japanese), highly praised it on air. This endorsement boosted the sales of her best albums, leading to a "smash hit." Several of her solo albums have consistently charted in Japan, with "Camomile Best Audio" notably reaching number 27 on the Oricon chart.

4.3. Social Contribution Activities

Emi Fujita has extended her impact beyond the music industry through her social contribution efforts. In 2007, she initiated the "Heart's Barrier-Free Concert" (心のバリアフリー音楽会_{Kokoro no Barrier-Free Ongakukai}^Japanese) project. This initiative involves collaborations with Kuniy, the Deaf vocalist of the sign language rock band "Kokoro Oto" (こころおと^Japanese). The concerts feature Fujita performing her songs with a guitar while Kuniy interprets the lyrics through sign language, creating an inclusive musical experience for diverse audiences. By March 2008, the project had successfully held twenty such concerts, emphasizing music's power to transcend barriers.

5.1. Albums

• Camomile (2001)
• Camomile Extra (2002)
• Camomile Blend (2003)
• Lullaby of Camomile: Live in Singapore (2005)
• Rembrandt Sky (2005)
• Camomile Classics (2006)
• Camomile Plus (2007)
• Camomile Best Audio (2007)
• Kokoro no Shokutaku (ココロの食卓^Japanese) (2008)
• Mona Pizza's Song (2008)
• Lullaby of Camomile: Concert 2008 HK Special Version LPCD45 (2008)
• Camomile Smile (2010)
• Hanataba to Neko (花束と猫^Japanese) (2012)
• Arigato Anata no Uta Watashi no Uta (ありがとう あなたの詩(うた) わたしの歌^Japanese) (2014)
• Morigaba Kaikyo (盛り場 海峡^Japanese) (2015)
• Camomile Best Audio 2 (2016)
• Camomile Colors (2018)
• Kokoro no Jikan (ココロの時間^Japanese) (2020)
• Headphone Concert 2021 (2021)

5.2. Singles

• "Yumemiru Asa ~Dvořák "Haha ga Oshietekureta Uta" yori~" (夢見る朝 ～ドボルザーク「母が教えてくれた歌」より～^Japanese) (2001)
• "Kageboushi" (2005)
• "Rainbow Bridge" (虹の橋^Japanese) (2007)
• "OMOIYARI no Uta" (2010)
• "Nonjattte..." (飲んじゃって・・・^Japanese) (2015)
• "Tokyo Lonely Night" (東京ロンリー・ナイト^Japanese) (2017)

5.3. Other Works and Featured Appearances

• Le Couple: All Singles Of The Decade (Compilation album)
• As part of Himawari Kitties:
  • "Rōjin to Kodomo no Polka" (老人と子供のポルカ^Japanese) (1970, with Hidari Bokuzen)
  • "Kāchan to Kodomo no Andante Cantabile" (かあちゃんと子供のアンダンテ・カンタービレ^Japanese) (1971, with Wakamizu Yaeko)
  • "Haikei Amaterasu-san" (拝啓天照さーん^Japanese) (1971, with Hidari Bokuzen)
  • "Panda-chan Ondo" (パンダちゃん音頭^Japanese) (1972)
• As Hanabusa Mika:
  • "Haha no Ame" (母の雨^Japanese) (1976)
• Featured in: "YES-NO" (duet with Emi Fujita) (2009) - included on Junichi Inagaki's album Otoko to Onna 2 -TWO HEARTS TWO VOICES-.

6.1. Radio

Emi Fujita has been a consistent presence on radio, hosting and appearing on several programs:

• "Emi Fujita's Kamitsure Zakka-ten" (藤田恵美 かみつれ雑貨店^Japanese) (April 2008 - present), produced by Maru.
• "Kokoro no Herb Garden" (心のハーブ・ガーデン^Japanese) (active until March 30, 2008).
• "Afternoon Paradise" (アフタヌーン・パラダイス^Japanese) (active until March 26, 2008).

6.2. Television

Fujita's television appearances include:

• "Cross Cover Song Show" (クロスカヴァー・ソングショー^Japanese) #3 and #4, featuring "Shin Susukida (Billy BanBan) × Emi Fujita " (first broadcast May 20 and 27, 2015, on Kayopops Channel).