Koda Kumi
Kumiko Kōda (神田 來未子, Kōda Kumiko, born November 13, 1982), known professionally as Koda Kumi (倖田 來未, Kōda Kumi), is a Japanese singer from Kyoto, known for her urban and R&B songs.
Koda Kumi 倖田 來未 | |
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Koda in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kumiko Kōda (神田 來未子) |
| Born | November 13, 1982 Kyoto, Japan |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Rhythm Zone Orpheus (USA) |
| Website | rhythmzone |
After debuting with the single "Take Back" in December 2000, Koda gained fame in March 2003 when the songs from her seventh single, "Real Emotion/1000 no Kotoba", were used as themes for the video game Final Fantasy X-2. Her popularity grew with the release of her fourth studio album Secret (2005), her sixteenth single "Butterfly" (2005), and her first greatest hits album Best: First Things (2005), reaching the number-three, number-two, and number-one spots respectively.
Though her early releases presented a conservative, quiet image, she has become a fashion leader among young women, setting trends such as the ero-kakkoii style. In 2006 and 2007, Oricon named Koda as the top selling artist of the year.