Aiko Yanai (known as “aiko”, with the letter “a” written in tiny), is a Japanese singer and songwriter.
She is most famous for her hit songs Ashita, Kabutomushi, Hanabi, Sakura no Toki, Boyfriend and Kira Kira.
In April 1996, Aiko became a radio host of FM Osaka after graduating from college.
She released a CD which she produced independently with her friends of college in August.
She participated in “The 5th Music Quest Japan Final” on 10 October and was awarded the Excellence Award shared with Ringo Shiina.
She released an EP on an independent label in 1997, followed by a single and a mini-album in 1998.
In July 1998, Aiko debuted on a major label with her first single, Ashita (あした; “Tomorrow”), which was used as the theme song for the movie Toire no Hanako-san.
In 2000, her second album, Sakura no Ki no Shita (桜の木の下; “Under the Cherry Blossom Tree”), reached number one in the Oricon weekly charts, with the total CD sales amounting to 1.4 million copies.
Her sixth single, Boyfriend, sold over 500,000 copies and became her best-selling CD single.
She made her first appearance in NHK’s 2000 Kohaku Uta Gassen.
Also known as: aiko
Age: 50 years young Born: Saturday 22nd of November 1975 Years active: 1998-present (started around 22 years old; 28 years active) Birthplace: Osaka, Japan Nationality: (Japanese) Ethnicity: Asian Professions: Actress, Musician Hair color: Brown Eye color: Brown Height: 4’12” (or 152 cm) (Petite) Weight: 99 lbs (or 45 kg) Body type: Slim Boobs: Real/Natural Instagram follower count: 72 (as of October 2025)
Instagram: https://instagram.com/aiko.yanai
