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Mami Kawada (川田まみ Kawada Mami) is a Japanese pop singer from Sapporo, Japan who is currently signed to Geneon Entertainment. She is a member of the I've Sound who performs soundtracks for eroge games and anime. Some of her music was used as the opening or ending themes for anime series such as Please Teacher!, Please Twins!, Starship Operators, Shakugan no Shana, Baldr Force EXE Resolution OVA, Toaru Majutsu no Index and Hayate the Combat Butler. Her debut single "Radiance", released on February 23, 2005, was used as the opening theme for the anime Starship Operators. Her most successful single was "JOINT," released on October 31, 2007, and used as the first opening theme for the sequel of Shakugan no Shana, Shakugan no Shana II.
Biography[]
Debut[]
Mami Kawada's vocal talent was first discovered by Eiko Shimamiya, who was her teacher at a vocal school in Sapporo, Hokkaido. She was introduced to I've Sound, a music production group whom Shimamiya was a member of. Kawada would later become a member of I've Sound. In 2001, she released her debut song with I've Sound was "Kaze to Kimi wo Daite" (風と君を抱いて), which was the opening theme for the eroge miss you. The song was featured in the I've Sound's 5th Compilation Album Out Flow.
In 2002, she began performing anime theme songs, as well as theme songs for visual novels. Her first anime song was "Sora no Mori de" (空の森で), which serves as the ending theme for the anime Please Teacher!, while co-I've Sound singer KOTOKO performed the opening theme "Shooting Star". In the same year, Kawada and Shimamiya grouped themselves as the band Healing Leaf and performed theme songs for some visual novels. Only one of the songs, however, was featured in the I've Girls Compilation, "Ame ni Utau Ballad" (雨に歌う譚詩曲).
In mid-2003, she performed the ending theme of the anime Please Twins!, the sequel to Please Teacher!, "Asu e no Namida" (明日への涙) while KOTOKO performed the opening theme "Second Flight" together with J-pop singer Hiromi Satō.
Seed (2005–2006)[]
In 2005, Mami Kawada signed a contract with Geneon Entertainment and released her major debut single "Radiance / Chi ni Kaeru: On the Earth", which was used as the opening theme for the anime Starship Operators. This marked the beginning of her career as a songwriter/vocalist. "Radiance" was written by her and accompanied by Kotoko. She began to write her own lyrics in her following releases.
In late 2005, she released her second single "Hishoku no Sora" (緋色の空 Scarlet-Colored Sky), which became the opening theme for the anime series Shakugan no Shana. It became her best-selling single and sold approximately 37,000 copies, garnering 11th in the Oricon weekly charts.
In March 2006, Kawada and Kotoko released a split single for the OVA adaptation of the game Baldr Force. Kawada performed the ending theme, "Undelete," while Kotoko performed the opening theme "Face of Fact (Resolution ver.)", a remix of her first song which was featured in the game version. Four weeks after the release of this split single, Kawada released her debut album Seed, which contained seven new songs, four songs from her first three singles, and one visual novel theme song which was released back in 2004. The album reached #12 in the Oricon weekly charts and charted for five weeks selling more than 25,000 units.
After almost two months, Mami Kawada had her first live tour wherein she performed her album songs live and distributed a pamphlet CD containing two songs—one instrumental, and her first composed song "Carpe Diem".
Savia (2007)[]
After her success with "Hishoku no Sora", Kawada performed an insert song for the Shakugan no Shana movie "Akai Namida" (赤い涙 Red Tears) in May 2007. She also sang "Tenjō wo Kakeru Monotachi" (天壌を翔る者たち), the movie's ending theme together with Kotoko, Shimamiya, Mell and Kaori Utatsuki under the name Love Planet Five.
Three months later, she performed the second ending theme of the series Hayate the Combat Butler "Get My Way!". This single is different from her previous singles, since the song has a more punk rock feel.
Soon after, Kawada came back with a more developed rock sound, evident in her opening theme single for the second installment of the anime series Shakugan no Shana, "JOINT", as well as the ending theme "triangle". "JOINT" was released on October 31, 2007 and marked her first top 10 single entry since it reached #9 in its first week on the Oricon weekly charts. Overall, it sold 36,572 copies and charted for a total 19 weeks making this her longest-charting single.
After Kawada's success with her fifth single, she made her first live tour outside Japan, on January 19, 2008, at the KHS Hall in Taiwan.
In late March 2008, Kawada released her second album Savia, which contained nine new songs. The album included the final ending theme to the second installment of Shakugan no Shana, "sense", as well as her first non-anime theme song and four songs from the three singles she released. Although it did not do well in the Oricon charts, after less than six months, Kawada had her second live tour for her second album.
Linkage (2008–2010)[]
After a year of not releasing a single, Kawada performed the opening themes of the anime series Toaru Majutsu no Index, "PSI-Missing" and "Masterpiece". Both of the coupling songs, "Ame" (雨) and "Jellyfish", were also used as insert songs in the series. In autumn 2008, Kawada established her official website together with her official fan club "M.A.L.L.", which stands for "Mami Artist Lasting Live."
In June 2009, Kawada released her maxi single "L'Oiseau bleu". This single is also present in the I've Sound 10th Anniversary 「Departed to the future」 Special CD BOX, which was released earlier by the group on March 25, 2009.
Kawada also performed the opening and ending themes for the original video animation series of Shakugan no Shana, Shakugan no Shana S, which was her fifth time performing for the anime series. The opening theme "Prophecy" came out as a maxi single on November 18, 2009 while the ending theme "All in Good Time", was not included in the single.
On March 24, 2010, Kawada released her third album Linkage, which contains 13 tracks. Her latest singles "PSI-Missing," "Masterpiece" and "Prophecy" were all included in the album. The album also contained the ending theme Shakugan no Shana S, "All in good time", as well as a cover of the song "Dreams", originally performed by the Irish rock band The Cranberries. After two weeks, Kawada had her third live tour to promote her latest album.
Kawada started writing lyrics for other I've singers. Her first song written for other I've Sound members was "A piece of my heart", the ending theme for the eroge Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate, sung by newcomer Nami Maisaki, who became an I've singer in May of that year.
2010 to present[]
After another year of not releasing a single, Kawada performed the opening theme of the second season of the anime series Toaru Majutsu no Index, "No buts!", which eventually became her highest charting single to date reaching #6 on its first week in the Oricon weekly charts.
On February 16, 2011, she released her 10th single "See visionS", the second opening theme for the second season of Toaru Majutsu no Index. Four months later, she wrote the lyrics for the song "Lead to the smile", the solo debut of I've singer Rin Asami, who started her career that year. She also performed the second opening theme of the third installment of Shakugan no Shana "Serment". The song was released as a single on February 1, 2012. She also performed the song "u/n" which served as the ending theme of episode 15 of Shakugan no Shana Final as well as that series' final ending theme "Kōbō" (光芒 Beam of Light).
Discography[]
Studio albums[]
| Year | Title | Oricon Chartings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | Weeks | ||
| 2006 | Seed
|
#12 | 5 |
| 2008 | Savia
|
#15 | 5 |
| 2010 | Linkage
|
#26 | 4 |
Singles[]
| Year | Title | Oricon Chartings | Album | Theme song featured in | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak | Weeks | ||||
| 2002 | "Shooting Star" | #62 | 6 | — | Onegai Teacher |
| 2003 | "Second Flight" | #15 | 16 | — | Onegai Twins |
| 2005 | "Radiance / Chi ni Kaeru: On the Earth" | #19 | 9 | Seed | Starship Operators |
| "Hishoku no Sora" | #11 | 18 | Shakugan no Shana | ||
| 2006 | "Face of Fact (Resolution Ver.)" | #21 | 7 | Baldr Force EXE Resolution OVA | |
| 2007 | "Akai Namida / Beehive" | #21 | 4 | Savia | Shakugan no Shana The Movie |
| "Get My Way!" | #27 | 5 | Hayate the Combat Butler | ||
| "JOINT" | #9 | 19 | Shakugan no Shana II | ||
| 2008 | "PSI-Missing" | #14 | 14 | Linkage | Toaru Majutsu no Index |
| 2009 | "Masterpiece" | #12 | 9 | ||
| "L'Oiseau bleu" | #113 | 1 | — | — | |
| "Prophecy" | #34 | 3 | Linkage | Shakugan no Shana S | |
| 2010 | "No Buts!" | #6 | 7 | Toaru Majutsu no Index II | |
| 2011 | "See visionS" | #14 | — | Toaru Majutsu no Index II | |
Contributions to I've Sound compilations[]
| Year | Tracks | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "I pray to stop my cry -little sea style-" | I've Girls Compilation Vol.4 "LAMENT" |
| 2003 | "Wind and Wander" "Kaze to Kimi wo Daite" |
I've Girls Compilation Vol.5 "OUT FLOW" |
| 2004 | "Onaji Sora no Shita de ~Mixed Up UETSU MIU x Rich style~" | MIXED UP |
| 2005 | "IMMORAL" "eclipse" |
I've Girls Compilation Vol.6 "COLLECTIVE" |
| 2007 | "Lythrum" | I've Mania Tracks Vol.I |
| 2008 | "TRILL (Shiva Joerg remix)" "IMMORAL (SORMA No.1 remix)" "radiance (JOYBASU remix)" |
Master Groove Circle |
| 2008 | "RIDE" "Days of promise" "Birthday eve" |
The Front Line Covers |
| 2009 | "L'Oiseau bleu" "Kaze to Kimi wo Daite -I'VE in BUDOKAN 2009 Live ver.-" "L'Oiseau bleu" "L'Oiseau bleu PV" "「Departed to the future」Chapter1:MAMI" |
I've Sound 10th Anniversary: Departed to the future Special CD Box |
| 2009 | "PSI-missing (DJ Shiva Joerg remix)" "jellyfish (MAZDA a.k.a. SHINE6 remix)" |
Master Groove Circle 2 |
| 2010 | "Vacillate" "platinum" "For our days" "dilemma" "melty snow" "EXTRACT: The truth in me" |
I've Girls Compilation Vol.7 "EXTRACT" |
Mami Kawada First Live Tour 2006 'Seed' Pamphlet CD[]
- ROOTS OF ROOTS
- Composition: Tomoyuki Nakazawa
- Arrangement: Tomoyuki Nakazawa
- CARPE DIEM
- Composition: Tomoyuki Nakazawa, Mami Kawada
- Arrangement: Tomoyuki Nakazawa, Takeshi Ozaki
- Lyrics: Mami Kawada
I've Special Unit[]
- "See You" -Chiisana Eien- (～小さな永遠～) (P.V ver.) (released September 5, 2003)
- "Fair Heaven" (released July 30, 2005)
- "Tenjou wo Kakeru Monotachi (天壌を翔る者たち) (performed as Love Planet Five) (released April 4, 2007)
Healing Leaf (Mami Kawada & Eiko Shimamiya)[]
- Ame ni Utau Ballad (雨に歌う譚詩曲) (Ame ni Utau Ballad ~A rainbow after the rain~) (released February 1, 2002)
- Akikaze ni Kimi wo Omou (秋風に君を想ふ) (Ending Theme for Hajirahi) (released September 20, 2002)
- Slow Step (Opening Theme for Slow Step ～初めての恋愛～) (released December 24, 2004)
DVDs[]
Mami Kawada First Live Tour 2006 “SEED” LIVE&LIFE vol.1[]
- IMMORAL
- radiance
- Asu e no Namida (明日への涙)
- I pray to stop my cry -little sea style-
- Hirusagari no Gogo (昼下がりの午後)
- undelete
- Kanashimi no Mori (悲しみの森)
- Not Fill
- roots
- Hishoku no Sora (緋色の空)
- eclipse
- you give
- another planet ~twilight~
- seed
- CARPE DIEM
- precious
Mami Kawada Live Tour 2008 “SAVIA” LIVE&LIFE vol.2[]
- JOINT
- Beehive
- TRILL
- For our days
- Saigo no Yakusoku (最後の約束)
- Akai Namida (赤い涙)
- HISUI (翡翠)
- sense
- triangle
- intron tone
- Hishoku no Sora (緋色の空)
- portamento
- Kaze to Kimi wo Daite (風と君を抱いて)
- Get my way!
- DREAM
- Aozora to Taiyou (青空と太陽)
Other songs[]
- Kaze to Kimi wo Daite (風と君を抱いて) (from Miss You) (released November 22, 2001)
- I pray to stop my cry -little sea style- (Image Song from Ryoujoku Chikan Jigoku) (released February 22, 2002)
- Wind and Wander (Opening Theme for Silvern ～Gin no Tsuki, Mayoi no Mori～]) (released July 12, 2002)
- Dakishimete Itooshiku Utsukushiku (抱きしめて 愛おしく 美しく) (Opening Theme for Tearful Eyes ~Anata Shikainai~]) (released September 6, 2002)
- Tiny Days (Onegai Teacher Vocal Album Stokesia) (released October 25, 2002)
- magnolia (from ...SPLIT) (released January 10, 2003)
- RAGE (performed as I've diva in verve-circle 001 beyond the underground groove album) (released February 26, 2003)
- Lythrum (Opening Theme for Giboshimai SLG) (released May 16, 2003)
- RAGE (GMS Remix) (from the verve-circle Psychedelic Trance Edition -Nature & ReNature- album) (released February 25, 2004)
- Lost Shadow (Ending Theme for Silent Half) (released February 27, 2004)
- IMMORAL (Opening Theme for IMMORAL) (released June 25, 2004)
- eclipse (Opening Theme for Ringetsu) (released August 6, 2004)
- Onaji Sora no Shita de ~Mixed Up UETSU MIU x Rich style~ (同じ空の下で) (from MIXED UP) (released December 29, 2004)
- Vacillate (Opening Theme for Futari no Aniyome) (released September 29, 2005)
- eclipse -UETSU MIU style- (TSUMAMIX VOCAL COLLECTION) (released March 24, 2006)
- The Maze (Opening Theme for Double Solid) (released December 8, 2006)
- melty snow (Opening Theme for AneImo 2 ~Second Stage~) (released April 27, 2007)
- seduce (Opening Theme for Shakkin Shimai) (released April 27, 2007)
- For our days (Opening Theme for Soshite Asu no Sekai Yori) (released on November 22, 2007)
- return to that place (Ending Theme for Soshite Asu no Sekai Yori) (released on November 22, 2007)
- My Friend (Ending Theme for Nanoha StrikerS Soundstage X) (released on August 15, 2008)
- platinum (Opening Theme for Mechamimi) (released July 31, 2009)
- INITIATIVE (Theme Song for Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate)
- dilemma (Theme Song for White Rabbits: Wagamama Twin Tail) (Released September 24, 2010 - Included in the I've Girls Compilation 7th EXTRACT)
Songs written for other I've singers[]
- A piece of my heart (Ending theme for Koi to Senkyo to Chocolate, sung by Nami Maisaki)
- Lead to the smile (Opening theme for TORABA, sung by Rin Asami)
Radio Shows[]
- portamento (March 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29, 2008 in Nippon Cultural Broadcasting Inc. A&G Super RADIO SHOW ～アニスパ!～)
- PSI-missing (Nippon Cultural Broadcasting Inc. A&G Super RADIO SHOW ～アニスパ!～)
- The・Stage 『Departed to the future』 (December 14, 2008 in Nippon Cultural Broadcasting Inc. with KOTOKO)
- Replay Broadcast on December 21 & 28 in Chou!A&G+
- Seed (2006)
- Savia (2008)
- Linkage (2010)
- Square the circle (2012)
Live performances[]
- I've in BUDOKAN 2005 ～Open the Birth Gate～ (October 15, 2005)
- MAMI KAWADA FIRST LIVE TOUR 2006 "SEED" (May 20, 2006)
- MAMI KAWADA 2008 January LIVE IN TAIWAN (January 19, 2008)
- Mami Kawada Official Fan Club Establishment Commemoration Event Special Video Concert "MAMI KAWADA 2008 January LIVE IN TAIWAN"
- MAMI KAWADA LIVE TOUR 2008 "SAVIA"
- I've in BUDOKAN 2009 ～Departed to the Future～ (January 2, 2009)
- MAMI KAWADA LIVE IN SHIBUYA 2011 "See visionS" (May 4 and May 5, 2011)
See More[]
- Official Website (Japanese)
- I've Sound Explorer (Japanese)
- Oricon Profile (Japanese)
- Twitter profile (Japanese)
- Mami Kawada at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- Mami Kawada on Wikipedia. (English)
- Mami Kawada Discography on Wikipedia. (English)