All The Babes
Aiko Yanai
Also known as aiko, 柳井愛子
Career
Active 1998 – present
Biography
About Aiko Yanai
Aiko Yanai, better known as aiko with a tiny "a," is a Japanese singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1990s. Born in Osaka, Japan, on November 22, 1975, she began her career in music while still in college. In April 1996, she became a radio host for FM Osaka, and that August she released a CD she produced independently with her college friends. Later that year, she competed in The 5th Music Quest Japan Final on October 10, where she shared the Excellence Award with Ringo Shiina.
Aiko released an EP on an independent label in 1997, followed by a single and a mini-album in 1998. Her major-label debut came in July 1998 with the single "Ashita" (あした, meaning "Tomorrow"), which was used as the theme song for the movie Toire no Hanako-san. Her second album, Sakura no Ki no Shita (桜の木の下, "Under the Cherry Blossom Tree"), topped the Oricon weekly charts in 2000, with total CD sales reaching 1.4 million copies. Her sixth single, "Boyfriend," sold over 500,000 copies, becoming her best-selling CD single.
Aiko has been active since 1998, spanning 28 years. She is known for hit songs like "Ashita," "Kabutomushi," "Hanabi," "Sakura no Toki," "Boyfriend," and "Kira Kira." Her first appearance on NHK's Kohaku Uta Gassen came in 2000. At 50 years old, she stands at 4'12" (152 cm) with a slim build, and she has natural breasts. Her Instagram presence is modest, with 74 followers. She identifies as Japanese and Asian, with brown hair and brown eyes. Aiko continues to perform and record, maintaining her status as a beloved figure in Japanese pop music.
Record
Profile details
Personal
- Years Active
- 1998-present (started around 22 years old; 28 years active)
- Birthplace
- Osaka, Japan
- Ethnicity
- Asian
Body
- Hair Color
- Brown
- Eye Color
- Brown
- Weight
- 99 lbs (or 45 kg)
- Boobs
- Real/Natural
Extra
- Instagram Followers
- 74 (as of June 2026)
Frequently asked
What was Aiko's breakthrough album and how well did it sell?
Her second album, Sakura no Ki no Shita (Under the Cherry Blossom Tree), reached number one on the Oricon weekly charts in 2000 and sold a total of 1.4 million copies.
Which single is Aiko's best-selling CD single?
Her sixth single, "Boyfriend," sold over 500,000 copies, making it her best-selling CD single.
What early recognition did Aiko receive before her major-label debut?
In 1996, she participated in The 5th Music Quest Japan Final and received the Excellence Award, shared with Ringo Shiina.
How did Aiko begin her career in the entertainment industry?
In April 1996, she became a radio host for FM Osaka, and later that year she independently produced a CD with her college friends.
Did you know
- Aiko's stage name is stylized with a tiny 'a' at the beginning.
- Her debut single 'Ashita' was the theme song for the movie Toire no Hanako-san.
- She first appeared on NHK's Kohaku Uta Gassen, a prestigious New Year's music show, in 2000.
- Her second album sold over a million copies, totaling 1.4 million.
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