Asako Toki (土岐麻子, Toki Asako, born March 22, 1976) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and lyricist. Born to jazz saxophonist Hidefumi Toki, she was the lead vocalist for the rock band Cymbals between 1997 and 2003. Following Cymbals' breakup, Toki began her solo career with the release of Standards in 2004 and made her major label debut under Avex's Rhythm Zone with Talkin in 2007. To date, she has released nine original albums and eight cover albums, many of which are performed in both Japanese and English.

Asako Toki
土岐 麻子
Born (1976-03-22) March 22, 1976 (age 48)
Tokyo, Japan
OccupationSinger · songwriter
Years active1997-present
Musical career
Genres
LabelsPacific Records (2004–2007)
Rhythm Zone (2007–2018)
A.S.A.B (2019–present)
Websitehttps://www.tokiasako.com/

Named the “Queen of City Pop” by publications including Natalie, Toki has been praised for her contemporary interpretation of the genre and her contributions to its revival in the 2010s.[1][2][3]

Career

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On February 25, 2004, Toki released her first solo album Standards which was co-produced by her father. It contained covers of songs such as Rodger & Hammerstein's "My Favourite Things" and Earth, Wind and Fire's "September".[4] Her first original album Debut, was released on September 7, 2004 and failed to chart. Additional cover albums Standards on the Sofa and Standards Gift were released on November 10, 2004 and November 9, 2005, respectively.

Following the release of her cover album Weekend Shuffle on December 12, 2006 and its remix album the following week, Toki moved to Avex's Rhythm Zone label. Her first album on the label; Talkin, was released November 21, 2007 to better commercial performance. On January 14, 2009, Toki released her third original album Touch. The album was her first to enter the top 50 on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart, peaking at no. 33.[5] In October, Toki began hosting Toki Chic Radio on JFN.[6]

Throughout the early 2010s, Toki continued to release a mix of original and cover albums including Ranhansha Girl on May 25, 2010, Cassetteful Days on October 10, 2012, Heartbreakin' on June 12, 2013, and Bittersweet on July 29, 2015.

On January 25, 2017, Toki released Pink, which was followed by Safari and Passion Blue on May 30, 2018 and October 2, 2019 respectively.[7] The albums were produced by Tomi Yo, who had previously worked with Toki on Heartbreakin' and Bittersweet. In promotional materials for Passion Blue, the albums were referred to by Toki as the "City Pop Trilogy"[8] A remix album of songs from Pink and Safari with collaborators including Tofubeats and Wonk was released on June 26, 2019.

On July 3, 2020 Toki announced the digital single "Home" as the opening theme for Fruits Basket's second season.[9] The single was released on July 7. It was also announced that Toki wrote the song "Pineapple" for boy band V6, released September 20.[10]

Home Town, Toki's ninth cover album, was released on February 17, 2021 and included "Home" as a bonus track. The album was preceded by three singles; "Ai", "Jubilee" and "Kaede".

Personal life

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Toki announced her marriage to a recording engineer through social media on January 12, 2016. The two met during the production of her 2015 album Bittersweet.[11]

Discography

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Albums

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Studio albums

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Year Title JPN Oricon[12]
Peak Weeks
2004 Debut
2007 Talkin' 79 2
2009 Touch 33 5
2010 Ranhansha Girl 32 4
2013 Heartbreakin' 23 5
2015 Bittersweet 28 5
2017 Pink 31 5
2018 Safari 29 4
2019 Passion Blue 39 4
2021 Twilight 68 3
"—" denotes items which failed to chart.

Cover albums

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Year Title JPN Oricon[12]
Peak Weeks
2004 Standards
Standards on the Sofa
2005 Standards Gift 154 2
2006 Weekend Shuffle 87 6
2008 Summerin' 90 4
2012 Cassetteful Days ~ Japanese Pops Covers ~ 70 3
2014 Standards in a Sentimental Mood 55 2
2021 Home Town ~ Cover Songs ~ 58 3
"—" denotes items which failed to chart.

Live albums

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Year Title JPN Oricon[12]
Peak Weeks
2005 Live at Village Vanguard
"—" denotes items which failed to chart.

Remix albums

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Year Title JPN Oricon[12]
Peak Weeks
2007 Toki Asako Remixes Weekend Shuffle 249 1
2012 Coleur Cafe Meets Toki Asako Standards 197 1
2019 Toki Chic Remix 164 1

Compilation albums

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Year Title JPN Oricon[12]
Peak Weeks
2009 Middle and Mellow of Asako Toki 166 1
Voice ~ Works Best ~ 105 2
2011 Best! 2004-2011 89 2
Toki Asako "Light" ~ CM & Cover Songs ~ 29 6
2017 Highlight - The Very Best of Toki Asako - 57 3
2024 Peppermint Time ~20th Anniversary Best~ 34 3

Extended plays

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Year Title JPN Oricon[12]
Peak Weeks
2011 Sings the Stories of 6 Girls 82 2

Singles

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Year Title JPN Oricon[12] Album
Peak Weeks
2004 Love's Theme
Sekai wa Itsumo Dokoka ga Asa (世界はいつも何処かが朝)
2008 How Beautiful 43 3 Toki Asako "Light"
2011 Gift ~ Anata wa Madonna ~ (Gift ~あなたはマドンナ~) 24 5 Sings the Story of 6 Girls
Mr. Summertime
2012 Season in the Sun (シーズン・イン・ザ・サン) Cassetteful Days
Hello, My Friend
2018 SUNNY SIDE (Wonk Remix) Toki Chic Remix
PINK (Tofubeats Remix)
2019 Blue Moon (Yoshinori Sunahara Remix)
Black Savanna (Kan Sano Remix)
Picture Frame
2020 Boy from Setagaya (Passion Blue~ Reisei-Yori no Jōnetsu Tour at Space Odd 2020.02.04) (BOYフロム世田谷(PASSION BLUE ~冷静寄りの情熱ツアー at SPACE ODD 2020.02.04))
Home Home Town
Ai (アイ)
2021 Jubilee
Kaede (楓)
"—" denotes items which failed to chart.

Guest appearances

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Year Title Other Artist(s) Album
2008 Time After Time Low IQ 01 Jenny Special Collection~New Style Of '80s Hits
Come Together None Cappuchino Due
Island Moon~Groove Love~ None Island Moon~Groove Love~
Close To You None
The Goonies 'R' Good Enough None We Love Cyndi-Tribute to Cyndi Lauper-
The Way You Look Tonight Taku & Goro Radio Indigo
Aliens (エイリアンズ) Gen Tamura Lovers Covers Sweet
Kizu Darake no Magokoro (傷だらけの真心) Magokoro Brothers Oretachi wa Magokoroda! (俺たちは真心だ!)
Cabbage UFO (キャベツUFO) None Kazoku Jikan ~NHK Minna no Uta Cover Shu~ (家族時間~NHKみんなのうたカバー集~)
2009 1989 Nona Reeves Go!
What's New Pussycat None Amalka no Komori Uta (アマールカの子守唄)
Magic Moments None Yuki to Hana no Komori Uta-Bacarach Lullaby Shū- (雪と花の子守唄 -バカラック・ララバイ集)
Tonari no Totoro (となりのトトロ) Takeshi Nakatsuka Ghibli meets Bossa Nova (ジブリ meets Bossa Nova)
Universe Song None Covers FreeTempo Covered Album
Goodbye (グッドバイ) Toe For Long Tomorrow
2010 Room 305 Dorlis Swingin' Street 4
Summer Butterflies Kazusa Kimi to Deatta Sonohi Kara (きみと出会った その日から)
Crystal Girl Cro-Magnon Joints
Sunday Tokyo No.1 Soul Set Subete Hikari (全て光)
What's New Pussycat None Amalka Book ~Larabai Hen~ (アマールカブック~ララバイ編~)
2011 Blue Blue Blue Triadic Triadic
Moody's Mood Juju Delicious
2011 no Sora to Ongaku (2011の空と音楽) None Katamari Damacy Novita Original Soundtrack: Katamori Damacy (塊魂ノ・ビ~タ オリジナルサウンドトラック 「かたもりだましい」)
2012 Little Prayer Wac Ongaku (音楽)
Sir Duke None Honey Sunday
Shinkai no Ritorukurai (深海のリトルクライ) Sasakure.UK Maboroshi Jitsu Aesop (幻実アイソーポス)
Over the Rainbow None Tokyo Cafe Freak-Jazz Flavor
Sweet na Mecco ~Nameko no Chīsana Koi Monogatari~ (sweet na mecco ~なめ子の小さな恋物語~) None Nameko no CD (なめこのCD)
Queen of Quiet Cro-Magnon, Hyouge Mono Otsu (乙)
Tsunagaru Mirai ~Vocal Version~ (つながる未来 ~ボーカル・バージョン~) None Gekijō-Ban Tokyo Skytree Sekaiichi no Himitsu -Original Soundtrack- (劇場版 東京スカイツリー 世界一のひみつ -オリジナルサウンドトラック-)
Slow Motion Quasimode Soul cookin'
Taka no Shima ~Nan Fujiyūnai~ (鷹の島 ~何不自由ない~) Takanotsumedan, I-Dep Himetsu Kessa Taka no Tsume (秘密結社 鷹の爪)
2014 Kuroneko Tango (黒ネコのタンゴ) Ryōta Komatsu Kids Jazz CD (きっずじゃずCD )
Tell Her About It None We Love Piano Man: Tribute To Billy Joel
Madoka (まど) Told Early Morning
Baby's Star Jam Schroder-Headz Live -Synesthesia-
2015 Love Vacances MiKa Beyond Jazz Woman's Liberation
Four Wishes None
How Beautiful Yu Sakai Jasmine (ジャスミン)
2017 All Around The World G. Rina Live & Learn
2019 Kenuri no Lady (煙のLADY) Yu Sakai Yu Are Something
Kyōnin Girl ~Far Eastern Tale~ (杏仁ガール~Far Eastern Tale~) Schroder-Headz Guest Suite
2020 Welcome to my Room DJ Hasabe, Ryohu Wonderful Tomorrow
Ping-Pong Tomoyo Harada Renai Shōsetsu 3 ~You & Me (恋愛小説3~You & Me)
2021 Hitokuchi Ikaga? (ひとくちいかが?) Maaya Sakamoto Duets

References

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  1. ^ Inc, Natasha. "土岐麻子「PASSION BLUE」特集|土岐麻子は現代のシティポップとどう向き合ってきたのか? "3部作"の徹底解説と著名人7人のレビューで紐解く - 音楽ナタリー 特集・インタビュー". 音楽ナタリー (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-03-12. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ "土岐麻子、街とそこに生きる人への愛を込めた『PASSION BLUE』". ミーティア(MEETIA) (in Japanese). 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  3. ^ Taylor, Ronald (2017-02-19). "Asako Toki presents a more modern take on city pop on 'Pink'". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  4. ^ Toki, Asako (December 2015). Asako Toki "Ai no Detarame". Futami Shobo. pp. author introduction.
  5. ^ "TOUCH | 土岐麻子". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  6. ^ "TOKI CHIC RADIO|土岐麻子". AuDee(オーディー) (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  7. ^ "土岐麻子、最新アルバム『PASSION BLUE』がアナログ化 過去MV作品&ライブ映像作品の一挙配信も | Spincoaster (スピンコースター)". Spincoaster (in Japanese). 2020-01-08. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  8. ^ "TOKI ASAKO OFFICIAL WEBSITE". TOKI ASAKO OFFICIAL WEBSITE (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  9. ^ "土岐麻子、帰る人たちの歩みを美しく切り取る「HOME」MV". BARKS (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  10. ^ "TOKI ASAKO OFFICIAL WEBSITE". TOKI ASAKO OFFICIAL WEBSITE (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  11. ^ "土岐麻子が結婚を報告、お相手はレコーディングエンジニア". CINRA.NET (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "土岐麻子のアルバム作品". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
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