Eiko Kawashima (川島 栄子, Kawashima Eiko, born 31 August 1961), better known as Anri (杏里), is a Japanese singer-songwriter from Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture.[3] In a career spanning more than 40 years, she achieved commercial success and popularity in the city pop music scene during the 1980s.

Anri
杏里
Anri performing in June 2023
Born
Kawashima Eiko (川島 栄子)

(1961-08-31) 31 August 1961 (age 63)
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Musical career
GenresJ-pop, city pop
InstrumentVocals
Years active1978–present
Anri
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2015–present
Subscribers100k[2]
Total views104 million[2]

Last updated: August 27, 2024

Biography

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Her debut release was 1978's "Oribia o Kikinagara" ("While Listening to Olivia"),[1][4][5] written by Amii Ozaki.

She achieved commercial success and popularity with her signature classic 1983 release, Timely!!, which spawned the hits "Cat's Eye" and "Kanashimi ga Tomaranai" ("I Can't Stop the Loneliness").[5][6][7][8] "Cat's Eye" was used as the first opening theme of the eponymous 1983 anime series of the same name[4][9][6] and debuted as No. 1 on Countdown Japan. It spent 4 weeks at No. 1 on the Oricon chart.[10] It was one of the first J-pop songs used for an anime theme song. In 2017, she performed the song live at the opening of the touring ice show Fantasy on Ice amongst others.[11] She appeared at the Red and White New Year's Music Special at the end of that same year, performing "Cat's Eye".

Other hit songs include: "Summer Candles" and "Dolphin Ring", both of which became standard songs played at Japanese weddings and receptions. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Anri's albums were bestsellers. She has had highly successful tours—one with an attendance of almost 100,000—and toured Hawaii for the first time in 1987. She sang Furusato, a folklore song, during the 1998 Winter Olympics closing ceremonies .[3] In 2002, she began collaborating with jazz fusion guitarist Lee Ritenour, who produced her 2002 LP Smooth Jam – Quiet Storm.[3]

With the renewed popularity of city pop, and her songs having been sampled by many new artists of the vaporwave and future funk genres, Anri has enjoyed new success and popularity outside of Japan.[3]

 
Anri with Kamasami Kong at Cocolo FM.

Discography

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Studio albums

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List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon

[12]
Anri: Apricot Jam (杏里 Apricot Jam) 51
Feelin'
  • Released: 1979
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
71
Kanashimi no Kujaku (哀しみの孔雀, Sad Peacock)
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
-
Heaven Beach
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
89
Bi・Ki・Ni
  • Released: 1983
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
27
Timelyǃǃ
  • Released: 1983
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
1
Coool
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
5
Wave
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
5
Mystique
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
6
Trouble in Paradise
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
9
Summer Farewells
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
4
Boogie Woogie Mainland
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
2
Circuit of Rainbow
  • Released: 1990
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
1
Mind Cruisin'
  • Released: 1990
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
1
Neutral
  • Released: 1991
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
2
Moana Lani
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
3
Angel Whisper
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
4
Twin Soul
  • Released: 1997
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
9
Moonlit Summer Tales
  • Released: 1998
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
5
Ever Blue
  • Released: 1999
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
24
The Beach House
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
20
My Music
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Dolphin Hearts
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
48
Sol
  • Released: 2005
  • Label: Nippon Columbia
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
192
Smooth & Groove
  • Released: 2015
  • Label: IVY Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
52
Anri
  • Released: 2018
  • Label: IVY Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
38

Cover albums

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List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon

[12]
Smooth Jam: Aspasia -
Smooth Jam: Quiet Storm
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Nippon Crown
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
-
Tears of Anri 25
Tears of Anri II 30

Self-cover albums

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List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon

[12]
Anri Again – Best of Myself 44
Surf City -Coool Breeze-
  • Released: 2013
  • Label: IVY Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
19
Surf & Tears
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: IVY Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
-

Live albums

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List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon

[12]
Fun Time 84

Compilation albums

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List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon

[12]
Anri the Best -
Anri: The Best (杏里 ザ・ベスト)
  • Released: 1980
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
-
Omoikiri American ~ I Love Popping World, Anri ~ (思いきりアメリカン 〜I Love Poping World,Anri〜)
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
43
The Anri (ザ・杏里)
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
13
Meditation
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
3
My Favorite Songs
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
8
My Favorite Songs 2
  • Released: 1991
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming
2
16th Summer Breeze
  • Released: 1994
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
1
Opus 21
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
1
Anri the Best
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
8
R134 Ocean Delights
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
34
a day in the summer The Best from "16th Summer Breeze" and "OPUS 21"
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
259
Heart to Heart 〜with you〜 50
Melodies: Smooth & Groove 71
ANRI Voice to Voice
  • Released: 2021
  • Label: Disc Union
  • Formats: LP
-

Box sets

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List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon

[12]
Anri in the box -
Coool / Timely
  • Released: 2023
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: 2CDs, 2 T-Shirts
-
Heaven Beach / Bi・Ki・Ni
  • Released: 2023
  • Label: For Life
  • Formats: 2CDs, 2 T-Shirts
-

Singles

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List of singles, with selected chart positions
Year Single Peak chart positions Label Formats
JPN
Physical

1978 "Olivia wo Kikinagara"
(オリビアを聴きながら)
65 For Life Records CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1979 "Chichuukai Dream"
(地中海ドリーム)
86 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Namida wo Umi ni Kaeshitai"
(涙を海に返したい)
- CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Inspiration"
(インスピレーション)
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1980 "Kaze no Jealousy"
(風のジェラシー)
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Kawaii Boring"
(可愛いポーリン)
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1981 "Cotton Kibun"
(コットン気分)
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Ikoku no Dekigoto"
(異国の出来事)
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1982 "Espresso de Nerenai"
(エスプレッソで眠れない)
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Omoikiri American"
(思いきりアメリカン)
74 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Fly by day" - CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1983 "Lady Sunshine"
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Cat's Eye"
1 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Kanashimi ga Tomaranai"
(悲しみがとまらない)
4 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1984 "Kimama ni Reflection"
(気ままにREFLECTION)
7 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1985 "16(Sixteen)Beat" 31 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1986 "Oriental Rose"
(オリエンタル・ローズ)
39 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Morning Squall"
(モーニング スコール)
51 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Trouble in Paradise"
- CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1987 "Happy end de Furaretai"
(HAPPYENDでふられたい)
17 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Surf & Tears"
27 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1988 "Summer Candles"
16 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
"Snow Flake no Machikado"
(スノーフレイクの街角)
12 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming
1991 "Sweet Emotion"
13 CD, digital download, streaming
"Back to the basic"
43 CD, digital download, streaming
"Uso Nara Yasashiku"
(嘘ならやさしく)
14 CD, digital download, streaming
"Last Love"
(ラスト ラブ)
CD, digital download, streaming
1992 "Lani: Heavenly Garden"
18 CD, digital download, streaming
1993 "Dolphin Ring"
(ドルフィン・リング)
9 CD, digital download, streaming
1994 "All of you"
27 CD, digital download, streaming
"Share Hitomi no Naka no Hero"
(SHARE 瞳の中のヒーロー)
47 CD, digital download, streaming
1995 "Legends of Love"
67 CD, digital download, streaming
1996 "Ano Natsu ni Modoritai"
(あの夏に戻りたい)
50 CD, digital download, streaming
"Mou Hitotsu no Birthday"
(もうひとつのBirthday)
- CD, digital download, streaming
1997 "Cat's Eye-2000"
47 CD, digital download, streaming
"Future For You"
- CD, digital download, streaming
1998 "Eternity"
85 CD, digital download, streaming
"Natsu no Tsuki"
(夏の月)
22 CD, digital download, streaming
1999 "Aenai Setsunasa to"
(逢えないせつなさと)
- CD, digital download, streaming
2001 "Sunset Beach Hotel"
100 Nippon Crown CD, digital download, streaming
"Sunset Beach Hotel"
- CD, digital download, streaming
2004 "Return To The Silence"
Nippon Columbia CD, digital download, streaming
2005 "Field of Lights"
CD, digital download, streaming
2008 "Mou Kanashikunai: Anri 30th Anniversary Edition"
(もう悲しくない〜anri 30th anniversary edition〜)
99 Universal Music Japan CD, digital download, streaming

Digital singles

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Year Single Reference
2019 "Duke's Anthem" [13]
"Wasurerarenai Okurimono" [13]
"Crescent Moon" [13]
2023 "Cat's Eye 2023" [13]

Collaboration singles

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Year Album Chart positions
(JP)[12]
Label
2002 "Candle Light" 97 Cutting edge
2003 "Tenshi wa Hitomi wo Tojite" - independent
2021 "Watching over you" -[14] Warner Music Japan
2024 "Marine Blue Memories" -[15] Warner Music Japan

Videography

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Live albums

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Year Title Details
1984 ANRI in Concert Released: 1984
Formats: Laserdisc
VHS
1987 Anri: Live in Budokan Formats: Laserdisc
VHS
1988 Anri: Hiroshima Peace Concert Formats: Laserdisc
VHS
1989 Anri: Concert in Hawaii Formats: VHS

References

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  1. ^ a b "歌手・作曲家の杏里さん 学校休んでも父の仕事に同行". Nikkei. 24 May 2019. Archived from the original on 14 June 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b "About ANRI 杏里 Official". YouTube.
  3. ^ a b c d Winkie, Luke (11 January 2019). "City Pop, the optimistic disco of 1980s Japan, finds a new young crowd in the West". chicagoreader.com. Chicago Reader. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b "新曲3曲を配信しライブも 57歳・杏里「栄光と挫折」の40年". Nikkan Gendai. 7 March 2019. Archived from the original on 20 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  5. ^ a b "杏里". tower.jp. Tower. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  6. ^ a b "杏里デビュー40周年 記念アルバム「ANRI」 80年代の音楽が私の"核"". Sankei. 3 August 2018. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  7. ^ "杏里・悲しみがとまらない秘話(中編)". daily.co.jp. Daily. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  8. ^ "杏里 悲しみがとまらない秘話(後編)". daily.co.jp. Daily. 31 May 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  9. ^ Sevakis, Justin (25 July 2014). "I Am Not At SDCC". Anime News Network. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
  10. ^ "1983年10月17日、杏里「CAT'S EYE」が4週目のオリコン1位を獲得~「CAY'S EYE」が開いた新しい時代の『扉』". Nippon Broadcasting System. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  11. ^ Nakata, Mina (5 July 2017). ファンタジーオンアイス2017: 羽生らトップスケーターが一堂に会す豪華アイスショー [Fantasy on Ice 2017: Hanyu and other top skaters gather at a luxurious ice show]. sports.smt.docomo.ne.jp (in Japanese). Chiyoda, Tokyo: NTT Docomo. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "杏里の作品". Oricon (in Japanese). 30 December 2007. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
  13. ^ a b c d "杏里の作品" (in Japanese). Mora. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  14. ^ Released as a digital single only
  15. ^ Released as a digital single only
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