AI OFFICIAL SITE

A Chronological Table of AI

• 1981

  -Born in L.A. on November 2nd, to a Japanese father and a half Japanese, half Italian-American mother.
  -Moved to Japan at the age of four.

• 1993

  -Visits L.A. at the age of 12 and stops by the "First A.M.E. Church" to see a gospel choir performance for the first time.
  -Decides to pursue a career as a singer after being overwhelmed by it.

• 1996

  -After graduating from junior high school, enrolls in the famous performing arts school (LACHSA) in L.A. and majors in dance.
  -Joins the gospel choir, and in spite of being the only Asian singer, becomes one of the most popular members due to her talent and personality.

• 1998

  -At 17, performs at a Mary J. Blige concert at Universal Amphitheatre in L.A. with the choir, singing "A Dream" to an audience of 50,000.
  -Continues on to appear in Janet Jackson's music video "Go Deep," a cameo for which nearly 1,000 dancers auditioned.

• 1999

  -While preparing for the debut of the all-Asian girl group "SX4" produced by George Brown (Kool & the Gang,) is offered a solo deal from BMG Japan.
  -She decides to sign with BMG to pursue a professional music career in Japan.

• 2000

  -After graduating from LACHSA, moves back to Japan to release the solo debut single "Cry, just cry."

• 2001

  -Releases debut album "my name is AI"

• 2002

  -Transfers to label Def Jam Japan, (a branch of Universal Music) and becomes their first female artist.

• 2003

  -Releases the single "Last Words" from Def Jam Japan, and goes on a club tour in ten different cities in Japan.
  -In July, releases album "ORIGINAL A.I." which ranks 15th place on the Oricon album chart in its first week.
  -She proves her ability as a performing artist with her successful first live tour "ORIGINAL A.I. Live Tour 2003."

• 2004

  -Wins the "Best R&B Video" on Space Shower TV’s Music Video Awards 2004.
  -Releases album "2004 A.I." in June and ranks 3rd on the Oricon album chart in its first week of release, also awarded the Golden Disc.
  -Representing Japan, makes an appearance at "MTV Buzz Asia Concert" held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium, Korea (which holds about 10,000 people,) and "MTV Taiwan, Taipei Music Festival" at Taipei Civil Square (an open-air stage which holds about 60,000.)
  -Back in Japan, in September, she sells out every show of her 8-city, 10-performance live tour "2004 A.I. Japan Tour"

• 2005

  -Releases the first live DVD "MACHIGAINAI" in the beginning of the year.
  -Wins the "Best Female Video" at Space Shower TV's Music Video Awards 2005.
  -In the spring, sings the theme song for the movie version of "Crayon Shinchan," a popular animation series in Japan and many other countries.
  -Releases the single "Story" in May, which remains on the Oricon single chart for 1 year. It records 3,500,000 downloads in digital sales.
  -Releases album "MIC-A-HOLIC A.I." in July, which includes the hit single "Story" and ranks 4th on the Oricon album chart in its first week.

• 2006

  -Releases the live DVD "MIC-A-HOLIC A.I. JAPAN TOUR '05."
  -In May, wins the "Best R&B Video" for the Video Music Awards Japan on MTV Japan.
  -In the summer, performs for the first time "Summer Sonic '05," Japan's largest summer music festival.
  -In September, releases album "what’s goin’ on A.I." which ranks 2nd on the Oricon album chart in its first week.
  -Tickets for her "what’s goin’ on A.I. Japan Tour" (11 cities, 12 performances including the Nippon Budokan) sells out immediately.

• 2007

  -Releases her first live album "LIVE A.I." and a DVD of her live performance at the Budokan "Nippon Budokan A.I." in March.
  -On the same month, wins the "Best Female Video" at Space Shower TV’s Music Video Awards 2007.
  -In April, performs her first solo concert abroad, in Gold Coast, Australia.
  -In May, receives the "Best R&B" at MTV Japan's Video Music Awards Japan for her second consecutive year.
  -In the summer, appears in two big Rock Festivals, "Rock in Japan Festival 2007" and "Summer Sonic '07."
  -Releases album "DON’T STOP A.I." in December which ranks 4th on the Oricon album chart in its first week.
  -For the fourth time in a row, her album ranks in at Top Five on Oricon album chart.

• 2008

  -In February, she kicks off her 32-stage tour, including two days at the Budokan. The audience is expected to exceed 100,000.
  -Wins the "Buzz Asia Award" on MTV Video Music Japan Awards 2008.
  -Releases single "taisetsunamono" in June
  -In the summer, appears in big Festivals, "ap bank fes 08"
  -Wins the "RESPECT AWARD" on MTV STUDENT VOICE AWARDS
  -Releases single "okuribito / So Special –version AI" in Sep
  -Releases DVD "DON’T STOP A.I. JAPAN TOUR" in Nov
  -She kicks off her 9-city club tour

• 2009

  -Releases single "YOU ARE MY STAR" in Feb
  -Appears in fashion show, "KOBE COLLECTION 2009 SPRING/SUMMER" in Tokyo, Kobe and Shanghai China.
  -Releases album "VIVA A.I." in Mar.
  -In April, she kicks off her 40-stage tour. The audience of “VIVA AI tour” is expected to exceed 100,000.
  -She directed the movie “TAKE ACTION” which in the omnibus movie “BLUE PACIFIC”
  -Releases her first BEST album "BEST A.I." in Sep which ranks 1st on the Oricon album chart.

• 2010

  -Releases single "FAKE feat. Namie Amuro" in Mar.
  
  -Releases single "Still… feat. AK-69" including 2 more songs collaboration with Judith Hill and K’NAAN in Jun.
  
  -Releases single "Nemurenaimachi" in Aug.
  
  -Releases single “STRONGER feat. Miliyah Kato” in Oct.
  
  -Releases album “THE LAST A.I.” in Nov.
  
  -In November, she did her 10th anniversary show at the Budokan.
  The audience is expected to exceed 10,000.

• 2011

  -In April, she did her 9-stage tour. The audience of “FOR MUSIC FOR LIFE” is expected to exceed 20,000.
  
  -Releases single "Happiness, Letter In The Sky feat. The Jacksons" in Dec.