Kiroro

Kiroro キロロ
Origin	Okinawa, Japan
Genres	J-pop
Years active	1996–present
Labels	Victor Entertainment
Members	Chiharu Tamashiro (玉城たまき 千春ちはる) Ayano Kinjō (金城きんじょう 綾乃あやの)
Website	Kiroro official web site

Kiroro (キロロ) is a Japanese pop duo from Yomitan, Okinawa that debuted in 1996.

History

Kiroro debuted in 1996 as an independent band, and later made their major debut in 1998 with the song "Nagai Aida (長ながい間あいだ)". They performed on Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1998, 1999 and 2001.

Etymology

When vocalist Chiharu Tamashiro was in her primary school days, she visited Ikedamachi, Hokkaido, for a regional exchange program. The Ainu language made a deep impression on her. With the Ainu words 'Kiroru' and 'Kiroro-an', Tamashiro and Kinjo decided on the name "Kiroro" for the group; "Kiroru" meaning a wide walking path and "Kiroro-an" meaning "resilient" and "healthy."

The name "Kiroro" however, was already registered in 1981 to the Yamaha Organization in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka, for the Kiroro Resort in Akaigawa Village, Hokkaido. Victor Entertainment made agreements with the Yamaha organization for use of the name.

Members

Both members are born and raised in Yomitan village in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan:

• Chiharu Tamashiro (玉城たまき 千春ちはる, Tamashiro Chiharu, born (1977-04-17) April 17, 1977) - chorus and vocals
• Ayano Kinjō (金城きんじょう 綾乃あやの, Kinjō Ayano, born (1977-08-15) August 15, 1977) - keyboard

Discography

Albums

• Nagai Aida ~Kiroro no Mori~ (長ながい間あいだ ～キロロの森もり～) - October 1, 1998
• Hiruyasumi (昼休ひるやすみ) - September 22, 1999 (Ayano Kinjo's solo album)
• Suki na Hito ~Kiroro no Sora~ (好すきな人ひと ～キロロの空そら～) - December 8, 1999
• Nanairo (七なな色しょく) - September 26, 2000 (concept album)
• Tree of Life - January 13, 2001 (Taiwan), January 24, 2001 (Japan) - the first time (and only time, up to the album Wonderful Days) that the date of release in Taiwan was earlier than Japan
• Kiroro no Uta 1 (Kiroroのうた1) - February 21, 2002
• Four Leaves Clover - December 18, 2002
• Diary - March 3, 2004
• Kaeru Basho (帰かえる場所ばしょ) - January 21, 2005 (Okinawa limited edition), June 23, 2005 (national edition, mini album) - dedicated to their homeland, Okinawa; the 'national level' edition also contains an introductory flash clip that describes the places of interest in Okinawa
• Wonderful Days - November 23, 2005
• Kiroro no Ichiban Ii Uta Atsumemashita (キロロのいちばんイイ歌かあつめました) - March 29, 2006
• Kiroro no Hōra, Naki Yanda! (キロロのほーら、泣なきやんだ!) - March 7, 2007 (played by Ayano, a lullaby album for babies)
• Kiroro no Ichiban Ii Uta Atsumemashita ~10th Anniversary Edition~ (キロロのいちばんイイ歌かあつめました～10th Anniversary Edition～) - March 7, 2007 (collector's edition)
• Kodomo to Issho ni Kikitai Kiroro no uta (子供こどもといっしょにききたいキロロのうた) - March 29, 2016
• Aihaberu (アイハベル) - January 24, 2018

Singles

• "Nagai Aida" (長ながい間あいだ) - January 21, 1998
• "Mirai e" (未来みらいへ) - June 24, 1998
• "Fuyu no Uta" (冬ふゆのうた) - November 21, 1998
• "Ao no Jumon" (青あおのじゅもん) - February 24, 1999
• "Saigo no Kissu" (最後さいごのKiss) - June 23, 1999
• "Suki na Hito" (好すきな人ひと) - November 10, 1999
• "Himawari" (ひまわり) - March 23, 2000
• "Namida ni Sayonara" (涙なみだにさよなら) - July 26, 2000
• "Aitai" (逢あいたい) - December 6, 2000
• "Best Friend" - June 6, 2001
• "Aisanai" (愛あいさない) - August 21, 2002
• "Hitotsubu no Namida" (ひとつぶの涙なみだ) - December 4, 2002
• "Bokura no Messēji" (僕ぼくらのメッセージ) - November 21, 2003
• "Mou Sukoshi" (もう少すこし) - January 21, 2004
• "Ikitekoso" (生いきてこそ) - July 6, 2005 (Mushiking anime opening theme song)
• "Wasurenai de ~Live at Okinawa '05~" (忘わすれないで〜Live at OKINAWA '05〜) - October 21, 2005 (with special edition)
• "Shiawase no Tane ~Winter version~" (幸しあわせの種たね ～Winter version～) - December 3, 2008
• "Minna Anata wo Aishiteru" (みんなあなたを愛あいしてる) - March 4, 2009 (anime film Chō Gekijōban Keroro Gunsō: Gekishin Dragon Warriors theme song)

Note: All singles from "Nagai Aida" up to "Suki na Hito" were released again on February 21, 2002.

Personal lives

In January 2005, vocalist Chiharu Tamashiro announced that she was engaged. On April 17 (which coincided with her birthday), she and her fiancé entered the family registry. In May, pianist Ayano Kinjo announced her pregnancy and marriage. In July, Tamashiro announced her pregnancy. In September 2005, they held their "four person concert" in Okinawa with the finale, Wasurenaide ("Don't Forget") before their maternal leave. Kinjo gave birth to a daughter in November 2005. Tamashiro gave birth to a son in February 2006. In March 2007, Tamashiro announced her second pregnancy, and in September 2007, she gave birth to a daughter. In August 2008, Kinjo announced her second pregnancy, and she gave birth to a son in March 2009. Also in March 2009, Tamashiro announced her third pregnancy, and she gave birth to another daughter in September 2009. In October 2010, Kinjo announced her third pregnancy, and she gave birth to another son in March 2011. In April 2013, Kinjo divorced her husband. In January 2023, Kinjo announced her remarriage to a guitarist, Yoshimi Katayama from the band Kata-Kana.

References

• The Libertytimes Web
• http://ent.sina.com.cn/2003年ねん04月がつ10日とおか12:23 南方みなかた都市とし报
• https://web.archive.org/web/20070818095341/http://www.okinawatimes.co.jp/eng/19980919.html The Okinawa Times. September 9, 1998.
• http://tw2.yahoo.com/profile/285

External links

• Official website (multi language)