is a Japanese singer from

Amami Ōshima , also known as Amami, is the largest island in the Amami archipelago between Kyūshū and Okinawa. It is one of the Satsunan Islands. The island, 712.35 km2 in area, has a population of approximately 73,000 people. Administratively it is ...

. She sings in the

shima-uta is a genre of songs originating from the Amami Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture of southwestern Japan. It became known nationwide in the 2000s with the success of young pop singers from Amami Ōshima such as Hajime Chitose and Atari Kōsuke. N ...

style particular to that region, with distinctive falsetto effects.

History

Early life

Chitose Hajime began learning shamisen under her mother's encouragement from a young age. At age 10 she began to pick up ''

'', a style of singing passed down through generations. She won many folk and other song competitions during her teens, traveling to events across Japan. She released two traditional folk albums on cassette on an indie label, the first at age 16, and at age 17 was approached by numerous record labels following a grand prize win at a local folk song contest. Stating in a later interview that she was "suspicious of them", she decided not to join the labels or pursue music, and instead chose to study to become a beautician, following in the footsteps of her older sister. She moved to

Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of ...

in 1997. However, she suffered from asthma and had severe allergic reactions to many of the chemicals used by beauticians. She withdrew from school, but before returning home to

she contacted the artist management company Office Augusta, the only company that had gone all the way to visit her on her home island during the flurry to sign her at age 17.

Music career

In March 2001, she released a self-titled mini-album through Augusta Records. The album of cover versions included four English-language songs performed originally by Carole King,

The Sugarcubes The Sugarcubes ( Icelandic: Sykurmolarnir) were an Icelandic alternative rock band from Reykjavík formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. For most of their career, the band consisted of Björk Guðmundsdóttir (vocals, keyboards), Einar Örn Bened ...

, Jimi Hendrix and

Velvet Underground Weave details visible on a purple-colored velvet fabric Velvet is a type of woven tufted fabric in which the cut threads are evenly distributed, with a short pile, giving it a distinctive soft feel. By extension, the word ''velvety'' means ...

, but was so well received that Hajime was pushed to release another mini-album less than five months later. In August 2001, Chitose released her second mini-album with Augusta Records entitled , this time featuring five original tracks. In 2002, she released her first major label single on Epic Records – ("The Sea-God's Tree"). It was the third highest selling single of the year behind only Hikaru Utada's "

traveling Travel is the movement of people between distant geographical locations. Travel can be done by foot, bicycle, automobile, train, boat, bus, airplane, ship or other means, with or without luggage, and can be one way or round trip. Travel can ...

", and

Ayumi Hamasaki is a Japanese singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, model, spokesperson, and entrepreneur. By 2002, Hamasaki had earned the nickname "Empress of J-pop" due to her popularity in Japan and throughout Asia. Due to her success and relevanc ...

's " H", selling an estimated 850,000 copies. Three months later, she released a brand new single, . While also very popular, it was not nearly the success that her first single was, although it did help to cement her as a permanent artist. Her first major album, , followed later in the year. It sold 800,000 copies, charted for 57 weeks, and was the 16th highest selling album of the year. She released three more singles before her second major album, , was released in 2003. Shortly after a concert tour, and the release of a live album and DVD in 2004, Hajime announced that she would be getting married, and was to have her first child in 2005. She returned to the music industry in November 2005 with the single , the ending theme for the anime series ''

BLOOD+ Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the ...

''. The single was a hit, reaching No. 12 on the

Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan and Western music. It started as, which was founded by Sōkō Koike in ...

charts. She followed this success with , the ending theme for the anime ''AYAKASHI – Japanese Classic Horror''. The single sold 6,050 copies in its first week, and remained on the charts for seven weeks total. A third single, "Ao no Requiem" (青のレクイエ), was the theme song for the Studio GAGA film ''Hatsukoi''. The following week, Hajime released her third original major album, . A limited edition version featured a 13th track, with

Ryuichi Sakamoto is a Japanese composer, pianist, singer, record producer and actor who has pursued a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO). With his bandmates Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, Sakamoto i ...

), as well as a DVD containing the music videos for "Kataritsugu Koto", and "Haru no Katami". Following , Hajime took an extended break to spend time with her family and moving to Okinawa. She returned in 2008 with the release of "CASSINI" (カッシーニ), based on the theme of family and bonding. In August 2010 she released two albums simultaneously, the Japanese language "Orient" and the English language "Occident".

Influence

Studies have revealed that her particular style of singing, including aspects of traditional Amami-Ōshima music, has a relaxing effect that has been observed in electroencephalograms taken from the brains of people listening to her singing.

Discography

Indie albums

* 994.08.12Higya Merabe (ひぎゃ女童) ''- Cassette Tape, Central Gakki Records'' ''Side A'' # Naga Asabana Bushi (長朝花節) # Shonjoshu Bushi (俊良主節) # Kurudando Bushi (くるだんど節) # Magaryo Takajichi Bushi (曲がりょ高頂節) # Rankan Boshi Bushi (らんかん橋節)　　　　　　　 # Amagurumi Bushi (雨黒み節) # Shumichi Nagahama Bushi (塩道長浜節) # Honen Bushi (豊年節) # Komori Uta (子守唄) ''Side B'' # Yukyunnya Kana Bushi (行きゅんにゃ加那節) # Nagakumo Bushi (長雲節) # Shunkane Bushi (シュンカネ節) # Yoisura Bushi (ヨイスラ節) # Kunnyori Yoneago Bushi (国直よね姉節) # Kantsume Bushi (かんつめ節) # Shogachi Gin (正月着物) # Choukikujo (ちょうきく女節) # Mucha Kana Bushi (むちゃ加那節) * 002.06.09Shima • Kyora • Umui (故郷・美ら・思い) ''- originally released in 1997, it was re-released in 2002 by Central Gakki Records'' # Asakasetsu (朝花節) # Nagatomohanasetsu (長朝花節) # Shonjoshusetsu (俊良主節) # Kurudandosetsu (くるだんど節) # Kantsumesetsu (かんつめ節) # Shonkanesetsu (シュンカネ節) # Rankanhashisetsu (らんかん橋節) # Amekurumisetsu (雨黒み節) # Shusetsunagahamasetsu (塩道長浜節) # Yoshinori Nabe Kanasetsu (嘉徳なべ加那節) # Kunnyoriyoneagosetsu (国直よね姉節) # Osakumosetsu (長雲節) # Mucha Kanasetsu (むちゃ加那節) # Chookikujosetsu (ちょうきく女節) # Itoayatsurisetsu (糸繰り節) # Yoisurasetsu (ヨイスラ節) # Ikyonnyakanasetsu (行きゅんにゃ加那節) # Ikyooresetsu (行きょうれ節) # Kubamehasetsu (くばぬ葉節) # Magaryo Takachidjisetsu (曲がりょ高頂節) # Shoogatsugin (正月着物) # Hoonensetsu (豊年節) The songs in the two albums above are

folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes traditional folk music and the contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be called world music. Traditional folk music has b ...

songs of

Amami Islands The The name ''Amami-guntō'' was standardized on February 15, 2010. Prior to that, another name, ''Amami shotō'' (奄美諸島), was also used. is an archipelago in the Satsunan Islands, which is part of the Ryukyu Islands, and is southwest of ...

sung in

Amami language The The name ''Amami-guntō'' was standardized on February 15, 2010. Prior to that, another name, ''Amami shotō'' (奄美諸島), was also used. is an archipelago in the Satsunan Islands, which is part of the Ryukyu Islands, and is southwest of ...

. * 001.03.10Hajime Chitose ''- mini album, Augusta Records'' # Birthday (by The Sugarcubes) # Namae no nai Tori (名前のない鳥) # Sweet Jane (by Lou Reed / Velvet Underground) # Little Wing (by Jimi Hendrix) # Fuyu no Sanitorium (冬のサナトリウム) # Home Again (by Carole King) *

001.08.01 1. is the ordinal form of the number one in a number of European languages. 1. may also refer to: Association football Austria * 1. FC Vöcklabruck, a defunct Austrian association football club Czech Republic * 1. FC Karlovy Vary, a Czech asso ...

Kotonoha (コトノハ) ''- mini album, Augusta Records'' # Kotonoha (コトノハ) # Yakusoku (約束) # Ryuuguu no Tsukai (竜宮の使い) # Seirei (精霊) # Sanhachigatsu (三八月)

Major albums

* 002.07.10Hainumikaze (ハイヌミカゼ) # Sango Jugoya (サンゴ十五夜) # Wadatsumi no Ki (ワダツミの木) # Natsu no Utage (夏の宴) # Hikaru Kaigara (ひかる・かいがら) # Shinshin Raika (心神雷火) # 37.6 # Hatsukoi (初恋) # Hainumikaze (ハイヌミカゼ) # Kimi wo Omou (君ヲ想フ) # Rinto Suru (凛とする) *

003.09.03 3 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 3, three, or III may also refer to: * AD 3, the third year of the AD era * 3 BC, the third year before the AD era * March, the third month Books * ''Three of Them'' (Russian: ', literally, "three"), a 1901 no ...

Nomad Soul (ノマド・ソウル) # Triangle (トライアングル) # Neiro Nanairo (音色七色) # Sen no Yoru to Sen no Hiru (千の夜と千の昼) # Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi (いつか風になる日) # Hisui (翡翠) # Aurora Sora Kara Mitsumete Iru (オーロラの空から見つめている) # Kono Machi (この街) # Getsurei 17.4 (月齢１７．４) # Yuri Collection (百合コレクション) # Uragano Oka (ウルガの丘) * 004.08.04Fuyu no Hainumikaze (冬のハイヌミカゼ) ''- Double Disc Live Album'' ''Disc 1'' # Kotonoha # Triangle # Byakuya # Aurora no Sora kara Mitsumete Iru # Getsurei 17.4 # Hainumikaze # Kimi wo Omou # Yuri Collection # Yoru ni Yomeru Uta # Namae no Nai Tori # 37.6 # Shooryoo # Kono Machi ''Disc 2'' # Sango Jugoya # Shinshi Raika # Sanpono no Susume # Hummingbird # Neiro Nanairo # Wadatsumi no Ki # Sen no Yoru to Sen no Hiru # Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi # Mihachigatsu # Uruga no Oka # Hikaru Kaigara * 006.05.10Hanadairo (ハナダイロ) # Hitsuji no Dolly (羊のドリー) # Maebure (前兆) # Ao no Requiem (青のレクイエム) – theme song of a film "Hatsukoi / ''(First Love)''" of

Aoi Miyazaki is a Japanese actress. She is known for her roles in '' Nana'' and '' Virgin Snow''. Career Miyazaki started working in the entertainment industry at the age of four. Initially she appeared mostly in commercials, magazine advertisements, and ...

- Written and Composed by Sadayoshi Okamoto, – Arranged by COIL # Yomihitoshirazu (詠み人知らず) # Hanadairo (はなだいろ) # Haru no Katami (春のかたみ) – theme song of Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales
- Written and Composed by

Yumi Matsutoya , nicknamed , is a Japanese singer, composer, lyricist and pianist. Generally the writer of both the lyrics and the music in her songs, she is renowned for her idiosyncratic voice and live performances, and is one of the most prominent figures ...

, – Arranged by Masataka Matsutoya # Tsuyukusa no Yoru (蛍草の夜) # Kyouryuu no Egaki Gata (恐竜の描き方) # Reimei (黎明) # Amurita (甘露) # Kaze to Uta to Inori (風と歌と祈り) # Kataritsugu Koto (語り継ぐこと) – ending theme song of

Blood+ Blood is a body fluid in the circulatory system of humans and other vertebrates that delivers necessary substances such as nutrients and oxygen to the cells, and transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. Blood in the ...

- Written by HUSSY R, – Composed, Arranged by Tashika Yuuichi, – Arranged by Shintarō Tokita # Shinda Onna no Ko (死んだ女の子) / ''(The Dead Little Girl)''
- Written by Turkish poet

Nâzım Hikmet Mehmed Nâzım Ran (15 January 1902 – 3 June 1963), Note: 403 Forbidden error received 10 October 2022. commonly known as Nâzım Hikmet (), was a Turkish-Polish poet, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, director, and memoirist. He was ...

, – Translated by Nobuyuki Nakamoto, – Composed by Yuzo Sotoyama, – Produced and played piano by

008.07.16 8 (eight) is the natural number following 7 and preceding 9. In mathematics 8 is: * a composite number, its proper divisors being , , and . It is twice 4 or four times 2. * a power of two, being 2 (two cubed), and is the first number of t ...

CASSINI (カッシーニ) # Cassini (カッシーニ) # Megumi no Ame (恵みの雨) # Anata ga Koko ni Ite Hoshii (あなたがここにいてほしい) # Kasei Kuru Kuru (カセイクルクル) # Hotaru Boshi (蛍星) – Produced, Written and Composed by Shintarō Tokita from

Sukima Switch is a Japanese rock/jazz fusion duo consisting of core members , born May 9, 1978, and , born February 25, 1978, formed in 1999. Formerly with BMG Japan (bought by SMEJ in early 2009), they signed with Sony Music Japan's Ariola Japan label in ...

# Akakokko (あかこっこ) # Miyori no Mori (ミヨリの森) # Niji ga Umareru Kuni (虹が生まれる国) – Produced by Paddy Moloney from

the Chieftains The Chieftains are a traditional Irish folk band formed in Dublin in 1962, by Paddy Moloney, Seán Potts and Michael Tubridy. Their sound, which is almost entirely instrumental and largely built around uilleann pipes, has become synonymous wi ...

# Rokko Ballad (六花譚) # Tama Yura (玉響) (たまゆら) # Seiya Kyoku (静夜曲) # Sora ni Saku (空に咲く花) / ''(Flower in the Sky)'' – theme song of a drama " Boushi / ''(Caps/Hats)''"
- Written by Yoko Maruyama, – Supported by HUSSY R, – Composed by Yuichi Tajika, Yoshinobu Morikawa, Arranged by Takumi Mamiya

Singles

* 002.02.06Wadatsumi no Ki (ワダツミの木) # Wadatsumi no Ki (ワダツミの木) # Maboroshi no Tsuki (幻の月) # Yoru ni Yomeru Uta (夜に詠める　うた) * 002.05.22Kimi wo Omou (君ヲ想フ) # Kimi o Omou ( 君ヲ想フ) # Oyasumi (おやすみ) # BLUE * 002.11.07Kono Machi (この街) # Kono Machi (この街) # Hummingbird (ハミングバード) # Rinto Suru -strings version- (凛とする－strings version－) *

003.06.11 3 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 3, three, or III may also refer to: * AD 3, the third year of the AD era * 3 BC, the third year before the AD era * March, the third month Books * ''Three of Them'' (Russian: ', literally, "three"), a 1901 no ...

Sen no Yoru to Sen no Hiru (千の夜と千の昼) # Sen no Yoru to Sen no Hiru (千の夜と千の昼) # Byakuya (白夜) # TRUE COLOURS *

003.08.13 3 is a number, numeral, and glyph. 3, three, or III may also refer to: * AD 3, the third year of the AD era * 3 BC, the third year before the AD era * March, the third month Books * ''Three of Them'' (Russian: ', literally, "three"), a 1901 no ...

Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi (いつか風になる日) # Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi (いつか風になる日) # Sanpono no Susume (散歩のススメ) * 005.11.23Kataritsugu Koto (語り継ぐこと) # Kataritsugu Koto (語り継ぐこと) # Tsuki wo Nusumu (月を盗む) # Happiness is a Warm Gun *

006.03.08 6 (six) is the natural number following 5 and preceding 7. It is a composite number and the smallest perfect number. In mathematics Six is the smallest positive integer which is neither a square number nor a prime number; it is the second small ...

Haru no Katami (春のかたみ) # Haru no Katami (春のかたみ) # Ai to Iu Na no Okurimono (愛という名の贈りもの) # Perfect * 006.05.03Ao no Requiem (青のレクイエ) # Ao no Requiem (青のレクイエム) # Tooku e Ikitai (遠くへ行きたい) *

007.08.22 7 (seven) is the natural number following 6 and preceding 8. It is the only prime number preceding a cube (algebra), cube. As an early prime number in the series of positive integers, the number seven has greatly symbolic associations in religion ...

Anata ga Koko ni Ite Hoshii/Miyori no Mori (あなたがここにいてほしい/ミヨリの森) # Anata ga Koko ni Ite Hoshii (あなたがここにいてほしい) # Miyori no Mori (ミヨリの森) # Bojou Love is a Many Splendored Thing (慕情　Love is a many splendored thing) # Ushinawareta Mono-tachi e (失われたものたちへ) * [2008.07.02/ Hotaru boshi (蛍星) # Hotaru boshi (蛍星) # Siuil A run # Yasashii uta (やさしいうた)

DVD

* 004.08.04Music Film Hajime Chitose Live – Fuyu no Hainumikaze (ミュージック・フィルム　元ちとせライヴ「冬のハイヌミカゼ」) ''- DVD Featuring Live Performances and a 'Music Film' of Chitose in Amami O-Shima'' ''Music Film track list'' # Kotonoha (コトノハ) # Triangle (トライアングル) # Hainumikaze (ハイヌミカゼ) # Kimi o Omou (君ヲ想フ) # Yuri Collection (百合コレクション) # Hikaru Kaigara (ひかるかいがら) # Seirei (精霊) # Kono Machi (この街) # Shinshin Raika (心神雷火) # 37.6 # Wadatsumi no Ki (ワダツミの木) # Sen no Yoru to Sen no Hiru (千の夜と千の昼) # Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi (いつか風になる日) ''Bonus Live Material'' # Kotonoha (コトノハ) # Triangle (トライアングル) # Getsurei 17.4 (月齢 17.4) # Yoru ni Yomeru Uta (夜に詠める歌) # 37.6 # Seirei (精霊) # Sango Jugoya (サンゴ十五夜) # Sanpo no Susume (散歩のススメ) # Hummingbird (ハミングバード) # Neiro Nanairo (音色七色) # Wadatsumi no Ki (ワダツミの木) # Itsuka Kaze ni Naru Hi (いつか風になる日) # Sanhachigatsu (三八月) # Uruga no Oka (ウルガの丘)

References

External links

*
Office Augusta site

Official blog

Hajime Chitose's indies material @ HearJapan
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hajime, Chitose Sony Music Entertainment Japan artists 1979 births Living people People from the Amami Islands Musicians from Kagoshima Prefecture 21st-century Japanese women singers 21st-century Japanese singers