is a Japanese pop singer and songwriter from

Sapporo is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in Hokkaido, Japan. Located in the southwest of Hokkaido, it lies within the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, a tributary of the Ishikari River. Sapporo is the capital ...

Hokkaido is the list of islands of Japan by area, second-largest island of Japan and comprises the largest and northernmost prefectures of Japan, prefecture, making up its own list of regions of Japan, region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō fr ...

under B-Gram Records label.

Biography

In 1989, she passed

Being Inc. (aka B ZONE Group), formerly known as (aka Being Giza Group), is a Japanese private entertainment conglomerate and recording label based in Tokyo's Roppongi district, founded on November 1, 1978, by music producer Daiko Nagato. The company a ...

's singers audition, the "3rd BAD". In 1992, she debuted with the single "Stop Motion" released under B-Gram Records. Her second single "DA・KA・RA" sold 1.1 million copies and won the Japan Record Grand Prix Newcomer Award of the Year. Because of her rare public appearances, she was originally known as a phantom singer, like

Izumi Sakai , known professionally as , was a Japanese pop singer and core member of the group Zard. As Sakai was the only member in the group for the majority of the 16 years which it was active, Zard and Sakai may be referred to interchangeably. She was ...

Zard (stylized as ZARD) were a Japanese pop rock group, originally with five members, with lead vocalist Izumi Sakai as its only constant member. Izumi Sakai was also the band's core member. Zard's work was sold under the record label B-Gram Reco ...

. Her famous songs are "DA・KA・RA", "Chotto", as well as others. "Anata Dake Mitsumeteru", the first ending theme for ''

Slam Dunk A slam dunk, also simply known as a dunk, is a type of basketball shot that is performed when a player jumps in the air, controls the ball above the horizontal plane of the rim, and scores by shoving the ball directly through the basket with on ...

'', was the number 2 song for the month of January 1994, and is certified as a Million record, selling 1,087,160 copies. She joined in production of albums and singles in position of backing chorus for various artist including

Field of View The field of view (FOV) is the angle, angular extent of the observable world that is visual perception, seen at any given moment. In the case of optical instruments or sensors, it is a solid angle through which a detector is sensitive to elec ...

Wands A wand is a thin, straight, hand-held stick of wood, ivory, or metal. Wand may also refer to: People *Bruce Wands, an American digital artist and educator *Günter Wand, a German orchestra conductor and composer *Hart Wand, an early white Americ ...

, Deen,

and many others. In 1999, she released a compilation album ''Maki Ohguro Best of Best -All Singles Collection-'', then left Being Inc. In 2002,

Satoshi Takebe is a Japanese musician, keyboard player, arranger, music director and producer from Tokyo. Music career He is the composer, keyboardist, arranger, and musical producer for artists such as Yo Hitoto, Miki Imai, Tomomi Kahara, JUJU, Yuzu, and ...

suggested they form a rock band to support Ohguro. It included

Luna Sea Luna Sea (stylized as LUNA SEA) is a Japanese Rock music, rock band formed in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1986. Due to the use of makeup and costumes early in their career and their widespread popularity, they are considered one of the most successf ...

drummer Shinya,

hide with Spread Beaver , known professionally as hide, was a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the rock band X Japan from 1987 to 1997 and rose to prominence in Asia as a solo artist f ...

bassist Chirolyn, and guitarist Shinjiroh Inoue. Ohguro signed with

EMI Music Japan , formerly , was one of Japan's leading music companies. It became a wholly owned subsidiary of British music company EMI Group Ltd. on June 30, 2007, after Toshiba sold off its previous 45% stake. Its CEO and president was Kazuhiko Koike. Wh ...

in 2003. With a lineup of Takebe, Shinya, The Street Sliders guitarist Kouhei Tsuchiya and

Judy and Mary Judy and Mary (often stylized as JUDY AND MARY) was a Japanese rock band formed in 1991 in Japan by bassist Yoshihito Onda and vocalist Yuki, with drummer Kohta Igarashi and guitarist Taiji Fujimoto completing the lineup in 1992. Guitarist Takuy ...

bassist Yoshihito Onda, released the cover album ''Copy Band Generation Vol. 1'' on 17 March 2004. They temporarily reunited for a tour in October 2007. On 25 August 2010, the same day her studio album ''Suppin'' was released, Ohguro announced a hiatus from music activities due to ovarian illness which resulted in

hysterectomy Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus and cervix. Supracervical hysterectomy refers to removal of the uterus while the cervix is spared. These procedures may also involve removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy), fallopian tubes ( salpi ...

due to multiple miscarriages. After six-years of hiatus, in June 2016 she announced resume of her music activities under her debut company, Being Inc. Two months later on 10 August, she released new digital single "Higher Higher". On 18 November 2016 Maki has made her television appearance after 18 years in

Music Station , stylised in all caps, is a Japanese music television program. Broadcasting live weekly on TV Asahi since October 24, 1986, it currently airs from 9PM-10PM on Fridays. The program is also colloquially known as , , and . The show is currently sy ...

program. Since February 2017 she is performing her live tour ''Maki Ohguro 2017 Live-STEP!! ~Higher↗↗Higher↗↗Chuunen yo Atsuku Nare!! Greatest Hits +~'' in 47 prefectures. At the end of May, Ohguro participated as a guest artist at the annual touring ice show

Fantasy on Ice is an annual touring ice show in Japan produced by CIC Co., Ltd. The show emerged from the "Philippe Candeloro Japan Tour 2001", named after retired French figure skater Philippe Candeloro, and was held under the name "Fantasy on Ice" the followi ...

in Makuhari, where she performed to her song "La La La" in the finale amongst others. In September 2017, she released her first single after hiatus titled "Lie,Lie,Lie", which was used in media as an opening theme for Anime television series

Case Closed ''Case Closed'', also known as , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Gosho Aoyama. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' since January 1994; its chapters are collected in 10 ...

. Ohguro provided backing vocals for three songs on

's 2017 album '' Luv'', and later performed at their Lunatic Fest at Makuhari Messe on 24 June 2018. So far she has released 37 singles, 15 studio albums and 6 best-of albums. On March 11, 2022, Ohguro participated in the Shuichi "Ponta" Murakami tribute concert "One Last Live", performing "Respect" (with

Miho Fukuhara (born June 19, 1987) is a Japanese singer, songwriter and actress who made an independent label debut in 2006, releasing a single titled "The Roots" and mini-album titled ''Step Out''. In early 2008, she made her major-label debut under Sony Mus ...

) and "La La La". She also joined Mie in performing the Pink Lady hit single "

Wanted (Shimei Tehai) is the fifth single released by Pink Lady on September 5, 1977. The single topped the Japan charts at number one, having sold 1,650,000 copies, and spent twelve weeks at the top. Written by Yū Aku and Shunichi Tokura, "Wanted" is about a wom ...

Discography

Studio albums

*''

Stop Motion Stop-motion (also known as stop frame animation) is an animated filmmaking and special effects technique in which objects are physically manipulated in small increments between individually photographed frames so that they will appear to exh ...

'' (1992) *''

Da Da Da "Da Da Da I Don't Love You You Don't Love Me Aha Aha Aha" (usually shortened to "Da Da Da") is a song by the German band Trio. Trio was formed in 1980 by Stephan Remmler, Gert "Kralle" Krawinkel and Peter Behrens. Released as a single in 198 ...

'' (1993) *'' U.Be Love'' (1993) *'' Eien no Yume ni Mukatte'' (1994) *'' La La La'' (1995) *'' Power of Dreams'' (1997) *''

Mother Earth Mother Earth may refer to: *The Earth goddess in any of the world's mythologies *Mother goddess *Mother Nature, a common personification of the Earth and its biosphere as the giver and sustainer of life Written media and literature * "Mother Ear ...

'' (1998) *'' O'' (2001) *''

Presents A gift or present is an item given to someone (who is not already the owner) without the expectation of payment or anything in return. Although gift-giving might involve an expectation of reciprocity, a gift is intended to be free. In many cou ...

'' (2002) *'' Rhythm Black'' (2003) *''

Happiness Happiness is a complex and multifaceted emotion that encompasses a range of positive feelings, from contentment to intense joy. It is often associated with positive life experiences, such as achieving goals, spending time with loved ones, ...

'' (2005) *'' Positive Spiral'' (2008) *'' Suppin'' (2010) *'' Music Muscle'' (2018) *'' Phoenix'' (2020) *''55 Red'' (2025) *''55 Black'' (2025)

List of provided works

Lyricist

* Manish ** Roman Sakusen Go and Go! ** Sunao no Mama Kiss Shiyou! ** Kimi he no Melody ** Kimi ga Hoshii Zenbu ga Hoshii ** Nemuranai Machi ni Nagasarete *

Nanase Aikawa is a Japanese singer. She publishes her music under the Motorod label, a division of Avex Group. Biography Early life She was born in Higashiyodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan on February 16, 1975. Throughout her school years, Nanase had sung and p ...

**Shock of Love *

Tube Tube or tubes may refer to: * ''Tube'' (2003 film), a 2003 Korean film * "Tubes" (Peter Dale), performer on the Soccer AM television show * Tube (band), a Japanese rock band * Tube & Berger, the alias of dance/electronica producers Arndt Rör ...

**Natsuiro no Time Capsule * La PomPon ** Koi wa Su-gu Dance ** Yada! Iyada! Yada! – Sweet Teens ver.- *

An Cafe is a Japanese pop rock band formed in 2003 and signed to Sony Music Japan. Their visual image is Japanese street fashion#Oshare kei, oshare kei,''Shoxx Bis'' No 3 October 2004 issue, pg 69 and they describe their music as "Harajuku Dance-rock, D ...

**Sennen Dive!!! *

Hiromi Go , is a Japanese singer, part of Sony Music Entertainment Japan. His real name is . In the 1970s, he was called the with Goro Noguchi and Hideki Saijo. He belonged to Johnny & Associates, but three years after debut in 1975, left the agency ...

** Irregular

Composer

*Silk **John Lenon ga Kikoeru Yoru *Litz.Co **What do you wanna *

Keiko Utoku is a Japanese singer and songwriter under UK Sweet label. Biography Keiko made her debut with a chorus part in the band B.B.Queens then joined with J-pop female band Mi-Ke from 1991 to 1993, before starting a solo career. As a child, Utoku l ...

** Anata ni Aitai

Magazine appearances

From Music Freak Magazine *1994 November Vol.1 *1994 December–January Vol.2 *1995 April Vol.5 *1995 July Vol.5 *1995 October Vol.10 *1995 December Vol.12 *1996 January Vol.13 *1996 March Vol.15 *1996 May Vol.18 *1996 June Vol.19 *1996 August Vol.21 *1996 September Vol.22 *1996 October Vol.23 *1996 November Vol.24 *1997 January Vol.25 *1997 April Vol.29 *1997 May Vol.30 *1997 June Vol.31 *1997 July Vol.32 *1997 August Vol.33 *1997 September Vol.34 *1997 December Vol.37 *1998 January Vol.38 *1998 February Vol.39 *1998 August Vol.45 *1998 September Vol.46 *1998 October Vol.47 *1999 February Vol.51 *1999 April Vol.53 *1999 May Vol.54 *1999 June Vol.55 *1999 July Vol.56 *1999 August Vol.57 *1999 September Vol.58 *1999 December Vol.61 *2000 January Vol.62 *2000 March Vol.64 *2000 August Vol.69 *2001 July Vol.80 From J-Rock Magazine *1995 September *1996 September *1997 October *1999 October

References

External links

*
Maki Oguro , EMI Music Japan
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ohguro Maki 1969 births Living people Japanese women pop singers Japanese women singer-songwriters Singers from Sapporo B Zone artists Anime musicians Fantasy on Ice guest artists 20th-century Japanese women singers 20th-century Japanese singer-songwriters 21st-century Japanese women singers 21st-century Japanese singer-songwriters