Ringo Shiina

Ringo Shiina 椎名 林檎
Birth name	Yumiko Shiina
Born	November 25, 1978 (1978-11-25) (age 32) Urawa (Present: Saitama)[1], Saitama, Japan
Genres	Rock, Punk rock, Alternative rock, Experimental rock, Chamber music, Chanson, Jazz, Big band, Bossa Nova, ムード歌謡/Mood songs, 演歌/Enka
Occupations	Singer, Songwriter, Composer, Musician
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, bass guitar, drum, koto, shamisen, harmonica, melodica, harpsichord, accordion
Years active	1998–2004, 2007-present (solo) 2004–present (group)
Labels	Toshiba-EMI (1998–present)
Associated acts	Tokyo Jihen
Website	Official Site
Notable instruments
Duesenberg Star TV model DSR-SP

Ringo Shiina (椎名 林檎, Shiina Ringo^?)^[2], born Yumiko Shiina (椎名 裕美子, Shiina Yumiko^?), is a Japanese singer-songwriter born on November 25, 1978. She works both as a solo musician and singer as well as a member of the band Tokyo Jihen.

On the Nekoyanagi Line website, she described herself as "Shinjuku-kei Jisaku-Jien-ya (新宿系自作自演屋, a person who performs in her own Shinjuku-style play^?)" before.

She was ranked number 36 in a list of Japan's top 100 musicians provided by HMV in 2003.^[3]

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Initial solo career 1.2.1 Concerts and tours 1.2.2 Backing band 1.3 Tokyo Jihen 1.4 Resumption of solo work 1.4.1 Concert, Concert tour 1.4.2 Backing band 2 Awards 3 Singing and songwriting style 4 Influences 4.1 Japanese musicians 4.2 Western musicians 5 Stage Name 6 Theme songs and tie-ins 7 Songs offered to other musicians 8 Songs provided by other musicians 9 Songs covered by other musicians 10 Collaborations & Guest appearances 11 In popular culture 12 Musical instruments 12.1 Electric guitars 12.2 Acoustic guitars 12.3 Electric bass 12.4 Instrument amplifier 12.5 Keyboard instruments 13 Discography 13.1 Albums 13.1.1 Solo 13.1.2 Tokyo Jihen 14 Notes and references 15 External links

Biography

Early life

Yumiko was born in Urawa (now part of Saitama), Saitama Prefecture, to Kōtarō and Akiko Shiina, an oil company executive and full-time homemaker. She was born with an esophageal atresia in which the esophagus narrows as it approaches the stomach. Treatment of this involved several operations, at least one of which requiring her right shoulder blade to be cut open. These surgeries left Shiina with large scars on her shoulder blades, said to give the impression that an angel's wings had been removed.^[4]

Her first exposure to music came from her father's interest in jazz and classical music; additionally, her mother had majored in dance in college and practiced ballet. Her parents owned a large collection of music, a piano, and a guitar, and her father also was a devoted reader of music magazines. She began to take piano lessons at the age of 4 and studied classical ballet starting at the age of 5.

While very outgoing as a young child, Shiina became shy and quiet after her family moved to Shimizu (Present: Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka), Shizuoka Prefecture on account of her father's job. Her parents remember her as a mostly trouble-free child, except that she could not stand being alone and would throw tantrums if she could not have a friend to play with. Otherwise she was generally retiring and spent her early school days without attracting attention.

Following that, the family moved (again because of her father's job) to Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture and Shiina entered junior high school there. Fukuoka became an important city for her, though she lived there for only six years. While there she once again became an outgoing person. Her official biography announced that she came from Fukuoka, and she often answered interviews in Fukuoka dialect "Hakata-ben" at the time of her debut.

Entering junior high, she realized that it was impossible to become a ballet dancer. Her body had become less symmetrical, owing to the results of the operations in her infancy. The new piano and ballet teachers who didn't know her circumstances pointed out in succession that she couldn't give power equally to the right and left parts of her body, and she noticed that. She stopped taking ballet lessons, and stopped studying piano soon afterwards. On the other hand, she started listening to a wider range of music other than classical music or the records of her parents. She got absorbed in drama and longed to be a dramatist or to be involved in stage design. She was asked by her drama teacher to add music to the lines of a play, and taking advantage of this opportunity, she began her musical activities. She formed a band with her classmates and performed in the school festival. She played drums at the beginning, but finally sang as the lead singer. Although the band broke up, she began to make demos and began to aim to be a professional musician.

After entering high school, she worked in about 10 different bands and improved her musical skills by performing live. She was a guitarist and a lead singer in the main band, but, in the other bands, she played keyboards, a bass, or drums.

At the same time, she also busked near Nishitetsu Fukuoka station in Tenjin.

In 1994, she have an audition for "The 19th Horipro Talent Scout Caravan" following the advice of the man whom her parents knew. The total number of applicants is about 40,000-50,000 on average at the ordinary year. She was chosen as the representative of the Kyushu area, but lost the final.

In 1995, she participated in the national convention of "The 9th TEENS' MUSIC FESTIVAL" which Yamaha Corporation sponsored as a member of the all-girl band, Marvelous Marbles in which she performed vocals, and won a prize to encourage youth. She got to know with aiko and Takashi Taniguchi then, and cultivated a friendship with them.

She became a fan of the indie rock group Number Girl at that time because Hisako Tabuchi, the guitarist of the rival band with which she had often played with live joined Number Girl. She began to play the guitar emulating Hisako Tabuchi. She attended various shows when possible. A few years later, she asked Hisako Tabuchi to play guitar in recording some her songs, and formed the Indie rock band called Hatsuiku Status with Tabuchi. Ahito Inazawa, the drummer of Number Girl participated in recording of her third album Karuki Zaamen Kuri-no-Hana. In addition, she participated in the album of the new band Zazen Boys which Shutoku Mukai, the vocalist of Number Girl and Inazawa also sang backing vocals.

In 1996, she quit senior high school, and participated in "The 5th Music Quest 1996" which Yamaha Corporation sponsored similarly as a solo artist while working part-time in a pizzeria and in a security firm. She had already been requested to sign the contract from 2 or 3 record labels at the preliminary contest stage of Fukuoka Prefecture, but she participated in the finals stage just in case and won an Award of Excellence, (the winning tune was "Kokode Kiss shite"). However, she insisted that Yamaha could not use her talent to the fullest, and refused a contract with Yamaha. She ended up agreeing to a contract with Toshiba EMI. She said that the ratio of the factor that she contracted with EMI was the Blankey Jet City 80%, ORIGINAL LOVE 10%, The Beatles and the rest 10%.

Since she had already finished writing/composing most of the tunes for two albums, she submitted them at a planning meeting for her debut. However, she was harshly criticized by directors of EMI about her lyrics, and her opinions clashed with theirs many times. Since she was disgusted with the situation, she left for the U.K. counting on her friend's help in January, 1997. The lyrics of "Tadashii Machi" and "Identity" expressed her mind at that time. She was determined to make her debut as a singer after much worry, and went back to Japan three months later.

Initial solo career

Ringo Shiina's first official single was released in May 1998, when she was 19 years old. It was entitled "Kōfukuron" ("Happiness Theory"). In the video for this single, Shiina alluded to her surgery scars by wearing a pair of wings on her back. Although it was the title track, she didn't like the arrangement of this song as she felt it was too similar to her demo version and she initially wanted to make"Suberidai" the title song, but this was rejected by EMI as they felt the song would not be a big seller. She also wanted to release "Keikoku" or "Gibs" as the first single, but the then EMI director rejected it. However, thanks to the relative failure of the single, EMI stopped giving her such high priority and she was able to have more input into the promotion of her music.

She chose "Kabukicho no Joou" as the second single. She intervened in direction of the music video and chose the location of the video shoot. Although the song was not a big seller, its sensational lyrics and melody which was reminiscent of older Japanese pop music, gave her valuable exposure. Shiina dedicated the song to Ryoko Hirosue who had openly declared that she was a fan of Shiina's. Going so far as to attend theSenkou Ecstasy tour in the front row, mingling with regular fans.

Her third single and first hit was "Koko de Kiss Shite" which had a catchy tune and was a radical change from her prior singles. In the music video, she chose to replace a scene in which she appeared by herself and used a scene that had all the band members playing together instead. Encouraged by this success, she re-released "Koufukuron", resulting in it being a hit. She dedicated the song to Rie Tomosaka who was her close friend.

This was followed by the release of her first album, Muzai Moratorium (Innocence Moratorium), in February 1999. The album was a major hit. "Gibs" was due to be the next single, however, due to Shiina being hospitalized for aggravated influenza she had to cancel recording. Instead, "Honnou" was released as the 4th single. The music video for "Honnou" was set in a hospital based on Shiina's desire to use it as a motif. It stemmed from her frequent hospital visits as child and her hospitalization just prior to releasing the single. Although Shiina intended the video to have a cyberpunk feel or an to portray the image of a spacecraft's interior, many people interpreted it as cosplay, which disappointed her.

The 5th and 6th single, "Gibs" and "Tsumi to Batsu" were released at the same time to prevent clashing with the release of her second album, Shōso Strip (Lawsuit Winning Strip), in March 2000. This album was also a major success and is her best selling album to date. However, Prior to this release, Shiina had indicated that she would retire "Shiina Ringo" when she released three original albums. Surely she worked on various plans to succeed in a music industry, but, her plan worked out excessively. Her popularity had exceeded her expectations though she wanted to stay at the position that was nearer to the branch than the mainstream. At the time, she was among the top 3 Japanese female artists with Hikaru Utada and Ayumi Hamasaki in terms of popularity and the annual income. She was uncomfortable with being regarded as an "icon" even by people who were close to her, and that her fans said, "We love her since she surprises us each time". She wanted to stop being viewed as a commercial icon.^[5] Her planned retirement soon became common knowledge and she even appeared on the front page of a tabloid with the headline "Shiina Ringo will change her name to Shiina Mikan(orange)." When she began to produce her third album "Fushigi, Waizatsu, Ekisentorikku (不思議・猥雑・エキセントリック, Wonder, Vulgar, Eccentric^?)" (tentative title) she intended to make it her last solo album.

She released the 7th single, Mayonaka wa Jyunketsu in March 2001, with the intention of recording it on her third album, but it is the only single to date that was not recorded on an album.^[6] The music video was created in a retro-anime style because of her pregnancy, depicting Ringo as a sort of mid-'60s spy movie heroine. After recording the single, Shiina married Junji Yayoshi, a guitarist in her band, at the age of 24, and had a son. The two divorced 14 months later. Following her divorce, she intended to take an indefinte hiatus, but was unable to, and released a two-disc cover album which consisted of a compilation of multi-lingual covers entitled Utaite Myōri (Singer's Luck). Since she felt that a cover album didn't count as a bona fide album, she began to produce an original third album that she decided to record previously.

People around her suggested that she expand internationally, but Shiina refused　that and rejected a proposal of a foreign label to sell her third album in countries outside of Japan. She said, "The work I already have in Japan is as much as I can manage."

In 2003, she released her third album, titled Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana (Lime, Semen, Chestnut Blossoms).^[7] She was pleased to choose the members of the tour for the 3rd album. She felt that she would focus on composing music for other artists rather than performing herself. She appeared in the media after a long absence in the two major evening news program, News Station and News 23.

Towards the conclusion of her solo career, she had her trademark beauty mark removed, and released her final solo single, "Ringo no Uta" ("Apple's Song"), which was adopted in the national children's song TV program "Minna no Uta." This song can be described as a vivid summation of her career, including a music video with references to all of her previous videos.

Shiina undertook the role of music director for the stage play "KKP (Kentaro Kobayashi Produce) #004 Lens" ^[8] which is based on the story of her short film "Tanpen Kinema Hyaku-Iro Megane" in July 2004.

Concerts and tours

1998

Battle of the bands, nationwide promotional campaign, and so on.

1999

"Senkou Ecstasy" (先攻エクスタシー, Attacking-first Ecstasy^?) by Gyakutai Glycogen

"RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 1999 in EZO"

"Manabiya Ecstasy" (学舎エクスタシー, School Ecstasy^?) by Tensai Praeparat

2000

"Gekokujou Xstasy" (下剋上エクスタシー, Usurpation Ecstasy^?) by Gyakutai Glycogen

"Gokiritsu Japon" (御起立ジャボン, Stand up Japan^?) by Hatsuiku Status

"Zazen Extasy" (座禅エクスタシー, Zen meditation Ecstasy^?) by Gyakutai Glycogen

2003

"Baishou Ecstasy" (賣笑エクスタシー, Selling Variety Show Ecstasy^?)

"Sugoroku Ecstasy" (雙六エクスタシー, Sugoroku Ecstasy^?) by Tokyo Jihen

Backing band

Tokyo Jihen

On May 31, 2004, Shiina formed a band called Tokyo Jihen (東京事変^?). Tokyo Jihen is Japanese for "The Tokyo Incidents" and was first introduced in Shiina's Sugoroku Ecstasy tour and are featured on Shiina's Electric Mole DVD.

The original lineup of Tokyo Jihen was: Ringo Shiina (vocals, guitar, melodica etc.), ヒラマミキオ Mikio Hirama (a.k.a. Mikki) (guitar, backing vocals), 亀田誠治 Seiji Kameda (bass guitar), ヒイズミマサユ機 Masayuki Hiizumi (a.k.a. H是都M, H Zetto M or HZM, from jazz instrumental band PE'Z) (keyboard/piano) and 刄田綴色 Toshiki Hata (drums). All of them were members of the backing band of Shiina Ringo's solo tour "Sugoroku Ecstasy" in 2003.

In July 2005, the band announced that keyboardist Masayuki Hiizumi and guitarist Mikio Hirama had left Tokyo Jihen, and that new members were being sought for Tokyo Jihen's second album. In September 2005 the band announced through its website that it had selected two new members, 長岡亮介 Ryosuke Nagaoka (a.k.a. 浮雲 Ukigumo) on guitar and backing vocals and 伊澤啓太郎 Keitaro Izawa (a.k.a. 伊澤一葉 Ichiyou Izawa) on keyboards. Shortly thereafter, the band announced it would be releasing its second album (featuring the new lineup) in January 2006, and that it would be playing two concerts, at the Osaka-Jo Hall in Osaka and the Budokan in Tokyo, in February 2006.

Resumption of solo work

In late 2006, Ringo announced that she would resume work as a solo artist as the Music Director for the 2007 film Sakuran.^[9] She showed the demo of the instrumental music at first, but it was changed into the arranged existing songs by the director's intention. A new single and album have been announced, both of which seem to tie in closely to the movie (no soundtrack is planned) and appear to be due to the huge inspiration she received from working on the movie. Though Ringo is working on her own, she has also solicited the help of violinist Saitō Neko and the band Soil & "Pimp" Sessions, with whom she has performed before, to assist her in the recording of her new material. A song between her and Soil, titled "Karisome Otome (Death Jazz ver.)" was released on iTunes Japan exclusively on November 11, 2006. It quickly leaped to the top of the charts and remained there for days. After the success of the new album, she has continued work with Tokyo Jihen with a new album scheduled for a late September 2007 release.

In June, 2007, Shiina was requested the music of the kabuki "Sannin Kichisa" from Kanzaburo Nakamura^[10], and made the ending theme and some part of music.

In September, 2008, Shiina provided Japanese boy's band, Tokio with the two songs for their single. Taichi Kokubun who is a member of Tokio answered on the TV program^[11] that he took to Tokyo Jihen's performance, and asked her to offer a song.

In February, 2009, Shiina provided Japanese rock duo, Puffy AmiYumi with the songs. Ami who is Shiina's fan got to know with her through the introduction of Hikaru Utada. Ami made friends with her gradually and was offered a song by her.^[12]

In March, 2009, Shiina Ringo receives the newcomer prize in 2008 of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Fine Arts Award in the Popular Culture category.

In May, 2009, Shiina released a solo single entitled Ariamaru Tomi. It will be used as the theme song of the TV drama "Smile". The drama director is her great fan and devoted one year to talk her into making a theme song.

In June, 2009, Shiina released her solo album titled Sanmon Gossip after a long time.

On December 2, 2009, Shiina releases the single "Nōdōteki Sanpunkan" as Tokyo Jihen after an interval of about 2 years, and she is active as a band for the present.

Concert, Concert tour

2008

"RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL 2008 in EZO"

"Shiina Ringo (nama)Ringo Haku ～Jusshuunen-Kinensai～" (椎名林檎 (生)林檎博’08 ～10周年記念祭～, Shiina Ringo (live)Ringo Expo '08 -The 10th anniversary festival-^?)

2009

"Kame no Ongaeshi" (亀の恩返し, The Grateful Turtle^?)

Backing band

Awards

1999

• Best Female Video for "Honnou" - Space Shower Music Video Awards 99

2000

• Best Female Video for "Tsumi to Batsu" - Space Shower Music Video Awards 00
• Best Album for "Shouso Strip" - 42nd Japan Record Awards

2002

• Best Animation Video for "Mayonaka wa Junketsu" - Space Shower Music Video Awards 02
• Best Web Site - Space Shower Music Video Awards 02

2004

• Best Art Direction Video for "Kuki (STEM) ~Daimyou Asobi hen~" - Space Shower Music Video Awards 04

2005

• Best Group Video for "Gunjou Biyori" (Tokyo Jihen) - Space Shower Music Video Awards 05

2007

• Music prize and Excellent prize for "Sakuran" (music director) - 31st Japan Academy Prize

2008

• Best Technical Works Video for "Killer Tune" (Tokyo Jihen) - Space Shower Music Video Awards 08

2009

• The newcomer prize of 2009 - Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology’s Fine Arts Award in the Popular Culture category

2010

• Best Artist & Best Female Video for "Tsugou no Ii Karada" (Dir: Kodama Yuuichi) - Space Shower Music Video Awards 10

Singing and songwriting style

Shiina is an accomplished musician and songwriter who writes music spanning numerous genres. She is well known for her eccentricity, rolling her "r"s and creating promotional music videos with striking visuals.

She admired Eddi Reader’s voice, but she felt that she didn't have the clear voice like Eddi and sounded hoarse. She had an inferiority complex in her husky voice since childhood. Then, she actually referred to Janis Ian's singing and made also "Seventeen" influenced by Ian's "At Seventeen". She later covered "Love Is Blind".

She listens to many genres of music. At the time of her debut, there were about 10 pages of lists which her favorite musicians' names were closely written in. They were various with classical music, the Japan and U.S. standard number in the 50's-60's, contemporary rock, and the local band of Fukuoka. ^[13]

She can play various musical instruments. She mainly plays rhythm guitar, but she plays other musical instruments. In live music, she sometimes plays the piano and plays the bass guitar rarely. In recording, she sometimes plays a piano and a drum, and rarely plays uncommon musical instruments, such as a melodica and a samisen.

Shiina's lyrics often contain complex and archaic language. Printed lyrics in her liner notes regularly feature kanji that are not in common use.

Musically, Shiina's songwriting style steadily became more complex over the course of her solo career, incorporating more varied instruments and more elaborate production with each album. Although Shiina's influence in songwriting is still dominant in Tokyo Jihen, arrangements have been stripped down to a more standard rock and roll style, highlighting the roles of the individual players in the band.

Influences

Japanese musicians Oldies The Peanuts Hiromi Ōta Junko Yagami Kiyoshi Hasegawa Eiko Shuri Takao Kisugi Hakudo Otsuka Akira Inaba Keiko Maruyama Toi et Moi Mayumi Itsuwa Momoe Yamaguchi The Stalin Recently Kirinji Guitar Wolf Blankey Jet City Quruli Elephant Kashimashi DMBQ Super Junky Monkey Yura Yura Teikoku Cascade Chara Heart Bazaar Takashi Taniguchi Number Girl BARBEE BOYS DEXIED THE EMONS MO'SOME TONEBENDER ORIGINAL LOVE (Takao Tajima)

Western musicians All times Trine Rein Björk France Gall Lisette Melendez Shanice Cyndi Lauper Madonna Marvin Gaye Michael Jackson New Edition Arrested Development Public Enemy Tony! Toni! Toné! Eternal Nina Simone Sarah Vaughan Ella Fitzgerald Maria Callas Carole King Janis Ian Tracy Chapman Sheryl Crow Robert Schumann Claude Debussy Zoltán Kocsis Cyprien Katsaris Radiohead Nirvana Suede Fairground Attraction The Cranberries Red Hot Chili Peppers Rage Against the Machine Pearl Jam Todd Rundgren Led Zeppelin The Beatles Helloween Mr. Big Sex Pistols Dead Kennedys

The music that dominated Shiina's childhood were Debussy's piano pieces. Due to her piano and ballet background, Shiina was not fond of music which was not plain piano music at that time. With the exception being The Peanuts, which her father loved. Shiina loved ballet music played by symphonies, and she often listened to the records in the ballet lesson that Yoko Morishita, the ballerina, edited at that time.

In the days of attending primary school, Shiina often listened to "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind's Sound Track, Toward the faraway land ..." of Joe Hisaishi and "Rendezvous" of Sadao Watanabe, and Billy Joel, Mayumi Itsuwa, etc. These records were owned by her parents. Under her mother's influence, Shiina also loved the older Japanese pop songs.

In Junior High, Shiina fell in love with the sound of Motown under the influence of her older brother and became a huge fan about Soul Train, citing Marvin Gaye to be a favorite. During this period, Shiina rarely listened to the Japanese music that she grew up with.

Whilst attending senior high school, Shiina started listening to Blankey Jet City, Radiohead, Björk and Sex Pistols. Shiina was shocked by the lyrical content of Blankey Jet City, sparking an interest within her to listen to Japanese music again. She always said that Thom Yorke of Radiohead was one of the people whom she respected (Two others being Peter Greenaway and Ken-ichi Asai/Benzie from Blankey Jet City). She also said that when she listened to Björk, and her heart was freed. She was also influenced by the Sex Pistols but more for their stage presence rather than their musicality. Shiina mentioned that it's ridiculous if a person from a middle class background poses as a punk. Shiina also had a fondness for Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as citing "Evil Empire" by Rage Against the Machine, and "No Code" by Pearl Jam to be some of her favorite albums of all time.

It was noted that after leaving high school, she revisited the music of Todd Rundgren, Led Zeppelin, and "The White Album" of Beatles etc.

Shiina admired Madonna, as well as her self-producing capability. When she was compared with Courtney Love because of the name of Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love which a lyrics of "Gibs" shows, or because of the performance on the live just after her debut, Ringo said that she didn't know well about Courtney Love and she referred to Madonna rather than Courtney.

The Irish girl appearing in a lyrics of "Akanesasu Kiro Terasaredo" is Dolores O'Riordan of The Cranberries.

When Jimmy Eat World first gained popularity, Shiina claimed, "I was right!"

Her performance using a megaphone is a parody or hommage to Michiro Endo who is the vocalist of The Stalin. Therefore, it was written as "Japanese Communist Party (日本共産党)" to her megaphone on her early live show.

She formed the band "Uchuu Antena (宇宙アンテナ, Space Antenna^?)" with Takashi Taniguchi (谷口崇, Taniguchi Takashi^?), who was the winner of "The 5th Music Quest 1996", in Fukuoka in 1996. They were active as "Takashi Taniguchi & Ringo Shiina" for a while even just after making their respective debut in Tokyo. They sang each songs, such as "Kabuki-cho no Joou", or the cover of Sheryl Crow and Stevie Wonder. She was influenced by Taniguchi’s "Yubi de Sayounara (指でさようなら, Good-bye with a finger^?)", and wrote the words of "Meisai."

Stage Name

At the audition of 1996, she introduced herself as "Shiina Ringo" for the first time. "Ringo" means "apple" in Japanese. She said that "Ringo" originated from her class nickname when she often blushed in public, or from The Beatles' drummer Ringo Starr on a TV program. However, she said that it was a stopgap and she doesn't reveal the true reason yet though there were some reasons about why she gave her name as "Ringo."

About the way of naming, she declared recently that she named herself "Ringo" by following cartoonist, Sensha Yoshida whom she likes. His first name is also the name of an object ("Sensha" in this case meaning "Battle Tank" ). (cf. also Yoshimoto Banana; Matsuo Basho.)

Theme songs and tie-ins

1998

The ending theme of "Ai no Hinadan" (TBS)

• Koufukuron

The theme song of "Pop Jam" (NHK)

• Kabukichou no Joou

1999

The theme song of the late-night TV drama "Shin-D Kokode Kiss Shite." (NTV) (from March 2 to April 27)

• Kokode Kiss Shite.

The Ending theme of "Downtown DX" (NTV)

• Kokode Kiss Shite.

The theme song of "Fun Fun's Recommend #007" (NTV)

• Honnou

TV commercial: Suntory "The Cocktail Bar Cassis & Orange -shaker-" (from April 23)

• Koufukuron -Etsuraku hen-

TV commercial: Suntory "The Cocktail Bar Cassis & Orange -squeeze the orange-" (from April 23)

• Akane Sasu Kiro Terasaredo

TV commercial: Suntory "The Cocktail Bar Love Story(kyohou-grape and yogurt) -grape-" (from July 16, 1999)

• Rinne Highlight

TV commercial: Suntory "The Cocktail Bar Sparkling(3 kinds) -sparkling campaign-" (from September 21)

• Keikoku

TV commercial: Suntory "The Cocktail Bar Mimosa -cracker-" (from September 25, 1999)

• Kabukichou no Joou

2000

TV commercial: Suntory "The Cocktail Bar Fairy Tale (peach and yogurt) -fairy tale-" (From February 5)

• Aozora

2003

The song used in the children's TV program "Minna no Uta" (NHK) (from October, 2003 to January, 2004)

• Ringo no Uta

2004

The song used in the movie "Casshern" (from April 24)

• STEM~Daimyo Asobi hen~

The song used in the stage play "Lens" (in July)

• STEM~Daimyo Asobi hen~

TV commercial: Mobile phone for au of Sanyo Electric, "W21SA" (from August 12)

• Gunjou Biyori (Tokyo Jihen)

2005

The theme song of the TV drama "Oooku～Hana no Ran～ (大奥～華の乱～, Oooku～The Revolt of The Magnificence～^?)" (Fuji Television) (from October 13 to December 22)

• Shuraba (Tokyo Jihen)

2007

At-Bat Music for Major League Baseball Player Ichiro Suzuki

• Yokushitsu
• Identity

The songs used in the movie "Sakuran" (from February 24)

• Karisome Otome (DEATH JAZZ ver.) (Shiina Ringo X SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS)
• Kono Yo no Kagiri (Shiina Ringo X Saito Neko + Junpei Shiina) – the ending theme
• etc.

The ending theme of the kabuki "Sannin Kichisa (三人吉三)"

• Tamatebako

TV commercial: Subaru's Kei car, "Stella" and "R2" (from November 7)

• Senkou Shoujo (Tokyo Jihen)

The ending theme of the movie "Mōryō no Hako" (from December 22)

• Kingyo no Hako

2008

The theme song of the TV drama "Yasuko to Kenji (ヤスコとケンジ, Yasuko and Kenji^?)" (NTV) (from July 12 to September 20)

• Amagasa (singer: Tokio)

2009

The opening theme song of the TV anime "Genji Monogatari Sennenki" (Fuji Television) (from January 15 to March 26)

• Hiyori-hime (singer: Puffy AmiYumi)

The theme song of the TV drama "Sumairu (スマイル, Smile^?)" (TBS) (from April 17 to June 26)

• Ariamaru Tomi

The song used in the children's TV program "Minna no Uta" (NHK)" (from June, 2009 to July)

• Futari-bocchi Jikan

TV commercial: Glico "Watering Kiss Mint Gum" (from November 17)

• Noudouteki Sanpunkan (Tokyo Jihen)

2010

TV commercial: Glico "Watering Kiss Mint Gum" (from January 16)

• Kachiikusa (Tokyo Jihen)

The theme song of the TV drama "Atami no Sōsakan (熱海の捜査官, Investigator in Atami^?)" (TV Asahi) (from July 30 to ?)

• Tengoku e Yōkoso (Tokyo Jihen)

Songs offered to other musicians

Date	Title	Artist	Type of Release
October 7, 1998	"Private"	Ryoko Hirosue	“Jeans” (single)
February 17, 1999	"Private"	Ryoko Hirosue	“Private” (album)
January 27, 1999	"Cappuccino" "Mokuren No Cream" (c/w song)	Rie Tomosaka	“Cappuccino” (single)
February 24, 1999	"Cappuccino" "Mokuren No Cream" "Shampoo"	Rie Tomosaka	“Murasaki.” (album)
June 21, 2000	"Shojo Robot" "Ikenai Ko" (c/w song) "Nippon ni Umarete" (c/w song)	Rie Tomosaka	“Shojo Robot” (single)
September 3, 2008	"Amagasa" "Kachuu no Otoko" (c/w song)	TOKIO	“Amagasa” (single)
February 25, 2009	"Hiyori-hime"	Puffy AmiYumi	“Hiyori-hime” (single)
June 17, 2009	"Hiyori-hime" "Shuen no Onna"	Puffy AmiYumi	“Bring it!” (album)
June 24, 2009	"Tokai no Manā" "Kodomo no Jōkei"	Rie Tomosaka	“Toridori.” (album)

Songs provided by other musicians

(unknown)

Courtney Love tried to give Shiina the song which she produced with Linda Perry, but Courtney was not able even to make her listen it.^[14]

You

Burt Bacharach wrote the song "You" for Shiina in 2008. She performed it for the first time at the "Rising Sun Rock Festival 2008 in Ezo" on August 16. Although it hasn't been recorded or released as yet.

Songs covered by other musicians

2002

Jun Matsumoto and Masaki Aiba of Arashi covered Kofukuron in Arashi Storm Concert 2003 "Atarashi Arashi"(from December 28, 2002 to January 13, 2003).

2003

Takao Tajima (Original Love) covered Okonomi de in "Odoru Taiyo" tour in July.

2006

KERA & the synthesizers (ケラ&ザ・シンセサイザーズ)^[15] covered Yattsuke Shigoto in the third album "Tonari no Onna (隣の女, The woman next door^?)" released on June 21.

2007

Nishikawa Satoko (西川郷子), the member of Shang Shang Typhoon, covered Honnou in her solo album "Hibiki (郷音, Sound in hometown^?)" released on February 21.

2008

Hayato Kaori (隼人加織), the Japanese singer of mixed Brazilian mother and Japanese father, covered Kesho naoshi in her first album "pluma" released on March 26. She translated the lyric into Portuguese.

Tonozuka Ryuichiro (土濃塚隆一郎), the jazz flugelhornist, covered Marunouchi Sadistic in his album "Top Gear" released on August 9.

GENERAL HEAD MOUNTAIN covered Tsumi to Batsu in their album "Tsuki Kanashi Buruu (月かなしブルー, the blue with the sad moon^?)" released on June 4.

Hasegawa Kiyoshi (長谷川きよし), Japanese singer-songwriter, covered Kesho naoshi in his 40th anniversary album "40nen. Mada kore ga Best dewa nai. Hasegawa Kiyoshi live recording. (40年。まだこれがベストではない。長谷川きよし ライヴレコーディング。, 40 years. This is not yet best. Kiyoshi Hasegawa, live recording.^?)" released on October 1.

Scott Murphy, ex-Allister which was a pop punk band from Chicago, Illinois, covered Kabukichou no Joou (My English Translation version) in his album "Scott Murphy - Guilty Pleasures 3" released on December 3.

2009

Marié Digby covered Gibusu in her cover album "Second Home" released on March 4.

fragrance covered Kabukichou no Joou in her album "Colorful" released on March 11.

Collaborations & Guest appearances

1998

Shiina Ringo participated in "becoming" and "Rock & Hammerg" as a chorus in the album, "becoming", of Takashi Taniguchi (谷口崇).^[16]

1999

Shina participated in "Good for us!" of Rie Tomosaka’s album "Murasaki" by the chat with Tomosaka.

Shina played the piano in the 4th track "Shiroi Yume" of Heart Bazaar's album "Baobab" released from the indie label.

2000

Shiina participated in recording of Rie Tomosaka's "Shojo Robot" as a pianist and a chorus. A guitar is Hisako Tabuchi (from Number Girl), a bass is Eikichi Iwai, a drum is Rino Tokitsu.

2002

Shiina sang a duet with Kusano Masamune, Nao Matsuzaki, Hikaru Utada and Junpei Shiina in her cover album "Utaite Myouri ~Sono Ichi~."

Shiina sang "Where Is the Love" with Junpei Shiina in his cover album "discover."

2004

Shiina participated in Zazen Boys' album "Zazen Boys II" (#2、4、5) released on September 1 as backing vocal.

2005

Osawa Shin-ichi (Mondo Grosso) asked to her the collaboration at the interview.^[17] He said, "I want to do something together with Miss Utada Hikaru or Miss Shiina Ringo." However, neither collaboration was realized.

Shina sang with Shuutoku Mukai of Zazen Boys in his song "Kimochi" in Bokura no Ongaku-Our Music- on July 8.

Shiina participated in Mo'some Tonebender’s album "Rockin' Luuula" released on December 7.

She was in charge of backing vocals and piano in "Rockin' Luuula", and was in charge of backing vocals and kazoo in "Mashed Potatoes Boogie."

2006

Shiina participated in Ken'ichi Asai's solo debut single "Kikensugiru" released on July 12 as a backup singer.

Shina appeared as a secret guest for Zazen Boys (August 18) and Mo'some Tonebender (August 19) in Rising Sun Rock Festival 2006 in Ezo.

Shiina collaborated with SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS on her single "Karisome Otome" released on November 11.

Shiina appeared with SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS in Music Station on December 8.

2007

Shiina collaborated with Saito Neko and Shiina Junpei on her single "Kono Yo no Kagiri" released on January 17.

Shiina sang a duet with Junpei Shiina in Music Station on January 19.

Shiina appeared in TV program of NHK-BS "Fōku no Tatsujin (フォークの達人, Master of folk songs^?)" featured Kiyoshi Hasegawa as a guest on February 2.

Shiina appeared with Tokyo Jihen as a guest singer for Ken Hirai in J-Wave 2000+7 on August 19.

2008

Shiina sang a duet in "Kimochi" with Mukai of Zazen Boys, and in Elephant Kashimashi's "Kanashimi no Hate" with Shu Koyama of Scoobie Do in Society of The Citizens vol.2.

2009

Shiina participated in "Maboroshi no Shi"^[18], the 3rd album of Maboroshi^[19], released on March 25. She sang a duet with Daisuke Sakama in “Amai Yamai (あまいやまい, The sweet illness^?) feat. Shiina Ringo” released on February 3. by digital distribution.

Shina sang her song "Senkou Shoujo" with Ken Hirai in Seiji Kameda's event "Kame no Ongaeshi" on May 2.^[20]

Shiina also appeared in the Maboroshi Tour 2009 "Rap & Guitar vol.2" at Akasaka BLITZ as a secret guest on May 15.^[21]

Shiina collaborated with Daisuke Sakama (Mummy-D) in "Ryūkō" and "Togatta Teguchi" in her album "Sanmon Gossip" released on June 24.

Shiina Ringo was featured in SOIL&"PIMP"SESSIONS's album, "6" in the track, "MY FOOLISH HEART ～crazy on earth～" on September 16.

In popular culture

1998

Shiina is the same age as Ayumi Hamasaki and MISIA who entered the music industry in the same year, and they are all from the same city, Fukuoka-shi. Shiina and Hamasaki even lived in the same ward (ku). The Seijinshiki(Coming of Age Day) of Fukuoka-shi in 1999 got upset by the rumor that the three people return home to attend it. However, only Shiina didn’t come.

1999

There have also been girls called "Ringo Gal" who imitated Ringo Shiina's clothing, and were featured by a tabloid TV show in Japan. They wore clothes of Vivienne Westwood and had Armour Rings on their fingers.

Haruko Haruhara of FLCL was produced under the influence of Ringo Shiina.^[22] At that time, the image of the naughty nurse who has a mole appeared in various media, such as comics, anime, video games, and sketch comedy.

2000

The Duesenberg Starplayer guitar which Ringo Shiina has used recorded the historical sales of about 1000 sets in Japan, which is mentioned in the history of the Duesenberg company. It was entirely thanks to her that Duesenberg, which was not very well known, became popular in Japan.^[23]

It is said that the character "Takana Shirakawa" from the Japanese manga Pyu to Fuku! Jaguar is largely modeled after Ringo Shiina's personality. The manga's author is her fan, and the influence is appaerent as Takana has a beauty spot on her lips in the same position as Ringo's.

Lenny Kravitz stated that he admired Ringo's Music video and both her way of making music and the presentation, and said that he wanted to meet her^[24].

2001

The game character "Murasaki" from pop'n music 7 was modeled after her. "Murasaki" is "Jisaku-Jien-kei Aatisuto (自作自演系アーティスト, the artist who performs in a play of her own writing^?)" and wears a kimono.^[25]

Harold Sakuishi drew the frontispiece of the 27th episode of his manga "BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad" on the model for the record sleeve of Shiina's single "Honnou." (Page 133 of Vol. 9)

Shiina got a mention in the Japanese movie "All About Lily Chou-Chou" with The Beatles, Bjork, and UA.

2002

It is said that the character "I-No" from the fighting game Guilty Gear XX was modeled after her. Her height and weight, her mole of lips, and the color and form of her guitar are the same as Shiina.

The nurse with brown-dyed hair "Mayumi" who appears in Hideo Okuda (奥田英朗, Okuda Hideo^?)'s novel "The Psychiatrist Irabu Series(「精神科医・伊良部シリーズ」)"^[26] which started in 2002 was modeled on Shiina Ringo, and there are the lines that a character asks about Shiina's newly released song in this novel.

2003

When Courtney Love visited Japan in 2001, she came to the office of the magazine "rocking on." Since she was dissatisfied with the prosperity of Nu metal or Rap-Rock of those days, she asked Yoichiro Yamazaki, the chief editor, "Is there anybody who can compose music perfectly in Japanese female rock artists?" Yamazaki recommended some CDs and Courtney was pleased in Shiina and Seagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her. She bought their CDs and went back to U.S.A. Then, Courtney planned the concert tour in which only women participate like Sarah MacLachlan's Lilith Fair, and tried to invite Shiina to the tour. However, she failed to get in contact due to Shiina's commitment to her third album.^[27] The plan of the tour also came to nothing afterwards.

2004

"Shiina" who appears in "Shiina basu tei de matsu. (椎名バス停で待つ。, Shiina waits at the bus stop.^?)" which is the c/w song of Maximum the Hormone’s fifth single is Shiina Ringo.

2005

When the movie "Nana" was released, the magazine writer asked Mika Nakashima, a starring actress, "How did you create the role of Nana Osaki in the movie?" Nakashima answered that she referred to Shiina Ringo's band because it was written in the original manga that she is the basis of the image of Nana.^[28] On the contrary, Ai Yazawa, the original mangaka, didn't talk about Shiina gradually, as she became a calm image. Now, Yazawa says that Nakashima is an image of Nana.

The main characters of the Japanese movie "Linda Linda Linda" must learn some cover songs within three days, and say the following lines. "How about Ringo Shiina?", "It is impossible in three days!"

2006

Shiina got a mention in "Last dance" which is a episode in the final series of the Japanese television drama "Furuhata Ninzaburō".

Taro Aso, the 92nd Prime Minister of Japan, stated about 3J (J-pop, J-fashion, Japanimation) which sweeps over Asia at the street oratory by the President candidates of the presidential election of Liberal Democratic Party in 2006 and in the book that he had written^[29], and he mentioned her along with Hikaru Utada as typical existence of J-pop.

2007

Mika visited to Japan and mentioned Ringo in several interviews as one of his favorite Japanese artists, alongside Puffy AmiYumi, The Yellow Monkey, Yoko Kanno, Yoshida Brothers^[30][31].

2008

Jack Barnett (Vo/G) of These New Puritans who was visiting Japan for the Summer Sonic 08 said in an interview that he was a great fan of Shiina Ringo and bought all her works which were not sold in the U.K. at the last visit to Japan.^[32] He also made her video when she participated in the audition link to his blog before.

2009

Her third album, "Kalk Samen Kuri no Hana", was ranked 2nd in the most underappreciated Japanese music of the last decade by CNN International Asia on December 22.^[33]

2010

Shiina got a mention in The Guardian as an artist who deserves to be seen and heard in the west.^[34]

Musical instruments

Electric guitars

• Duesenberg Starplayer II (Surf Green)

  She bought it by installments in her amateur days.

• Duesenberg Starplayer TV (Silver Sparkle)
• Duesenberg Starplayer TV (black-and-gold checkered pattern using gold leaf)

  This guitar is her signature model, "Ichimatsu (市松)". This was sold as the limited edition of Shiina Ringo's 5th anniversary.

• Duesenberg V-Caster (Surf Green)
• Fender Jaguar Special (made by Fender Japan)
• Fender Telecaster (custom-made by Fender Japan)
• Fender Stratocaster (Jimi Hendrix tribute)
• Gibson Firebird
• Gibson Flying V
• Gibson RD Artist
• NAGARE (Blue)

  This guitar is based on Fender Jazzmaster, and is equipped with the flashbulb, so it shines while playing. it doesn't make a sound unless opening a lock with a key.

• Rickenbacker 620 (Jetglo)

  She bought it with her royalties received first.

• Tele Phantom (Red, made by Songbird guitar)

  This guitar is using "Vox Phatnom markⅥ" as the motif, and is the same model of the guitar of Ukigumo except a color.

• etc.

Acoustic guitars

• K.Yairi FK-1J

Electric bass

• Danelectro 58 Longhorn

Instrument amplifier

• Orange Overdrive OR412

  She began to use this under the influence of Susumu Nishikawa who was her session guitarist in the early days.

Keyboard instruments

• Toy piano

  She used it on Senko Ecstasy tour.

Discography

Albums

Solo

Date of Release	Title
24 February 1999	無罪モラトリアム Muzai Moratorium (Innocence Moratorium)
31 March 2000	勝訴ストリップ Shouso Strip/Shōso Strip (Lawsuit Winning Strip)
13 September 2000	絶頂集 Zecchōshū (Ecstasy Collection)
27 May 2002	唄ひ手冥利 ～其ノ壱～ Utaite Myōri: Sono Ichi (Singer's Luck ~Part One~)
23 February 2003	加爾基　精液　栗ノ花 Kalk Samen Kuri no Hana (Lime, Semen, Chestnut Blossoms)[7]
21 February 2007	平成風俗 Heisei Fūzoku (Japanese Manners/The Heisei era manners and customs)[35]
2 July 2008	私と放電 Watashi to Houden (Me and Electric Discharge)
24 June 2009	三文ゴシップ Sanmon Gossip (Superficial Gossip)

Tokyo Jihen

Date of Release	Title
25 November 2004	教育 Kyōiku (Education)
26 January 2006	大人(アダルト) Adult
26 September 2007	娯楽(バラエティ) Variety
24 February 2010	スポーツ Sports

Notes and references

External links

• Official website of Shiina Ringo at EMI Music Japan/Virgin Music (Japanese)
• SR Nekoyanagi Line - Official website of "Kuronekodow" which is a private office of Shiina Ringo (Japanese) (English)
• Official website of Tokyo Jihen at EMI Music Japan/ (Japanese)