SHIINA RINGO PROFILE

Birthday: 25 November 1978
Hometown: Fukuoka, in the Southern island of Honshuu, Japan
Shiina Yumiko (her real name) was born in a middle-class family of music lovers. Since she was in elementary school, she started studying piano, music and ballet. She was a very shy girl, and once she had to make a self-introduction to her class, but couldn't utter a word and turned completely red: that's how she started to be nicknamed "Ringo" (apple).
Later, her high school days were a little less quiet. She was singled out by the other girls and boys, because she looked "different"; but outside school she had her world, where she played guitar and sang with several underground bands. After graduating, she spent some months in London studying recitation, and then, after returning to Fukuoka, at the age of 19 decided to escape from her hometown and leave to Tokyo, trying to pursue a music career.

Chronology
1998 - Debuts in May with the single "Koufukuron", followed by "Kabukicho no joou". A live tour in music stores helps her achieve bigger notoriety, anyway she doesn't pass unnoticed.

1999 - Her first album "Muzai moratorium", is one of the longest selling records in the history of Japanese music, and wins the Rock album of the year award at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. So she kicks off her first national tour, called "Senkou ecstasy" (Batting first ecstasy). She plays in Fukuoka, Osaka, Nagoya, Kanezawa, Tokyo and Sendai. In June, one show, in Akasaka TBS Hall (Tokyo), is broadcasted by the national tv channel TBS. After participating to many summer festivals, a new single comes out in October: it's "Honnou", whose video, where Ringo acts all sexy dressed as a nurse, makes a big sensation. Finally, in November she starts a short, unusual tour in University festivals, touring some of the most important Universities of Japan.

2000 - In January, two singles are released on the same day, "Tsumi to batsu" and "Gibs", both very successful. Then, in March, her second album "Shouso strip" comes on sale. It sells 2.000.000 copies in a very short time, and wins the Best album award at the Record Awards, and the Rock album of the year award at the Japan Gold Disc Awards. This year's live tours are many: the "Gekokujyo ecstasy" (14 dates) and the "Zazen ecstasy" (only one date at the Iizuka Yoshio Theatre) as Shiina Ringo; the "Okiritsu Japan" (4 dates) as Hatsuiku Status, a female band led by Ringo herself; and finally the "Gekikou quentice" (one date at the Harajuku Astro Hall) as Gyakutai Glicogen.

2001 - This isn't a very busy year for Ringo. She gets pregnant and gets married. She only releases one single in March, "Mayonaka wa junketsu", supported by the hyper-famous ska combo Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra.

2002 - Another quiet year, stirred by the release of the double cover album "Utaite myoli".

2003 - Ringo kicks off the year releasing a new single, "Kuki (Stem)". Her new musical direction leaves many people puzzled. Then, releases her long-awaited third album, "Kalk samen kuri no hana": she U-turns the simple band sound and uses freely various unusual instruments, to put into art her characteristic outlook on the world. I think it's quite meaningful that, even though this is her best album to date, it didn't win any award. She also tours lots in 2003, starting by the 12 date tour "Heisei Chuukei - Baishou ecstasy", followed by a secret live in Shinjuku Liquid Room, Tokyo (first appearance as Tokyo Jihen), and finally the "Sugoroku ecstasy" 9 date tour, ending with a performance in the famous hall Nippon Budoukan, Tokyo. She also has an exhibition dedicated to her at La Foret Museum in Harajuku, Tokyo, displaying videos, stage and videoclip outfits etc. The end of the year sees her release her last single as Shiina Ringo, "Ringo no uta".

2004 - On May, 31st Ringo declares she will continue her career as a member of Tokyo Jihen. They have partecipated to many summer festivals, and their debut single has been released on September, 8th.