Minmi

This article is about the Japanese musician. For other uses, see Minmi (disambiguation).

This biography of a living person includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (February 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Minmi

ミンミ

Birth name| Michiko Evwana
Born|  (1974-12-08) December 8, 1974 (age 50)
Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Genres| Reggae, hip hop, pop, electropop
Years active| 1996–present
Labels| Victor Entertainment 2002–09 (part of JVC)
Far Eastern Tribe Records 2009– (part of Universal Music Group)
Website| www.minmi.jp

Musical artist

Michiko Evwana (born December 8, 1974), better known by her stage name Minmi (Japanese: ミンミ), is a Japanese hip-hop and reggae musician,[1] as well as a singer-songwriter and record producer. She is the first soca artist from Japan.[citation needed] Since 2007, she has been married to Wakadanna (若旦那), a member of Japanese reggae group Shōnan no Kaze, until their divorce on June 28, 2016.[2][3][4]

She began playing reggae music in Japanese clubs in 1996.[5] Her 2002 debut single, "The Perfect Vision", went on to sell over 500,000 copies.[5]

## Biography

[edit]

Michiko Evwana was born in Osaka Prefecture, Japan, on December 8, 1974. She began playing the piano at the age of five, at which time she began to take interest in soul and jazz music.[6] Minmi began her musical career in 1996, performing at rub-a-dub showcases and hip hop events in the clubs of Osaka.[6] She also began to develop her own sound by making her own original tracks around this period. Minmi signed her first recording deal with JVC Records, releasing the reggae song "The Perfect Vision" as her first single in August 2002. Minmi's first single became extremely popular, and was widely accepted and heavily rotated by as many as 20 FM radio stations. "The Perfect Vision," after gradually increasing in popularity, would eventually sell over 500,000 copies.[6] Minmi contributed songwriting and vocals to two theme songs from the popular 2004 anime series Samurai Champloo, including the main ending theme "Shiki no Uta".

In 2005, Minmi released her first soca-influenced song, "Summertime!!," as opposed to her regular reggae and hip-hop sound. Because of this event, she attended the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival in February 2006,[6] performing on stage. In September, she was nominated for best new artist at the Reggae/Soca Music Awards in New York.[6] Minmi attended the festival again in 2007, performing "Sha Na Na (Japanese Wine)" with Machel Montano.

In June 2007, it was suddenly announced that Minmi had married Wakadanna, a member of reggae group Shōnan no Kaze, and was four months pregnant.[7] The two had first met in 2001 in Jamaica, and began dating soon after.[3] In November she gave birth to her first child, a son.[3]

In March 2010, it was announced that Minmi was pregnant with her second child.[4] Her fourth album Mother, released in July when she was roughly eight months pregnant, prominently features her stomach in the photographs. The child, the second boy,[8] was born ten days early on August 4 in New York.[9]

On June 10 and July 22, 2015, Minmi released her seventeenth single "Hologram".[10]

## Bibliography

[edit]

* MINMI. (July 1, 2010), Kise Ki to MAMA, PAPA & BABY Kyo Mama Ni Ai Ni Iku Yo (in Japanese), Tokyo: Kobunsha Publishing, ISBN 978-4-334-90172-1
* MINMI. (August 17, 2013), HOW TO BE A MOTHER VERY x MINMI "Kosodate Shinagara" Maternity no Hibi (in Japanese), Tokyo: Kobunsha Publishing, ISBN 978-4-334-97704-7
* Mao Abe / Miu Sakamoto / Watanabe Atsuko / Akiko Noma / JILL / MINMI / Ueno Miki / Takahashi Miho (December 20, 2017), WOMAN Josei Artist 6 Nin Ga Kataru, Renai, Kazoku, Soshite Ongaku (in Japanese), Tokyo: Rittor Music Inc., ISBN 978-4-845-63173-5

## Discography

[edit]

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (July 2018)

|

### Albums

[edit]

Year  | Album Information  | Oricon
Albums
Charts
[11] | Reported
sales
[12]

|
|
|

2003  | Miracle

* Released: March 19, 2003
* Label: Victor Entertainment (VICL-61097)
* Formats: CD, digital download

| 2  | 476,000
2004  | imagine

* Released: June 30, 2004
* Label: Victor Entertainment (VICL-61768)
* Formats: CD, digital download

| 3  | 190,000
2006  | Natural

* Released: March 29, 2006
* Label: Victor Entertainment (VICL-61936, VICL-61914)
* Formats: CD, digital download

| 6  | 100,000
2010  | Mother

* Released: July 7, 2010
* Label: Universal, Far Eastern Tribe Records (UMCF-1040, UMCF-9537, UMCF-9536)
* Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download

| 5  | 64,000
2013  | I LOVE

* Released: July 24, 2013
* Label: Universal, Far Eastern Tribe Records (UMCF-1095, UMCF-9634)
* Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download

| 14  |
2014  | BAD

* Released: September 24, 2014
* Label: Universal (UPCH-1988, UPCH-9953)
* Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download

| 17  |
2015  | EGO

* Released: August 24, 2015
* Label: Universal (UPCH-2051, UPCH-7041, D2CJ-1102, D2CJ-1103)
* Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download

| 28  | 3,000
2016  | Life is Beautiful

* Released: July 27, 2016
* Label: Universal (UPCH-7168, UPCH-2087)
* Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download

| 29  |
2018  | identity

* Released: May 23, 2018
* Label: Universal (UPCH-2161, UPCH-7415)
* Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download

| 57  |

### Other albums

[edit]

Year  | Album Information  | Oricon
Albums
Charts
[11] | Reported
sales
[12]

|
|
|

2005  | Friends: Minmi Featuring Works Best

* Collaborations compilation album
* Released: September 22, 2005
* Label: Victor Entertainment (VICL-61097)
* Formats: 2CD, digital download

| 16  | 71,000
2006  | Minmi Natural Show Case 2006 In Zepp Tokyo (Special Edition) - EP

* Live special album
* Released: December 6, 2006
* Label: Victor Entertainment (VICL-62674, VICL-62675)
* Formats: digital download

| —  |
2007  | The Love Song Collection 2006—2007

* 'Love' concept compilation album
* Released: November 21, 2007
* Label: Victor Entertainment (VICL-62674, VICL-62675)
* Formats: CD, digital download

| 3  | 75,000
2008  | Minmi Best 2002—2008

* Greatest hits album
* Released: November 21, 2007
* Label: Victor Entertainment (VIZL-280, VICL-62829/30)
* Formats: 2CD, 3CD, digital download

| 2  | 230,000
2009  | Summer Collection with Music Clips

* 'Summer' concept greatest hits album
* Released: August 19, 2009
* Label: Victor Entertainment (VIZL-341)
* Formats: CD+DVD, digital download

| 5  | 38,000
2011  | The Heart Song Collection

* 'Heart' concept album
* Released: August 24, 2011
* Label: Universal Music Japan, Far Eastern Tribe Records (UMCF-9591, UMCF-1063)
* Formats: CD+DVD, digital download

| 10  |
2012  | MINMI Best Ame Nochi Niji 2002-2012

* Released: August 22, 2012
* Label: Universal Music Japan, Far Eastern Tribe Records (UMCF-9616, UMCF-1077)
* Formats: 2CD, 2CD+DVD, digital download

| 7  |
2014  | MINMI BEST "ORIGIN"

* Released: September 24, 2014
* Label: Victor Entertainment (VIZL-736)
* Formats: CD+DVD, digital download

| 147  |
2015  | New MINMI Friends -"Bad" "MINMI" To Iu Neta wo Rapper Track Maker Ga Douryouri Shitanoka-

* Released: July 22, 2015
* Label: Universal Music Japan (UPCH-2047)
* Formats: CD, digital download

| 117  |
2017  | ALL TIME BEST:ADAM

* Released: March 3, 2017
* Label: Universal Music Japan (UPCH-2116)
* Formats: CD, digital download

| 69  |
ALL TIME BEST:EVE

* Released: March 3, 2017
* Label: Universal Music Japan (UPCH-2117)
* Formats: CD, digital download

| 75  |

### Singles

[edit]

#### As lead artist

[edit]

Release  | Title  | Chart positions  | Oricon
sales
[12] | Album

|
|
|
|

Oricon Singles Charts
[11] | Billboard Japan Hot 100†
[13] | RIAJ digital tracks†
[14]
2002  | "The Perfect Vision"  | 4  | —  | —  | 353,000  | Miracle
"T.T.T."  | 8  | —  | —  | 74,000
2003  | "Another World"  | 17  | —  | —  | 37,000  | Imagine
2004  | "Ai no Mi" (アイの実; "Fruit of Love") | 19  | —  | —  | 15,000
"Are Yu Ready"  | 45  | —  | —  | 7,000  | Natural
2005  | "Summertime!!" (サマータイム!!, Samātaimu!!) | 19  | —  | —  | 27,000
2006  | "Nishiazabu Densetsu" (西麻布伝説; Nishiazabu Legend) | 78  | —  | —  | 3,000
"I Love You Baby"  | 42  | —  | —  | 9,000  | Love Song Collection
2007  | "Sha Na Na" (シャナナ☆) | 17  | —  | 13*  | 36,000
2009  | "Ave Maria" (アベマリア, Abe Maria) | 14  | 16  | 2  | 18,000  | Mother
"Ashita Moshi mo Kimi ga Inai..." (アシタもしもキミがいない...; "What If You're Not There Tomorrow") | 25  | 42  | 7  | 7,000
2010  | "Hibiscus" (ハイビスカス, Haibisukasu) | 27  | 30  | 8  | 7,000
"Pa to Hanasaku" feat. Verbal (パッと花咲く; "Blooming with a Bang") | 58  | 70  | 25  | 2,000  | MINMI Best Ame Nochi Niji 2002–2012
2012  | " La La La ~Ai no Uta~" (ラララ 〜愛のうた〜, La La La ~Song of Love) | 58  | —  | —  |  | I LOVE
"Engage Ring" (エンゲージリング) | 35  | —  | —  |
2013  | "Sakura ~Eien~" feat. Shonannokaze (さくら ~永遠~; Cherry Blossom ~Eternity~) | 28  | —  | —  |
2014  | "Ite itai yo" (いていたいよ; I want a lot.) | 45  | —  | —  |  | BAD
2015  | "hologram" (ホログラム) | 116  | —  | —  |  | EGO
* charted on monthly Chaku-uta Reco-kyō Chart.
†Japan Hot 100 established February 2008, RIAJ Digital Track Chart established April 2009.

#### As featured artist

[edit]

Release  | Title  | Notes  | Chart positions  | Oricon
sales
[12] | Album

|
|
|
|
|

Oricon Singles Charts
[11] | Billboard Japan Hot 100†
[13] | RIAJ digital tracks†
[14]
2006  | "Win and Shine" (Ukarats FC) | Co-wrote lyrics/music. | 48  | —  | —  | 6,000  | We Love We [We Love Winning Eleven]
2007  | "Dream Lover" (Infinity 16 welcomez Shōnan no Kaze, Minmi, Moomin) |  | 10  | —  | 5*  | 74,000  | Foundation Rock
"Manatsu no Orion" (真夏のオリオン; "Midsummer Orion") (Infinity 16 welcomez Minmi, 10-Feet) |  | 14  | —  | 27*  | 25,000
"Kiseki" (キセキ; "Miracle") (Teruteru Babys) | Charity single, wrote song/featured vocals. | 39  | —  | —  | 7,000
2008  | "Dream Mix, Vol. 01" ( INFINITY 16 welcomez Shonan no kaze, MINMI, MOOMIN, 10-FEET, MUNEHIRO) |  | —  | —  | —  |  | Non-album single
"Dream Believer (Hoshi ni Negai o)" (星に願いを; "Wishing on a Star") (Infinity 16 welcomez Minmi, Wakadanna & Han-kun from Shōnan no Kaze, Goki) |  | 19  | 13  | 11*  | 14,000  | Welcomez
2010  | "Kinkyu Jitai" (緊急事態; "Emergency") (RED SPIDER feat. MINMI, HAN-KUN, KENTY GROSS, BES, APOLLO, KIRA, NG HEAD, DOZAN11) |  | —  | —  | —  |  | Kinkyu Jitai – One Sound Dance Live 2010
2012  | "Ame Nochi Hare " (雨のち晴れ; "Rain then sunny") (INFINITY 16 welcomez MINMI & JAY'ED) |  | 98  | —  | —  |  | MY LIFE
2013  | "Pan Pan Papan" (RED SPIDER feat. feat. Minmi, Kenty Gross, Arm Strong & Bes) |  | —  | —  | —  |  | WHAT THE SPIDER
"HANDS UP" (RED SPIDER feat. Minmi, Bes, NG Head, Kenty Gross, Boogie Man & Shingo Nishinari) |  | —  | —  | —  |
"Tokyo" (東京) (Shingo Nishinari feat. MINMI) |  | —  | —  | —  |  | Okage-samadesu. (おかげさまです。, I am sorry.)
2016  | "Ah Murderz" (RED SPIDER feat. MINMI, BES, APOLLO, KENTY GROSS, J-REXXX, KIRA, NATURAL WEAPON & DOZAN11) |  | —  | —  | —  |  | Title is to be announced ～ALL JAPANESE REGGAE DUB MIX CD～
2018  | "Slave of Love" (YOSA & TAAR feat. Taichi Mukai & MINMI) |  | —  | —  | —  |  | Modern Disco Tours
"All In" (Shella Posse feat. MINMI) |  | —  | —  | —  |  | Non-album single
"NO NO" (RED SPIDER feat. MINMI, APOLLO, KENTY GROSS & NATURAL WEAPON) |  | —  | —  | —  |  | #compact_disc

#### Digital Singles

[edit]

Release  | Title  | Notes  | Album

|
|
|

2009  | "A Natural Woman"  | Aretha Franklin cover  | Non-album single
2010  | "Pink Boushi no "Do Re Mi Fa So"" (ピンク帽子の "ドレミファソ") |  | The Heart Song Collection
2012  | "Teo Teo ~D.I.N.C~" feat. DOBERMAN INC |  | MINMI Best Ame Nochi Niji 2002–2012
2013  | "Sumaho (Season II)" (スマホ （SeasonII）) feat. Shingo Nishinari |  | New MINMI Friends -"Bad" "MINMI" To Iu Neta wo Rapper Track Maker Ga Douryouri Shitanoka-
2014  | "#Yacchaitai" (#ヤッチャイタイ) |  | BAD
2015  | "MOVE"  |  | EGO
"hologram" (ホログラム) |
2018  | Winner (Yokohama Futtou Version)  | Yokohama F. Marinos Official Half Time Supporting Song  | Non-album single

### DVDs

[edit]

Title  | Release date  | Oricon rank[15]

|
|

Minmi Live Tour 2004 "Imagine" (sunshine) | September 24, 2004  | —
Minmi Video Clips 2002—2005: Summer | July 27, 2005  | 37
Minmi Natural Show Case 2006 in Zepp Tokyo | November 22, 2006  | 69
Freedom '08 | December 3, 2008  | 17
Minmi Live: Freedom in Awajishima | December 2, 2009  | 33
LIVE TOUR "Himawari" ～Road to 10th Anniversary～ at Saitama Super Arena | June 27, 2012  | 36
MINMIDVD | December 24, 2014  | 127
MINMI LIVE TOUR 2014 "BAD" | May 27, 2015  | 40

### Collaborations

[edit]

Title  | Artist  | Release date

|
|

"Tornade" | Silver King | September 2000
"Shot Dem Up" | Jumbo Maatch from Mighty Jam Rock | October 2001
"3 Minute Special" | Silver King | May 22, 2002
"Parasite" | Vader | May 22, 2002
"I Don't Wanna Be Your Friend" | Boogie Man | July 2002
"Journey Into..." | Takafin from Mighty Jam Rock | August 2002
"Cry" | Shōnan no Kaze | July 2003
"Independent Woman" | Pushim | December 17, 2003
"THE ROCK CITY" | Vader | June 2, 2004
"Shiki No Uta" | Nujabes | June 23, 2004
"Irie Music" | Home Grown | August 4, 2004
"Set Mi Free, Let Mi Be" | Home Grown | August 4, 2004
"My Way" | Shōnan no Kaze | August 18, 2004
"Who's Theme" | Nujabes | September 22, 2004
"Keep On Steppin'" | SAL The Soul | November 26, 2004
"Rastaman Drive Mi Crazy" | Anthony B | 2005
"Day Dreamer" | Munehiro | May 21, 2005
"Cherry Blossom" | 10-Feet | April 18, 2006
"Lotta Love" | M-Flo | July 26, 2006
"Sha Na Na – Japanese Wine" | Machel Montano | March 6, 2007
"Happy Today" | Shōnan no Kaze | April 18, 2007
"Spider City (Rock City 3)" | Kenty-Gross | February 7, 2007
"Spider Time (Summer Time!!)" | Kenty-Gross | February 7, 2007
"Missing You" | Minmi | February 7, 2007
"Spider (Aira)" | Minmi | February 7, 2007
"Nande" | Rudebwoy Face | April 25, 2007
"Suirenka" | Shōnan no Kaze | June 6, 2007
"Saving All My Love For You" | Minmi | January 1, 2011
"I'm Your Baby Tonight" | Junior Kelly | April 3, 2012
"Hoshino Raburetaa" | Sergio Mendes | January 1, 2013
"Konoyo ga Yami Dato Iwanaide Okure" | Sambomaster | October 9, 2013
"Nadeshiko (Soul Remix)" | KIRA | February 4, 2015
"Heisei no Otome" | Kenty-Gross | August 26, 2015
"Outta Love" | Che'Nelle | June 14, 2017
"Dame" | DJ SWING & Tarantula | July 5, 2017

## See also

[edit]

* Supa Dups
* Music of Samurai Champloo

## References

[edit]

1. ^ MINMI BEST 2002–2008 (Review) at the Wayback Machine (archived March 7, 2012), United Daily News (in Chinese), August 22, 2008
2. ^ "女性レゲエ・シンガーのMINMIが妊娠、お相手は湘南乃風の若旦那。" (in Japanese). narinari.com. June 27, 2007.
3. ^ a b c "レゲエ歌手MINMIが男児出産" (in Japanese). Oricon. November 20, 2007. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
4. ^ a b MINMIが第2子妊娠...「湘南乃風」若旦那も大喜び (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. March 11, 2010. Archived from the original on March 17, 2010.
5. ^ a b "A Trini Wine made in Japan". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. February 13, 2007.
6. ^ a b c d e "Minmi Official Site/Bio" (in Japanese). Retrieved November 11, 2010.
7. ^ MINMIと湘南乃風の若旦那が結婚 (in Japanese). Oricon. June 27, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
8. ^ "NY出産7 産声" (in Japanese). Minmi official Ameblog. August 25, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
9. ^ MINMI、スーパー安産で第2子出産 (in Japanese). Sanspo. August 5, 2010. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
10. ^ CD Journal Staff (July 22, 2015). "Minmi / Hologram (single review)". CD Journal (in Japanese). Retrieved July 17, 2016.
11. ^ a b c d "アーティスト： MINMI". Oricon. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
12. ^ a b c d "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Retrieved October 15, 2010. (subscription only)
13. ^ a b "Hot 100|JAPAN Charts|Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard. Archived from the original on November 22, 2010.
14. ^ a b 有料音楽配信チャート (in Japanese). RIAJ.
15. ^ MINMIのリリース一覧 (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 11, 2010.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website (in Japanese)
* Minmi at Oricon (in Japanese)

Agency profiles:

* Minmi at Victor Entertainment (in Japanese)
* Minmi at Universal Music Group Japan (in Japanese)

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

Artists|

* MusicBrainz