“I’m Back!!”

I just finished reading Chitose’s latest entry in her Chitose Diary (for 2003/7/3). Her title is “I’m Back!!” (original title in Japanese is “Tadaima!!”) because her last entry was more than two months ago on May 2nd (called “It’s May.” [original Japanese title is “5-gatsu desu.”]). Chitose hints at revealing one of the songs she’s working on for the upcoming album “Nomad Soul” but jokingly keeps from discussing it any further. Her latest “My Boom” is musical instruments although she doesn’t elaborate on which instrument(s) she’s interested in. She’s so cute. :)

Profile: Chitose the utasha

Chitose sings a type of Amami-Ôshima minyou called higya uta (higya = east).

Chitose’s utasha career so far:

• In 1992, at the age of 13, she won the “Shourei Shou”, an award given to a person who cultivates the art.
• In 1993, at the age of 14, she was awarded the “Yûshû Shou”, for excellence in the art.
• In 1994, at the age of 15, she received her “Shinjin Shou”, or new comer’s award.
• In 1996, at the age of 17, she received the “Taishou”, or grand prix, the highest award for utasha.

There is a cassette tape available of Chitose’s early utasha career called “Higya Merabe”, which was recorded in 1994. It’s a collection of lullabies. There’s also a CD of her utasha music called “Shima Kyora Umui”, which is a collection of recordings from 1994 to 1996.

These recordings are quite difficult to get through the regular channels. One way to order them is through the distributer from Amami-Ôshima.

Links:
Chitose World — this site has the most information on Chitose’s utasha career.
Simauta.net — you can order her utasha recordings here.

Profile

Chitose Hajime was born in Amami-Ôshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, on January 5, 1979. While in elementary school, she began learning shimauta (island songs), and by the time she was a senior in high school, she won the Amami Minyou Taishou, an award given to the top folk singer in Amami.

Like many young women, Chitose’s dream was to become a professional hairdresser, so she packed up her things and headed to Ôsaka. Luckily for us, allergies caused by the chemicals used in the profession ended her training, and led her to pursue a new dream as a pop singer. In March 10, 2001, she debuted with a mini-album of cover songs simply titled “Hajime Chitose” from Augusta Records. In August of the same year, she released a second mini-album of originals called “Kotonoha”.

Her breakthrough song came with her major single debut from Epic Records entitled, “Wadatsumi no Ki”, released on February 6, 2002. After two-and-a-half months on the Oricon Singles Chart, she took the top spot, and her song has been a long seller ever since.

On July 10, 2002, Chitose released her first major label full-length album called “Hainumikaze”, and is now one of the brightest hopes in the J-pop scene with her unique blend of folk singing and pop music. Her latest single is called “Kono Machi” (released on November 7, 2002), and is the theme song for NHK’s morning drama serial “Manten”. Having a theme song for a drama is a big step for any Japanese musician, but having your song on a NHK morning drama serial is extra-special since it’s aired all week and seen by most of Japan. As a fan, I look forward to see how much higher her star rises in 2003. Let’s all wish her luck!

More information on Chitose can be found on her official website, and on her official label site from Epic Records.