Mayumi Itsuwa (五輪 真弓, Itsuwa Mayumi) (born January 24, 1951) is a Japanese vocalist, composer, lyricist, and keyboardist who made her debut in 1972.

Mayumi Itsuwa
Born (1951-01-24) January 24, 1951 (age 73)
OriginNakano, Tokyo, Japan
GenresJapanese pop, folk, kayōkyoku, pop
Occupation(s)Singer, composer, lyricist, keyboardist
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano
Websiteitsuwamayumi.com

Her first studio album entitled Shoujo was recorded in Los Angeles, produced by Grammy Award winner John Fischbach, with distinguished musicians such as David Campbell, Carole King and Charles Larkey who was King's husband at that time. Owing to her introspective compositions, Itsuwa was often nicknamed "Japanese Carole King", along with other Japanese singer-songwriters like Yumi Matsutoya (who had worked under her birth name "Yumi Arai" during the mid-1970s) and Minako Yoshida.

Itsuwa gained moderate success on the Japanese albums chart in her early career, and received massive popularity and acclaim through the single "Koibito yo" released in 1980. The song topped Japan's Oricon chart for three consecutive weeks, and won the 22nd Japan Record Award for "Gold Prize" in the same year.[1][2] It was covered by the country's legendary singers including Hibari Misora and Noriko Awaya in later years, and became a signature song for Itsuwa. In 1981 her song "Revival" also became a very well recognized hit.

After "Koibito yo" became a hit, Itsuwa gained popularity also in non-Japanese Asian countries during the 1980s.

In Indonesia, "Kokoro No Tomo", "Amayadori" and "Rebaibaru" become the most popular songs ever released by her. In 2006, Mayumi Itsuwa and Delon Thamrin recorded an Indonesian and Japanese version of the song. This was later included on the 2006 compilation album "Duet Love Songs". Many of her songs would fall into the musical genre of torch songs because they often describe the lingering memory of past loves.

Discography

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Albums

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Studio albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
JP
[3]
Shoujo (少女) 6
Kaze no Nai Sekai (風のない世界)
  • Released: 1973
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
14
Toki wo Mitsumete (時をみつめて)
  • Released: 1974
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
25
Mayumity (Utsuro na Ai) (MAYUMITY・うつろな愛)
  • Released: 1975
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
37
Etranger (えとらんぜ, Etoranze)
  • Released: 1977
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
34
Aozora (蒼空)
  • Released: 1977
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
50
Nokoribi (残り火)
  • Released: 1978
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
17
Kiro (岐路)
  • Released: 1979
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
17
Koibito yo (恋人よ)
  • Released: 1980
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
1
Marionette (マリオネット)
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
5
Shiosai (潮騒)
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
6
Mado ()
  • Released: 1983
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
15
'Kaze no Uta (風の詩)
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
31
Toki no Nagare ni (時の流れに)
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
12
Wind and Roses
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
31
Nostalgie (ノスタルジー)
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, CT, digital download, streaming
29
Na mo Naki Michi (名もなき道)
  • Released: 1990
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: CD, CT, digital download, streaming
47
The Memorial Album
  • Released: 1992
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: CD, CT, digital download, streaming
70
Personal
  • Released: 1994
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
-
21st Century (21世紀)
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
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Time to Sing
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: CD, digital download, streaming
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Welcome 6

Live albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
JP
[3]
Fuyuzareta Machi (冬ざれた街)
  • Released: 1974
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
9
Hontou no Koto wo Ieba (本当のことをいえば)
  • Released: 1975
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
9
The SHOW - best concert album '75
  • Released: 1975
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
-
Shunshu (春愁)
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
9
Live '83
  • Released: 1983
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
32
Atsui Sayonara (熱いさよなら)
  • Released: 1984
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming
15
Mayumi Itsuwa Live: Kokoro no Tomo AFTER DECADES (五輪真弓ライブ~心の友~AFTER DECADES) -

Compilation albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
JP
[3]
Collection 17
Collection '82
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: Cassette tape, LP
64
Best
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: Cassette tape
33
Best Collection
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: CD
64
Best Selection
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: Cassette tape
36
Singles
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: CD
67
New Best Collection
  • Released: 1989
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: CD
64
Anniversary Eve 82
Anthology Vol. 1/2
  • Released: 1993
  • Label: Sony Records
  • Formats: CD
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Now And Forever
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Sony Records
  • Formats: CD
-
Mayumi Classics
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Sony Records
  • Formats: CD
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Blue Anthology
  • Released: 2003
  • Label: Sony Records
  • Formats: CD
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Mayumi the Best: Kokoro no Tomo
  • Released: 2006
  • Label: Sony Records
  • Formats: CD
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Golden Best Deluxe Mayumi Itsuwa Complete Single Collection (GOLDEN☆BEST deluxe 五輪真弓 コンプリート・シングルコレクション) -
Mayumi Itsuwa 40th Anniversary Best Album "Lovers and Friends" (五輪真弓40周年記念ベストアルバム「Lovers & Friends」) 5
Mayumi Itsuwa Best Encore (五輪真弓BEST ENCORE) -

Singles

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Year Album Chart positions
(JP)[3]
Label
1972 Shoujo (少女) - CBS Sony
1973 Ame () -
Kinou Made no Omoide (昨日までの想い出) -
Tabako no Kemuri (煙草のけむり) -
1974 Fuyuzareta machi (冬ざれた街) -
Mister Grundy Sky (ミスター・クラウディ・スカイ) -
Sakeyokusa (酒酔草) -
1975 Rakujitsu no Theme (落日のテーマ) -
Utsuro na Ai (うつろな愛) -
1976 Jungle Gym (ジャングルジム) -
1977 Umi () -
Game (ゲーム) -
1978 Sayonara dake wa Iwanaide (さよならだけは言わないで) 13
Nokoribi (残り火) -
1979 Yoru Ressha (夜汽車) -
Aikagi (合鍵) -
1980 Yakusoku (約束) -
Koibito yo (恋人よ) 1
1981 Unmei (運命) -
Revival (リバイバル) 21
1982 Jigsaw Puzzle (ジグソーパズル) -
Towazu Tabako (問わず煙草) -
Dakishimete (抱きしめて) -
1983 Mayonaka no Love Song (真夜中のラブソング) -
Dokei (時計) -
Yasei no Namida (野性の涙) -
1984 Tanin Gaeru (他人がえり) -
Atsui Sayonara (熱いさよなら)
1985 Mikkai (密会) -
1986 Sora (空グ) -
Toki no Nagare ni: Tori ni nare (時の流れに〜鳥になれ〜) 84
Nakanaide (泣かないで) -
1987 Soshite Sayonara (そしてさよなら) -
1988 Hello My Friend (ハロー、マイ・フレンド) -
1990 Omae (おまえン) -
1992 Sayonara wa Ichido dake (さよならは一度だけ) - Sony
Itsumo Soshite Itsumademo (いつも そして いつまでも) -
1994 Kanashimi ni Makasete (悲しみにまかせて) -
1996 Utakata (うたかた) -
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1997 Toki wa Sugite (時は過ぎて) -
2000 Ai no Yakusoku/Kokoro no Uta (愛の約束/心の歌) -
2004 Fureau Toki wo Shinjite (ふれあう時を信じて) -
2013 Born Again - Sony Music Direct

Collaboration singles

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Year Album Chart positions
(JP)[3]
Label
2005 Kokoro Tomo - Sony Music

Songwriting credits

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List of songs written and composed for other artists, showing year released and album name
Year Title Artist(s) Album/Single
1980 Suna no Shiro (砂の城) Nana Kinomi Suna no Shiro
1982 Ai no Saffron (愛のサフラン), Hagure Ai (はぐれ愛) Mirei Kihara Ai no Saffron
Ame no Hi ni Wakare (雨の日の別離) Noriko Awaya Ame no Hi ni Wakare
1983 Marianne' (マリアンヌ) Jackie Chan Marianne
Tsumiki Kusuji (積木くずし) Chiyoko Shimakura Tsumiki Kusuji
Omoide Sagashi (石原裕次郎) Yūjirō Ishihara Omoide Sagashi
1986 Haru Gokoro (春ごころ), Nippaime kara no Hajimari (二杯目からのはじまり) Yoshie Kashiwabara Haru Gokoro

Videography

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Live albums

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Title Album details Peak chart positions
JP
[3]
Itsuwa Mayumi'83 (五輪真弓'83) -
Itsuwa Mayumi Live: Toki no Nagare ni (五輪真弓 ライブ・時の流れに)
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: LD
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Wind And Roses
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: CDV
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Master Piece
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: CBS Sony
  • Formats: VHS
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Itsuwa Mayumi 20 Shuunen Collection Concert Tour '92-'93 (五輪真弓20周年コレクション コンサートツアー '92〜'93)
  • Released: 1993
  • Label: Sony
  • Formats: VHS
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References

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  1. ^ "List of number-one hits on the Japanese Oricon Weekly Singles Chart". Archived from the original on December 26, 2008. Retrieved December 28, 2008.
  2. ^ "History of the Japan Record Awards – List of the 22nd Award Winners" (in Japanese). Archived from Japan Composer's Association the original on February 13, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2008. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f "List of the Oricon Top 100 Charting Albums by Mayumi Itsuwa". Archived from Yamachan Land (Japan's charts archives) – Albums Chart Daijiten – the original on November 11, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2008. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)