Amii Ozaki (尾崎 亜美, Ozaki Ami), real name Misuzu Ohara (小原 美鈴, Ohara Misuzu), is a Japanese singer songwriter born on 19 March 1957 in
Kita-ku, Kyoto,
Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.[1][2] She has written music such as Oribia o Kikinagara by
Anri and Tenshi no Uinku by
Seiko Matsuda, as well as many other songs. Ozaki makes irregular appearances on her friend
Akira Kamiya's
internet radio show Kamiya Akira Hot Beat Party. Her husband is musician
Ray Ohara. Her mother is Akemi Ozaki, a maker of popular handbags and purses made from
vintageobi.[3]
History
Ozaki began studying classical piano in 1965 at the age of eight.[2] By the time she was sixteen, after graduating from Kyoto Municipal Kinugasa Junior High School, she had begun writing her own works and participating in an amateur composers club. Her first work, Hitorikko ka Bakko, tells the story of the loneliness of searching for one's mother.[2] She attended Kyoto Prefectural Yamashiro High School.
In 1974, Ozaki participated in her first contest, winning ¥5000 and making a favorable impression on one of the judges who indicated that he thought she was going to become a professional in the near future.[2] She became a DJ for Fōkusu Studio in 1976, and began giving concerts where she played both guitar and piano to accompany her songs. She made her professional debut in 1976 with the
Toshiba EMI Express single Contemplation / Winter Poster.[2][4] Her stage name "Ami" comes from the French word for "friend".
Deep / Ocean (Woman) to Sky (Man) (Deep/海(女)~空(男)へ, Dīpu / Kai (Onna) ~ Sora (Otoko) e) (1981, Pony Canyon)
My Song for You / Foggy Night (1982, Pony Canyon)
I'm A Lady Tiger / It's Easy If You Try (1982, Pony Canyon)
Thrill in the Night: Like Angels / Mai (Thrill in the Night~天使のように~/舞夢, Suriru in za Naito: Tenshi no yō ni / Mai) (1983, Pony Canyon)
Love within Love: Love Is Gonna Get You/ Tender Light (愛に恋 Love Is Gonna Get You/Tender Light, Ai ni Koi: Rabu Izu Gona Getto Yū / Tendā Raito) (1983, Pony Canyon)
Rainbow Tree / Time Lullaby (Rainbow Tree/時の子守唄, Reinbō Torī / Toki no Komoriuta) (1987, Pony Canyon)
Change Sadness to a Beat: Rise and Shine / Don't Make Me Count All the Sheep in the World (悲しみはBEATに変えて~Rise and Shine~/世界中の羊数えさせないで, Kanashimi wa Bīto ni Kaete: Raizu ando Shain / Sekaijū no Hitsuji Kazoesasenaide) (1988, Pony Canyon)
The Rain Doesn't Stop / Angel Comes Along (The Evening the Angel Returned) (雨は止まない/Angel Comes Along (天使が帰ってきた夜), Ame wa Tomanai / Enjeru Kamusu Arōngu (Tenshi ga Kaettekita Yoru)) (1988, Pony Canyon)
Greetings from Shangri-la (桃源郷からコンニチハ, Tōgenkyō kara Konnichi wa) (1989, Peach Princess, Pony Canyon)
1990s
Endless Dream (1990, Pony Canyon)
Southern Cross (1990, Pony Canyon)
Heart of Glass (1992, Peach Princess Band, Pony Canyon)
Wait for Me, Okay? / Magical Way / Guardian Star (待っていてね/Magical Way/Guardian Star, Matteite ne / Majikaru Uei / Gādian Sutā) (2005, Columbia Music Entertainment)