Mao Abe

Mao Abe (阿部 真央, Abe Mao, born 24 January 1990) is a Japanese singer-songwriter.

Mao Abe
阿部 真央
Birth nameMao Abe
Also known asAbema (あべま) (nickname)
Born (1990-01-24) 24 January 1990
Ōita, Japan
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Acoustic guitar
  • vocals
Years active2008–present
Labels

Biography

Abe started learning the piano from age three, and from junior high school she wanted to be a singer.[1] She gave up the piano in favour of the guitar, wanting to be an acoustic pop singer/songwriter in the style of Canadian pop musician Avril Lavigne.[2] While at high school she frequently busked and attended music auditions.[3] In February 2006, on a morning when she had truanted from school, she wrote her first song, "My Baby".[2] Late in mid-2006, she entered the Yamaha Teens' Music Festival's Ōita regional contest on the recommendation of a musical instrument store manager, and performed "My Baby".[1][3] She won the grand prize, and later entered the country-wide version, where she won an honourable mention prize after performing "Haha no Uta" (母の唄, Mother Song).[3]

After finishing high school, she moved to Tokyo and was signed to the record label Pony Canyon. Abe performed at many live events, including some high-profile events like the Rock in Japan Festival. From August until November, four acoustic demos of Abe songs were released on iTunes. The third of these, "My Baby", was chosen as the October iTunes Single of the Week free download song.[1]

Abe released her first album Free in January 2009. The eponymous title track was released as a radio single, and did extremely well on radio stations: Abe reached #1 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, despite only the airplay component counting towards her ranking (as opposed to airplay and physical sales, like most other releases).[4]

Since the album, she has released three singles, the first two reaching the top 20 on the Oricon single charts.[5] The third, "Itsu no Hi mo", reached #2 on the Japan Hot 100 chart, a week before the physical release of the single.[6] The single was followed by her second album, Pop, which was her first top 5 album on the Oricon albums chart.[7]

Discography

Studio albums
List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions Sales (JPN)[8][upper-alpha 1]
JPN
[9]		 TWN East Asian
[10][upper-alpha 2][upper-alpha 3]
Free 1715 21,000
Pop
  • Released: January 27, 2010 (JPN)
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 5— 54,000
Su. (素。, "Naked")
  • Released: June 1, 2011 (JPN)
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 6— 41,000
Tatakai wa Owaranai (戦いは終わらない, "The Fight Is Not Over")
  • Released: June 6, 2012 (JPN)
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 6— 28,000
Anata o Suki na Watashi (貴方を好きな私, "The Me Who Likes You")
  • Released: August 28, 2013 (JPN)
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download
 7— 17,000
Oppajime! (おっぱじめ!, "Start!")
  • Released: February 18, 2014 (JPN)
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download
 7— 14,000
Mada Ikemasu (まだいけます)
  • Released: January 22, 2020 (JPN)
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download
 14— 4,300[11]
Not Unusual
  • Released: February 15, 2023 (JPN)
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 22— 2,130[12]
"—" denotes items that did not chart.

Compilation albums
List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions Sales (JPN)[8]
JPN
[9]
Single Collection 19—24 (シングルコレクション19-24, Shinguru Korekushon Naintīn Tuentifō)
  • Released: August 20, 2014 (JPN)
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, CD/DVD, digital download
 7 13,000
Abe Mao Rental Best: Koi no Uta-hen (阿部真央 レンタルベスト ～恋の唄 編～, "Mao Abe Rental Best: Love Song Edition")
  • Released: September 16, 2015 (JPN)[13]
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: rental CD
 —
Abe Mao Rental Best: Ōenka-hen (阿部真央 レンタルベスト ～応援歌 編～, "Mao Abe Rental Best: Fighting Song Edition")
  • Released: September 16, 2015 (JPN)[13]
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: rental CD
 —

Live albums
List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions Sales (JPN)[8]
JPN
[9]
5th Anniversary Abe Mao Live 2014 @ Nippon Budōkan (阿部真央らいぶ2014@日本武道館)
  • Released: March 11, 2015 (JPN)
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 159 1,000

As a lead artist
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Sales (JPN)[8] Certifications Album
JPN Oricon
[9]		 JPN Hot 100
[14][upper-alpha 4]
"Tsutaetai Koto" 2009 1911 13,300 Pop
"I Wanna See You" 39
"Anata no Koibito ni Naritai no Desu" 195 8,800
"Itsu no Hi mo" 2010 122 9,200
"Lonely" 225 9,500 Su.
"19-sai no Uta" 208 6,000
"Mottō." (モットー。, "Mooore.") 2011 209 7,800
"Hikari" (光, "Light") —
"Soba ni Ite" (側にいて, "Come to Me") 2218 7,800 Tatakai wa Owaranai
"Sekai wa Mada Kimi o Shiranai" (世界はまだ君を知らない, "The World Still Doesn't Know You") 2012 2211 6,600
"Saigo no Watashi" (最後の私, "Me at the End") 2013 2034 6,200 Anata o Suki na Watashi
"Anata ga Suki na Watashi" (貴方が好きな私, "The Me You Like") 2835 3,500
"Boyfriend" —
"Believe in Yourself" 2014 2023 5,500 Single Collection 19—24 / Oppajime!
"Sorezore Arukidasō" (それぞれ歩き出そう, "Let's Walk Our Separate Ways") 2924 3,500 Oppajime!
"You Changed My Life" 2015 37—[upper-alpha 5] 2,000 Non-album singles
"Kimi no Uta"/"Kotae" 2019 35— 1,200[36]
"—" denotes items that did not chart.
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
JPN Hot 100
[14][upper-alpha 4]
"Bitansan Syndrome" (微炭酸シンドローム, "Soda Syndrome")
(Kreva featuring Mao Abe)		 2011 97 Go

Promotional singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
Billboard Japan Hot 100
[14]
"Hitomishiri no Uta" (人見知りの唄, "Shy Song") 2008 — Free
"My Baby" —
"Free" 1
"Mada" (未だ, "Still") 2010 23 Pop
"Tatakai wa Owaranai" 2012 27 Tatakai wa Owaranai
"Tenshi wa Ita n da" (天使はいたんだ, "There Was an Angel") 2013 83 Anata o Suki na Watashi
"Yasashii Kotoba" (優しい言葉, "Kind Words") 2015 —[upper-alpha 6] Oppajime!
"Haiagare My Way" (這い上がれ MY WAY, "Climb My Way") —[upper-alpha 7]
"—" denotes items that did not chart.

Video albums
List of media, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN DVD
[9]		 JPN Blu-ray
[9]
Abe Mao Live No. 2 @ Zepp Tokyo (阿部真央らいぶNo.2@Zepp Tokyo)
  • Released: July 27, 2011
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD
 33—
Abe Mao Live No. 4 @ Shibuya Kōkaidō (阿部真央らいぶNo.2@渋谷公会堂)
  • Released: December 5, 2012
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
 1835
Abe Mao Live No. 5 @ Tokyo Kokusai Forum (阿部真央らいぶNo.5@東京国際フォーラム)
  • Released: March 19, 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
 4541
5th Anniversary Abe Mao Live 2014 @ Nippon Budokan (5th Anniversary 阿部真央らいぶ2014@日本武道館)
  • Released: March 19, 2014
  • Label: Pony Canyon
  • Formats: DVD, Blu-ray
 2624

Tours
  • Abe Mao Live No. 0 (2009)
  • Abe Mao Live No. 0.7 (2009)
  • Abe Mao Live No. 1 (2010)
  • Abe Mao Live No. 2 (2010)
  • Abe Mao Live Natsu no Jin (2011)
  • Abe Mao Live No. 3: Zepp to Quattro Dake de Gomen ne Tour (2011)
  • Abe Mao Live No. 4 (2012)
  • Abe Mao Hikigatari Live 2012 Fuyu: Christmas da yo! Kuru desho? Kuru yo ne!? no Maki (2012)
  • Abe Mao Hikigatari Live 2013 Natsu (2013)
  • Abe Mao Live No. 5 (2013)
  • 5th Anniversary Abe Mao Live "Ochikarazoe, Negaimasu." Tour 2014 (2014)
  • 5th Anniversary Abe Mao Live 2014 @ Nippon Budōkan (2014)

Notes
  1. Sales provided by Oricon database and are rounded to the nearest hundred copies.
  2. The G-Music East Asian chart is a sub-chart, so releases listed may not have charted on the main top 20.
  3. Position was taken from 2009 week 11 for Free.
  4. Sources for chart positions are as follows: "Free",[15] "I Wanna See You",[16] "Tsutaetai Koto",[17] "Anata no Koibito ni Naritai no Desu",[18] "Itsu no Hi mo",[19] "Mada",[20] "Lonely",[21] "19-sai no Uta",[22] "Motto",[23] "Bitansan Syndrome",[24] "Soba ni Ite",[25] "Sekai wa Mada Kimi o Shiranai",[26] "Tatakai wa Owaranai",[27] "Saigo no Watashi",[28] "Anata ga Suki na Watashi",[29] "Tenshi wa Ita n da",[30] "Believe in Yourself",[31] "Sorezore Arukidasō".[32]
  5. Charted at number 32 on the Top Single Sales chart,[34] and at number 63 on the Radio Songs sub-chart.[35]
  6. Charted at number 21 on the Adult Contemporary Airplay chart and at number 46 on the Hot Top Airplay chart.[37][38]
  7. Charted at number 53 on the Hot Top Airplay chart.[38]

References
  1. "イデータ of あべま｜阿部真央オフィシャルサイト". Archived from the original on 2011-02-02. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  2. "阿部真央 悲しみも孤独も楽しさもすべてリアル". Yahoo.co.jp. 2009-01-16. Archived from the original on 2011-05-11. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  3. "阿部真央 アーティストページ - TSUTAYA online". Archived from the original on 2011-05-11. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  4. "Mao Abe - Free". Music Charts. Archived from the original on 2011-02-15. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  5. "阿部真央 リリース一覧". Oricon. Archived from the original on 2009-08-02. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  6. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 2010-01-18. Archived from the original on 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-01-13.
  7. "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」". Oricon. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-02-03. (subscription only)
  8. "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Big Tree']. Oricon. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  9. "阿部真央のリリース一覧" [List of Mao Abe's Releases]. Oricon. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  10. "G-Music J-Pop Chart" (in Chinese). G-Music. Archived from the original on May 12, 2011. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  11. 週間 CDアルバムランキング 2020年02月03日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on February 3, 2020] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  12. 週間 CDアルバムランキング 2023年02月27日付 [Weekly CD Album Ranking on February 27, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 22, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
  13. 阿部真央、新曲はかけがえのない人への思い歌う英語詞ポップチューン (in Japanese). Natalie. September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  14. "Hot 100｜JAPAN Charts｜Billboard JAPAN" (in Japanese). Billboard.
  15. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). January 28, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  16. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). May 27, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  17. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). June 3, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  18. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). August 12, 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  19. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). January 20, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  20. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). February 3, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  21. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). June 16, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  22. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). November 10, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  23. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). May 25, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  24. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). September 14, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  25. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). November 23, 2011. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  26. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). May 23, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  27. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). June 13, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  28. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). March 13, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  29. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). July 3, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  30. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). August 28, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  31. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). May 28, 2014. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  32. "Japan Billboard Hot 100". Billboard (in Japanese). October 29, 2014. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  33. レコード協会調べ 3月度有料音楽配信認定 [Record Association Investigation: March Digital Music Download Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. April 20, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2014.
  34. "Japan Billboard Top Single Sales". Billboard (in Japanese). November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  35. "Japan Billboard Radio Songs". Billboard (in Japanese). November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 28, 2015.
  36. "週間 CDシングルランキング 2019年05月20日付" [Weekly CD Single Ranking for May 20, 2019]. Oricon Style (in Japanese). Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  37. "Adult Contemporary Airplay". Billboard (in Japanese). February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  38. "Hot Top Airplay". Billboard (in Japanese). February 25, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
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