Youmi Kimura

Youmi Kimura (Japanese: 木村 弓, Hepburn: Kimura Yumi) is a Japanese singer and lyre performer. She is most well-known for her compositions on the soundtracks of Studio Ghibli films.

Youmi Kimura
木村 弓
OriginOsaka Prefecture, Japan
GenresJ-pop
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, lyre
Years active1988–present
Websiteyoumi-kimura.com

Career

Kimura was born in Osaka Prefecture and attended Kobe College. She studied the piano at California State University, Fresno. After returning to Japan, she began performing as a vocalist with lyre accompaniment in 1988.[1]

Taking inspiration from the films of Hayao Miyazaki, Kimura recorded the song "Always With Me". Miyazaki favored the song, and planned to use it in his project "Rin the Chimney Painter ", which was ultimately canceled. It was eventually used as the closing theme of Spirited Away (2001).[2] She reflected on Spirited Away receiving the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003, saying "the view of the world Miyazaki animation impressed on people's hearts transcends culture and lifestyle."[3]

Kimura wrote the song "Promise of the World", which was rearranged and featured as the closing theme of another of Miyazaki's films, Howl's Moving Castle (2004).[4]

Accolades

"Always With Me" placed 43rd on the 2001 annual singles chart in Japan, with an estimated 404,000 CD sales.[5] Along with Joe Hisaishi, Kimura was awarded the Music Award at the 56th Mainichi Film Awards for their work on the soundtrack of Spirited Away.[6] She was also presented a Special Award from the Association at the 25th Japan Academy Film Prizes.[7]

In 2005, Kimura was presented with the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Music along with Joe Hisaishi for their work on Howl's Moving Castle.[8]

References
  1. "Profile". Youmi Kimura (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  2. "Yumi Kimura". Nausicaa.net. Archived from the original on 14 December 2001. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  3. "Spirited Away: Early Oscar Reaction". Anime News Network. 24 March 2003. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  4. "June 2004". Nausicaa.net. 12 June 2004. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  5. "2001年の年間シングル売上ランキング！(日本国内)". 洋楽情報サイト ~Music Box~ (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  6. "毎日映画コンクール 第56回（2001年）". Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  7. "第25回 日本アカデミー賞優秀賞". Japan Academy Film Prize (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 February 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  8. "Los Angeles Film Critics Name Their 2005 Award Choices". Santa Monica Mirror. 14 December 2005. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
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