June 3, 2007
News for Anime Expo 2007:
Anime Expo 2007 announces Chiaki as official guest of honor
Nation's Largest Convention Welcomes Singer/Song-writer From Victor Entertainment, Inc.Anaheim, California (June 1, 2007) -- Singer and songstress Chiaki Ishikawa is newest addition to the hottest line up of Anime Expo® 2007 Guests of Honors for the highly anticipated 2007 convention June 29-July 2 at the Long Beach Convention Center. More information can be found on the website www.anime-expo.org.
Ms. Ishikawa started singing from a young age as a member of a choir. Later she joined her elder sister's band as a singer and started singing at venues in and around Tokyo. In 1993 she formed "See-Saw" together with composer, Yuki Kajiura. They released their first single "Swimmer" and released six singles and two albums over the next three years.
At the same time Chiaki wrote songs for other artists as well. After three years, See-Saw took a break and Chiaki started her career as a solo singer, called herself "Somali", and released the album "Magnolia" in 1999. In 2001, See-Saw started their activities again, this time the soundtrack to the TV animation, 'Noir'. In 2002 they released a couple of singles and the ending theme to the anime 'Mobile Suit Gundam SEED', titled "Annani Issho Dattanoni", which saw them make it to the Oricon charts for the first time, at number 5.
In 2003 See-Saw released their third album "Dream Field" and Chiaki released her first solo album, "Inner Garden". In 2004 she released a solo single "Ame no Hi ni Koi wo Shita / Haru". In 2005 See-Saw released the single "Kimi wa Boku ni Niteiru" which was the ending theme of 'Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny' (Oricon Chart no. 4). In 2006 Chiaki released "Utsukushikereba Sore de Ii", the opening theme song to the TV anime 'Simoun'. In July, she performed at Animelo Summer Live 2006 at Nippon Budokan. She sung Utsukushikereba Sore de Ii and Annani Issho Dattanoni in front of 10,000 fans.
This year in June, she will release the single, "Uninstall" which is the opening theme of TV anime 'Bokurano', and is currently recording an original solo album to be released in August.
Victor Entertainment, Inc. will also be presenting savage genius at Anime Expo® 2007 as their official industry guest. savage genius has performed songs for anime titles such as 'Uta-Kata', 'Elemental Gelade' and the PS2 game 'Gundam True Odyssey-Ushinawareshi G no Densetsu'. savage genius has been constantly recording and releasing new songs. In April 2006 another single was released "Inori no Uta", the ending theme to the TV anime 'Simoun' and July saw the release of their first album "Kaze no Kessho" and their participation in the Animelo Summer Live 2006 at Nippon Budokan. On December 20th 2006, they released "Aizome – Futakomori", a self cover version of the ending theme to the TV anime 'Jigoku Shojo-Futakomori'. In May 2007 they have just released the opening theme of 'EL CAZADOR De La Bruja', titled "Hikari no Yukue".
Ms. Ishikawa will be performing a full one hour live concert at Anime Expo® on Sunday; July 1, 2007 at the Anime Expo® Main Events Hall (Long Beach Arena).
Chiaki Ishikawa joins Tetsuro Araki, Minori Chihara, Yuko Goto, Aya Hirano, Eisaku Inoue, Masaru Kitao, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Halko Momoi and ORESKABAND as Anime Expo® 2007 Official Guests of Honor.
Attendees interested in booking flights, car rentals and/or other hotels for Anime Expo® 2007 can do so via the AX Travel Store located at www.AXTravelStore.com.
About Anime Expo®
Located in Long Beach, California - Anime Expo®, the nation's largest anime/manga convention, serves to foster trade, commerce and the interests of the general public and animation/ comics industry. This event serves as a key meeting place for the general public to express their interest and explore various aspects of anime/manga, as well as for members of the industry to conduct business. AX 2007 will be held June 29 - July 2, 2007 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Southern California. SPONSORS: ADV Films, Bandai Entertainment, Copic Markers, Digital Manga, Gaia Online, Go! Media, Infinity Studios, Imaginasian TV (IaTV) and the Los Angeles Times. More information can be found at its website (www.anime-expo.org).
About Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to popularize and educate the American public about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more popularly known by its entertainment property - Anime Expo®. More information can be found at its website (www.spja.org).
The statements made in this press release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers of this press release that a number of important factors could cause Anime Expo®/SPJA's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation, product delays, industry competition, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, vendors and third-party developers, international economic and political conditions. The Company may change its intention, belief or expectation, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in the Company's assumptions or otherwise. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
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