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Ayasa (violinist)

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Ayasa
Birth nameAyasa Shimamura
Born (1991-10-19) 19 October 1991 (age 33)
OriginTokyo, Japan
GenresRock
Occupations
  • Violinist
  • voice actress
InstrumentViolin
Years active2008–present
LabelsDreamusic
Member of
Formerly ofSword of the Far East

Ayasa Shimamura (Japanese: 島村絢沙, Hepburn: Shimamura Ayasa, born 19 October 1991), known professionally by the mononym Ayasa, is a Japanese rock violinist[1] and voice actress. She is the violinist for the band Morfonica of the BanG Dream! multimedia franchise, which includes portraying the character Rui Yashio. In addition, she posts YouTube videos where she plays violin covers of anime songs while wearing cosplay and has released several albums with the record label Dreamusic.

Biography

[edit]

1991–2015: Early life and career, Sword of the Far East

[edit]

Ayasa Shimamura,[2][3] a native of Tokyo, was born on 19 October 1991,[4] and at the age of three, she started playing the violin.[5] While studying at Toho Girls' High School, Ayasa was ranked 4th place in the 2009 Japan Classical Music Competition's high school violin section.[2][5] She attended summer seminars at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana and Tokushima Bunri University.[4]

In April 2008, under the name Ayasa Nakamura (中村アヤサ, Nakamura Ayasa), Ayasa made her first acting appearance in a Suntory commercial for their Minami-Alps no Tennensui brand, playing the Vittorio Monti song "Csárdás" on a violin.[6][4] Ayasa later recalled in a 2019 interview with Oricon News that this gig allowed her to make her first appearance in a national concert tour,[7] namely at Okayama Symphony Hall with the Saint Petersburg Festival Orchestra in December 2009.[5][8] In 2011, Ayasa became a producer of the Sword of the Far East rock violin music project, serving alongside Do As Infinity band member Dai Nagao.[5][9] In April 2013, she and media personality Naoki Iketani [ja] appeared together at Momoiro Clover Z's Haru no Ichidaiji concert at Seibu Dome.[10]

2015-present: Solo career, Chronicle, and BanG Dream!

[edit]

In January 2015, Ayasa announced that she would depart from Sword of the Far East, citing a desire to do solo work as a reason.[9] In November 2015, she released her first solo album, Chronicle I.[11] In 2016, she teamed up with musical group Nowisee [ja] for her next album, Chronicle II.[12] Over the next few years, more albums followed: Chronicle III (2016), Chronicle IV (2016), and Chronicle V (2018).[13][14][15] In 2017, she also released a greatest hits album, Best I, and another version, Best I Special Edition Ver.1.[16][17] In 2019, Ayasa released five albums, one on the first day of each consecutive month: Chronicle VI in June, Chronicle VII in July, Anisong Cover Night Vol.1 in August, Chronicle VIII in September, and Anisong Cover Night Vol.2 in October.[18][19] Two more albums were later released over the next two years: Anisong Cover Night Vol.3 (2020) and Anisong Cover Night Vol.4 (2021).[19] In May 2023, she released Live In Japan: Symphonic Metallization, a concert album of her performances at the Symphonic Metallization concert in January 2020.[20]

Ayasa, whose love of anime had stemmed from her interest in Rozen Maiden music during her adolescence, later regained interest in anime after watching Code Geass.[21] In the mid-2010s, Ayasa started uploading YouTube videos of herself playing the violin, many of which feature her wearing cosplay.[22][5] Songs she has covered include "Ichiban no Takaramono (Yui final ver.)" (a song from the Angel Beats! anime franchise)[22] and "Daddy! Daddy! Do! feat. Airi Suzuki" (the opening theme song of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War's second season).[1] Anime! Anime, a Japanese-language anime news site, praised her "splendid cosplay appearance and outstanding violin skills".[1] In an interview with Oricon News in 2018, Ayasa revealed that she started making such videos because she felt that there weren't any other people doing so.[21]

In 2015, she appeared as herself in Not Anymore!, a mockumentary film where she is the subject of a documentary film.[23] In 2016, she appeared in a commercial for the Sony Xperia X Performance smartphone model.[16] She performed the theme song of the TBS White Sacas 10th Anniversary television show, "Kokuhaku no Yoru", which was also included in her album Chronicle V.[15]

In April 2016, she and singer Ataru Nakamura performed with Dir En Grey guitarist Die's new band Decays.[24][25] In July 2018, Ayasa was announced as a guest in the 2018 Anime Festival Asia event in Jakarta, Indonesia.[5] In August 2018, Ayasa played a violin medley of Fate/Grand Order music at the Fate/Grand Order Fes. 2018, with Akiba Souken calling the performance "sometimes elegant and sometimes intense",[26] and she and singer Akira [ja] formed the duo +A and performed the song Bōkyaku no Saint, the ending theme song of Fuji TV show Tune [ja]; the song was later released as part of a single on 8 August 2018.[21][27] In October 2018, Ayasa played the theme song of The Prince of Tennis: Best Games!! Tezuka vs Atobe, and the single it was included in charted at #136 in the Oricon Album Charts.[28] She and singer Alan Dawa Dolma performed the ending theme "Akai Ame" for the Japanese version of the 2021 ONA Vlad Love, and she alone performed the instrumental "Shingetsu" for the ending of the international versions.[29]

In March 2020, Ayasa was announced as the violinist of Morfonica, one of the bands of Bushiroad's BanG Dream! multimedia franchise, and as the voice actor of Rui Yashio, the violinist and composer of the band's fictional counterpart of the same name.[30][22] Her role as Rui was Ayasa's first voice acting role.[1] Kara Dennison of Otaku USA credited Ayasa's inclusion in the franchise with allowing her "anime fandom [to] hit new heights".[22] In the same year, Ayasa began voicing the character in BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Pico, the franchise's chibi short anime spinoff.[31] Famitsu praised her violin performance in Morfonica's first standalone concert Cantabile as "elegant and powerful".[32] In 2022, she appeared with the rest of Morfonica in the anime spinoff Morfonication.[33]

In August 2023, Ayasa announced a new band, named East Of Eden, and released first digital single and music video.[34][35]

Discography

[edit]
Title Year Single details Peak chart positions Sales
JPN JPN
Hot
"Best Games!!" 2018
  • Released: 24 October 2018
  • Label: Feel Mee
 136[28] — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Albums

[edit]
Title Year Album details Peak chart positions Sales
JPN JPN
Hot
Chronicle I 2015
  • Released: 9 December 2015
  • Label: Juggler
 102[11] — —
Chronicle II 2016
  • Released: 29 June 2016
  • Label: Dreamusic
 64[12] — —
Chronicle III 2016
  • Released: 19 October 2016
  • Label: Dreamusic
 81[13] — —
Chronicle IV 2016
  • Released: 21 December 2016
  • Label: Dreamusic
 112[14] — —
Best I 2017
  • Released: 25 January 2017
  • Label: Dreamusic
 52[16] — —
Best I Special Edition Ver.1 2017
  • Released: 29 March 2017
  • Label: Dreamusic
 112[17] — —
Chronicle V 2018
  • Released: 24 January 2018
  • Label: Dreamusic
 91[15] — —
Chronicle VI 2019
  • Released: 1 June 2019
 —[a] — —
Chronicle VII 2019
  • Released: 1 July 2019
 —[b] — —
Anisong Cover Night Vol.1 2019
  • Released: 1 August 2019
 —[c] — —
Chronicle VIII 2019
  • Released: 1 September 2019
 —[d] — —
Anisong Cover Night Vol.2 2019
  • Released: 1 October 2019
 —[e] — —
Anisong Cover Night Vol.3 2020
  • Released: 1 July 2020
 —[f] — —
Anisong Cover Night Vol.4 2021
  • Released: 1 March 2021
 —[g] — —
Live In Japan: Symphonic Metallization[20] 2023
  • Released: 26 May 2023
  • Label: Oikos Music
 — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Filmography

[edit]

Anime television

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Films

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Video games

[edit]

Notes

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  1. ^ Chronicle VI did not enter the Top 50 of the Oricon Albums chart, but peaked at number 24 on the Oricon Digital Albums chart.[19]
  2. ^ Chronicle VII did not enter the Top 50 of the Oricon Albums chart, but peaked at number 27 on the Oricon Digital Albums chart.[19]
  3. ^ Anisong Cover Night Vol.1 did not enter the Top 50 of the Oricon Albums chart, but peaked at number 22 on the Oricon Digital Albums chart.[19]
  4. ^ Chronicle VIII did not enter the Top 50 of the Oricon Albums chart, but peaked at number 43 on the Oricon Digital Albums chart.[19]
  5. ^ Anisong Cover Night Vol.2 did not enter the Top 50 of the Oricon Albums chart, but peaked at number 45 on the Oricon Digital Albums chart.[19]
  6. ^ Anisong Cover Night Vol.3 did not enter the Top 50 of the Oricon Albums chart, but peaked at number 22 on the Oricon Digital Albums chart.[19]
  7. ^ Anisong Cover Night Vol.4 did not enter the Top 50 of the Oricon Albums chart, but peaked at number 37 on the Oricon Digital Albums chart.[19]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "「かぐや様」コスプレでアニメOPを再現!? ロックヴァイオリニストのAyasaに「凄すぎて鳥肌たった」" [She remade the anime opening theme with Kaguya-sama cosplay!? Rock violinist Ayasa: "It was so amazing I got goosebumps"]. Anime! Anime!. 27 June 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b "2009年度 第19回 日本クラシック音楽コンクール結果 - ヴァイオリン" [2019: Results of the 19th Japan Classical Music Competition - Violin]. Japan Classical Music Society. Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Ｄｏ Ａｓ Ｉｎｆｉｎｉｔｙ元メンバー逮捕 独立後のプロジェクト失敗がきっかけか？" [Former member of Do As Infinity arrested; was it triggered by the failure of his post-independence project?]. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 29 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  4. ^ a b c "Ayasa プロフィール" [Ayasa profile]. Dreamusic. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Pineda, Rafael Antonio (12 July 2018). "C3 AFA Jakarta Hosts Eri Sasaki, Ayasa as Guests". Anime News Network. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  6. ^ Vengerov, Maxim (28 April 2008). "サントリー南アルプス天然水のCMで使われている曲は？" [Which song is used in the commercial for Suntory Minami-Alps Tennensui?]. CDJournal. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  7. ^ Shimamura, Ayasa (7 October 2019). "コスプレ×アニソン演奏が話題の美女、クラシック界飛び出し"ヲタリスト"になった理由" [The beautiful woman who became a hot topic for her cosplay/anime song performances, and why she jumped out of the classical music world and became a "wotalist"]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Interviewed by Somtam Tai. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  8. ^ "ドラマティック3大協奏曲". Okayama Onkyo (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  9. ^ a b "美人すぎるバイオリニストＡＹＡＳＡが「Ｓｗｏｒｄ」卒業" [The too-beautiful violinist Ayasa graduates from Sword]. Sports Nippon (in Japanese). 6 January 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  10. ^ "しげる！香美！冬美！ももクロ「春の一大事」怒濤の2日目" [Shigeru! Kohmi! Fuyumi! Day 2 of Momoclo's Haru no Ichidaiji Surging Waves]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  11. ^ a b "CHRONICLE I" [Chronicle I]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  12. ^ a b "CHRONICLE II" [Chronicle II]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  13. ^ a b "CHRONICLE III" [Chronicle III]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  14. ^ a b "CHRONICLE IV" [Chronicle IV]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 23 June 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  15. ^ a b c "CHRONICLE V" [Chronicle V]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  16. ^ a b c "BEST I(初回生産限定盤)" [Best I (First Press Limited Edition)]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  17. ^ a b "BEST I Special Edition Ver.1" [Best I Special Edition Ver.1]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 22 June 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Ayasa、9月1日に「CHRONICLE VIII」を配信、4ヶ月連続 アルバムリリース (2019年8月31日)". E-Talent Bank (in Japanese). 31 August 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2023 – via Excite Japan.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Ayasaのデジタルアルバム売上TOP7作品" [Ayasa's Top 7 Best-Selling Digital Albums]. Oricon News. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  20. ^ a b "ロックバイオリニスト Ayasa、アルバム『LIVE IN JAPAN SYMPHONIC METALLIZATION』をリリース（2023年5月9日）" [Rock violinist Ayasa releases album "LIVE IN JAPAN SYMPHONIC METALLIZATION" (9 May 2023)]. OKMusic (in Japanese). 9 May 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023 – via BIGLOBE.
  21. ^ a b c Shimamura, Ayasa (2 August 2018). "異色のロックユニット『＋A（プラスエー）』が語る "アニメ音楽の力"" [The unique rock unit "+A" on the "power of anime music"]. Oricon News (Interview). Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  22. ^ a b c d Dennison, Kara (29 June 2020). "Violinist Ayasa Is Living the Dream as a BanG Dream! Star". Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  23. ^ a b "中野裕太主演「もうしません！」秋公開、うだつの上がらないDJが映画作りに奮闘" [Not Anymore!, starring Yūta Nakano, coming this fall: DJ who can't get ahead struggles to make a movie]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  24. ^ "DIR EN GREY・DieユニットDECAYSがメジャー進出" [Decays, the unit of Dir En Grey's Die, advances to major label]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  25. ^ "DECAYS、4月に中村 中とAyasaを迎えて東名阪ツアーを開催" [Decays to hold April tour in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka, with Ataru Nakamura and Ayasa]. OKMusic (in Japanese). 8 February 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  26. ^ "台風も吹き飛ばした「Fate」シリーズを彩るテーマソング＆BGM！ 人気アーティスト多数出演のライブイベント「Fate Night FES. 2018」レポート" [The theme and background music that decorates the Fate series that even blew away a typhoon! Report on the live event "Fate Night FES. 2018" featuring many popular artists]. Famitsu. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  27. ^ "忘却のセイント" [Bōkyaku no Saint]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  28. ^ a b "BEST GAMES!!" [Best Games!!]. Oricon News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 25 June 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  29. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (28 December 2020). "Mamoru Oshii's VladLove Vampire Comedy Anime Has Formal Net Debut on February 14". Anime News Network. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  30. ^ Morrissy, Kim (7 March 2020). "BanG Dream! Announces New Violin Rock Band Morfonica". Anime News Network. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  31. ^ a b "STAFF&CAST 大盛り（第2期）" [Staff & Cast: Ohmori (Season 2)]. anime.bang-dream.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  32. ^ "『バンドリ！』ファン待望の"Morfonica"単独ライブ『Cantabile』の模様をレポート" [BanG Dream! Report on the long-awaited Morfonica solo concert Cantabile]. Famitsu (in Japanese). 7 October 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  33. ^ a b "「バンドリ！」の新作アニメ「BanG Dream! Morfonication」、7月に2夜連続放送" [New BanG Dream! anime "BanG Dream! Morfonication": airing for two straight nights in July]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  34. ^ "Ayasa on X about East Of Eden's formation". X (formerly Twitter) (in Japanese). 8 August 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  35. ^ "1st Digital Single / Evolve [Extended Version] 配信開始 & MV公開". fan.pia.jp (in Japanese). 8 August 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  36. ^ "STAFF&CAST 「BanG Dream! ガルパ☆ピコ ふぃーばー！」公式サイト" [Staff & Cast: BanG Dream! Girls Band Party! Pico Fever! Official Website]. anime.bang-dream.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  37. ^ "「バンドリ！」Roselia＆FILM LIVE、劇場版2作のPVとビジュアル公開" [BanG Dream! Roselia & Film Live: Trailers and visuals for the two films released]. Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  38. ^ "「BanG Dream!プロジェクト」発となる第4のリアルバンド「Morfonica」が活動開始。CVと演奏を担当するキャストが公開に" [The BanG Dream! Project's fourth real band Morfonica begins work: Cast in charge of voice and performance released]. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). 5 March 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
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