Zard From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search ZARD is a Japanese pop group. Originally a group of five members, with lead vocalist Izumi Sakai as group leader. However, members started leaving the band from 1991 to 1993, leaving Sakai as the only original member of the group. Sakai passed away on May 27, 2007. Until her death, she was part of the record label B-Gram Records, Inc.
[edit] Career ZARD made their debut in February 10, 1991 with a single Good-bye My Loneliness. By their third album, it appeared that the only member left in ZARD was Izumi Sakai, and from that point on, she was the only member in that group. While she was the only member left, the band's name did not change.
Sakai was also a very prolific songwriter. She wrote all her own lyrics (except for one song, Onna de Itai (女でいたい, Onna de Itai?) from their first album, Good-bye My Loneliness, which was written by Dariya Kawashima (川島だりあ, Dariya Kawashima?)[1]), and released several books of poetry as well. She also wrote songs for other artists, most notably, for JPOP groups Field of View, WANDS and DEEN. She also wrote the lyrics for and participated in the collaboration for the single "Hateshinai Yumewo" featuring JPOP groups ZARD, REV & WANDS. The single also featured famed Japanese baseball hero Shigeo Nagashima. Some of her singles were used in Anime, such as Dragon Ball GT and Detective Conan.
ZARD was also known for being mysterious. This is partially because her record label did not release too much personal information on their artists, and also because she did not make that many personal appearances. She rarely appeared on any live TV music programs (eg. Asahi TV's Music Station, Fuji TV's Hey Hey Hey Music Champ), which the main public relations tool for the record industry in Japan, since 1993 or do any public appearances. Her first concert was in 1999, which was held on a cruise ship for a mere 600 people in her fan club (300 entries x2 among 2 million concert ticket requests). Her first real concert tour, "what a beautiful moment tour", was held in 2004, 13 years after her debut. Almost every single concert was sold out at the time. The tour ended up having 10 concerts spanning 4 months from March to July 2004, with a final concert held in the famed Budokan.
ZARD is one of the most successful female singers in the 1990s, with her record sales being #1 for female singers, and #3 for overall total, just behind the groups B'z and Mr. Children. She has had 11 singles reach the #1 spot on the Oricon Singles Charts, and 9 albums reach the #1 spot on the Oricon Album Charts.
She will have released 40 singles and 16 albums as of 7 September 2005.
[edit] Sakai's Death Sakai Izumi passed away on May 27, 2007 in Keio University Hospital. She was put in the hospital in June 2006 after discovering she had cervical cancer and had the tumor removed. In April 2007 however, the cancer had spread to her lungs, resulting her readmittance in the hospital. According to the hospital, she takes daily walks every morning, during her walk on May 26, 2007, she accidentally fell from the stairs and was discovered at around 5:00a.m JST. She was sent to the emergency room, but unfortunately still left. She had planned to release a new album in the fall, as well as her first live tour in three years to show her fans that she's fighting strong against her illnesses. Her company sincerely thanks her fans for the sixteen years of support and wishes that she can live forever in the hearts of the fans. She was 40 years old.
弊社所属アーティストであります、ZARDのボーカル/作詞家、坂井泉水が、
5月27日15時10分、不慮の事故による脳挫傷の為、永眠致しました。
坂井さんは、昨年6月、子宮頸癌を患い、都内某病院にて、入退院をくりかえしながら闘病生活を送っておりました。摘出手術により、一度は快方に向かっておりましたが、子宮頸癌の肺転移が認められ、今年4月に再入院を余儀なくされました。主治医及び病院関係者の治療のおかげをもちまして、ここ最近は、早朝に病院の敷地内を散歩するまでになり、気丈にも体調回復のための日課としておりました。5月26日早朝、病室に戻る途中、階段の踊り場(約3メートルの高さ)を通った際、前日の雨により足を滑らせて転落、後頭部を強打したことが、要因となりました。
これまでZARDを応援して下さった皆様に深く感謝し、いつまでもZARD作品が、皆様の心の中に生き続けることを願っております。
2007年5月28日
ビーイングスタッフ一同
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