UA

UA (Swahili for both "flower" and "kill") is the stage name of Japanese singer and actress Kaori Shima, who rose to fame in the early '90s through an infectious cocktail of pop, R&B, jazz, and electronica. Born on March 11, 1972, in Suita, Osaka, she relocated to Kyoto to attend the Saga University of Arts. After graduating, she went back to her hometown and worked as a lounge singer before being discovered by Hiroshi Fujiwara, who produced her 1995 debut single "Horizon." Preceded by her breakthrough single "Jōnetsu," her first album 11 appeared in 1996 and reached Number 3 on the Japan Oricon Weekly Albums Chart, helping her achieve nationwide recognition. Subsequent releases such as Ametora (1998) and Turbo (1999) fared just as well, reaching Number 2 and 6 on the domestic charts, respectively. In 2000, she formed the band Ajico with Kenichi Asai, releasing two albums in 2001. Over the next few years, she resumed her solo activities on the studio album Dorobō (2002), made her official acting debut in the film Mizu no Onna (2002), and became the host of the show Do Re Mi no TV, which introduced children to traditional Japanese songs. Following the release of the albums Sun (2004) and Breathe (2005), UA collaborated with jazz musician Naruyoshi Kikuchi on the 2006 critically acclaimed album Cure Jazz. UA would issue two more LPs for Speedstar Records—Golden Green (2007) and Atta (2009)—before taking a break from her recording career. Released in 2015, her ninth album JaPo peaked at Number 57 on the Oricon charts. In 2022, after yet another extended hiatus, UA returned with the EP Are U Romantic?, which went to Number 73 on the Billboard Japan Albums Chart.

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