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SCMP Reporter

Japanese R&B singer and lyricist  Mai Kuraki celebrated her 27th birthday on  Wednesday,  but she has already made history on the J-pop music scene.
The singer of the hit single, Secret of My Heart, has six No1 albums and two  No1 singles to her credit. Her debut single, Love, Day After Tomorrow, was released in 1999 when Kuraki was only 17 years old and reached No2 on the charts; her debut album Delicious Way took the No1 spot and sold more than 2 million copies in the first week of its release.   
Her success has been compared to that of top R&B pop divas such as Ayumi Hamasaki and Hikaru Utada.  
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Kuraki's debut album. She started touring Japan in July and will follow that with an Asian tour beginning next  week in Taipei, before moving on to South Korea, Hong Kong and Shanghai. 
'Having reached this stage of my career, I have to really thank my fans, staff members, friends and family who have been supportive of me all these years.  I am grateful to be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my career and I want to show people a powered-up Mai,' Kuraki says.  
How did your career start? 
I've loved listening to music for as long as I can remember. Whenever  I heard music playing on TV, regardless of whether it was a pop  or Western song, I would sing along with my grandfather. From junior high school on, I dreamed of becoming a singer and later on  it became my goal. I began sending demo tapes to record labels  and entered many contests for newcomers. I was very, very devoted to becoming a singer. 
Do you remember your first show? 
Yes, I was petrified. The programme director had to push me out on stage  but after I had sung a few songs, the anxiety seemed to disappear. 
Your first album, Delicious Way, was a hit but you were only 17 then. Did you have trouble handling fame? 
I didn't have the luxury of time to feel the pressures of fame because I spent all my energy on my studies and producing albums and didn't have time to think of anything else. Besides, not many in the media knew who I was, so I was able to enjoy my life as a  student who happened to be a singer as well. But once more commercial success started to kick in, things  began to get out of hand. At one point, I became concerned about how others would perceive me, but I reassured myself that all I needed was to do my best.
What are some of the most rewarding moments of your career? The first time I received a letter from a fan who wrote to me after hearing my debut single Love, Day After Tomorrow, on the radio, the first time I performed live and when  my own fan club was established.
Have there been tearful moments? 
Oh yes, especially when my performing and touring schedule conflicted with my studies.  All I could do was sacrifice rest to accomplish everything. There were times when I felt  as if I couldn't continue and I would cry.  But what  helped me hold it together were the messages of support from my fans, who made me feel that I wasn't alone; they were fighting with me.
Your second single, Secret of My Heart (2000), was a major hit in Japan, but failed to impress audiences in the US. Why do you think that is?
Perhaps it was the way I sang it. By the time I recorded the English version, I had already sung the Japanese original many times and  ... I knew by heart how the Japanese words flowed with the music.  [But] when I tried to adapt it into English, it was painful, especially with the pronunciation. But the setback in the US made me more determined to sing in foreign languages to reach out to more people. Now, along with Japanese, I sing in Korean and sometimes Putonghua.
How are you and your record label coping with declining record sales?
It may be a cliche, but the focus should not solely be on sales figures, but on making a quality product. It's a wake-up call for all of us  in the music industry. We must change the way that we transmit music to people. My latest album, All My Best, was released not only on CD, but was also available for mobile phone, USB memory sticks and many other forms of media.  I believe that as long as we make good music, people will continue to listen to it.
Where do you see yourself in another 10 years? 
I want to continue to sing beautiful songs with a smile. I think if I'm gifted with this singing voice,  I should make good use of it. 
10th Anniversary Mai Kuraki  Live Tour 2009, Sat, Nov 21,  8pm, Jockey Club Auditorium,  Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, HK$580, HK$680, HK$980, HK Ticketing.  Inquiries: 2789 0268



Q&A: Mai Kuraki