J-Pop Star ai otsuka Releases ‘AIO ART’ Art Booklet and CD from Her First Ever Solo Exhibition

Since her debut in 2003, J-pop star Ai Ōtsuka‘s numerous hit songs have included ‘Sakuranbo’ and ‘Planetarium’. In addition to her career as a singer-songwriter, otsuka has established herself as a unique multitalented artist who not only creates music but also picture books, illustrations and stories. Now, as part of the ongoing celebration of the 20th anniversary of otsuka’s debut, she will hold her first ever solo art exhibition at Tokyo’s Spiral Garden venue, titled AI OTSUKA 20th ANNIVERSARY ART EXHIBITION AIO ART, from July 18 to 29.

The booklet for this exhibition, titled ‘AIO ART’, presents a collection of oil paintings by otsuka based on her own songs, as well as a CD of her first ever mini-album of piano instrumentals, ‘graine’. The set will be sold exclusively at the exhibition venue and on the mu-mo shop online store as a limited-edition release.

The songs on ‘graine’ will also be made available on streaming services from July 17. These songs were born from otsuka’s love of piano, the instrument that has served as her songwriting companion throughout her career. They feature melodies that conjure a world unique to Ai Ōtsuka.

Piano instrumentals mini-album ‘graine’
Tracklist:
01. un
02. deux
03. trois
04. kawa
05. sei
06. ao
Produced, composed, arranged and performed by AIO
Digital release July 17
https://avex.lnk.to/graine

In addition, a music video for the track ‘un’ has also been released. The video features artistic line-art animation by Masahiro Kadokawa of visual production group Cuddys Pic.

‘un’ music video:
https://youtu.be/lZrsHXQLX-c

AI OTSUKA ‘AIO ART’
Exhibition booklet (24 pages) + CD mini-album
¥7,590 (¥6,900 excluding tax)
Limited edition for purchase at the exhibition venue from July 18 and from mu-mo shop from July 17
https://hi.mu-mo.com/products/avc1-63576a

Ai Ōtsuka profile

Born September 9, 1982, in Osaka Prefecture; blood type O.

J-pop star Ai Ōtsuka began writing lyrics and music at age 15, making her major-label debut on September 10, 2003 with the single ‘Momo no Hanabira’. This was followed on December 17 by ‘Sakuranbo’, her second single, which was a massive hit. In 2020, otsuka published her first story, ‘Akecha Ikenai Ndayo’, in the September 2020 issue of the prestigious monthly contemporary literature magazine ‘Shosetsu Gendai’ (Kodansha). In addition to her career as a singer-songwriter, this multitalented star is also an active illustrator, picture book author, music writer, and more recently an oil painter. In July, she will hold her first solo art exhibition, as part of the ongoing celebration of the 20th anniversary of her debut.

Official website: http://avex.jp/ai/
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/ai_otsuka99
Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/aiotsuka_official
Instagram (artwork)：https://www.instagram.com/aioart_official/