J-pop Diva Kumi Koda Releases 19th Full-Length Album ‘UNICORN’

J-pop superstar Kumi Koda released her 19th full-length album ‘UNICORN’ on April 17, celebrating the 23rd anniversary of her debut.

The album’s lead song ‘Silence’ was recently used as the theme song for the movie ‘Gold Boy’.

The album also features original songs such as the TOKYO AUTO SALON 2024 tie-up song ‘Vroom’, covers of songs that have influenced Koda, and a solo version of ‘Trust · Last’, the theme song from ‘Kamen Rider Geats’, making for a varied selection of tracks.
 
Furthermore, from April 20, Koda will embark on a live tour of Japan titled KODA KUMI LIVE TOUR 2024 ~BEST SINGLE KNIGHT~, which kicks off ahead of her upcoming 25th anniversary.

This unmissable series of concerts will be packed to bursting with performances of Kumi Koda’s countless hit singles.

About Kumi Koda
Kumi Koda made her debut with the single ‘TAKE BACK’ in November 2000, which was first released in North America.

The song peaked at No.18 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, followed by the remix version of her second single ‘Trust Your Love’, which peaked at No.19 on the US Billboard overall chart, giving her the distinction of becoming only the seventh artist from Japan ever to enter that chart.
 
Koda’s two best-of albums released in 2005 and 2006 each sold over 2 million copies.
In 2015, she held an arena tour to mark the 15th anniversary of her debut, with 12 performances in eight cities across Japan drawing some 110,000 fans.
 
Since then, Koda has been more active than ever, with tours around Asia and across all 47 prefectures of Japan.

In 2021, she hosted her first series of spoken-word events, titled KODA KUMI 20th ANNIVERSARY ~Special Talk Show~, and in 2022, she held her first performances with a full band in four years, KODA KUMI Love & Songs 2022.

She also recently presented her first ever orchestral concert tour, titled billboard classics KODA KUMI Premium Symphonic Concert 2022.
 
In 2023, she played two combined concerts per night on her tour titled KODA KUMI LIVE TOUR 2023 ~angeL&monsteR~; and on April 20 she will begin her next tour, KODA KUMI LIVE TOUR 2024 ~BEST SINGLE KNIGHT~.
 
Outside of her music activities, Koda is a fashion icon.

She won the Best Jeanist Award four years in a row, from 2006 to 2009; and in 2008 she won the Artist Award at the Nail Queen Awards for her third year in a row, being inducted into the event’s Hall of Fame. In 2010, she was joined by international star Lady Gaga for a joint interview in the pages of ViVi magazine, following a similar occasion in 2008. Koda also produces her own cosmetic products, such as colored contact lenses, fragrances, false eyelashes, body cream, eyeliner and diet supplements.

In 2020, she established the skincare brand HEMMY K.