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Puffy AmiYumi

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"PUFFY" redirects here. For the American hip hop artist, see Sean Combs. For other uses, see Puffy.
Puffy AmiYumi
Yumi Yoshimura (left) and Ami Onuki (right) performing as Puffy at Japan Expo 2009
Yumi Yoshimura (left) and Ami Onuki (right) performing as Puffy at Japan Expo 2009
Background information
Also known asPuffy
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active1995–present
Labels
MembersAmi Onuki
Yumi Yoshimura
WebsitePuffy.jp
PuffyAmiYumi.com

Puffy, also known as Puffy AmiYumi, is a Japanese pop rock duo formed in Tokyo in 1995, consisting of singers Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura. In the United States, they adopted the name Puffy AmiYumi to avoid legal naming conflicts with Sean Combs, who also performed under the name Puffy. The duo sings in Japanese and English.

Onuki and Yoshimura were scouted by Sony-affiliated talent agencies and put together in the mid-1990s. Most of their work was produced or co-written by Tamio Okuda and Andy Sturmer, formerly of the bands Unicorn and Jellyfish, respectively.[1][2]

The duo's first single, "Asia no Junshin" (1996), sold one million records. They gained mainstream success in Japan in 1998 following the release of their album Jet-CD and continued with several more full-length releases (totaling 15 million sales in Japan).[3]

In 2004, an animated series featuring cartoon versions of Onuki and Yoshimura, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, premiered on the US Cartoon Network. Although their characters were voiced by different voice actresses, the singers portrayed themselves for short live-action segments taped in Japan.

History

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Pre-debut activities

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When Onuki was in high school, she sang for a band called Hanoi Sex that participated in Sony SD Audition and passed, becoming employees of Sony Music Entertainment. She later took vocal lessons and attended a professional school to learn how to become a better performer. The band eventually disbanded, leaving only Onuki under Sony's employment. She was encouraged to stay despite lacking a band and a clear musical direction.[4]

Yoshimura had learned of the Chotto Sokomade talent search underway by Sony Music Artists at the age of 18. After passing the company's audition, Yoshimura moved on her own from Osaka to Tokyo, where she eventually met Onuki by chance in the Sony Music offices. Both felt alone within the large Sony organization and were not confident in their abilities as solo artists. Although Onuki had recorded a solo CD under the guidance of former Unicorn frontman Tamio Okuda, which later become half of solosolo, she and Yoshimura requested Sony pair them as a duo.[5]

Debut and beginnings

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Producer and American pop musician Andy Sturmer christened them "Puffy", and is considered by Ami and Yumi as "the godfather of Puffy". Ami had previously met Tamio Okuda at a Sparks Gogo concert, and he had produced her then-unreleased solo CD. He was eventually signed on to produce Puffy's first album AmiYumi. Their debut single, "Asia no Junshin", launched Puffy-mania. Asked if they were surprised by the attention after its success, Yumi told an interviewer "... everything that was put together for that song all came together and made it happen, but we didn't expect it. It was luck."[6]

On July 13, 2005, their song Song of Origin (はじまりのうた, Hajimari no Uta) was used as the ending theme of the eighth Pokémon film: Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew.

Puffy in the United States

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Puffy AmiYumi performing in New York City in 2006.

Puffy made their first US appearance as part of Music Japan's "An Evening with Japan's All-Stars" showcase at the 2000 South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas.[7] After their performance at SXSW, attorneys for Sean "Puffy" Combs sent the band a cease and desist letter asking them to change their name. After changing their name in the US to Puffy AmiYumi, they told Entertainment Weekly: [8]

Yumi: It doesn't bother us at all. We respect the fact that Puff Daddy is Puffy in the U.S.
Ami: The bottom line is that we don't know what puffy means. We were given our name by somebody else six years ago, and we really don't have a clue.

After Pa-Pa-Pa-Pa-Puffy ended production in 2002, Puffy focused on performing in the United States. Several of their previous Japanese albums were released for the US market and they recorded theme songs for the animated series Teen Titans and SD Gundam Force. They have also done a cover version with Cyndi Lauper of her hit "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun". They also performed their songs "Hi Hi" and "Akai Buranko" (Red Swing)[9][better source needed] on the show. They came back to the US in 2006 for their Splurge Tour, and also toured with Tally Hall for Super-Ultimate Awesome Exploration America 2006[10] In January 2017, they announced for the US tour titled Puffy AmiYumi US Tour 2017: Not Lazy in April 2017.[11] In the same month, the band made an appearance at Anime Boston for autograph signings.[12]

Animated series

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On November 19, 2004, an animated series featuring cartoon versions of Ami and Yumi, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, premiered on the United States' Cartoon Network. Despite both of them being voiced by American actresses (although Janice Kawaye, who plays Ami, is of Japanese descent), the real life Puffy AmiYumi star in short live-action segments recorded in Japan. The series also featured some of the duo's songs.

Yoshimura said in an interview with LiveDaily:[13]

Yumi: The Cartoon Network show has given us a great opportunity to introduce the music to a new audience. When we toured, after the Cartoon Network show started, so many little kids came to our show. We always wanted as many people as possible to listen to the music.

Puffy AmiYumi made an appearance and performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2005 where they were also represented by their own Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi float and balloon.[14]

On January 16, 2006, Puffy AmiYumi was appointed goodwill ambassadors to the United States as part of the Japanese government's campaign to encourage tourism in Japan.[15]

Puffy AmiYumi also performed cameo voiceovers in an episode of the 2011 anime series, Bunny Drop, which aired on July 8, 2011. They also performed the opening theme to the anime.[16]

Musical style

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Puffy AmiYumi has collaborated with producer Tamio Okuda and American singer-songwriter Andy Sturmer. The duo's vocals have been compared to American vocal sister group The Roches.[17]

Members

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  • Ami Onuki - Vocalist
  • Yumi Yoshimura - Vocalist
  • Fumio Yanagisawa - lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Takeshi Tsuji - keyboards, backing vocals
  • Hiroharu Kinoshita - bass, backing vocals
  • Takashi Furuta - drums, percussion
  • Junichi Fujimoto - rhythm guitar

Discography

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Main article: Puffy AmiYumi discography

Television works

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References

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  1. ^ Segal, David (July 22, 2002). "Puffy: Pop With A Japanese Accent". Washington Post.
  2. ^ Weller, Jam (August 26, 2005). "Japanese Beatles". Chicago Tribune.
  3. ^ Smith, Dennis A. "J!-Ent 50-page Special Feature: Puffy AmiYumi 15th Year Anniversary featuring interviews from 2000-2010" (PDF). NT 2099. Retrieved December 5, 2010.
  4. ^ "Puffy 10th Anniversary Book 'Ayumi'", Ami Interview Chapters 1 and 2, Sony Magazines Inc., 2006
  5. ^ "Puffy 10th Anniversary Book 'Ayumi'", Ami Interview Chapters 1 and 2, Yumi Interview Chapters 1 and 2, Sony Magazines Inc., 2006
  6. ^ Whelski, Tina. "Feature: Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi". Woman Rock. Archived from the original on March 16, 2006. Retrieved December 7, 2006.
  7. ^ Amith, Dennis A. (March 2001). "Prepare for the Puffy Invasion". NT2009 Entertainment. p. 1. Archived from the original on 24 June 2002. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  8. ^ Bruner, Rob (April 3, 2001). "Sayonara, Puffy". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 13, 2006. Retrieved December 7, 2006.
  9. ^ "Akai Buranko". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  10. ^ "Super-Ultimate Awesome Exploration America 2006 by Tally Hall". YouTube. 25 May 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  11. ^ "Puffy to hold U.S. tour in April". Tokyohive. 6Theory Media, LLC. January 4, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  12. ^ "Guest Info: Puffy AmiYumi". Anime Boston. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  13. ^ Fuoco, Christina (19 July 2006). "LiveDaily Interview: Puffy AmiYumi". LiveDaily. Archived from the original on October 21, 2006. Retrieved October 16, 2007.
  14. ^ "Cartoon Network Unveils Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi Float For the 79th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" (Press release). Time Warner. October 31, 2005. Archived from the original on November 26, 2005. Retrieved December 7, 2006.
  15. ^ "Puffy appointed goodwill ambassadors to U.S. for tourism". Kyodo News. January 16, 2006. Archived from the original on February 13, 2006. Retrieved December 7, 2006.
  16. ^ Sherman, Jennifer (August 4, 2011). "Rock Duo Puffy to Voice-Act in Usagi Drop Anime". Anime News Network.
  17. ^ "Hi Hi Puffy Amiyumi (Expanded European Edition)". Archived from the original on February 9, 2019.
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Preceded by
Junko Miyama
 Japan Record Award for Best New Artist
1996 		Succeeded by
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