By Nathan Phua

Rising rapidly in the world of Jpop with her frisky singing. Suzuki Ami (18), a girl who thinks pink is cute and romantic was born in Kanagawa Prefecture. She was a winner of the Final Vocalist Audition with 13,500 participants in Feb. 08, 1998. She made a debut later in the year with “Love The Island” and earned her the newcomer’s award at year end. However, her much awaited first album, “SA” was only released a year later on Mar. 25, 1999.

Her talent for writing was also displayed and executed in her 10th single, “Don’t Need To Say Goodbye” found in the album, “Infinity Eighteen Vol. 1”; and latest maxi single, “Thank You 4 Every Day Every Body” found in her third album, “Infinity Eighteen Vol. 2” due to be released on Apr. 26.

“Thank You 4 Every Day Every Body” was also used in a commercial that starred her. She also sang this song recently when she attended a 2-hour long special edition musical program, “Hey! Hey! Hey!” at Fuji TV on Apr. 10. In the show, she bravely contested in cookery with one of the hosts Matsumoto Hitoshi (a renowned Japanese comedian). No problem for her to win as she regularly helps in household chores since she is the eldest daughter and loves doing.

Not only a girl who cooks, Suzuki Ami recently kicked off her concert tour around Japan on Mar. 05 at No. 1 Gym Yoyogi National Stadium (the same venue for Utada Hikaru’s concert tour this July). In this 2-day concert, she sang numerous songs from her 2nd album, like “Infinity 18”, “My Wish – If You Wanna Be With Me –“, “Don’t Need To Say Goodbye” etc. She even cried halfway through “Don’t Need To Say GoodBye” as the lyrics of this song reflected too much on her feelings of graduation. Probably it was the tight bond with her schoolmates that caused this sudden overwhelmed of emotions and they even gave her a nickname, “Amigo” that means friend.

Suzuki Ami joined the cross-country team in her high school. She enjoys doing long-distance run and jogs 10 kilometres everyday. She likes the company of chatty and cute guys. On the other hand, if she encounters a two-timer, she will dispassionately sever ties as she believes in repeats.

With such firm belief, no wonder her favourite love song is “Ume With You” by Kubota Toshinobu. Having looks and time on her side, Suzuki Ami is a name to look out for.