Makino Yui

The young Yui Makino is a well-known voice actress, singer and pianist in the anime world. She is known for combining her gentle, girlish voice with her great piano-skills. She often interprets calm, gentle pop songs, but at the same time she doesn’t hesitate to incorporate dance rhythms or electronic elements in her music.

Makino Yui started playing the piano during her childhood, at age 4. Her skills impressed director Shunji Iwai when Yui was only 7 years old. Between the ages of 8 and 17, Yui played the piano solo in three of Shunji's films, including the popular romance movie love letter.

Makino Yui took her first steps in 2005 with the song Omna Magni, which was used as a closing theme for the anime TV series "Soseino Aquarion" (produced by Yoko Kanno). In April the same year, she debuted as a voice actor, playing the role of Sakura on "Tsubasa Chronicle", broadcast on NHK Educational.

In 2005, Yui released Amrita, the theme song for the film "Tsubasa Chronicle: Torikagono Kunino Himegimi" as well as Undine, the theme song for TV Tokyo’s anime "ARIA the ANIMATION". The single Undine took the 25th spot in the Oricon music charts.

In 2006, she released 2 songs that became the music themes of a recently released anime on TV Tokyo, "ARIA the NATURAL". Released singly and on the same CD, the two titles placed 18 on the Oricon charts.

Yui was invited to represent Japan at a cultural exchange event between China and Japan in 2007. In 2008, Yui continued in the anime scene with Spirale, the opening theme of the series "ARIA the ORIGINATION". Accompanied by the musical theme Yokogo, Spirale attained the 20th place in the Oricon charts.

Makino Yui performed her first solo concert the same year at the Fuchuno Mori Geijitsu Gekijo Wien Hall in Tokyo. At this concert, she accompanied herself on the piano for all of the songs.

In March 2008, Makino Yui released her second album simply entitled Makino Yui. The album reached the 22nd place on the Oricon charts. That same month Yui also received a diploma from the College of Music in Tokyo (majoring in the piano). She is regularly continuing her activities as a voice actor, singer and musician.

In 2009, Yui performed at the Japan Expo convention in Paris, marking her European debut. Shortly after this she performed at the New York Anime Festival and made her American debut with a special single release, Tanpopo Suisha ~Yui Makino Version, which contains the ending theme to the anime "Sketchbook ~full color's~". This will be re-released along with her latest single under the title Fuwa Fuwa♪ in March 2010.