is a former Japanese pop singer-songwriter from Osaka Prefecture and raised in Nabari, Mie. She first become known after her appearance on the Japanese talent show Asayan in the late 1990s, becoming the first member of the future "Hello! Project". Heike currently goes by the simply Michiyo.
History Pre-debut Heike applied for the while a junior at Mie Prefectural Nabari Nishi Senior High School. The program, the winner of which would go on to be produced by famous rock band Sharam Q, was held from April through August 1997, on the TV Tokyo network. Out of around 9,900 applicants, Sharam Q chose Heike as the winner. Prior to her debut, Heike secluded herself from the media to train under the direction of Sharam Q vocalist Tsunku. During this two-month training time, Tsunku gave five of the audition runners-ups a chance to form a girl group, which he named Morning Musume. Eventually Tsunku focused on producing this group, and Sharam Q guitarist Hatake took over producing Heike. Her stage name was determined as changing the Kanji characters for her first name into hiragana.
1997: Debut and "Get" Heike's debut single "Get", composed by Hatake, with lyrics by Tsunku, was released from the WEA Japan label on November 5, 1997. "Get" was her highest-charting single, peaking at number 24 on the Oricon Singles Chart, charting for six weeks. On November 6, her first live performance was held at the Nippon Budokan Hall in front of an audience of ten thousand invited by Asayan. Michiyo Heike and Morning Musume shared a joint fan club, known as "Hello!", later to become known as "Hello! Project". During this time, Heike was the only soloist.
1998: "Sotsugyō —Top of the World—", "Daikirai", Morning Cop "Daite Hold on Me!", and "Dakedo aishi sugite" In February 1998, she released her 2nd single, "Sotsugyō —Top of the World—", a cover song for The Carpenters' Top of the World. The lyrics of the song were written by Makoto of Sharam Q, and it peaked at number 35 on the Oricon Singles Chart. Michiyo released her first studio album Teenage Dream on March 25, 1998, peaking at number 50 on the Oricon Albums Chart. "Daikirai" was released for Michiyo's third single on July 1, 1998. The song was again composed by Hatake, peaking at number 50 on the Oricon Singles Chart. Morning Cop "Daite Hold on Me!" OST was released on September 30, 1998, under the names of Michiyo Heike and Morning Musume, peaking at number 18 on the Oricon Albums Chart. "Dakedo Aishisugite" was Heike's fourth single, released on October 25, 1998, as part the joint OST album Morning Cop "Daite Hold on Me!" It peaked at number 95 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
1999: "Anata no yume ni naritai" and "Scene" Heike's 5th single "Anata no yume ni naritai" was released on February 10, 1999, peaking at number 70 on the Oricon Singles Chart. She released her 6th single "Scene" on July 28, 1999. The song was again composed by Hatake, with lyrics by Michiyo herself, peaking at number 79 on the Oricon Singles Chart.
2000: "One-room natsu no koi monogatari", For Ourself, and "Ai no chikara" Michiyo released her 7th single "One-room natsu no koi monogatari" on May 17, 2000. The song was her first song produced by Tsunku, peaking at number 26 on the Oricon Singles Chart. "Ai no chikara" was her 8th single released on August 9, 2000. The song was again produced by Tsunku, peaking at number 38 on the Oricon Singles Chart. Heike released her 2nd studio album For Ourself —Single History— on September 13, 2000, peaking at number 23 on the Oricon Singles Chart. In 2000, Heike participated in shuffle unit Kiiro 5.
2001: "Kekkyoku Bye Bye Bye" and "Propose" Heike released her 9th single "Kekkyoku Bye Bye Bye" on February 7, 2001, peaking at number 45 on the Oricon Singles Chart. She then signed a new recording contract with zetima label after her recording contract with WEA Japan ended. Her 10th single "Propose" was released on November 7, 2001, peaking at number 31 on the Oricon Singles Chart. In 2001, she was part of 7-nin Matsuri.
2002: "Murasaki shikibu" "Murasaki shikibu", released on June 5, 2001, was her last single as a Hello! Project member, peaking at number 39 on the Oricon Singles Chart. In July 2002, she was a member of Sexy 8. Since Heike's management contract with Up Front Group ended and was not renewed, she "graduated" from Hello! Project in November 2002, five years after her debut.
2004–2021 In 2004, she changed her stage name to and began a career as an indies songwriter. Her first indie album, titled Jecica, was entirely self-written and was released on March 3, 2004.
In 2020, she release her digital single “Luminous”
In 2021, she retired and decided to embark on a new path.
Discography Singles As Michiyo Heike # Title JapaneseTranslation Release date Oricon ranking1 "Get" "GET" November 5, 1997 242 "Sotsugyō —Top of the World—" 卒業 〜TOP OF THE WORLD〜 "Graduation (Top of the World)" February 15, 1998 353 "Daikirai" ダイキライ"(large amount of) Hate" July 1, 1998 504 "Dakedo aishi sugite" だけど 愛しすぎて"But I Loved You Too Much" October 25, 1998 955 "Anata no yume ni naritai" アナタの夢になりたい"I Want to Be Your Dream" February 10, 1999 706 "Scene" "scene" July 28, 1999 797 "One-room natsu no koi monogatari" ワンルーム夏の恋物語"One-Room Summer Love Story" May 17, 2000 268 "Ai no chikara" 愛の力"Power of Love" August 9, 2000 389 "Kekkyoku Bye Bye Bye" 結局 Bye Bye Bye"After Everything, Bye Bye Bye" February 7, 2001 4510 "Propose" プロポーズ November 7, 2001 3111 "Murasaki shikibu" ムラサキシキブ"Purple shikibu" June 5, 2002 39
As Michiyo # Title JapaneseTranslation Release date1 "Ran Run Ran"(Fan club release) 嵐・RUN・乱(Read "Ran Ran Ran") —2 Unaffected — December 9, 2005
Albums As Michiyo Heike # Title JapaneseTranslation Release date Oricon ranking1 Teenage Dream — March 25, 1998 502 For Ourself —Single History— For ourself 〜Single History〜 September 13, 2000 233 Morning Cop "Daite Hold on Me!" OSTWith Morning Musume モーニング刑事。抱いてHOLD ON ME! September 30, 1998 18
As Michiyo # Title JapaneseTranslation Release date1 Jecica — March 3, 20042 Koimizuki 恋水姫Loving Ice Princess February 28, 20053 Fantasia — July 25, 2006
DVD Title Date"Sweets of Jecica" September 30, 2004
Performances
Radio Title Station DateSound Planetサウンドプラネット Radio Berry(FM Tochigi) April 3, 1998 – September 27, 2002, December 3, 2008Michiyo Heike Teenage Beat! Radio Cube(FM Mie) October 4, 1998 – March 28, 1999Michiyo Heike Weekend Rendezvous平家みちよ ウィークエンドランデヴー Radio Cube(FM Mie) April 3, 1999 – September 30, 2001Michiyo Heike no Dochira Made平家みちよのどちらまで JOQR-AM January 2001 – March 2002Hecchara Heike – Yoroshiku Yossieヘッチャラ平家★よろしくヨッスィー CBC Radio October 6, 2001 – October 5, 2002Young Town Music MaxヤンタンMUSIC MAX MBS Radio —
Films Title Release DateMorning Cop "Daite Hold on Me!"モーニング刑事。抱いてHOLD ON ME! 1998
Musicals Title DateLove Century (Yume wa Minakerya Hajimaranai)LOVEセンチュリー -夢はみなけりゃ始まらない- May 3–27, 2001
Concert tours Title Date Michiyo Heike/Morning Musume First Concert "Hello!"平家みちよ・モーニング娘。ファーストコンサート「HELLO!」 July 12–27, 1998Morning Musume/Michiyo Heike "Morning Cop Daite Hold on Me!" screening/photo session/mini live/handshake event tourモーニング娘。・平家みちよ「モーニング刑事。抱いて HOLD ON ME!」映画上映・撮影会・ミニライブ・握手会ツアー August – November 1998Morning Musume/Michiyo Heike school festival "Morning Cop Daite Hold on Me!" screening/mini liveモーニング娘。・平家みちよ学園祭「モーニング刑事。抱いて HOLD ON ME!」映画上映・ミニライブ October – November 1998Michiyo Heike "Sotsugyō Memorial Live"平家みちよ「卒業メモリアルライブ」 November 1–11, 2004Jecica Release Event/Azumazaka Tour '04「JECICA発売記念・東阪ツアー'04」 April 6–11, 2004Koimizuki Release Even/Azamazaka Tour '05「恋水姫発売記念・東阪ツアー'05」 March 26 – April 2, 2005Michiyo Tour 2005 "Unaffected"みちよ Tour 2005 『unaffected』 November 14–30, 2005
References
External links Official site Official Ameba Blog