Arai Yumi

Arai Yumi started in the folk duo Yuming Taira in 1974, then went solo a few years later. Her 1978 album Cobalt Hour included the song 'Yasashisa Ni Tsutsumareta Nara,' which became one of her best-known tracks.

She grew up in Osaka and learned piano early, with her grandmother's classical background and Western pop like Carole King as influences. Other songs like 'Hikoukigumo' and 'Chinese Soup' show her range beyond the gentle ballad style she's often associated with.

In the early 1980s she had a legal dispute with her record label that interrupted her work for a time. She's also spoken about dealing with depression and anxiety, which has made her music feel more personal to some listeners.