# Ayano Tsuji

Ayano Tsuji (つじ あやの（辻 亜弥乃）, Tsuji Ayano, born January 6, 1978, in Sakyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan) is a J-pop singer famous in Japan for her unconventional light singing style and ukulele music. She rose to fame after performing the end-title track for the Studio Ghibli film The Cat Returns in 2002. Her other music for TV and anime includes "Tanpopo" for Tensai Terebi Kun.

## Biography

In 1993, Tsuji attended Kyoto City Dohda Senior High School of Arts where, during an activities class, she started to learn the ukulele after finding her hands were too small to correctly hold and play the guitar.
In 1996, Tsuji attended Ryukoku University as a student under the literature department. She graduated as a historian from Ryukoku University's Department of Oriental History.
In 1998, she released a mini-album entitled Urara from LD & K Records, making this her independent debut as a musician.

## Discography
### Albums

| Release date: | Title: |
| October 10, 1998 | Uraraka (うららか) "Balmy" |
| September 22, 1999 | Kimihe no Kimochi (君への気持ち) "I Feel For You" |
| March 15, 2000 | Haru wa Tōki Yume no Hate ni (春は遠き夢の果てに) "Visit Spring in a Far-Away Faint Dream" |
| April 18, 2001 | Harumikan (春蜜柑) "Flowers of Tangerine" |
| April 17, 2002 | Balanço |
| December 11, 2002 | Koi Suru Megane (恋する眼鏡) "Glasses in Love" |
| May 21, 2003 | Renren Huka (恋恋風歌) "Love Love Wind Song" |
| May 19, 2004 | Cover Girl |
| November 23, 2005 | Calendar Calendar |
| July 5, 2006 | Tsuji Best |
| September 22, 2006 | Hajimari no Toki (はじまりの時) "A New Beginning" |
| December 19, 2007 | Sweet, Sweet Happy Birthday |
| September 24, 2008 | Cover Girl 2 |
| September 16, 2009 | Tsuji Gifuto 〜10th Anniversary BEST〜 (つじギフト 〜10th Anniversary BEST〜) "Tsuji's Gift" |
| September 8, 2010 | Niji Shoku no Hana Sakihokoru Toki (虹色の花咲きほこるとき) "When the Rainbow Coloured Flowers Bloom" |
| January 6, 2022 | HELLO WOMAN |

### Singles

| Release date: | Title: | Notes: |
| January 26, 2000 | Clover (クローバー) "Clover" | |
| October 18, 2000 | Kokoro wa kimi no moto he (心は君のもとへ) "My Heart Longs To Be Near You" | |
| March 1, 2001 | Kimini arigatou (君にありがとう) "Let Me Say 'Thank You'" | |
| November 21, 2001 | Koibito doushi (恋人どうし) "Lovers" | |
| February 27, 2002 | Ai no kakera ☆ Koi no kakera (愛のかけら☆恋のかけら) "Fragments of Love ☆ Love Fragments" | |
| June 27, 2002 | Kazeni naru (風になる) "To Be the Wind" | End-title track for the Studio Ghibli film The Cat Returns |
| January 22, 2003 | Amaoto (雨音) "The Sound Of Rain" | |
| March 19, 2003 | Sakura no Ki no shita de (桜の木の下で) "Under The Cherry Tree" | |
| May 21, 2003 | Arikitarina romansu (ありきたりなロマンス) "Hackneyed Romance" | |
| December 17, 2003 | Parade (パレード) "Parade" | |
| April 6, 2005 | Harukaze (春風) "Spring Wind" | |
| June 22, 2005 | Shiny Day / Ai no manatsu (愛の真夏) "Midsummer Love" | |
| October 5, 2005 | Yubikiri (ゆびきり) / Hoshi furu yoru no Christmas (星降る夜のクリスマス) "Starry Christmas Night" | |
| December 6, 2006 | Sayonara aishiteru (さよなら愛してる) "I Love You... Goodbye" | |
| February 20, 2008 | Arienai Kurai Kiseki (ありえないくらい奇跡) "Much Impossible Miracle" | In collaboration with Beat Crusaders |

### DVDs

| Release date: | Title: |
| April 6, 2005 | Kyoto Girl |
| November 23, 2005 | Ayano Clip / Ayano Tsuji no eizou sakuhin shuu (つじあやの映像作品集) "Ayano Tsuji's Collected Visual Works" |