Shiina Ringo (椎名林檎 Shiina Ringo) is a Japanese singer, guitarist, and pianist born on November 25, 1978. Her real name is Yumiko Shiina (椎名裕美子 Shiina Yumiko).

Note: Her name can be romanized many ways, including Shina, Sheena, and Shéna. This extends to album listings where she's even listed as Sheena Rinngo on her album Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana.

Contents

1 Early Life 2 Solo Career 3 New Band 4 Albums 5 Singles 6 Videos 7 External Link

Early Life

Yumiko Shiina was born in the Fukuoka Prefecture to Koutarou Shiina, an employee of an oil company, and Akiko Shiina, a full-time housewife. She was born with an illness in which the esophagus becomes more narrow as it gets closer to the stomach, resulting in many surgeries.

Her understanding of the arts began with her father's interest in jazz and classical music. Also, her mother majored in dance in college and practiced ballet. In her house were a large collection of music, a piano, and a guitar. Yumiko's father was also devoted reader of music magazines. The young girl began practicing piano at age 5, as well as starting classical ballet.

While Yumiko was a very outgoing girl in her early child life, she later became shy and quiet. The pseudonym Ringo, meaning apple, comes from how she would blush bright red like an apple when she was in front of people, as well as from her love of the Beatles' Ringo Starr, as well as singer Fiona Apple.

Her parents remember her as a mostly trouble-free child, except that she could not stand being alone, throwing tantrums if she could not have a friend to play with.

By age 15, Yumiko had become involved in several bands as well as performing solo. In 1995, she received recognition from the Teens Music Festival as a member of the all-girl band Marvelous Marbles. Later on, she received an Award of Excellence as a solo artist in the finals of the annual Music Quest competitions.

Solo Career

Shiina Ringo's first official single was released May 1998, when she was 20 years old. It was entitled Koufukuron. Next came the release of her first album, Muzai Moratorium, in February 1999, and then her second album, Shouso Strip, in March 2000. She took a short hiatus when she was expecting a child, but returned a year later with a two-disc compilation of international covers entitled Utaite Myouri.

Shiina is an accomplished musician and song writer who writes very original music ranging numerous genres. She is well known for her quirky way of doing things, rolling her "r"'s and creating promotional music videos with the strangest visuals.

At the age of 24, Ringo had married Junji Yayoshi, a guitarist, and had a child. The two divorced 14 months later. Towards the conclusion of her solo career, she had her trademark mole removed, as well as releasing Ringo no Uta, which can be described as a vivid summation of her career, including a music video with references to all of her previous videos.

New Band

On May 31, 2004, the artist announced that she would no longer be recording solo, instead joining Tokyo Jihen, who had toured with her during her Sugoroku Ecstasy tour. The band consists of Seiji Kameda on bass, Toshiki Hata at drums, Masayuki Hiizumi at keyboards, and Mikio Hirama on guitar.

Albums

• Muzai Moratorium (1999)
  1. Tadashii Machi
  2. Kabukichou no Joou
  3. Marunouchi Sadistic
  4. Koufukuron (album version)
  5. Akane Sasu Kiro Terasaredo
  6. Shido to Hakuchuumu
  7. Tsumiki Asobi
  8. Koko de Kiss Shiite
  9. Onaji Yoru
  10. Keikoku
  11. Morphine

• Shouso Strip (2000)
  1. Kyogensho
  2. Yokushitsu
  3. Benkai Debussy
  4. Gibusu
  5. Yami ni Furu Ame
  6. Identity
  7. Tsumi to Batsu
  8. Stoicism
  9. Tsuki ni Makeinu
  10. Sakana
  11. Byoushou Public
  12. Honnou
  13. Izonshou

• Utaite Myouri (2002)
  1. Haiiro no Hitomi
  2. More
  3. Chiisana Kinomi
  4. I Wanna be Loved by You
  5. Chiisai Kobato
  6. Love is Blind
  7. Momen no Handkerchief
  8. Yer Blues
  9. Nobara
  10. Kimi wo Aisu
  11. Jazz a go-go
  12. Autumn Leaves
  13. I Won't Last a Day Without You
  14. Carnival (Manha de Carnaval)
  15. Mr. Wonderful
  16. Tamanegi no Happy Song
  17. Starting Over
  18. Komori Uta

• Karuki Zamen Kuri no Hana (2003)
  1. Shuukyou
  2. Doppelgenger
  3. Meisai
  4. Odaijini
  5. Yatsutsuke Shigoto
  6. Kuki
  7. Torikoshikurou
  8. Okonomide
  9. Ishiki
  10. Poltergeist
  11. Souretsu

• Zecchoushuu (3 Mini-CD Set) (2000)
  1. Yattsuke Shigoto
  2. Gamble
  3. Onaji Yoru
  4. Mellow
  5. Fukou Jiman
  6. Mo Koukyuudo
  7. Fukuran de Kichatta
  8. Hai Hai
  9. Kougousei

Singles

• 1. Koufukuron (1998)
  2. Koufukuron (Maxi) (1999)
  3. Kabukicho No Jyoou (Maxi) (1998)
  4. Koko De Kiss Shite (Maxi) (1999)
  5. Honnou (Maxi) (1999)
  6. Gibusu (Maxi) (2000)
  7. Tsumi To Batsu (Maxi) (2000)
  8. Mayonaka Wa Junketsu (Maxi) (2001)
  9. STEM - Daimyou asobi hen (Maxi) (2003)

Videos

• 1. Seiteki Healing Sono 1 (VHS) (1999)
  2. Seiteki Healing Sono 1 (DVD) (2000)
  3. Seiteki Healing Sono 2 (VHS) (2000)
  4. Seiteki Healing Sono 2 (DVD) (2000)
  5. Gekokujyo Xstasy (VHS) (2000)
  6. Gekokujyo Xstasy (DVD) (2000)
  7. Hatsuiku Status - Gokiritsu Japon (VHS) (2000)
  8. Hatsuiku Status - Gokiritsu Japon (DVD) (2000)
  9. Hyaku Iro Megane (DVD) (2003)
  10. Baishou Ectasy (DVD) (2003)
  11. Seiteki Healing Sono (DVD) (2003)

External Link

• Sheena Ringo's web site (in English)
• Shiina Ringo's official site (in Japanese)
• Tokyo Jihen's official site (in Japanese)
• kronekodow.com (in Japanese)
• Ringo Jihen (in English)
• Nippop Profile | Ringo Shena