She also composes and writes lyrics (for herself as well as other singers in I've Sound) for numerous other song collections. She frequently works with the producers I've Sound, and has contributed songs to numerous anime and video games including Onegai Teacher, Mahou Shoujo Tai Arusu, Onegai Twins, Ren'ai CHU!, Maria-sama ga Miteru, Hayate the Combat Butler, Colorful Kiss, Kannazuki no Miko, Starship Operators, Shakugan no Shana, and BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger.
In 1999, she became a professional singer. Her first successful audition was with I've Sound, a team of producers using the talents of various female vocalists for their productions—best recognized for their many dating sim and eroge game soundtracks. Since then, she has performed opening and ending themes for a few anime and has gained significant recognition from her two I've Sound-related album releases. Her second album, Garasu no Kaze, released in June 2005 has been praised within multiple online communities. On October 13, 2005, she released her fourth maxi single, which featured a song from her Garasu no Kaze album, "421: A Will" and its B-side song called "Shuusou" (秋爽, The Refreshing Autumn Breeze), which is featured in her third album, Uzu-Maki.
Although not listed on her official Geneon website, KOTOKO has actually released four albums. Her very first album was called, Sora o Tobetara, which was released in 2000. Many of the tracks on this album were later re-recorded for her first I've Sound album, Hane (羽 -hane-, Feather), and was attributed as her first album. Her first I've Sound CD appearance was on the CD "Dear Feeling" (only released at "Comic Market 59".) with previous singer Aki. She then appeared on I've Girls Compilation Album Vol.3 "Disintegration", a series of albums with various songs from the I've Sound singers.
KOTOKO's first official performance in North America was her highly successful American concert debut at Anime Expo 2005, followed soon after by the KOTOKO Lax Tour. Now that her self-composed hybrid of pop and techno beats—sometimes pop—have crossed the Pacific, KOTOKO's lyrics have elevated her presence among thousands of North American J-pop/anime fans.
In 2009 she did the theme song for the Mamoru Oshii live-action movie Assault Girls. The song 蒼-iconoclast has also been featured as the opening theme song to the console version of the widely popular game Blazblue:Calamity Trigger.
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Personality: Quiet, likes making new friends, optimist, caring, emotional, perfectionist, romantic.
Interests: Movies, shopping (online), photography, flowers, darts, softball, dancing, collecting cute things.
I want to go to: Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden, Morocco, Greece, Egypt, Tuvalu, Bolivia, Nepal, New Zealand, India, Thailand, Australia.
Favorite food: Cherries, and particularly fond of strawberries, actually likes all fruit except melon, noodles, curry soup, avocado, cheese, milk, pudding, mint, cooked rice, chocolate, cookies, coffee.
Favorite things: Music, poetry, movies, the sky, the sea.
Favorite animals: Rabbits, turtles, sheeps, insects.
Dislikes: The dark, narrow spaces, a bad liar, rain, people without dreams.
Dreams: Go to Los Angeles, plant a lemon tree and build a house in the hills with a view on the sea.
→unfinished→
KOTOKO Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
祈る声が木霊し続ける
痛み堪え進む意味を 探す
加速してく
（☆ we are tossed by the waves of pain and tears
I'm tossed into the fray
..tossed by various fortune
flashed in the sky
It's a burst of sensation)
“諦め”がくれた安楽 沈滞の世界
いつからだっただろう？
我の声も忘れてた
膝をつく僕に 君が差し出す景色
モノクロの朝が ふいに輝き始めた
‐変わらずにいてと願うこと‐
‐変わりゆく時に生きる僕ら‐
本当の声を…
言い得ぬ夢を…
君と繋がった空へ 響かせて！
もっと強く… この両手で
涙全て振り払えたら
“今度こそは…” つぶやく今と
傷さえも無駄にしない
いつか君が示す場所へ
薄い羽が焼かれようとも
脳の奥で口を開く
“真実”へ 加速してく
（☆repeat）
何を見ているの？ 虚空 見据える瞳
凛とした肩がわずか 震えた気がした
ちっぽけで消えそうだけど
守りたいモノ 確かにあるんだ
虚像の街と 不安定な日常の中
信じられる物は ただ一つ!
もっと深く 感じさせて
動き出した心と心
自分の目で… そして、触れて
感覚を手に入れたい
何を求め 何を許し
いくつ抱え 進めば良いの?
目覚めかけの可能性を
たぐり寄せ 加速してく
僕のために泣いてくれた
その瞳を笑わせたくて
もっと近く… もっと深く…
熱を帯び 進化してく
もっと強く… この両手で
涙全て振り払えたら
“今度こそは…” つぶやく今と
傷さえも無駄にしない
もっと早く… 君のもとへ
たとえ羽が千切れようとも
歪む世界 走り抜けて
感覚のその向うへ
“真実”と 加速してく
（☆ ２repeat）
The lyrics to "unfinished" by KOTOKO describe the journey of the singer who is striving to find a purpose in life. The song speaks about the pain they endure as they search for their destination and how they are often thrown into the chaos of life's uncertainties. The lyrics begin with a plea to reach "your place" faster, which represents their ultimate goal. However, they are lost and unsure of where to go, and as they try to move forward, they are constantly reminded of their torment by the echoing voices of their past.
The singer has given in to the comfort of "resignation," and they have lost the sound of their own voice. But, when the singer is offered a hand by another, they see the world in a new light. The scenery, which was once monochromatic, suddenly begin to glimmer, and they feel hope. The song encourages the listener to live in the moment and to grasp onto their voice and their dreams. In the end, the singer vows to reach their destination regardless of the challenges that they may face.
Overall, the song speaks to those who feel lost or without purpose, reminding them that even if the journey is long and hard, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.
Line by Line Meaning
もっと早く… “君の場所”へ…
I wish to reach your side quicker
祈る声が木霊し続ける
My prayers echo continuously
痛み堪え進む意味を 探す現実
I search for the meaning to keep going despite the pain
加速してく
I'm accelerating
“諦め”がくれた安楽 沈滞の世界
Giving up offered comfort in a stagnant world
いつからだっただろう？
When did I start forgetting my own voice?
我の声も忘れてた
I had also forgotten my own voice
膝をつく僕に 君が差し出す景色
You showed me a beautiful view while I was down on my knees
モノクロの朝が ふいに輝き始めた
The monochrome morning suddenly began to shine
‐変わらずにいてと願うこと‐
I wish for things to stay the same
‐変わりゆく時に生きる僕ら‐
We live through changing times
本当の声を…
My true voice...
言い得ぬ夢を…
My impossible dream...
君と繋がった空へ 響かせて！
Let's make our voices reach the sky we're connected to
もっと強く… この両手で
I want to be stronger... with both of these hands
涙全て振り払えたら
If I could get rid of all my tears...
“今度こそは…” つぶやく今と
I whisper to myself now, "This time for sure..."
傷さえも無駄にしない
I won't let even my wounds be in vain
いつか君が示す場所へ
I'll make my way to the place you point to someday
薄い羽が焼かれようとも
Even if my wings get burned...
脳の奥で口を開く
My voice opens up from within my mind
“真実”へ 加速してく
I'm accelerating towards the truth
何を見ているの？ 虚空 見据える瞳
What are you looking at? Your eyes staring at the empty sky
凛とした肩がわずか 震えた気がした
I felt a slight tremble in your composed shoulders
ちっぽけで消えそうだけど
Even if it seems small and about to disappear...
守りたいモノ 確かにあるんだ
There are certainly things I want to protect
虚像の街と 不安定な日常の中
In this world of illusions and unstable everyday life...
信じられる物は ただ一つ!
There's only one thing I can believe in!
もっと深く 感じさせて
Make me feel it even more deeply
動き出した心と心
Our hearts have started moving
自分の目で… そして、触れて
With my own eyes... and then, touch it
感覚を手に入れたい
I want to obtain the sensation
何を求め 何を許し
What should I seek? What should I forgive?
いくつ抱え 進めば良いの?
How many things should I hold onto as I move forward?
目覚めかけの可能性を
I'll gather up the potential of my awakening
たぐり寄せ 加速してく
I'll pull it towards me... and accelerate
僕のために泣いてくれた
You cried for me
その瞳を笑わせたくて
I want to make those eyes smile
もっと近く… もっと深く…
Even closer... Even deeper...
熱を帯び 進化してく
I'll become passionate and evolve
もっと早く… 君のもとへ
I want to reach your side even quicker
たとえ羽が千切れようとも
Even if my wings are torn apart...
歪む世界 走り抜けて
I'll run through this distorted world
感覚のその向うへ
Beyond my senses
“真実”と 加速してく
I'm accelerating towards the truth
Contributed by Jake S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.