KOTOKO (real name 堀川ことこ—Horikawa Kotoko), born on January 19, 1980 in Sappo… Read Full Bio ↴KOTOKO (real name 堀川ことこ—Horikawa Kotoko), born on January 19, 1980 in Sapporo, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, is a female j-pop electronic/dance vocalist whose songs draws on electro rock, techno and trance. She has released five albums (three associated with Geneon and two associated with I've Sound), twelve maxi singles (seventeen overall) and two DVDs that were released in the US.

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.

Chercher
KOTOKO Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

たとえ深い闇に　はぐれて迷い込んでも
私ならば　間違わずにあなたのこと見つけられる

気がつくとつないだ手　すり抜けて駆けてく
振り返ることなく　まっすぐに
いいわ置いてきぼりだって　すぐに追いつくから
私のこと思い出す頃に

私を呼んで　私を聴いて
それだけで輝く　あなたの足あと

そうね今あなたが　二枚貝の吐きだした
夢の中に取り込まれて　帰れなくなってたら
空を切りひらいて　逆巻く波折りたたみ
約束する　私だけはあなたのこと救いだすと

転んだりしてないか　泣きじゃくってないか
私の胸はり裂けそうだから

私を呼んで「もういいよ」と言って
そうすれば導く　きらめく縒り糸

たとえこの世の果て　身体さえ失っても
顔も髪も声も　すべて消える日が来ようとも
それを動かしてた　あなたの心がそこに
残ってたら　小石ほどの欠片だって見落とさない

私を呼んで　私を聴いて
それくらい　あなたを好きだってことよ

いつもつないだ手を　すり抜けて駆けだすから
心配性と言われても　ハラハラのしどおしよ

でもね深い闇に　あなたが迷い込んだら
約束する　私がすぐあなたのこと探し出すと

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to KOTOKO's song Chercher speak of unwavering devotion and a determination to find and save the one the singer loves, even in the darkest of times. She begins by declaring that even if she were to become lost in the deepest of darkness, she would be able to find her beloved without fail. The verse goes on to describe the singer running through the darkness, not looking back, leaving everything behind and catching up to her love quickly. She is confident that she can save him when he needs it, and all she needs is for him to call her and listen to her. She loves him so much that every bit of evidence of his existence, like his footsteps, brings her happiness.

The chorus speaks of her promise to save her love, even if he is lost in his dreams and cannot find his way back, she will cut through the sky, calm the raging waves, and bring him back to reality. She is deeply worried about him falling or crying, and the thought of him being in pain is tearing her apart. However, all she needs is for him to call her and tell her he's okay, and she will guide him with the glittering threads of love.

Chercher is a song about unconditional love, sacrifice, and devotion. It speaks of the strength of love that can move mountains and break barriers. The lyrics are emotional and heartwarming, and KOTOKO's voice brings out the emotions in the lyrics beautifully.

Line by Line Meaning

たとえ深い闇に　はぐれて迷い込んでも
Even if you get lost in the deepest darkness

私ならば　間違わずにあなたのこと見つけられる
I can find you without fail

気がつくとつないだ手　すり抜けて駆けてく
I find myself running, my hand slipping from yours

振り返ることなく　まっすぐに
I run straight ahead without looking back

いいわ置いてきぼりだって　すぐに追いつくから
I'll catch up to you in no time, even if you leave me behind

私のこと思い出す頃に
By the time you remember me

私を呼んで　私を聴いて
Call out to me and listen to me

それだけで輝く　あなたの足あと
Your footsteps shine with that alone

そうね今あなたが　二枚貝の吐きだした
Yes, right now you are vomiting pearls

夢の中に取り込まれて　帰れなくなってたら
If you are trapped inside a dream and cannot return

空を切りひらいて　逆巻く波折りたたみ
I will cut open the sky and fold back the rushing waves