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.

Close to Me
KOTOKO Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

降り止まない冷たい雨
胸の隙間に染みて
傷つけるよ
一人きりで生きてきたの
そんな強がりはもう言えないほど

今は泣いていいよ
あなたの言葉が心の扉を叩く

今も廻るこの世界瞳の中
ずっとずっと寂しさを抱えていた
Now I say "love you, I miss you, close to me"
言いかけてる
ねぇ私を変えてくものがここに在るの?

偽らずに生きていたい
そんな言葉はいつかかき消された
私の目に映るものは
みんな雨粒のようなグレイだった

誰か助けてよとつぶやいたあの日
あなたと出会えただから

今も廻るこの世界光の中
握った手をもう二度と離さないで
Please, please say "love you, I miss you, close to you"
届けたいよ
ねぇ本当は強くないから抱きしめてて

Let me, I miss you, close to me
Love you, I miss you, close to you

もう泣かないでと涙を拭った指先
心に触れた

今も廻るこの世界瞳の中
ずっとずっと寂しさを抱えていた
Now I say "love you, I miss you, close to me"
言いかけてる
ねぇ私を変えてくものがここに在るの?

廻り続ける二人光の中
握った手をもう二度と離さないで
Please, please say "love you, I miss you, close to you"

届けたいよ
ねぇ本当は強くないから抱きしめてて

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to KOTOKO's song "Close To Me" convey a sense of vulnerability and longing for emotional connection. The opening lines describe a continuous cold rain that seeps into the singer's heart, causing pain and creating a feeling of loneliness. The lyrics suggest that the singer has lived her life alone and tried to be strong, but now she can no longer maintain that facade.

The chorus expresses the longing for love and closeness. The singer acknowledges that she is allowed to cry now, as the words of the person she loves are knocking at the door of her heart. The lyrics express the singer's feelings of loneliness and how she has carried that burden for a long time. The line "Now I say 'love you, I miss you, close to me'" reflects the singer's desire to express her feelings and be closer to the person she loves. She questions if the one who can change her is present in her life.

The second verse reflects the singer's desire to live authentically without being deceived. She mentions that these words were once erased, and everything she sees appears gray like raindrops. The lyrics portray a vulnerable moment when the singer murmurs for someone to help her, and it was then that she met the person who she is referring to throughout the song.

The song's overall theme revolves around the singer's longing for love, emotional connection, and the desire to be held and protected. It conveys a sense of vulnerability and the realization that strength does not always mean being alone. It is through the presence and love of another person that the singer finds solace and the courage to be herself.

Line by Line Meaning

降り止まない冷たい雨
Never-ending cold rain

胸の隙間に染みて
Seeping into the gaps in my heart

傷つけるよ
Hurting me

一人きりで生きてきたの
I've been living alone

そんな強がりはもう言えないほど
I can't pretend to be strong anymore

今は泣いていいよ
It's okay to cry now

あなたの言葉が心の扉を叩く
Your words are knocking on the door of my heart

今も廻るこの世界瞳の中
This world keeps spinning in my eyes

ずっとずっと寂しさを抱えていた
Always, always carrying loneliness

Now I say "love you, I miss you, close to me"
Now I say "love you, I miss you, close to me"

言いかけてる
I'm about to say it