KOKIA (Akiko Yoshida) (born July 22, 1976) is a Japanese
singer-songwriter whose music blends
folk,
world, and
new age influences. Renowned for her clear, emotive voice and spiritually infused lyricism, she writes, composes, and produces most of her own work, weaving recurring themes of love, faith, and human connection. Trained in classical opera at Toho Gakuen School of Music, she debuted in 1998 with
Songbird. Her early single “Arigatō…” became a hit in Hong Kong after being covered by Sammi Cheng, while “The Power of Smile” (2003) brought national acclaim in Japan. These…
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