[luminaire]

Nice thread. =)

Onitsuka Chihiro

There was this period of time where I was downloading songs quite randomly to sample, and it was around the release date of "Sign", in 2003, that I discovered Oni. "Sign" didn't leave a great impression on me at first - deleted the file after one listen. In August, "Beautiful Fighter" was released. Being curious, I downloaded it again, and thought it was quite all right. But "arashi ga oka" got me interested. Then I went back to download "Sign" and a few other songs, and "Sign" and "ryuuseigun" converted me into an Oni fan. The rest is history. =)

Sasagawa Miwa

My friend had Sasami's album on Soulseek the other time, around May last year. I never got around to downloading it. But her name got stuck in my mind, so I eventually got around to looking for her webpage, and I listened to sound samples. Then I wanted to download her album off my friend, but he no longer had it. But then I found her "kinmokusei/warai" single up for download. So I did, and was promptly blasted away. Have been a fan ever since.

Every Little Thing

One story that I can never get tired of telling. Aforementioned friend who had Sasami's album sent me ELT's "ai no kakera" in late 2002, I think. Listened to a little of it before deleting it as I didn't find the music very attractive. In 2003, however, they released "Grip!", and my curiosity got the better of me again. Like how it was with Oni, the A-side didn't get me; "yurayura" did. Didn't actually become a full-fledged fan until "mata ashita" though, thanks to a B-side (again): "ichinichi no hajimari ni...". But I've been loyal to Mocchi and Ikkun ever since. =)

the brilliant green

One of my later J-pop acquisitions. In 2003, I believe, my friend sent me "Rainy days never stays". And one song was all it took. Tomoko, quit doing your February6 thing already. ;_;

Nakashima Mika

I do believe it was one of those random MP3 things again in 2003. It was "FIND THE WAY", but I remember not being very impressed with it. Later on, I downloaded "Love Addict" from my friend, and was hooked by it instantly. I think "yuki no hana" was scheduled to be released in a few weeks after that.

ZONE

It was August last year that I began seeing their "H.A.N.A.B.I" single in the store. (Now I regret not having bought it when it was still available, bleah.) Friend sent me the song, and I thought it was quite good. "boku no tegami", however, threw me off, and I nearly lost interest in them if it were not for "sotsugyou".

Shiina Ringo/Tokyo Jihen

Friend sent me "mayonaka wa junketsu". I was totally floored by her creativity and ingenuity. That was in 2003. Then in 2004, news came that she was going to join Jihen. I was originally quite negative about it, but "gunjou biyori" and, more importantly, "sounan" proved me wrong.

And the obligatory...
Utada Hikaru

First J-pop artist, so she'll always have a little somewhere in my heart. My friend sent me one of her songs in 2002 - "hikari". I thought it was really pretty and all, but "SAKURA DROPS" was the one that hooked me in. Haven't been going back to her recently, but whenever I do I'm always quite satisfied. =)