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Tier 3 · vertical & regional

Ritsuko Okazaki

Person · female · Japan · Hashima Island · born 1959 · died 2004 · recording since 1993

Japanese singer (1959-2004)

J-pop

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Also known as Ritsuko Okazaki · おかざきりつこ · 岡崎律子 · 岡崎律子

Debut: 1993
Recording span: 11 years
Release groups: 27
Timeline events: 14
Wiki language versions: 13

Compare this artist Read the biography Jump to timeline

Timeline

14 events▣ Album 11◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1† Death 1

1950s
1. 29 December 1959 · Birth
  Born 1959-12-29
  source: wikidata
1990s
1. 3 March 1993 · Debut release
  Debut release: 悲しい自由
  First documented Single in the MusicBrainz discography.
  source: musicbrainz
2. 24 March 1993 · Album
  Album: Sincerely yours,
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
3. 23 March 1994 · Album
  Album: Joyful Calendar
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
4. 21 August 1997 · Album
  Album: Ritzberry Fields
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
5. 25 October 1997 · Album
  Album: Rain or Shine
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
6. 6 November 1998 · Album
  Album: おはよう
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
2000s
1. 23 December 2000 · Album
  Album: やがてやさしい春が来て
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
2. 30 October 2001 · Album
  Album: フルーツバスケット―四季―
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
3. 16 December 2001 · Album
  Album: ラブひな OKAZAKI COLLECTION
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
4. 23 December 2001 · Album
  Album: love & life
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
5. 5 February 2003 · Album
  Album: life is lovely.
  Album
  source: musicbrainz
6. 5 May 2004 · Death
  Died 2004
  source: wikidata
7. 19 December 2004 · Album
  Album: for RITZ
  Album
  source: musicbrainz

Biography

English biography332 words · 4 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1371039001

Biography

Ritsuko Okazaki (岡崎律子, Okazaki Ritsuko; December 29, 1959 – May 5, 2004) was a Japanese singer-songwriter born on Hashima Island, Nagasaki Prefecture. She first made her professional debut with the single, Kanashii Jiyū / Koi ga, Kiete Yuku. She is also known as the Shelby Flint of Japan.

Early life

Okazaki was born in Hashima Island, Nagasaki Prefecture on December 29, 1959. She was born left-handed. During her childhood, she was forced by her mother to use her right hand. However, after hearing that it was bad to force her to use her right hand, her mother quickly advised her to use her natural hand. During her school days, she spent time in the bakery where she worked part-time, and practiced with her band, Eleanor. She was then in charge of the chorus and piano.

Career

Okazaki made her debut as a singer-songwriter in 1993. During the nineties, she continued singing and also wrote songs for various voice actors. As she became more involved with anime she composed songs for Wedding Peach, Fruits Basket, Princess Tutu, Symphonic Rain, and Love Hina. She formed the duo Melocure in 2002 with singer-songwriter Megumi Hinata.
In the following two years, the duo released several singles and an album, Melodic Hard Cure. Okazaki also produced songs during these years for artists such as Megumi Hayashibara, Mayumi Iizuka, and Yui Horie. According to her fans, the lyrics of Okazaki's songs are characterized by poetic imagery, depth of emotion, gentle optimism and simplicity.

Death

She was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2003 but still continued with her work. During this time there was little information released about her. The news was revealed to the public in the liner notes of the CD soundtrack re-release of the visual novel Symphonic Rain, which was released a year after her death.
On May 5, 2004, Okazaki died suddenly at the age of 44 from septic shock as a result of sepsis. She was unable to speak any last words, and left her work unfinished.

Discography & profile

Normalised profile

Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.

Normalised profile metrics with percentile rank
Metric	Value	Percentile
Wikipedia language versions	13	67.6th
Spotify monthly listeners	—	no data
Release groups in DB	27	89.5th
Studio albums	11	91.9th
Awards recorded	0	0th
Timeline events	14	90.5th
Recording span (years)	11	28.3th
Genres	2	74th

Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.

Discography (27 release groups · 11 studio albums)

Albums · 11

Sincerely yours,
1993 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 47:51
1朝〜What's goin' on〜3:56
2出逢いは三月　春3:46
3恋心5:31
4夏の空港5:43
5悲しい自由4:25
6幸せになろう4:51
7恋が、消えてゆく4:12
8Girlfriend5:17
9青い砂時計5:11
10まっすぐな心で4:59
Joyful Calendar
1994 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 45:22
1散歩に出かけよう4:16
21993年、春5:26
3長距離電話5:14
4Love Scene6:19
5最愛5:11
6Nowadays3:28
7春の海へ2:54
8Starry Night3:58
9夕暮れの帰り道4:02
10同じ空の下4:34
Ritzberry Fields
1997 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks · 46:28
1Bon Voyage!4:25
2素直な気持ち4:44
3夜明けの青いソファー3:59
4はなれていても4:17
54月の雪6:23
6約束3:09
7-Life-3:53
8Shall We Dance in the Rain?3:00
9冬のないカレンダー4:46
10Lucky & Happy4:30
11愛されて守られて3:22
Rain or Shine
1997 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 14 tracks · 1:02:12
1BLUE POINT3:54
2朝〜What's goin' on〜3:56
3長距離電話5:13
4Rain or Shine-降っても晴れても3:37
5春の海へ2:54
6まっすぐな心で4:54
7Nowadays3:19
8悲しい自由4:24
9愛してほしくて4:04
10Girlfriend5:15
11最愛5:08
12明日に向かって5:54
13恋心5:30
14A Happy Life4:10
おはよう
1998 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 45:01
1おはよう3:21
2愛すべき明日3:55
3ひとりではつまらない4:25
4June4:52
5シンシア・愛する人4:30
6青空4:51
7電話をちょうだいね3:43
8春が来た4:20
9Good Luck!4:35
10仲なおり6:29
やがてやさしい春が来て
2000 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 4 tracks · 15:15
1Welcome to Ritzberry Fields0:37
2待ちあわせ6:10
3夢ははてしなく4:40
4月下の散歩3:48
フルーツバスケット―四季―
2001 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks · 39:46
1序曲<Overture>2:35
2小さな祈り~TVシリーズEDテーマ~3:21
3ただ泣きたくなるの<Orchestra Version>3:44
4セレナーデ6:06
5For フルーツバスケット<Orchestra Version>2:40
6愛すべき明日<Fruits Basket Version>3:59
7木漏れ日<Interlude>2:37
8空色4:49
9小さな祈り<Orchestra Version>2:39
10For フルーツバスケット~TVシリーズOPテーマ~4:24
11終曲<Epilogue>2:52
ラブひな OKAZAKI COLLECTION
2001 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 10 tracks · 41:47
1春だもの!3:38
2はじまりはここから3:26
3Friendship5:31
4今宵の月に誘われて4:31
5サクラサク3:13
6君さえいれば4:40
7なんてステキな5:15
8祝福3:30
9イツマデモドコマデモ3:45
10Merry Christmas To You4:18
love & life
2001 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 4 tracks · 11:37
1Welcome to Ritzberry Fields 20010:38
2やさしい贈りもの4:02
3A merry December3:56
4流星群の日3:01
life is lovely.
2003 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 14 tracks · 59:18
1それはあたしの心なの1:52
2素顔4:02
3reminiscence5:12
4Magie4:10
5Romantic connection4:56
6守りたい人がいて5:10
7Be happy,please！4:12
8春の歓び3:37
9空色4:50
10lyric4:44
11いっしょにたべよう3:02
12笑顔にはかなわない4:09
13セレナーデ6:10
14Sweet dreams3:12
for RITZ
2004 · studio album
Search Spotify Search YouTube Music
Tracklist · 11 tracks · 50:02
1空の向こうに4:54
2I'm always close to you5:39
3秘密4:15
4いつでも微笑みを4:41
5雨のmusique3:57
6メロディー3:51
7リセエンヌ5:34
8Hello!4:37
9fay3:26
10涙がほおを流れても4:46
11For フルーツバスケット4:22

Single · 12

Single release groups, by first release date
Year	Title	Notes	First release
1993	悲しい自由Search Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 4 tracks · 17:14 1悲しい自由4:25 2恋が、消えてゆく4:13 3悲しい自由(オリジナル・カラオケ)4:25 4恋が、消えてゆく(オリジナル・カラオケ)4:11		3 March 1993
1994	最愛Search Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 3 tracks · 13:50 1最愛5:11 2最愛～Melody～with my voices(Instrumental)4:57 312月の雪の日3:42		23 February 1994
1994	長距離電話Search Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 3 tracks · 15:46 1長距離電話5:14 2Girlfriend5:19 3長距離電話(Instrumental)5:13		16 September 1994
1996	リグレット−恋人なら−Search Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 3 tracks · 17:43 1リグレット−恋人なら−5:48 2４月の雪6:13 3リグレット−恋人なら−（オリジナルカラオケ）5:42		25 January 1996
1996	A Happy LifeSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 4 tracks · 14:27 1A Happy Life4:13 2～ハミング～3:01 3A Happy Life(オリジナル・カラオケ)4:14 4～ハミング～(オリジナル・カラオケ)2:59		25 August 1996
1997	Rain or Shine－降っても晴れても－Search Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 2 tracks · 10:17 1Rain or Shine－降っても晴れても－3:40 2White Land6:37		24 November 1997
1999	L'aquoiboniste(無造作紳士)Search Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 3 tracks · 13:50 1L'aquoiboniste(無造作紳士)3:41 2Moonshadow6:33 3L'aquoiboniste(無造作紳士)-instrumental3:36		8 December 1999
2001	For フルーツバスケットSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 4 tracks · 15:33 1For フルーツバスケット4:24 2小さな祈り3:23 3For フルーツバスケット (instrumental ver.)4:25 4小さな祈り (instrumental ver.)3:21		25 July 2001
2002	Morning Grace / 私の愛は小さいけれどSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 4 tracks · 16:30 1Morning Grace4:17 2私の愛は小さいけれど3:59 3Morning Grace (Off Vocal Ver.)4:17 4私の愛は小さいけれど (Off Vocal Ver.)3:57		23 October 2002
2003	TVアニメーション「円盤皇女ワるきゅーレ十二月の夜想曲」オープニングテーマめぐり逢い劇中歌 ALL IN ALL / メロキュア (岡崎律子&日向めぐみ)Search Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 4 tracks · 15:53 1めぐり逢い3:17 2ALL IN ALL4:41 3めぐり逢い (オリジナル・カラオケ)3:17 4ALL IN ALL (オリジナル・カラオケ)4:38	Soundtrack	22 October 2003
2012	Friendship ～ for 好きっていいなよ。(TVサイズ)Search Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 1 track 1Friendship ～ for 好きっていいなよ。 (TVサイズ)		13 October 2012
2012	好きっていいなよ。 Music&Drama Collection CD vol.1Search Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 1 track 1Friendship ～ for 好きっていいなよ。		7 November 2012

EP · 1

EP release groups, by first release date
Cover	Year	Title	Notes	First release
	1996	A Happy LifeSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 6 tracks · 30:18 1A Happy Life4:10 2BLUE POINT3:53 3ノンシャランで行こう4:06 4リグレット〜恋人なら〜5:45 5明日に向かって6:07 64月の雪(Album mix version)6:17		25 May 1996

Album · 3

Album release groups, by first release date
Year	Title	Notes	First release
2004	シンフォニック＝レインSearch Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 19 tracks · 1:14:42 1空の向こうに Short Ver.3:08 2ココロの雨3:31 3秘密4:01 4秘密サドネス4:14 5Feel the rain2:07 6雨の musique3:54 7リセエンヌ4:29 8fay3:08 9trovatore2:41 10ココロの雨ストリート3:12 11ココロの雨リビング3:29 12ココロの雨スクール3:50 13ココロの雨サドネス3:36 14ココロの雨オルゴール3:17 15空の向こうにピアノ4:41 16空の向こうにオルゴール4:41 17涙がほおを流れてもピアノ6:05 18涙がほおを流れてもオルゴール6:00 19涙がほおを流れても4:38	Soundtrack	26 March 2004
2005	Love & Life 〜private works 1999-2001〜Search Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:01:09 1Welcome to Ritzberry Fields 20010:38 2やさしい贈りもの4:02 3A merry December3:56 4流星群の日3:02 5待ちあわせ6:08 6夢ははてしなく4:39 7月下の散歩3:50 8冬の陽4:53 9The Bright Side4:03 10星空にお祈り5:29 11Welcome to Ritzberry Fields0:37 12White Land6:39 13〜ハミング〜3:02 1412月の雪の日3:43 15Moonshadow6:28	Compilation	5 May 2005
2005	シンフォニック＝レインピアノとチェロのための二重奏Search Spotify Search YouTube Music Tracklist · 5 tracks · 18:04 1Feel the rain3:40 2ココロの雨3:40 3いつでも微笑みを3:59 4Hello!2:43 5メロディー4:02	Soundtrack	24 June 2005

Stats & PK

Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Ritsuko Okazaki head-to-head →

Ritsuko Okazaki metrics with percentile rank among published artists
Metric	Value	Percentile
Wikipedia language versions	13	67.6th
Spotify monthly listeners	—	no data
Release groups in DB	27	89.5th
Studio albums	11	91.9th
Awards recorded	0	0th
Timeline events	14	90.5th
Recording span (years)	11	28.3th
Genres	2	74th

Awards & honours

No awards recorded

No major awards are stored for this artist yet.

Browse the best-documented artists

Line-up

Band line-up and band memberships with dates
Name	From	To	Role
Melocure(band)	—	present

Where this record comes from

aliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a16ed3e1-1fab-4b18-8dfa-941eab07f373
discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/a16ed3e1-1fab-4b18-8dfa-941eab07f373
core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1328632
genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1328632
seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritsuko_Okazaki
biography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritsuko_Okazaki

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Timeline

1950s

Born 1959-12-29

1990s

Debut release: 悲しい自由

Album: Sincerely yours,

Album: Joyful Calendar

Album: Ritzberry Fields

Album: Rain or Shine

Album: おはよう

2000s

Album: やがてやさしい春が来て

Album: フルーツバスケット―四季―

Album: ラブひな OKAZAKI COLLECTION

Album: love & life

Album: life is lovely.

Died 2004

Album: for RITZ

Biography

Biography

Early life

Career

Death

Discography & profile

Normalised profile

Discography (27 release groups · 11 studio albums)

Albums · 11

Single · 12

EP · 1

Album · 3

Stats & PK

Awards & honours

Line-up

Where this record comes from

Why this artist is in the database

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