BIOGRAPHY
http://www.marimusic.com/bio.htm
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/mariiijima
Press: http://www.marimusic.com/media.htm
Picture: http://www.marimusic.com/photos.htm
"Pacific Blue" Video Clips: http://www.orange-
road.com/mari/godsgift.html
YouTube (Macross Love): http://www.youtube.com/results?
search_query=Minmei
YouTube (Knitting Factory): http://youtube.com/watch?v=ltJCBZb3hwA


Mari Iijima is an accomplished singer and songwriter who has released
numerous top 10 albums in Japan. Her critically acclaimed debut
album, "Rosé" was produced by renowned composer Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Throughout her career she has won several awards including
the Japan Audio Society Golden Jubilee Award for her songs
"Vacation" and "D", voted by both Japanese & American judges.
Mari was also nominated for the 2000 Los Angeles Music Awards'
Best Pop Artist for her first English album "No Limit".

Last year, Mari released her most recent album "Wonderful People"
which she collaborated with today's hottest musicians including
members of the John Mayer Band. The album quickly became a smash hit
and stayed on the top of an Indie album chart for over 5 consecutive
weeks.

Mari's hits include "Do You Remember Love? ", "Cecil's Umbrella",
"One Gram Of Happiness", and "Love Is A Miracle".

Mari has also appeared in film, television, and on radio in both
Japan and the U.S.

She most recently starred in the short feature film "Green Tea-r"
and also wrote and performed the theme song "Petal".

The film won the top honor of Grandprix at the Takazuka Film
Festival in Japan and also had a showing at the Berlin Film
Festival.

=====

INFLUENCES
http://www.myspace.com/mariiijima

Queen, Paul McCartney & Wings, Ludwig Van Beethoven, The Beatles,
Squeeze, Japan, Scritti Politti, Rupert Hine, Yumi Arai, Kazumasa
Oda, Tatsuro Yamashita, Suger Babe, The Tigers, 10cc, Echo & The
Bunnymen, The Bay City Rollers, Tears For Fears, Elton John, Hall &
Oats, Kate Bush, Rickie Lee Jones, YMO, Third Eye Blind, Taeko
Onuki, Akiko Yano, Minako Yoshida, Howard Jones, Joe Jackson, Level
42, Duran Duran, Duncan Sheik, Donald Fagen, Paul Carrack,The Alan
Parson's Project, Fleetwood Mac, Toto, Prefab Sprout, Maroon5, Jet,
John Mayer, Phantom Planet, Keane, Coldplay and more.

====

Mari Iijima Fan Interview
Steve Yun
http://www.robotech.com/news/viewarticle.php?id=257

ON MACROSS AND MINMAY:


BlueTrim asks: What drew your interest into taking up the storyline
of Macross as a voice acting project? Or if they sought you out,
what was it that they picked you for and how many others were
interested in the part?

Mari Iijima says: They wanted a strong singer, I think. And I
happened to be there as a new talent (singer & songwriter) at JVC
Victor when they were looking for a person who could play Minmay.


BlueTrim asks: Were other family members involved in the decision
and were there other family members with a singing talent?

Mari Iijima says: My parents are both dentists. :) But they've
always been music lovers, so of course, they influenced me while
growing up.


rhade asks: Do you consider the role of Minmei your starting point
in the music and entertainment world?

Mari Iijima says: For the entertainment world, yes. But for my music
career, my debut album "Rosé" was the starting point.


BlueTrim asks: What is your all time favorite Minmei line that she
said and why did you like the line?

Mari Iijima says: Ummmmm, ask me that question again when I'm done
with all the episodes, so I'll remember all my dialogue.


Apollo Leader asks: In Macross Do You Remember Love? In the opening
part of the movie when Minmay ends her performance of My Boyfriend
is a Pilot and thanks the crowd for attending, a man yells out
loudly "Minmay!!!" Was this Shoji Kawamori?

Mari Iijima says: I don't know, but I don't think so. :)


rhade asks: Do fans ever approach you and call you by the character
name?

Mari Iijima says: At the very beginning, yes. :) But not any more.


rhade asks: Macross and Minmei have touched the hearts and lives of
so many people. How does it make you feel to know that Minmei has
become almost a household name? Did it ever occur to you that this
one show would develop such devoted fans?Or that your character
would become such an icon? Or that years after the show ended, there
would still be so much demand?

Mari Iijima says: I had no idea that Macross was going to be this
huge, when I was chosen to play Minmay, 'cause I didn't have any
information about it.


Saouri asks: My questions are...how do you feel every time on stage,
when people ask you to sing Ai, oboete imasu ka or another Macross
songs? That song have a special meaning to you, or...21 year later,
are you tired to sing it again and again?

Mari Iijima says: I usually don't sing much Macross songs during my
shows. But sometimes, I sing Ai Oboeteimasuka. I love that song more
than ever now, I truly connected with that song last year. I
suddenly felt that (I finally understood...) while singing it with
piano at home.


Saouri asks: What is your favorite Macross song?

Mari Iijima says: Ai Oboeteimasuka


Apollo Leader asks: In the years after you originally voiced Minmay
and had started your music career in Japan, did any other animation
studios in Japan approach you about voicing characters in other
animated series?

Mari Iijima says: Not that I know of.


Apollo Leader asks: Have you stayed in touch or have had any working
involvement with any of your other fellow voice actors/actresses
that were part of the Macross cast?

Mari Iijima says: I stayed in touch with Arihiro Hase who played
Hikaru (He often came to my shows in Tokyo with beautiful flowers)
but unfortunately he passed away, but I feel his spirit around me
all the time. Now I'm very close to his Mom. :)


- ON PLAYING MINMAY AGAIN:


Macross2004 asks: How do you feel when you got a chance to do the
voice of Lynn Minmei again?

Mari Iijima says: I felt it was fate. In a way, I kind of knew it
was on its way. I'm not trying to reprise my role, I'm approaching
it as a brand new project that I got as an actor.


TotsugekiBomber7 asks: How have your children reacted to the news of
you being in a new dub. I believe I remember reading an interview
where you mentioned coming across robotech through them.

Mari Iijima says: They were watching the Cartoon Network when they
were little, and they found "Robotech" :) When I told them that I
was going to play Minmay again, they were like "Oh, cool" :)


Hikaru2 asks: In what ways is the production of the voice acting
different in Japan in comparison with how it is done in the United
States?

Mari Iijima says: When we were doing the original Macross series in
Japan, the actors were all together in one studio, watching others
act, waiting for their turns. We quietly walked to the microphone,
and did our lines. It was a TEAM work. Now I'm in the studio, having
my own monitor screen with completed animation (of course!) and
dialogs, working with a director and a sound engineer. I work about
6 hours straight everyday pretty intensely while I'm in Houston. I
would like to capture Minmay's innocence and sincerity this time, so
people could appreciate Minmay's personality more. She is a bit
sexier this time. (It's natural after all. :) I guess the hardest
thing for me is to keep Minmay's original high energy, since I'm no
longer a teen. ;) But I'm trying my best as always.

- ON HER MUSIC CAREER:


Apollo Leader asks: When you were growing up, when did you know that
music was going to be a major part of your life?

Mari says: When I was a 5th grader. :) The message was always in my
heart since I was a child, "Mari, you are going to be a musician" by
God. :-)


Ginrai asks: What does singing mean to you personally?

Mari says: Almost everything. :)


Apollo Leader asks: At what point did you decide to start recording
your music for the intent of releasing it to a US audience?

Mari says: I've always intended to do so. When my record label in
Japan let me go at the end of 1998, I decided to make it a positive
move. So I released my first English album "No Limit" in 1999 as an
indie artist.


Hikura asks: Are you surprised by the popularity of your music by
the American fans considering most of your music is in Japanese and
released only in japan?

Mari says: Well... I write & sing many of my original songs in
English. Of course, all the Macross songs are in Japanese though.
I'm truly thankful that people in the U.S. support my music. Thank
you!! I'll keep on trying to expand my career.


SkullWingLeader asks: what is the most surprising thing you have
encountered while working in the business?

Mari says: If I wish really strong, and work hard, I can meet and
work with people that I admire and respect! Jeff Porcaro... I was
still married and my ex-husband was my partner then, so I asked him
to contact some studio, so I could contact Jeff. David LaBruyere...
my very favorite bass player in the whole world, who played with me
on my latest - Wonderful People. I contacted John Mayer's manager,
Michael McDonald first, and he was kind enough to give my message to
David. Everything started from there. When I really really want to
play with someone, first, I get very passionate about it and I
focus, almost like sending my wish to heaven. Then I start the
process... to actually get that person on my record.


Zinjo asks: What album are you most satisfied with?

Mari says: Um... That's a difficult question. I can safely say that
I try my BEST each time when I make my albums.


Zinjo asks: Which song you sing moves you every time you sing it?

Mari says: I Can't Hide


Steve Yun asks: Is there a story behind this song?

Mari says: Oh, yeah... of course. ;-)


Apollo Leader asks: Besides your own website, where else can your
albums be bought from? Do you hope to have your albums be available
through some of the major retail and home entertainment stores?

Mari says: If you come to my website, there are links to CD stores.
I prefer you guys to go to cdbaby.com, 'cause they kindly understand
indie artists' lives :) The iTunes Music Store is cool too. And,
Robotech.com! Haha. Yes, I want my cds to be available through major
retail stores in the States. :)


Apollo Leader asks: How did your interest in live acting come about?

Mari says: Well... since I auditioned for "Memoirs of a Geisha" back
in 1998. My neighbor was a manager and she was kind of helping me
out at the beginning, then I met my acting coach right after I
booked "Pacific Blue." I learned a lot in her technique and scene
study classes, so I got really into acting.


Apollo Leader asks: Since you have made a name for yourself both in
Japan and in the United States because of both your music and
acting, where do you plan on concentrating your future music and
acting efforts - the US or Japan? Or do you plan on equally reaching
both markets?

Mari says: I want to take care of both countries. I have no plans to
move back to Japan for now. That much I can say. :)


Apollo Leader asks: What will you be up to next? Do you have a new
album in the works? Any future plans for live acting or voice acting?

Mari says: I'm flying back to Houston a few more times to finish the
Macross series, I'll keep on auditioning for roles for commercials,
TVs, and films, and I'm planing to release another album sometime in
2006.


Zinjo asks: What do your kids think about being kids of musicians,
are they musically inclined or haven't shown any interest in it yet?

Mari says: They are both musical geniuses. I'm NOT kidding! They
kind of scare me with their talent.


- ON HER PRIVATE LIFE:


Apollo Leader asks: Where were you born and raised in Japan?

Mari says: I was born in Tsuchiura-city, Ibaraki. I was raised there
until I started high school. I went to this prestigious music school
called "Kunitachi Music High School & College" in Tokyo, so I left
home when I was 15 and lived in the dormitory and other places where
I could play piano freely at any time. When I got a record deal, I
was still living in this huge female-students-only building
called "Harajuku Gakusei Kaikan" with 500 other female students in
Harajuku, Tokyo. :)


Apollo Leader asks: How did you end up coming to the United States?
Did you eventually become a citizen of the US or are you still a
citizen of Japan?

Mari says: I got married (and divorced) with an American musician
(my boys' dad), so I moved here. I'm a green card legal alien. :)


Treiz asks: Ms Iijima, please tell me your favorite type of music to
listen to, and your favorite type to sing.

Mari says: I like Maroon 5, John Mayer, Keane, Coldplay, Phantom
Planet and etc! I like rock bands with talented, cute boys. :) I
would like to cover a Queen song, someday soon.


Macross2004 asks: Are you nervous when you're speaking English?

Mari says: No. I even dream in English. :)


BlueTrim asks: Where would you go if you had the choice of any place
to spend a vacation and who would you take with you and what books
would you take along (or albums)?

Mari says: I will go to London, maybe with a girlfriend... or a
boyfriend. :) I will bring Maroon 5's "Songs About Jane," John
Mayer's "Heavier Things," Phantom Planet's "The Guest" & "Phantom
Planet."


BlueTrim asks: What is your favorite food?

Mari says: Bananas. :)


Apollo Leader asks: Besides your passion for music, what do you like
to do in your free time?

Mari says: I like to go to my favorite bands' gigs, movies... .
reading books, and playing with my Snoopys. :) I cherish the time
that I could spend with my boys the most.


Steve Yun asks: When you say Snoopys do you mean your sons or do you
mean Snoopy from Charlie Brown?

Mari says: Snoopy is Snoopy, Steve!! Hahaha. My sons are definitely
NOT Snoopys. I was one of the very first Japanese people to purchase
(I'm 99% sure of it) a Snoopy in Japan. I was like... 7? Since then
I've always wanted to marry Snoopy. I was THIS close to marrying one
of them, but it didn't work, 'cause he had too many professions. :)
Anyway, I have a few favorite Snoopys in my house, but I especially
love this one Snoopy, and we are like a married couple, you know. We
are ALWAYS together in the house. :-)


Zinjo asks: Are you involved with someone or just concentrating on
your kids and career?

Mari says: I have like a couple of people I can go see movies with
and stuff, but I don't have a boyfriend. :) Is anybody out there----
??

Thank you for asking me questions, and I appreciate your support
very much, guys !!
- Mari

=============

Mari Iijima
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Iijima

Mari Iijima (飯島真理, Iijima Mari?) (born 18 May 1963)
is a Japanese
singer and actress who has released various top 10 albums in Japan.
She is also known by her nickname, Marin.

Iijima was born in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, Japan, and she is fluent in
both Japanese and English. She was nominated for the 2000 Los
Angeles Music Awards' Best Pop Artist for her first English
album "No Limit". Her album "Wonderful People" was a popular U.S.
Indie release.

She is best known, though, for her portrayal of Lynn Minmay in the
classic Japanese anime The Super Dimension Fortress Macross.
Recently, Mari reprised her role as Minmay in ADV Films' English-
language release of Macross, becoming one of the few Japanese voice
actors to ever participate in an English dub. In interviews and
commentaries available on ADV's Macross DVDs, Iijima has stated that
she was for some time disillusioned with her association to Minmay
and had felt that it hampered her career as a singer, but she has
since come to accept the Minmay character as a part of her.

Iijima eventually moved to Los Angeles, California and married James
Studer on 30 September 1989. They had two children before divorcing
on 7 February 2001.

Discography
ROSE（1983）
blanche（1984）
Midori（1984）
KIMONO STEREO（1985）
Coquettish Blue（1987）
Miss Lemon（1988）
My Heart in Red（1989）
It's a love thing（1990）
Believe（1991）
Different Worlds（1993）
Love Season（1994）
Sonic Boom（1995）
Good Medicine（1996）
Europe（1997）
Rain & Shine（1998）
No Limit（1999）
Right Now（2001）
Silent Love（2003）
WONDERFUL PEOPLE（2004）

Filmography
The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982) - Lynn Minmay
The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (English dub) (2006) - Lynn
Minmay

============

Mari IIJIMA
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/people.php?id=4127

Date of birth: 1963-05-18
Hometown: Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, Japan (Birthplace); Los Angeles, CA

Chronology:
(1982-10-03) Debut role as Lynn Minmay in Super Dimensional Fortress
Macross.

(1983) Debut album Rosé released. Produced by Oscar-winning composer
Ryuichi Sakamoto.

(1984-07-07) Reprised role as Lynn Minmay in Macross: Do You
Remember Love?

(1989) Moved to Los Angeles, CA.

(1999) First independent CD release No Limit. Also her first all-
English music CD.

(2002) Released new soundtrack for remastered version of the 1922
silent film Lorna Doone.

Favorites:
Music Artists: Third Eye Blind, Josh Mayer, Maroon 5, Depeche Mode
Tears for Fears(music group)
Skills & Abilities:
Fluent in English
Plays piano
E-mail: mari-iijima@...

Non-anime roles:
Aska in "Cy-Girls" (VG)
Lynn Minmay in "Macross: Do You Remember Love?" (VG) (Japanese)
Lynn Minmay in "Super Dimensional Fortress Macross" (PS2 VG)
(Japanese)
Theme Song (opening: Eternal Love 2002) in "Galaxy Angel" (VG)
(Japanese)
Theme Song (opening: Eternal Love 2003) in "Galaxy Angel Moonlit
lovers" (VG) (Japanese)
Theme Song Performance in "Macross: Do You Remember Love?" (PS One
VG) (Japanese)
In the news 14 times:
2006-02-01 - New York Comic-Con Announces Anime Programming
2006-01-13 - Mari Iijima in attendance at Macross screening in
Houston
2005-12-30 - Macross Promo Torrent
2005-12-05 - Mari Iijima Fan Interview
2005-12-01 - Macross English Cast Announced
2005-10-27 - Mari Iijima Talks About Macross
2005-10-22 - Mari Iijima on Macross Dub
2004-05-11 - Mari Ijima Appearances
2004-04-20 - Mari Iijima at AWA
2002-09-18 - Macross 20th Anniversary Soundtracks
[MORE]
Convention appearances 4 times:
Anime Overdose (2005-03-04 to 2005-03-06)
Anime Weekend Atlanta (2004-09-24 to 2004-09-26)
Anime Expo (1999-07-16 to 1999-07-18)
Otakon (1999-07-02 to 1999-07-04)

Staff in:
Macross Flash Back 2012 (OAV) : Theme Song Arrangement (Tenshi no
Enogu, Cinderella), Theme Song Composition (Tenshi no Enogu,
Cinderella), Theme Song Lyrics (Tenshi no Enogu, Cinderella), Theme
Song Performance (as Lynn Minmay)
Macross: Do You Remember Love? (movie) : Theme Song Arrangement
(ED), Theme Song Composition (ED), Theme Song Lyrics (ED), Theme
Song Performance (as Lynn Minmay)
Super Dimensional Fortress Macross (TV) : Theme Song Performance (as
Lynn Minmay)

Cast in:
(English version)
Super Dimensional Fortress Macross (TV) as Lynn Minmay

Cast in:
Macross Flash Back 2012 (OAV) as Lynn Minmay
Macross: Do You Remember Love? (movie) as Lynn Minmay
Super Dimensional Fortress Macross (TV) as Lynn Minmay

===

MARI IIJIMA AND THE POLITICS OF MINMAY
James Standen Taylor
http://protoculture.ca/eZine/mari.htm

Mari Iijima, a seasoned pop artist, lives in LA with a crop of
successful CDs to her name. She's dabbled in numerous musical styles
with her smooth voice, though an adult West Coast sensibility weaves
through the whole. She acted Minmai in the anime classic Macross. It
was almost 20 years ago; a door she went through to a good career,
expecting to leave it behind.

Today she sits at an anime convention table, a decade and a half
later, nearly 20 CDs in her portfolio, facing an unending stream of
paraphernalia, from posters to LDs, not of herself, but of Minmai.
Mari handles it with grace. She smiles, she talks. She's friendly
and happy to see everyone. And she signs, and signs; engraving her
signature next to one Macross symbol after another drawing of
Minmai's face.

I feel sadness as I wait in line. Across 2 days, I'm one of the few
to bring anything that represents her real career: a couple of her
CDs and a review of her "Classics" disc I wrote for PA34. The
convention atmosphere is strange. I had three of Mari's CDs before I
knew about the Minmai connection. When I finally got a Macross CD,
it wasn't because of Minmai, but to hear Mari sing. It seemed,
however, that almost everyone else attending thought of Mari as
Minmai. They did not see her as an accomplished musician who once
did a voice acting job, but as the opposite: a voice actress of whom
they had barely any idea what she had since done.

"Oh, this one," she exclaims, as pretty as ever, apparently ageless,
tapping her index finger on the CD. She seems surprised to see
herself, instead of her cartoon counterpart, gazing back from the
cover.

"You must feel like history's repeating itself," I ask, thinking of
the countless Macross appearances she faced in Japan during the
early mid-Eighties.

"Yes, it felt strange at first," she admits, then, after pondering a
moment," but I've already achieved my fame, so I can accept coming
back to this."

"It's tolerable?"

She safely replies with a little smile and I move on, thinking how
the exchange encapsulates Mari's current tension. In the big
picture, Minmai is a small part of everything she's done, but to the
majority of people, it's all they know. She's grateful for the
opportunities Minmai opened, but at the same time you can see the
hope in her eyes that all these people coming as Macross fans will
leave as Mari Iijima fans; that people will move forward.

At this point, convention appearances are good for Mari. She's
selling loads of her new CD and making people aware that there's
more from where it came. The real test will come in about 3 years
when we look at the line-ups again. Will it still be almost all
Macross and Minmai material, or will there be a growing amount of
her own music?

"Now that you've done a few of these conventions," I have the
opportunity to inquire the next day," do you find it strange that
Western people, who don't understand Japanese, want to hear you sing
in Japanese?"

It's plain in her eyes that this could be a dangerous question.
Mari's goal is to sing in English and be accepted on the Western
market. She relates how an audience member had yelled for her to
sing in Japanese in the middle of one of her first convention
concerts. It shocked her. It hurt. She's put a lot of attention to
her English skills and is proud of the musical work she's
accomplished. Though she's to polite to say so, I know the fan's
yell is a challenge to stay in the past, to keep living Minmai over
and over. Instead, she says, "I realized later that because anime
fans like Japanese things, they would like to hear me sing in
Japanese. That is why I began singing some of my older material and
a few Macross songs. I'm doing this specially for them."

Now that Mari has built this bridge to the anime fans, the remaining
question is whether they'll have the equal courtesy to follow her
back across the bridge into a future where there's been a
delightfully creative life after Minmai. The other sad option is
that we may ignore everything else she's done, as has happened to so
many other convention regulars. If this occurs, and she continues
the convention route, she may end up at a small signing table 15
years from now, as trapped by Minmai's voice as the Zentraedai were,
so many years ago.

============

Interview: Mari Iijima
by Christopher Macdonald
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature.php?id=243


Mari Iijima was born in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, Japan and became famous
throughout Japan in 1982, when she starred as Lynn Minmay Super
Dimensional Fortress Macross. Despite only ever voicing one
character in an anime, over the span of 36 episodes and a movie,
Iijima is known and recognized world wide by anime fans. What many
anime fans don't know, is that Iijima is a successful musician and
actress outside of her work with anime.

In 2006, more than 20 years after finishing recording on the last
Macross project to feature her voice (1984's Macross: Do You
Remember Love?), Iijima returned to Macross to reprise her role as
Lynn Minmay in the first ever, faithful English language dub of the
Macross TV series. In doing so, Iijima made history by becoming the
first Japanese voice actress to reprise a major role (its been done
with minor roles) in the English dub of a Japanese anime.

We sat down with Iijima to discuss how she felt about the original
Macross project, how she felt about returning to the role 20 years
later and also talk about her acting and music career outside anime.

This English dub marks your return to the franchise that originally
made you famous in Japan and worldwide. How does it feel for you to
be returning to Macross?
I feel great about it. I don't have any negative feelings at all. I
feel great, I feel fresh, and I'm taking care of it like a brand new
project.

So something kind of separate and new compared to the original?
Well, of course, I have the Minmay I played in the back of my head,
but I'm not acting like I'm reprising my part. I'm creating
something new.

When ADV called you and asked you to take the project, were you
surprised?
I was surprised, but in a way, I kind of knew it was coming, sort of
intuitively. Before they contacted me I had just finished watching
the whole series again, and I hadn't done that since I first
finished the TV series back in the '80s. I liked watching it very
much.

So you enjoyed watching it again?
Yes, for the first few days I watched four or five episodes every
day.

You have children, right?
Yes I do.

Have they ever seen Macross?
A little bit, but not like they've seen the whole series or
anything. They just saw a little bit.

Do they know that you're Minmay?
[Laughing] They know I played Minmay, and they know all about it.

What do they think of it?
They think it's cool that I played Minmay, and they also know a
little about the struggle that came with it. Now they're happy for
me that I'm doing it again. They think it's a great opportunity for
me.

On the topic of something you just said, and also one of the
comments I read on your website, you referred to your experience
with the original Macross as both bitter and sweet. Could you
elaborate?
That was at a convention, I think, somebody explained that for me. I
didn't say that, right? Somebody said that about me.

I thought I read about it on your website, but I apologize if I got
it wrong.
[Laughing] Maybe I did! If I did, I wrote it a long time ago. But I
can explain it because when I was first chosen for Minmay, I was
ready to start my singer-songwriter career, that's how I was
available. The Macross audition came to me almost like an accident.
I know there are no accidents in this world and everything happens
for a reason, but at that time, to me it was almost like an
accident. I went to the audition, and a week later they called me
and said, "Hey, you're Minmay!"

So... things changed so quickly after that, and because Macross
started so huge, so popular, when everybody saw me, like if I went
to a radio station or something, everybody wanted to talk about
Macross. Only Macross, only Minmay, even after I released like five
top ten albums. Somehow the music part didn't exactly spread like I
expected. The Macross Minmay image stayed with me for a long time,
so I had a little struggle about it.

That's understandable. A lot of actors complain about being
typecast, and here you are, not only typecast, but people are
focusing on your secondary career.
Well, yeah, but another thing, I don't want anime fans to feel
offended by that. I have no hard feelings towards them. It's just,
at that time, early in my career, I was expecting that I was at the
record company to be a singer-songwriter, and I tried to be honest,
but that created a lot of hard feelings among anime fans, too. So I
really have to be careful about how I state it.

That's life in public, I guess. In 1983 you released your debut
album, Rose.
Yes, Rosé.

Rosé?
It's pink in French.

So I was wondering, how did you feel when it was released and how do
you feel now, looking back on the success of Rosé and the subsequent
albums?
How did I feel when I released it?

Yeah, just describing your emotions about having released that
album.
First of all, making that record was so much because I worked with
somebody who I really wanted to work with. The producer was Ryuichi
Sakamoto. I requested him, and my record company sent my demo tape
to him, and he agreed to work with me, so it was a great start. It
was so much fun. The musicians were also great, many of the top
musicians in Japan. It was a huge production, and when I finally saw
my record in the store, I thought, "Gosh, I really did it." I was so
happy.

The record did very well, and so did your subsequent albums, so
looking back on the first six or seven years of your career, how do
you feel?
Having a successful debut album?

Yeah, and the albums after that. You did very well. You had a lot of
popularity, a lot of sales success. How do you feel about it?
I feel great. Some artists have to start from small venues and
concert halls to build up their careers. But I was successful from
the beginning, so I guess I was lucky. I was musically talented,
maybe, but I was lucky. Now I'm learning kind of the "real life."
But I enjoy it, and the success is great.

You recently voice acted as CY in the Cool Girl (Cy Girls) video
game. Was this your first time voice acting since Macross? How was
it to return to voice acting?
I went through the audition process, so I felt like I won the part
and I was confident to play that part. They didn't want me to use a
Minmay voice, they wanted a deeper voice because I was a ninja
fighting in the computer. I had fun playing a completely different
character from Minmay.

In your 1999 album No Limit you re-wrote and re-recorded some
earlier Japanese songs.
You know a lot! Thank you!

Thank you. I try to do a bit of homework. So I was wondering what
kind of challenges you faced reversioning the songs for a different
language and what it was like for you?
That's an interesting question. With Japanese words, it takes a lot
of space to say something. So when I wrote English lyrics for them,
I had to add more story.

ADV: How would you describe your sound?
I usually don't say I sound like somebody, I say I sound like me,
but I think my music has an adult contemporary feel. So if you like
John Mayer or singer-songwriters... I'm not country, I'm pop, but
I'm not Britney Spears or Tori Amos or anything. People used to tell
me I sounded like Kate Bush or Carole King. I think I'm a true
singer-songwriter, but it depends on the production of music. I can
make it more techno, more rock, but I'm really a singer-songwriter.

We talk a lot about your musical career. But, you know, it's hard to
give a sense in writing of how someone's sound is, but I thought it
was interesting that it's such a different path from music to voice
acting. You have a wide range.
Yes, it's true. Hmm...

Is any of your music available for fans to sample online?
Yes, if you come to MySpace.com, they can do it for free. Every day
I put a new song in. My main site is MariMusic.com, and if they go
there, they can get to the MySpace link.

Are you redoing any of the singing?
I don't think so. It's not because of me, but there's some rights
thing.

It would have been interesting to compare that with the work you did
on No Limit. Now, you're first and foremost a musician, and second
an actor, right?
I don't want to think like that. It's like, my home is art, and I do
anything to live in it.

How do you fit the two together in your life?
I mix everything. I don't separate everything. Taking care of kids,
singing, acting, composing, everything is all one. If I separate
those things in my head, I don't think I could do it, you know,
raising two kids. I never retired or stopped, I just kept going
because, to me, everything is life, and it's all a process.

To go back a bit... In 1989 you moved to Los Angeles. Could you tell
us why?
I came to Los Angeles to make my sixth album, called Miss Lemon. I
met a musician and then we fell in love. [Laughing] We're not in
love anymore. But we got to know each other, and we got married, and
we got kids, and that's why. My life changed when I moved here. But
at the same time, I had a lot of ambition to break into the American
music scene. I was really naïve to think that was easy.

You speak English fluently, but I believe this is your first major
role in English.
How do you find English voice acting?
It's the same thing as usual acting, like I really have to know—I
don't know if you're aware of any acting techniques. Are you
familiar with Meisner Technique? You really have to know a doable
action for each line, because we can't act feelings. We can't act
sadness or being sentimental, so we have to know the doable actions
for each line. When it's not clear in my mind, I have a hard time
acting.

So I try to break down each line apart for this project, but for two
lines I wasn't clear. So in the places that I wasn't clear, it
obviously shows that I have a hard time with it. Sometimes because,
you know, Minmay's mouth moves, and sometimes there are too many
image words in one line, so I have to keep adjusting to the lines.
It's constant change. I've never had that challenge before, so this
is a good learning experience. Sometimes the lines are spoken in a
way that I don't usually use, more formal than the way I speak, or
sometimes they use some slang.

Once I get the rhythm, it goes smooth. Sometimes it's easy. Today,
it started out well, and then I got stuck on this one line, and we
had a hard time getting through it. But I try not to think, "Oh, I'm
so bad," or, "Oh, I'm not a good actor," or anything like that. I
think everybody goes through this. [Laughing] And I'm a good actress.

And you have a great director helping you out. How has it been with
Matt [Greenfield]?
This is my first time working with an American animation director,
so I have nobody else to compare with. He likes things big. Of
course I listen to my director and take everything in, but at the
same time I look for the middle ground because I really want to take
care of Minmay. I think I know her, like she's part of my soul. I
feel like I want to protect Minmay, so I listen to my director, but
I also have my own thoughts.

My main thing is that, while I'm acting, if you know exactly what
you're doing, people don't need to push lines. So I don't want to
push.

At the same time, you've been dealing with lip flaps and mouth
movements, working on the fly...
Believe me, the director changes each line many, many times.

To make it flow.
Yeah.

Do you think you're playing Minmay different now than you were
before?
When I was first doing Minmay, I was just being myself, we were both
18. Now I'm acting the role. I think I'm doing a good job, not too
old, not too young. Since I first did the role I took acting lessons
and of course I can't be the same as 24 years ago.

Have you received any feedback from North American or Japanese fans
since the news became public?
Since this news came out, my website traffic doubled. Everybody came
from your site! They found out the news from your site, so I checked
the link where they came from, and your site was the #1 link.

What about Japanese fans? Have you heard from them at all?
I thought they would give me some feedback, but they have been
quieter than I expected. I don't know what they think. Maybe they
have mixed feelings.

I don't know how CY was recorded in Cool Girl, but in Macross, it
was recorded as a group, right?
Yes.

Was Cool Girl recorded as a group?
It was individual for a few days, and I also had a partner for a few
days.

This time around, Macross is just you in a studio, right?
Yes.

How is it different for you this way?
[Laughing] The group one was very funny because we were sitting in
one room in chairs, and we had to walk around the microphone so
quietly without making any noise, do the line, and then come back to
the chairs! It was like an after-school activity. Sometimes I
learned some acting tips from the other actors during those
sessions, too. So that was helpful, when I did the original Macross.

Now it's so intense. Yesterday I was doing some screaming scene, and
I actually didn't say anything to the director [about losing my
hearing], but in one ear I didn't have any hearing for a while.

I'm excited because this is the first time playing Minmay as an
actor. When I did the original Macross, I was not really an actor,
and now I know more about it. I can put my soul into it. So I hope,
as much as I'm having fun, people are going to enjoy the series.
Maybe people are going to find Minmay a little bit sexier! But I'm
trying to put that same level of energy into Minmay, and she's a
part of me. Everything happens for a reason, and because of this,
maybe people will listen to my music for the first time. To them:
great to meet you, and please come to my show! (Editor's Note: This
was referring to Mari's concert at New York Comic-con, unfortunately
we were unable to post this interview before the event. Sorry Mari!)

===============

Mari Iijima Interview
The Voice of Lynnn Minmay Talks
By JONATHAN MAYS - ANIME NEWS NETWORK
http://videogames.aol.com/canvases/anime/_a/mari-iijima-
interview/20060130172109990001

The face of one of anime's most popular franchises is back, and
she's coming full circle. 24 years ago, Mari Iijima burst onto the
scene as the voice of Lynn Minmay, the iconic Macross singer. Since
then she's moved to Los Angeles, launched a successful indie career,
and crossed paths with members of the John Mayer Band. Through it
all, she has struggled to shake the label of erstwhile Macross idol.
So when ADV Films called and asked her to reprise her Japanese role
in English, she figured: Why not?

Last time we talked, the theme was, "Enough about Macross! There's
more to Mari than Macross!" And now, we talk Macross. How ironic is
this? Everything changes, nothing stays the same. It's about
acceptance and a brand new opportunity. I took this gig very freshly.

Was this destiny? When I got this opportunity, I felt, "Wow…" There
was a meaning behind me being stuck [laughs] in this country for
this long! If I weren't here, I wouldn't get this gig. So I felt
like my life made sense. And I felt relieved.

Have you re-watched Macross recently? I felt like watching the whole
series in September last year. Very first time in 23 years! Then a
few weeks later, I got e-mail from ADV films, like it was my fate.

What was it like hearing your role again? I made peace with it
fully. I thought my acting was pure. I was playing Minmay only with
my instinct.

Your previous English acting has been all on-screen, right?
Actually, I did one as the main character's voice, ASKA, for a
Konami game called "Cy-Girls." It was released in 2003 in Japan with
Japanese subtitles, and 2004 in the US. I used a much lower voice
for ASKA, since she was a tough ninja girl who dived into the cyber
world. I enjoyed playing her very much.

How is this different from that? This new Macross gig is much more
intense. First of all, I have to fly to Houston to record each
volume —of course I don't mind that all. People at ADV are so kind
to me. The director, Matt, is very careful about the flaps, so he
constantly re-writes dialogue right in front of me during the
session. The only thing I can do is try my very best to deliver the
lines as clearly as I can and express each action of Minmay
correctly in the short amount of time that Minmay's mouth is moving.

Sometimes, I have to speak really quickly to fit all the words in
one space, and that's a big difference between the original series
and this new one. One mouth flap is one sound for Japanese dialog,
but for English dialogs, it's the whole word. I hope you understand
what I'm trying to say here!

That's an interesting problem. What about nailing the "young" voice?
I tried a few voices for Minmay in the studio. Sometimes, Matt said
I sounded too young, and other times he said I sounded too mature,
so it took a while for me to find "Now" Minmay's voice. Of course,
if people are expecting me to sound exactly the same as me in 1982,
that's kind of impossible, since I'm human. Every character is
played by different actors for this new series, so I think it's ok
for Minmay to sound a little different. I think that the series gets
better and better with each volume. At least, that's how I feel
about my acting.

I guess "How have you changed?" is a pretty dumb thing to ask... I'm
so much wiser now…

How would you say it turned out this time? Pretty good. But I've
only seen the first volume. Of course, there are some lines that I
wish I could do better. But I know I'm always trying my best in
life, so I can go to sleep at night.

Do you keep in touch with anybody from the original Macross? I think
you mentioned Arihiro Hase once. Arihiro and I are always connected.
I feel his spirit around me, you know? His mom and I are very close
friends. I also met Akira Kamiya during an event in Japan last year.

What's your favorite scene? When I re-watched the series last year,
my favorite episode was "Phantasm." It reminded me of an episode
of "The Sopranos" that was incredible. I've only recorded first 11
episodes at this point, so I can't choose my favorite yet. Please
ask me again at the end of the year!

What else is going on with your career these days? I will release
another original album this year. I'm in the studio working on it a
little by little. I regularly audition for commercials and films and
such. I want to make it, you know?

Anything else you'd like to talk about? Come visit me at
marimusic.com! It was great communicating with you all through this
interview. Thank you!

=============

Press Session: Iijima Mari
—by Mark Johnson
http://www.ex.org/4.6/06-feature_iijima.html


"Comeback tour? I have never retired!"

Iijima Mari is best-known to anime fans as the voice of MACROSS's
enduring idol Lynn Minmay. It is not something that she's always
been comfortable with. But lately, she's had to come to terms with a
lot of changes in her life, and she now looks back on being Minmay
with fondness, and talks about the recent changes in her life.


Q: You have been visiting many conventions now, so what has the
reaction been like and what does this mean to your American career
as a singer?

Iijima Mari: Every conference is different but I've been enjoying
going to conventions and meeting so many people, but they are
kinda... cool, maybe it's just LA.
I enjoyed Baltimore very much. It's a beautiful place and the people
were very nice. It was not as hyped. As a singer, I just finished my
English album. I went to pick up the CD today from the factory so I
have CDs already done here which I plan on selling after my show.
I'm just hoping that people buy my album, since the costs came all
out of my pocket.

Q: How did you become an anime singer?

IM: People think I'm an animation singer, but actually the only
animation I did was MACROSS. So I'm not really an anime singer.
The reason why I did MACROSS... As a child I took classical music
lessons. I wanted to be a pianist but then I wanted to write my own
songs. I had like 100 songs by when I was 18, and then I made one
demo tape and I made some copies and sent it to a few places.
JVC/Victor told me they told me they want to sign. The next day was
the last day of the MACROSS singing auditions, and I think almost
500 girls wanted to be Minmay, but I was the last one. JVC said "Why
don't you try?" because the MACROSS soundtrack was going to come out
from JVC, so they wanted me to go. I had no idea about animation
numbers, so I sang my own songs with piano. Other girls sang some
popular songs. And they chose me.

Q: Since you've had much more of a career since MACROSS, at what
point did you introduce the whole MACROSS thing to your kids?

IM: One day when they were like three year old, I tried to show them
that movie, MACROSS: DO YOU REMEMBER LOVE?, but they were not
interested. They were more into movies like TERMINATOR 2. At that
time I did not know anything about R-rated movies, and when watching
TV they were very quiet so I was happy.
They saw ROBOTECH on the Cartoon Network, and they could remember
that Mommy did that, Mommy had done that girl's voice singing
(although that wasn't really me).

Q: What challenges does doing a full-length, all-original English
album pose?

IM: For me the hardest part was writing all the English lyrics by
myself, I could write something, but sometimes the rhythms didn't
work so I had to adjust the rhythm part. I had thought I wrote it so
perfectly, but my partner would tell me otherwise. I wanted him to
be really honest with any criticism.
I also think my pronunciation got much better than when I first came
to Los Angeles ten years ago. At that point, I couldn't think about
doing my songs without worrying about pronunciation, but because now
it's easier because I talk to people in English.

Q: Is there one song that you would recommend on this new album?

IM: The album title is "No Limit" and there is a song on the album
with that title. That kind of represents my spirit, that you don't
have any kind of limits, you can do anything you need. But that one
song that kinda touches your heart is going to be "Us."
I'm breaking up with my husband right now, and it took so long for
me to be okay about it. That song was originally in my Japanese
album called "Good Medicine," I really love that song so I made it
into English. I think that song touches people's hearts since it's a
true story. All my songs are true stories, I don't tell any fiction
in these.

Q: What are your plans right now as you've just finished these
albums?

IM: I made two albums in a very short amount of time, so musically I
need to rest for a while.
I go to auditions every once in a while, and I have an agent for
actors. I just got a part just yesterday in PACIFIC BLUE; it's going
to be one of the principle roles for that particular episode. That
was really exciting because I thought I did really bad. At the first
audition I did really well, and I felt natural, and then I realized
how much the casting directors liked me so I had to answer in front
of the producers because the casting directors wanted me to go over
the dialogs with them. So I thought "Ok, I must have done good." I
got so nervous and then I made mistakes and asked if I could have
another chance, which they gave me. And I was crying in the parking
lot calling my friend "I could have had it" and then I went to my
manager crying crying, and then I got the part. So it was a very
emotional day. It's my very first role. I have never done any
acting. It's very exciting.

Q: Do you want to start a career in acting then?

IM: For me, acting is something different. My main thing is always
music, and I'm not going to change that. But sometimes I get... I'm
a hyper person so I get bored sometimes so it's really good. Just
going to the auditions is really exciting.

Q: Do you listen to other people's music for entertainment, and if
so, what's in your CD player right now?

IM: Yes. Ummm... I have a few CDs I listen to almost everyday. One
album is called Domino by Squeek, I also like the Goo Goo Dolls. I
like hard rock, not like metal just that energetic rock.

Q: What's your opinion about your music being popular all around the
world, including South America? And what do you think about visiting
those places?

IM: I get goose bumps... I had no idea my music was popular all
around the world. I didn't even know I had any fans in North America
until I started using the internet and I discovered pages about
myself using search engines.

Q: Do you have any hobbies?

IM: I play tennis, twice a week. I started from scratch but I can
hit the ball.

Q: Do you do live perforamces in Japan these days?

IM: I do every year three shows: Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka... the 3 big
cities. But no since I don't have a contract I don't know. It's
going to be very hard for me to do that. In Osaka and Nagoya, I
perform for around 500 people. The Tokyo show is bigger.

Q: What do you hope your fans tell people who don't yet know who you
are?

IM: That I have a beautiful voice. (laughs) And that I am
songwriter.

Q: Has the anime industry ever offered you any other roles? If
someone offered you a role today would you take it?

IM: I actually don't know if they've asked me or not because it may
have stopped at my manager's desk. But now, if it's a good role I'd
like to do it.

Q: So you were never contacted about doing your role in the radio
drama MACROSS GENERATION?

IM: No...

Q: One of the recent things you did in Japan was recording "Friends"
with Sakurai Tomo. What was it like working with her?

IM: I hope she likes me. She was not like when I was younger and
working with big name producers. She was wild, and she's not afraid.
I wanted to be her friend but I don't know what she thought of me.
I like her. I like strong girls. Much more than the person who
says "I can't do it, I can't do it". I think I did a good job
writing that song, and it was a really good project.

Q: What's your opinion of the English dubbing they did for ROBOTECH?

IM: Actually I only saw one or two episodes. When I first heard her
voice I thought, "Wow, it sounds like me," and I was kind of
impressed they found someone so close. It may have not been that
close to me, but the voice matched Minmay's face. But the music...
umm....

Q: Is it hard promoting yourself in the American market?

IM: I've always wondered if I was too nice. Even for the Japanese
market, I'm really too nice. But you know recently, I've discovered
my bitchy side. So I'm feeling stronger, like I can kick everybody's
ass.
I would think it would be good if I got on the David Letterman show
or something. That would be good, but I don't think I'm going to get
that chance. But that can be one of my dreams...

Q: You've said you write when the spirit moves you... How do you
work when you've been given the task of writing for a specific
situation or anime?

IM: When I set about writing "Friends" I started to think about
Minmay and Mylene meeting for the first time. And I worked from that
idea...

Q: When working on your English album, did you have to change the
meaning of your songs when you translated them into English?

IM: I recently explained this to my Japanese fans. It's like if I
want to say "I love you," it's so short, but in Japanese
it's "Watashi wa anata wo aishite imasu." So if I want to translate
my Japanese song to English, it finishes much quicker. I have to add
much more, so I did add much more meaning to these songs.

Q: There have been a few bands from Japan that have tried to break
into the North American market, and to some extent there's been a
stigma associated with it since they haven't been terribly
successful. How do you hope to overcome this?

IM: Usually they have a big budget sponsored by a record company,
but I'm not like that. I just live here, and I know a lot of people
in the business and I try to build up relations with them, and I
want to be an American artist here. I don't know how well my CD is
going to do but I'm going to try.

Q: Do you find it frustrating that the central core of your fans
come from the anime fan community? Do you resent Minmay's popularity
in any way?

IM: Not any more. I think I'm lucky now, because...well Minmay's my
life. I didn't like that part a few years ago, but now I really like
it. I've always liked Minmay

=============

http://www.fansview.com/person/1011pers.htm
Beauty, grace, talent and determination - those are the
characteristics that led Mari Iijima to discover the depth of
American anime fandom and make a grand tour of conventions in 1999.
The determination showed in Iijima's reaction to adversity, the end
of her Japanese record contract.

Rather than mourn her loss, Iijima decided to force the issue by
making her own, independent album, use anime conventions to promote
the project, and sell the disc at the conventions and through her
web site.

Fans embraced Iijima as she traveled to 1999 conventions, enjoying a
chance to meet the woman who had created the Minmay role in the
original Superdimentional Fortress Macross series. It came to a head
during two days of Anime Expo week in July of 1999. On Thursday,
Iijima was cast for a role in the Pacific Blue TV series and
appeared in the "God's Gift" episode which was cablecast on the USA
Network in December.

On Friday, Iijima picked up the first copies of her "No Limit"
album, took them to Anime Expo, performed a concert in front of a
packed house, then was surrounded by hundreds of fans who demanded
to purchase copies of her pet project.

===

Mari Iijima
http://www.43people.com/profile/view/756526


Mari Iijima (飯島真理, Iijima Mari?) (born 18 May 1963)
is a Japanese
singer and actress who has released various top 10 albums in Japan.
She is also known by her nickname, Marin.

Iijima was born in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, Japan, and she is fluent in
both Japanese and English. She was nominated for the 2000 Los
Angeles Music Awards' Best Pop Artist for her first English
album "No Limit". Her album "Wonderful People" was a popular U.S.
Indie release.

She is best known, though, for her portrayal of Lynn Minmay in the
classic Japanese anime The Super Dimension Fortress Macross.
Recently, Mari reprised her role as Minmay in ADV Films' English-
language release of Macross, becoming one of the few Japanese voice
actors to ever to participate in an English dub. In interviews and
commentaries available on ADV's Macross DVDs, Iijima has stated that
she was for some time disillusioned with her association to Minmay
and had felt that it hampered her career as a singer, but she has
since come to accept the Minmay character as a part of her.

Iijima eventually moved to Los Angeles, California and married James
Studer on 30 September 1989. They had two children before divorcing
on 7 February 2001.

Mari Iijima is an accomplished singer and songwriter who has
released numerous top 10 albums in Japan. Her critically acclaimed
debut album, "Rosé" was produced by renowned composer Ryuichi
Sakamoto. Throughout her career she has won several awards including
the Japan Audio Society Golden Jubilee Award for her
songs "Vacation" and "D", voted by both Japanese & American judges.

Mari was also nominated for the 2000 Los Angeles Music Awards' Best
Pop Artist for her first English album "No Limit". Last year, Mari
released her most recent album "Wonderful People" which she
collaborated with today's hottest musicians including members of the
John Mayer Band.

The album quickly became a smash hit and stayed on the top of an
Indie album chart for over 5 consecutive weeks. Mari's hits
include "Do You Remember Love ", "Cecil's Umbrella", "One Gram Of
Happiness", and "Love Is A Miracle". Mari has also appeared in film,
television, and on radio in both Japan and the U.S. She most
recently starred in the short feature film "Green Tea-r" and also
wrote and performed the theme song "Petal". The film won the top
honor of Grandprix at the Takazuka Film Festival in Japan and also
had a showing at the Berlin Film Festival.

Discography
ROSE（1983）
blanche（1984）
Midori（1984）
KIMONO STEREO（1985）
Coquettish Blue（1987）
Miss Lemon（1988）
My Heart in Red（1989）
It's a love thing（1990）
Believe（1991）
Different Worlds（1993）
Love Season（1994）
Sonic Boom（1995）
Good Medicine（1996）
Europe（1997）
Rain & Shine（1998）
No Limit（1999）
Right Now（2001）
Silent Love（2003）
WONDERFUL PEOPLE（2004）

Filmography
The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982) – Lynn Minmay
The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (English dub) (2006) – Lynn
Minmay

===============

Mari Iijima - Miss Lemon
http://www.bluedesert.dk/japan.html

"Japanese west coast music release" The Tracks are: Garasuno Daarin,
Kagamiyo, Kagami ! (I Wanna Marry You), 9 Gatsuno Ameno Nioi,
Midnight Call, Tsumetai Sora, Plat Home, Kimagure Weekday, Paris
Karano Airmail, Loney Girl & I Love You.
Musicians on the Miss Lemon album: Mari Iijima, James Studer,
Charles "Icarus" Johnson, George Hawkins, Tris Imboden. Michael
Paulo, David T. Walker and others. Available from © Alfa Moon,
Japan/Original release year: 1988
*
Mari Iijima -
My Heart In Red
"Japanese west coast music release" The Tracks are: Still,
Borderline, Secret, Send Love To Me, Blue Christmas, Boyfriend,
Believe In Love, Gambare, The End Of Love & Sing For Love.
Musicians on the My Heart In Red album: Mari Iijima, James Studer,
Charles Johnson, George Hawkins, Michael Landau, Jeff Porcaro, Alex
Acuna, Wayne Nelson, Derek Makamoto, Tris Imboden, armand Grimaldi,
David Williams, Michael Paulo, Kim Hutchcroft, Jerry Hey, Gary
Grant, Joseph Williams, Nathan East, Julie Christensen, Doug
Cameron. Available from © Alfa Moon, Japan/Original release year:
1989
*
Mari Iijima -
It´s A Love Thing
"Japanese west coast music release" The Tracks are: Hitomino Screen,
Heart Ni Shimatsuta I Love You, Diamond, Fell The Sunshine, Beatiful
Music, It's A Love Thing, Amenohino Dekigoto, Tonight, Bokuraha
Tenshijanai & The Long Walk.
Musicians on the It´s A Love Thing album: Mari Iijima, Michael
Landau, Michael Thompson, Tris Imboden, Wayne Nelson and others.
Available from © MMG Japan/Original release year: 1990
*
Mari Iijima -
For Lovers Only
"Japanese west coast music release" The Tracks are: Who's Right,
Who's Wrong, The Things We Do For Love, Can We Still Be Friends, I
Can Never Say Good-Bye & Hold Me Tight.
Musicians on the For Lovers Only album: Mari Iijima, Michael Landau,
Wayne Nelson, John Robinson, Abraham Laboriel, James Studer, John
Keane, Fred Schreuder, Lenny Castro, Michael Paulo, George Hawkins,
Alex Acuna, Eric Hansen and others. Available from © MMG
Japan/Original release year: 1990
*
Mari Iijima -
Something Special
"Japanese west coast music release" The Tracks are: Diamond, I Love
You, Send Love To Me, Who's Right, Who's Wrong, Beautiful Music,
Tonight, Boyfriend, Feel The Sunshine and others.
Musicians on the For Lovers Only album: Mari Iijima, James Studer,
Allen Hinds, Wayne Nelson, John Keane, Michael Paulo & Taro Endo.
Available from © MMG Japan/Original release year: 1991
*
Mari Iijima -
Different Worlds
"Japanese west coast music release" The Tracks are: Sudden Kiss,
Sayonara, Nee Doctor, Ni Tsume No Haadoru, Kisses & Tears, Magic,
Different Worlds, Grand Canyon, Take a Chance! kaze no youni tori no
youni, Somalia, A Busy Man & The Power of Your Love.
Musicians on the Different Worlds album: Mari Iijima, John Robinson,
Michael Landau, Neil Stubenhaus, James Studer, Arno Lucas, Michael
Thompson, Carlos Vega, Leland Sklar, Luis Conte, Abraham Laboriel
and others. Available from © xxxx Japan/Original release year: 1993
*
Mari Iijima -
Love Season
"Japanese west coast music release" The Tracks are: Destiny,
Classmate, Sunset, Don't fade out!, LOVE, Sun & Moon, First Love,
Tears of the Garnet, Second Chance, Happy Valentine & Darling.
Musicians on the Love Season album: Mari Iijima, Michael Thompson,
John Robinson, Neil Stubenhaus, James Studer, Marc Russo, Jerry Hey,
Mike Baird, Wayne Nelson and others. Available from © xxxx
Japan/Original release year: 1994

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http://www.stevelukather.net/Session.aspx?id=115
"Singer/composer/arranger/producer Mari Iijima makes a triumphant
statement with her 17th original album, entitled Right now. Right
now signals a very exciting chapter in Iijima's rich career for many
reasons.

One of these reasons is that Right now marks Iijima's re-emergence
as the sole composer (of all music and lyrics of every song),
producer and arranger for the entire production. Being in artistic
and physical control of the project was of the utmost priority for
Iijima during this album, as the album is her first in years without
using her previous co-producer. This excitement, freedom, and energy
is reflected throughout the record.

Another reason for Right now's deserving special attention is the
witnessing of Iijima's work with new collaborators. For example, for
years, one of Mari's goals was to work with the L.A. supergroup
Toto. On Right now she does just that! Steve Lukather, Mike Porcaro,
and Simon Phillips appear on many of the tracks on the new album as
Iijima's backing band, sharing their talents and sounds strongly
everywhere. This is a special treat, as Toto rarely is seen on other
records as a unit like this. Phillips also lent his hand in
engineering the album. On the remaining tracks, Iijima is backed by
a group of her L.A. friends, who happen to be some of the top
musicians in the world. (Gregg and Matt Bissonette, Robben Ford and
Tim Pierce).

Finally, one can look to the songs! Every song on Right now
expresses the deepest and most personal reflections from Iijima, and
as always, shows a true artist at the peak of her form.

Along with the audio release of Right now, Iijima is releasing a
video, The Making of "Right now". This beautifully shot, all-digital
video documents Mari in action, from the tracking sessions with
Toto, to Mari playing piano in the studio, to special new interview
segments shot in Los Angeles."

1 Take it easy (Mari Iijima)
2 Right now (Mari Iijima)
3 Pizza man (Mari Iijima)
4 Eternal summer (Mari Iijima)
5 Give it one more chance (Mari Iijima)
6 If you really want to know (Mari Iijima)
7 Sing for me (Mari Iijima)
8 You don't love me (Mari Iijima)
9 I love you, I don't love you (Mari Iijima)
10 Hope is floating (Mari Iijima)
11 I can't take it (Mari Iijima)
12 Rained again (Mari Iijima)
13 Heart's temperature, speed of light (Mari Iijima)


Musicians:
Mari Iijima: vocals and piano
Simon Phillips: drums on (1), (2), (4), (7), (8) and (10)
Steve Lukather: guitars on (1) (2) and (6)
Mike Porcaro: bass on (1), (2), (4), (6), (7), (8) and (10)
Jeff Babko: keyboards on (2), (3), (4), (6), (9) and (11)
Gregg Bissonette: drums on (3), (5), (9) and (11)
Matt Bissonette: bass on (3), (5), (9) and (11)
Tim Pierce: guitars on (3), (4), (5), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11)
Robben Ford: guitars on (4)