Shiina Ringo

???? (Shiina Ringo, also sometimes spelled "Sheena Rinngo" or "Sh?na Ring?"), born November 25, 1978 in Saitama, is a Japanese singer, songwriter, guitarist, and pianist. Her family name is Shiina (??) and she chose to perform as Ringo instead of her birth name Yumiko (???) because - as a shy child - her cheeks would blush red like an apple (the fruit being 'ringo' in Japanese). She was born with an illness in which the esophagus narrows as it approaches the stomach, requiring much surgery.

She was born with an illness in which the esophagus narrows as it approaches the stomach, requiring much surgery. Resulting operations left her with large scars on her shoulder blades, said to give the impression that an angel's wings had been removed.

In her teens, Shiina worked as a pizza girl and joined several local bands. Her d?but single ?????-?(Koufukuron - Theory of Happiness) was released in May 1998. Her first album ??????????(Muzai Moratorium) was released in February 1999.

In 2004, after releasing three solo albums and a two-disc cover album, Shiina Ringo formed the band ????. (Tokyo Jihen - or Tokyo Incidents), which mixes styles of jazz and rock in its songs. Their first album ????(Kyouiku) was released in late 2004 and their second, ????(ADULT), in January 2006.

In late 2006, however, she returned to solo work as the Music Director for the film ??????(Sakuran). A new single entitled ?????-????(Kono Yo No Kagiri) was released on January 17, 2007 and an album called ?????? (Heisei Fuuzoku) followed on February 21. The violinist Saitou Neko is co-credited on both works.

She had mentioned that Tokyo Jihen is not over and that they will resume activities after she had finished with the plans on her new album and after promoting Sakuran, which was released in Japanese cinemas shortly after the album.

In 2008, Shiina Ringo released a double-album, a collection of her b-sides throughout her solo career, to commemorate her ten-year anniversary of releasing her first cd.

1998-2007 Discography

Singles

????- (Koufukuron)?1998?
??????? ?1998?
???????? (Koko de kisu shite)?1999?
?? ?1999?
????-?1999?
???-? (Gibs)?2000?
??? ?2000?
?????? ?2001?
??? ?2000?
??STEM???????? ?2003?
?????? (Ringo no Uta)?2003?
????-??? (Kono Yo no Kagiri) (2007? (With Saitou Neko and her brother Shiina Junpei)

Albums

???????? (Muzai Moratorium) (1999)
??????? (Shouso Strip)?2000)
??? ?? ????Karuki Za-men Kuri no Hana??2003)
???? (Heisei Fuuzoku) (2007)
????(Watashi to Houden) (2008)

Covers Album

?????????? (Utaitemyori Sonoichi)?2002?