Karen Aoki

Karen Aoki (青木 カレン) is a Japanese jazz vocalist and singer-songwriter. She performed "Great Days" along with Daisuke Hasegawa, the third opening for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable and the seventh opening overall for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: The Animation.

Early life
Karen Aoki spent her early childhood growing up in and in,. In her high school and college years, Karen traveled back and forth between, , and , all the while participating in various club events. A demo tape of a band that she had formed at the time was discovered by J-WAVE radio station, and was used as an opening song to one of their programs.

Later, while working as a photographic assistant, Karen was singing a cappella to one of her own creations and a media producer who had heard it then chose to use her voice in numerous commercials. After that, as she continued her musical creations, she released two mini indie albums, finally making her major debut in 2000 with three maxi singles and a full album.

Jazz and Professional Work
In 2003, her heart was captivated by the cool sound of jazz. She immediately looked up all the jazz clubs in Tokyo and participated in their vocalist sessions that same day. Karen gradually found herself singing in clubs all around the city, all while writing her own original jazz songs.

In 2006, her first jazz album Tokyo Jz Trippin' was released to high acclaim. The album reached #1 on many jazz charts in Japan.

In April 2007, she began hosting the TV program "Groovin' Jazz Night" by BS Asahi TV, and in August 2007, became a presenter of her own radio show "Smooth Night" (every Thursday 1-2am, Cross FM) while touring Japan and recording her next album, which was scheduled for release in June 2008.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
In July 2016, she created the lyrics for You Are My Woman/Alex Reed in the Diamond is Unbreakable ~Good Morning Morioh Cho~ Original Soundtrack while Daisuke Hasegawa performed the vocals for the song. She was later decided to sing for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable in Autumn 2016, performing Great Days with Daisuke. Karen also created the lyrics and performed the vocals for FAITH in the Diamond is Unbreakable ~Good Night Morioh Cho~ Original Soundtrack.

Additionally, she provided the official English lyrics for Great Days and Uragirimono no Requiem.

JO☆UNITED
On December 24, 2016, Karen Aoki returned as JO☆UNITED among Hiroaki "TOMMY" Tominaga, Coda, Jin Hashimoto, THE DU, batta, and Daisuke Hasegawa to sing Great Days -Units Ver.-, featured in the final episode of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable.

In 2018, she created the lyrics for FINDING THE TRUTH, used as the ending theme for the Thus Spoke Kishibe Rohan OVA. The vocals were performed by Coda.

Extended discography

 * TOKYO Jz TRIPPIN’ - January 23, 2006
 * KAREN - September 22, 2007
 * SHINING - June 11, 2008
 * KAREN's SWINGIN' PARTY - November 21, 2008
 * THE CLUB JAZZ DIVA - April 22, 2009
 * A Beautiful Day - November 18, 2009
 * BY MY SIDE - February 17, 2010
 * KAREN ROCKS - February 16, 2011
 * VOYAGE - April 15, 2011
 * Twilight Jazz - January 18, 2012
 * Tranquility - December 12, 2012
 * Eternal Melody - January 21, 2015
 * Matt & Karen Lost in Rio - October 14, 2015
 * The Story of Karen Aoki　-10th Anniversary Best- - September 28, 2016
 * The Calling - September 20, 2017

Trivia

 * Karen Aoki's favorite character from Diamond is Unbreakable is Rohan Kishibe.