Izumi Sakai

Izumi Sakai (坂井泉水, Sakai Izumi), born Sachiko Kamachi (蒲池幸子, Kamachi Sachiko, February 6, 1967 – May 27, 2007), was a Japanese Pop singer, songwriter, and member of the group Zard. As Sakai was the only member who stayed in the group while others joined and left regularly, Zard and Sakai may be referred to interchangeably. She was the best-selling female recording artist of the 1990s and has sold over 37 million copies of sales, making her one of the best-selling music artists in Japan of all time.

Biography

Born in Kurume, Fukuoka,Japan, Sakai grew up in Hadano, Kanagawa. Her father was a driving instructor, and she had a younger brother and younger sister. After her death, a neighbor recalled how popular and beautiful Sakai had been in elementary school. She was also athletic, joining the track and field team in junior high and playing tennis in high school. (Indeed, promoting her 38th single in 2003, "Hitomi o Tojite," Sakai indicated that she liked sports.) Graduating from Shoin Women's College (now Shoin University) in Atsugi City, Kanagawa, Sakai worked in a real estate company office for two years before being scouted by Stardust Promotion.