Alma Kaminiito
| Company type | Musical duo |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Defunct | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Japan |
Key people | Eric Fukusaki, Munehiko Ohno |
| Products | J-pop, Latin pop music |
was a musical duo from Japan blending J-pop and Latin pop, consisting of Peru-born Eric Fukusaki and Japanese artist Munehiko Ohno. In 2012, they debuted with the single "Akane" followed by the double A-side release "Amatsubu Pearl"/"Dakishimetai Dakishimetai". Their last project before Ohno's exit in April 2013 was the cover album Alma Covers, which featured Japanese songs performed in Spanish and English.
2011: Formation
Eric Fukusaki, part of the Japanese diaspora in Peru, relocated to Japan at age 18 to pursue a career in enka. Meanwhile, Munehiko Ohno, a native Japanese with a lifelong background in traditional dance, developed a passion for music at 18 after being inspired by the duo Chemistry and took vocal lessons during his university years. Both artists independently auditioned for Up-Front Works' Forrest Award in February 2011. After passing, Up-Front suggested forming a duo; Ohno accepted immediately, while Fukusaki sought advice from industry professionals before agreeing two weeks later.
The duo’s name was created from Spanish terms selected by their staff: "alma" meaning "soul," combined with a modified form of "caminito" ("path") altered to "kami ni ito," signifying "paper" and "thread." Their musical style fused elements of J-pop and Latin pop, with the mission to "bridge Japan with the world."
2012–13: Debut and disbandment
Prior to their official debut, Alma Kaminiito performed at multiple street events and made guest appearances on music programs. Their initial single, featuring three tracks used in the 2011 drama film Share House, included the reggae-influenced song "Akane," which launched on April 25, 2012. On release day, they promoted it through a live show at Sunshine City in Ikebukuro. In August, they held their inaugural concert titled Alma Kaminiito 1st Live "Uno". Their second single, a double A-side named "Amatsubu Pearl"/"Dakishimetai Dakishimetai", was released on October 24.
In December, Alma Kaminiito released their first album, Alma Covers, comprising Spanish and English renditions of Japanese songs from the 1980s and 1990s, with Spanish lyrics translated by Fukusaki himself. The duo toured from late 2012 into early 2013. On April 4, 2013, Ohno announced his decision to leave the group via their official website to focus on managing his family business.
Cover albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Alma Covers |
Singles
| Title | Year | Highest chart rankings | Sales figures | Associated album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oricon Singles Chart | Billboard Japan Hot 100 | ||||
| "Akane" (茜; "Deep Red") | 2012 | 33 | 10 |
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rowspan="3" Template:N/A |
| "Amatsubu Pearl" (雨粒パール; "Raindrop Pearl") | 45 | 22 |
| ||
| "Dakishimetai Dakishimetai" (抱きしめたい 抱きしめたい; "I Want to Hold You, I Want to Hold You") | — | ||||