Person: Iijima Mari

Iijima Mari, born on May 18, 1963 in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki, is a Japanese singer-songwriter who became famous due to her participation as voice actress/singer in The Super Dimension Fortress Macross anime series and who also has released various top 10 albums in Japan. Mari wrote all of the music for her critically acclaimed debut album "Rosé", which was produced by renowned composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. She currently has over 20 albums listed in her discography.

Iijima Mari was selected to play Lynn Minmay in the classic Japanese sci-fi anime The Super Dimension Fortress Macross in 1981. When the series was released in 1982, Minmay became one of the first anime idols, turning her into an instant celebrity in Japan and launching her musical career there.

Iijima eventually moved to Los Angeles, California, and married on September 30, 1989. She later divorced in 2001.

She was nominated for the 2000 Los Angeles Music Awards' Best Pop Artist for her first English album "No Limit". She has released several independent albums (in English) in the United States, including her most recent independent American release, "Uncompromising Innocence", on November 5, 2006.

In 2006, Iijima reprised her role as Lynn Minmay in ADV Films' English-language release of Macross.

Iijima was one of the finalists in the Song of the Year Awards for her song "Swim" in January and March 2007. The judging was done by Norah Jones, Shelia E. and other famous individuals in the music world. Her song was sent to major record labels, famous agents, and management companies.

Iijima has also received proof of entry for the 50th Grammy Awards provided entries for "Swim", a track on her 2006 album Uncompromising Innocence. Her listed entries are for the "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" category (entry#55) and the "Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)" category (entry#175).