"Almost every year, I'm working at Christmastime," mourns Kaori Asada. "If I'm not working, I'll have a big Christmas party with friends and family. But in the last 10 years, I haven't had that kind of Christmas party, ha ha. Still, I like Christmas."
What Asada, better known as Kyoto-born J-pop singer Bonnie Pink, likes even more is Christmas songs. Since her first single, the Christmas-themed "Orange," was released in 1995, Asada has harbored desires to make an album of tinsel-tinged tunes.
Her wish is fulfilled this week with the release of "Chain," a minialbum stuffed with a song of the same name and four cover songs. (When asked when her Hanukkah album is due, she replies, "I don't know! Is it different?")