Singer/Actress Aya Ueta

In 2004, Aya Ueta, 19 was casted to play the role of Oka Hiromi in her first ever live action drama, "Ace wo nerae!", based on the comic of the same name, which was a huge hit. The 162cm Tokyo lass recorded the ending song for the show, "Ai no tameni." which was written by Tetsuro Oda, famed for catapulting talents to the top of the charts. The single rank No.6 on the Oricon Charts and was an instant hit. The sales surpassed her highest selling single "Pureness" released back in 2002. A month after the release of "Ai no tameni.", her 2nd album "MESSAGE" was released and ranked No.6 on the Oricon Album Charts.

The next single to be released was the double a-side "Kaze/okuru kotoba" and ranked No.8 on the charts. The main track "Kaze" was used as the ending theme for the popular anime "Nintama Rantarou" and her cover track "Okuru kotoba" was used as the theme song for the PS2 Gamesoft "3 nen B gumi Kinpachi Sensei" based on the drama in which Aya won her way into stardom in 2001.

In September, Aya emerged as the new CM queen, overshadowing other talents as she was advertising products for 10 various companies. According to advertising agencies from Japan, her contract price rose from 30 million yen to 45 million yen in 2004.

Aya also starred in a new movie "Install" based on the best-selling and award-winning novel by Wataya Risa. Aya performed for the first time at the prestigious musical show "Kouhaku Utagessen" on new years eye.