Eriko Imai is a Japanese singer and politician. Born on September 22, 1983, in Naha, Okinawa, she began her career as a member of the popular J-pop group Speed in 1996, quickly rising to fame as one of the group's main vocalists. Speed disbanded in 2000, and Eriko embarked on a solo career, debuting with the hit single "In the Name of Love" in the same year. She released her first full-length solo album, My Place, in 2001. The album was well-received by critics and fans, and it features covers as well as several self-written songs such as "Himawan" and "Dawn." In 2002, Eriko Imai performed in the musical Footloose and released her fifth solo single, "Our Relation." She temporarily reunited with Speed in 2003 for charity, before resuming her solo career and releasing "Butterfly" in 2003. Her first singles collection, Stairway, was released in 2004, marking a new chapter in her life after marrying and starting a family. Eriko Imai returned to music in 2005 under the name Elly, releasing the album Neverland in 2006. She continued to perform and release music, including the album Utagoe in 2009. In 2016, she transitioned into politics, successfully running for the Japanese House of Councillors under the Liberal Democratic Party.