ZARD was a Japanese pop group under B-Gram RECORDS. Around the release of their third album, HOLD ME, all the band members had left except Sakai Izumi. ZARD then became the solo project of Izumi, writting all the music and lyrics herself.

Stage Name: Sakai Izumi (坂井泉水)
Birth Name: Kamachi Sachiko (蒲池幸子)
Birth Date: February 6, 1967
Birth Place: Kurume, Kyushu, Japan
Height: 165cm
Blood Type: A

Information
Sakai was diagnosed with cervical cancer in June 2006; the cancer went into remission, but despite this onset, on April of 2007, the cancer was on the move again. On the 26th of May, while being treated for this cancer, Sakai fell three meters from a hospital staircase while returning to her room from a routine walk around the hospital. She was found at 5:40am. She suffered severe trauma to the back of her head (brain contusion), and on 3:10pm she died due to the cerebral contusion. The slippery surface of the staircase due to rain the previous day was blamed for her fall. Some rumors about suicide were being considered, but in the end probably discarded.

On June 27th 2007, a memorial funeral was held at Aoyama Cemetery.

Discography:

Albums
[1991.03.27] Good-bye My Loneliness
[1991.12.25] Mou Sagasanai
[1992.09.02] HOLD ME #2
[1993.07.10] Yureru Omoi
[1994.06.04] OH MY LOVE
[1995.03.10] forever you
[1996.07.08] TODAY IS ANOTHER DAY
[1999.02.17] Eien
[2001.02.15] Toki no Tsubasa
[2004.01.28] Tomatteita Tokei ga Ima Ugokidash*ta
[2005.09.07] Kimi to no Distance

Other Albums
[1997.04.23] ZARD BLEND ~SUN & STONE~ (Selection Album) #1
[1999.05.28] ZARD BEST The Single Collection ~Kiseki~ (軌跡; Miracle) (Best Album) #1
[1999.09.15] ZARD BEST ~Request Memorial~ (Best Album) #1
[2000.01.26] ZARD Cruising & Live (Live Album) #2
[2001.11.21] ZARD BLEND II ~LEAF & SNOW~ (Selection Album) #4
[2006.10.25] Golden Best ~15th Anniversary~ (Best Album) #1
[2007.08.15] Soffio di vento ~Best of IZUMI SAKAI Selection~ (Selection Album) #2
[2007.08.15] Brezza di mare ~dedicated to IZUMI SAKAI~ (Selection Album) #3
[2008.01.23] ZARD Request Best ~beautiful memory~ (Best Album) #1
[2008.05.28] ZARD Premium Box 1991-2008 (Compilation)

+credits to wiki.thepp+