KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 19 -- Japanese singer-songwriter Seika Fukushima once walked away from her dream of becoming a singer to become a schoolteacher. Now, she is chasing music full-time - with an Olympic ambition to match.

The 29-year-old from Ibaraki Prefecture will make her Malaysian debut next month with a string of showcases across the Klang Valley from September 11 to 15.

The dates arrive shortly after the release of her debut mini-album, Photograph of Reminiscence, last week.

Fukushima will kick off her Malaysian run on September 11 at The Voice at Skypark One City in Subang Jaya before taking the stage at Live Fact in Kota Damansara the following night, where she will be joined by local acts Sounds of Kites, Amrita Soon and Azmyl ...