Her first big break was to come when she attended the Okinawa Actors School. The school, which was established in 1983 and is a regular scouting ground for production companies, has produced many popular performers, including Namie Amuro, Rina Chinen, Speed, and Max. Instead of traditional teaching methods, the school allows students to do as they please, which brings out their own individual characteristics. It was at the Okinawa Actors School that Olivia got her first chance to perform in front of large audiences. 'We got to sing on huge stages!' says Olivia.
In 1996, while performing on stage at the Okinawa Actors School, Olivia was spotted by the boss of Rising Productions, who are responsible for many other top Japanese artists including Namie Amuro, Rina Chinen, Speed, and Max. They asked Olivia to become a member of their latest pop sensation, Dance & Dream. The group (composed of three girls: Olivia, Aya and Chika) released their first single 'In Your Eyes' on August 21st 1996. They were a huge success!
Two years later, Olivia caught the eye of top Japanese producer Tetsuya 'TK' Komuro. At the time, TK was working with French composer Jean Michel Jarre. They were producing a song for the France 98 FIFA World Cup, and they were looking for a singer. TK asked Olivia to work on the song because he thought she had the right kind of voice -- an angelic voice with a rock sound. The maxi-single 'Together Now' was released on April 22nd 1998.
