Luke Takamura (Japanese: ルーク篁, Hepburn: Rūku Takamura; born April 12, 1964) is a Japanese musician, singer, and…
Luke Takamura (Japanese: ルーク篁, Hepburn: Rūku Takamura; born April 12, 1964) is a Japanese musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as guitarist of the heavy metal band Seikima-II from 1987 to 1999, and for various temporary reunions since. From 2002 to 2020, he was the lead singer and guitarist of the rock trio Canta. Luke was voted the tenth greatest Japanese guitarist in a 2019 poll held by goo. He has cited Yuji Adachi, Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen and Kazumi Watanabe as guitar influences. In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Takamura the fifth best guitarist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election".
Famous People from Tokyo
Tokyo: 211 people
Emi Fujita (藤田恵美, Fujita Emi; born May 15, 1963) is a Japanese singer. She debuted as a singer with her husband Ryuji…
Emi Fujita (藤田恵美, Fujita Emi; born May 15, 1963) is a Japanese singer. She debuted as a singer with her husband Ryuji Fujita as the duo Le Couple. Their first album was released in 1994. Fujita made her solo debut in 2001. Her series of Camomile CDs are covers of popular western songs. Rembrandt Sky is her first original album, a collaboration with music producers Toshiyuki Mori, Seiji Kameda and Yoshiyuki Sahashi. Several of her solo albums have charted in Japan, including Camomile Best Audio, which reached number 27 on the Oricon chart. She has also found some success in Southeast Asia. Emi and Ryuji divorced in February 2007.
Mitsue Minamikawa (南川 光江) (née Matsuda (松田); born 27 November 1962), known by her stage name Marumi Shiraishi (白石 マル美…
Mitsue Minamikawa (南川 光江) (née Matsuda (松田); born 27 November 1962), known by her stage name Marumi Shiraishi (白石 マル美, formerly 白石 まるみ), is an actress and media personality from Tokyo, Japan. In 1978, Shiraishi auditioned for the part of leading man Hiromi Go's sweetheart on the TBS TV drama, Mū ichozoku and debuted as the girl in "Izakaya Hiromi." Shiraishi worked as a singer, television and movie actress, and radio personality. Later, in 2002, she changed the spelling of her stage name from "まるみ" to the identically pronounced "マル美" and has been hosting a TV shopping program, living frugally on Ikinari! Ōgon densetsu, and appearing as a TV travelogue reporter. As a hobby, she plays in a badminton club.
Katsuhiko Nakagawa (中川 勝彦, Nakagawa Katsuhiko; July 20, 1962 – September 17, 1994) was a Japanese actor and musician…
Katsuhiko Nakagawa (中川 勝彦, Nakagawa Katsuhiko; July 20, 1962 – September 17, 1994) was a Japanese actor and musician from Tokyo. He is the father of the multi-tarento Shoko Nakagawa. He appeared in the 1986 adaptation of Toki o Kakeru Shōjo, voiced the lead character of Superpowered Robo Garat, and released 10 singles and 9 albums before his death in 1994, with two albums released posthumously. After his debut appearance as a musician in NHK's Young Music Festival, he started to become known after appearing in the movies Narawareta Gakuen (1981) and Tenkōsei (1982). On February 22, 1984, he released simultaneously his debut album and single entitled Shite Mitai through Warner Pioneer. In September 1992 he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. He passed 9 months fighting against the disease and managed to make a comeback to Japanese entertainment, but his leukemia reappeared in August 1994, leading to his death on September 17, 1994.
Mari Hamada (Japanese: 浜田麻里, Hepburn: Hamada Mari; born July 18, 1962) is a Japanese rock singer and songwriter. Having…
Mari Hamada (Japanese: 浜田麻里, Hepburn: Hamada Mari; born July 18, 1962) is a Japanese rock singer and songwriter. Having performed in bands since high school, Hamada made her professional debut as a solo act in 1983. She quickly became known as the "Queen of Heavy Metal" (ヘヴィメタルの女王, Hevī Metaru no Joō). In 2018, readers and professional musicians voted Hamada the eighth best vocalist in the history of hard rock and heavy metal in We Rock magazine's "Metal General Election". In 2019, she became the first Japanese musician to top the vocalist category of heavy metal magazine Burrn!'s readers poll in its 36 year history. Throughout her career, she has released 25 singles and 23 studio albums.
Shoko Sawada (沢田 聖子, Sawada Shōko; born March 13, 1962) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, reporter, and radio…
Shoko Sawada (沢田 聖子, Sawada Shōko; born March 13, 1962) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, reporter, and radio personality. Since the start of her professional singing career in 1980, Sawada has recorded over 27 studio albums.
Yutaka Tadokoro (田所 豊, Tadokoro Yutaka; born March 12, 1962), known professionally as Diamond Yukai (ダイアモンド✡ユカイ…
Yutaka Tadokoro (田所 豊, Tadokoro Yutaka; born March 12, 1962), known professionally as Diamond Yukai (ダイアモンド✡ユカイ, Daiamondo Yukai), is a Japanese rock singer and actor. He was born in Tanashi, Tokyo, Japan. He is the vocalist for the Japanese rock band Red Warriors. He has acted in the Hollywood films Tokyo Pop and Lost in Translation and is often seen on television variety shows.
Noritake Kinashi (木梨 憲武, Kinashi Noritake; born 9 March 1962) is a Japanese comedian, actor, singer and artist. He is…
Noritake Kinashi (木梨 憲武, Kinashi Noritake; born 9 March 1962) is a Japanese comedian, actor, singer and artist. He is the short member of the comedy duo Tunnels, with whom he was a member of the pop group Yaen. His partner is Takaaki Ishibashi. He is the executive vice president of the entertainment office Arrival. Kinashi's wife is actress Narumi Yasuda. His cousin is Liberal Democratic Party Suginami lawmaker Morisho Kinashi.
Natsuko Godai (伍代夏子), (born 18 December 1961), of Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese enka singer.
Yoshimi Iwasaki (岩崎良美, Iwasaki Yoshimi; born June 15, 1961) is a Japanese singer and actress.
Jun Togawa (戸川純, Togawa Jun; born 31 March 1961) is a Japanese singer, musician and actress. She is one of the greatest…
Jun Togawa (戸川純, Togawa Jun; born 31 March 1961) is a Japanese singer, musician and actress. She is one of the greatest influences on Japanese avant-garde music and media, and her career spans over approximately 45 years. Her close friends over the years include Susumu Hirasawa. She was mainly active from 1981 to 1995.
Mami Ayukawa (鮎川 麻弥, Ayukawa Mami; born on March 29, 1961) is a Japanese singer from Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
Missa Johnouchi (城之内 ミサ; Jōnouchi Misa) (born 1960) is a composer, pianist, conductor and singer who creates…
Missa Johnouchi (城之内 ミサ; Jōnouchi Misa) (born 1960) is a composer, pianist, conductor and singer who creates Asian-styled new-age music. Missa Johnouchi was named UNESCO Artist for Peace in August 2006, and works to commemorate the 1300th anniversary of the Capital of Nara Heijo-Kyo. It was the first time a Japanese female composer and conductor was appointed a UNESCO Artist for Peace.
Eiko Miyagawa (宮川榮子), née Eiko Sato (佐藤栄子), born May 12, 1960), known professionally as EPO, is a Japanese singer…
Eiko Miyagawa (宮川榮子), née Eiko Sato (佐藤栄子), born May 12, 1960), known professionally as EPO, is a Japanese singer, songwriter and alternative medicine therapist who had success in the Japanese music industry in the 1980s and 1990s. Known as one of the "RCA Three Girls" in the mid-1980s alongside artists Taeko Onuki and Mariya Takeuchi on the same label, she is a prominent figure in the city pop genre that saw a revival in the late 2010s and early 2020s.
Yuriko Yamamoto (山本 百合子, Yamamoto Yuriko; born February 13, 1960) is a Japanese actress, voice actress, singer and…
Yuriko Yamamoto (山本 百合子, Yamamoto Yuriko; born February 13, 1960) is a Japanese actress, voice actress, singer and narrator from Hino, Tokyo, affiliated with Aoni Production. Her debut role was as the titular character in Hello! Sandybell in 1981. She has voiced many major roles in 1980s series such as Minerva in Transformers: Super-God Masterforce and 1990s anime such as Fight! Iczer One, Gall Force, Saint Seiya, Magical Taruruto-kun, and RG Veda.
Miharu Koshi (コシミハル, Koshi Miharu; born January 3, 1960) is a Japanese singer and musician. Her career started in the…
Miharu Koshi (コシミハル, Koshi Miharu; born January 3, 1960) is a Japanese singer and musician. Her career started in the late 1970s performing Japanese new music. By the mid-1980s she was performing music with electronic instruments, with many albums produced by Haruomi Hosono. Her later work has led to European classical music, French chanson and early 20th-century European Jazz, which she sings in several languages (most often French).
Yoshimi Ashikawa (芦川 よしみ, Ashikawa Yoshimi; born 13 December 1958, in Tokyo) is a Japanese actress and singer. She…
Yoshimi Ashikawa (芦川 よしみ, Ashikawa Yoshimi; born 13 December 1958, in Tokyo) is a Japanese actress and singer. She graduated from Ono Gakuen Girls High School. Her real name is Yoshimi Kono (河野 芳美, Kōno Yoshimi). She is currently married (her husband is a doctor). She is represented with Office Mitsui.
Hiromi Iwasaki (岩崎 宏美, Iwasaki Hiromi; born November 12, 1958) is a Japanese female singer who debuted in 1975. Her…
Hiromi Iwasaki (岩崎 宏美, Iwasaki Hiromi; born November 12, 1958) is a Japanese female singer who debuted in 1975. Her younger sister Yoshimi Iwasaki is also a singer. In 1981 she was awarded the Silver Prize at the Tokyo Music Festival for her song "Koimachigusa". Her representative songs are "ロマンス" — "Romance" (1975), "思秋期" — "Shishūki" (1977) and "聖母たちのララバイ" — "Madonna Tachi No Lullaby" (1982). However, her most immediately recognizable hit song, "シンデレラ・ハネムーン" — "Cinderella Honeymoon" (1978) has been such a consistent feature of monomane talent Korokke's routines, Hiromi Iwasaki has commented that when the intro played in concerts, fans would laugh, so she has ceremonially "gifted" that song to Korokke, whose performance has elongated both their careers.
Akiko Kobayashi (小林明子, Kobayashi Akiko; born November 5, 1958), also known by her alias Holi, is a Japanese singer…
Akiko Kobayashi (小林明子, Kobayashi Akiko; born November 5, 1958), also known by her alias Holi, is a Japanese singer, songwriter, composer and arranger. Kobayashi collaborated with Brian Eno and U2 on their 1995 project, the Passengers. Her smash hit debut song, "Koi ni Ochite -Fall in love-" (恋におちて -Fall in love-) from 1985s popular show "Kinyōbi no Tsumatachi e" made her famous in Japan. She was born in Tokyo and first began singing at age 15 and writing, later, songs for other artists that became big hits at home and abroad making her famous. She received a degree in philosophy from the prestigious Gakushuin University in Tokyo. Her first proper job in the music industry was as a secretary at a music publishing company, which she got through a professor from university. She debuted as a writer in 1984, writing the song "Moon Eyes" for folk duo Bread & Butter. Then, in 1985, she released her debut single "Koi ni Ochite -Fall in love-" (恋におちて -Fall in love-). The song became an instant hit, and earned Kobayashi a nomination for best newcomer at the 27th Japan Record Awards. Staff that worked on the recording began to compare Kobayashi's voice to that of Karen Carpenter, lead singer of The Carpenters, and suggested she approach Richard Carpenter. After hearing her demo tape, and enjoying the melody and vocals, Richard announced that her album "City of Angels" would be released in 1988. In 1991, Kobayashi relocated to the United Kingdom and released an album under the name "holi". Soon after, she released a cover album of The Carpenters' songs. In 2001, she married a British accountant.
Sayuri Kume (Japanese: 久米小百合 (Kume Sayuri)), also known as Saki Kubota (Japanese: 久保田早紀 (Kubota Saki)), is a Japanese…
Sayuri Kume (Japanese: 久米小百合 (Kume Sayuri)), also known as Saki Kubota (Japanese: 久保田早紀 (Kubota Saki)), is a Japanese singer-songwriter whose song Ihojin (1979) (Japanese: 異邦人) sold more than 1.4 million copies and reached number 1 in the Japanese singles chart. The song was used in the "Silk Road" television commercial for Sanyo. Her album Yumegatari (Japanese: 夢がたり) stayed at number 1 in the Oricon chart for seven consecutive weeks from 31 December 1979 to 11 February 1980. Her album Tenkai (Japanese: 天界) reached number 11 in the Japanese chart in 1980. Her album Saudade (Japanese: サウダーデ) reached number 54 in the Japanese chart. Her album Yoruno Sokowa Yawarakana Maboroshi (1984) has been described as her greatest masterpiece. Her single Nijūgoji (1980) (Japanese: 25時) reached number 19 in the Japanese chart. Her single Kugatsu No Iro (Japanese: 九月の色) (1980) reached number 51 in the Japanese chart. Her single Orange Airmail Special (Japanese: オレンジ・エアメール・スペシャル) (1981) reached number 62 in the Japanese chart. She appeared on The Best Ten, Yoru no Hit Studio, and Music Fair. She sang songs in the new music genre (Japanese: ニューミュージック, nyū myūjikku). She has been described as the standard bearer of that genre. She was awarded the female newcomer award (Japanese: 女性新人賞) at the 13th Japan Record Sales Awards (Japanese: 日本レコードセールス大賞) in 1980. In January 2020, a box set was released under the title Saki Kubota Premium to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her debut in 1979.
Sakiko Ito (伊藤 咲子, Itō Sakiko; born as Sakiko Chiba on April 2, 1958) is a Japanese singer.
Masahito Arai (新井 正人, Arai Masahito) is a Japanese singer and composer. Debuting with the band Diary in 1977, he joined…
Masahito Arai (新井 正人, Arai Masahito) is a Japanese singer and composer. Debuting with the band Diary in 1977, he joined the group Pal in 1979 and had a solo debut in 1987, performing the song "Anime ja Nai" for the 1986 anime Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ.
Tsuyoshi Ujiki (氏木 毅（うじき つよし）, Ujiki Tsuyoshi; born September 18, 1957, in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese…
Tsuyoshi Ujiki (氏木 毅（うじき つよし）, Ujiki Tsuyoshi; born September 18, 1957, in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese entertainer, actor, musician, and singer who is represented by the talent agencies Heart Cleaning Company, then Flos. His nicknamed Jick (stylized as JICK) from his surname. Along with Seiji Katsu, he was a member of Kodomo Band.
Shinobu Otake (大竹 しのぶ, Ōtake Shinobu; born July 17, 1957) is a Japanese actress. She has won three Japanese Academy…
Shinobu Otake (大竹 しのぶ, Ōtake Shinobu; born July 17, 1957) is a Japanese actress. She has won three Japanese Academy Awards: the 2000 Best Actress award for Railroad Man, and the 1979 awards for both Best Actress for The Incident, and Best Supporting Actress for Seishoku no ishibumi. She also won the award for best actress at the 12th Hochi Film Award for Eien no 1/2. At the 25th Moscow International Film Festival she won the award for Best Actress for her role in Owl. She has received a total of twelve nominations. She was the favoured lead actress of director Kaneto Shindo after his previous lead actress, Nobuko Otowa, died in 1994, and featured in four of his films from Will to Live (1999) and Postcard (2011). Otake has also acted on the stage. She performed during the last segment of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Closing Ceremony along Tokyo’s Suginami Children Chorus, singing the song "Hoshimeguri no Uta" (Star Tour Song) composed by Kenji Miyazawa, as the Olympic flame was extinguished. Otake had a leading role of Dr. Ruth Wolff in a Japanese stage adaptation of The Doctor (2021).
Nobuyoshi Kuwano (桑野 信義, Kuwano Nobuyoshi; born April 4, 1957 in Ōta, Tokyo) is a Japanese television performer, former…
Nobuyoshi Kuwano (桑野 信義, Kuwano Nobuyoshi; born April 4, 1957 in Ōta, Tokyo) is a Japanese television performer, former member of Rats & Star. His nickname is "Kuwa-man" (桑マン). In Rats & Star, he took charge of the trumpet and vocals. After the group broke up, he shifted to a television comedian and co-starred with The Drifters' Ken Shimura and Masashi Tashiro. He took over as lead vocalist of Rats & Star during Masayuki Suzuki's solo concert tour. He appears in some Japanese television programs as a performer. He was disappointed by Masashi Tashiro's arrest. He also said to Tashiro in public, "It's disappointing. Please atone for your crimes and thoroughly cleanse your body and soul" following Tashiro's retirement from the entertainment world.
Junko Kido (木戸 順子, Kido Junko; 17 October 1956 – 4 January 2020), better known by her birth name, Junko Hirotani (広谷…
Junko Kido (木戸 順子, Kido Junko; 17 October 1956 – 4 January 2020), better known by her birth name, Junko Hirotani (広谷 順子, Hirotani Junko), was a Japanese singer.
Yoshiko Tanaka (田中 好子, Tanaka Yoshiko; April 8, 1956 – April 21, 2011) was a Japanese actress and singer.
Miki Fujimura (藤村 美樹, Fujimura Miki; born 15 January 1956 in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan, and raised in Fukushima) is a…
Miki Fujimura (藤村 美樹, Fujimura Miki; born 15 January 1956 in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan, and raised in Fukushima) is a Japanese singer, best known as Miki (ミキ), a member of the pop trio Candies.
Hisato Takenaka (竹中 尚人; born on June 16, 1955 in Togoshi, Shinagawa), known professionally as Char, is a Japanese…
Hisato Takenaka (竹中 尚人; born on June 16, 1955 in Togoshi, Shinagawa), known professionally as Char, is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is considered one of Japan's greatest guitar players. In 2003, Char was ranked by HMV at number 38 on their list of the 100 most important Japanese pop acts. Rolling Stone Japan ranked his album Psyche number 36 on their 2007 list of the greatest Japanese rock albums of all time. Char came in third in a 2011 goo poll on who the Japanese people thought was the best guitarist to represent the country. Char was named the greatest Japanese guitarist in a 2017 list by Guitar Magazine, as voted on by professional musicians, and in a 2019 public poll held by goo. His song "A Fair Wind" was named the 34th best guitar instrumental by Young Guitar Magazine in 2019. Char endorses Fender, with whom he has signature model guitars. He also has signature models with ESP.
Ran Itō (伊藤 蘭, Itō Ran; born 13 January 1955) is a Japanese actress and previous member of the 1970s idol group…
Ran Itō (伊藤 蘭, Itō Ran; born 13 January 1955) is a Japanese actress and previous member of the 1970s idol group Candies. As the leading member of Candies, Itō was in charge of the solo of most of the trio's hit songs. Itō was born in Kichijōji, Musashino, Tokyo, Japan. She is married to actor Yutaka Mizutani. Itō won the award for best supporting actress at the 2nd Yokohama Film Festival for Disciples of Hippocrates. In 2019, Itō released her first solo album, My Bouquet. On 15 February 2020, she kicked off her first concert tour, My Bouquet & My Dear Candies!, which featured several Candies songs in the set list.
Akiko Tamei (溜井 昭子, Tamei Akiko; born 5 December 1954), better known by her former stage name as Aki Mizusawa (水沢 アキ…
Akiko Tamei (溜井 昭子, Tamei Akiko; born 5 December 1954), better known by her former stage name as Aki Mizusawa (水沢 アキ, Mizusawa Aki), is a Japanese actress, tarento, model, and singer.
Susumu Hirasawa (平沢進, Hirasawa Susumu; born April 2, 1954) is a Japanese musician and composer. He is well known for…
Susumu Hirasawa (平沢進, Hirasawa Susumu; born April 2, 1954) is a Japanese musician and composer. He is well known for his work for the films of director Satoshi Kon and the animated adaptations of the Berserk manga series, alongside his work as a solo artist and as the lead member of P-Model.
Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷 由実, Matsutōya Yumi; born January 19, 1954), nicknamed Yuming (ユーミン, Yūmin), is a Japanese singer…
Yumi Matsutoya (松任谷 由実, Matsutōya Yumi; born January 19, 1954), nicknamed Yuming (ユーミン, Yūmin), is a Japanese singer, composer, lyricist and pianist. Matsutoya often writes both the lyrics and the music to her songs, and is renowned for her idiosyncratic voice and live performances. She is one of the most prominent figures in the history of Japanese popular music. Matsutoya's recording career has been commercially successful, with more than 42 million records sold. In 1990, her album The Gates of Heaven became the first album to be certified "2x million" by the RIAJ, and she has had twenty-one No. 1 albums listed on the Oricon charts. She is the only artist to have at least one number-one album every year on the Oricon charts for 18 consecutive years. After gaining several years of experience as a session musician, she debuted as a singer-songwriter in 1972. During her early career, she worked under her maiden name Yumi Arai (荒井 由実, Arai Yumi). In 1975, Arai became known as a composer for "Ichigo Hakusho wo Mou Ichido", a commercially successful song recorded by the folk duo BanBan. She also gained popularity as a vocalist in the same year through the success of "Ano Hi ni Kaeritai", which became her first number-one hit on Japan's Oricon Charts. "Haru-yo, Koi" is another of her famous songs. In The Encyclopedia of Contemporary Japanese Culture, it is written that "Yuming incorporated influences from progressive rock and European pop to produce a sophisticated, upper-middle-class female Japanese voice and sound in a contemporary musical and journalistic world dominated by discussions of folk music and social critique. This musical idiom is generally thought to have been first realised on [...] Cobalt Hour". The album The 14th Moon and the three albums that ranked in the top 10 of the Japanese charts in 1976 (Cobalt Hour, Yuming Brand, and Hikōki-gumo) "contained several songs which are considered to be early classics of the J-pop genre." After marrying her musical collaborator Masataka Matsutoya in 1976, Arai began recording under her married name and has continued to do so. Throughout the 1980s, Matsutoya's music was prominently featured in advertisements for Mitsubishi Motors in her native Japan and her image was used to promote their vehicles. In addition to multiple hit singles, she has obtained enormous commercial success on the Japanese Albums Chart, particularly during the late 1980s and the first half of the 1990s.
Maria Anzai (安西 マリア, Anzai Maria, b. Mariko Shibasaki on December 16, 1953 - d. March 15, 2014) was a Japanese idol.
Taeko Ōnuki (大貫 妙子, Ōnuki Taeko; born November 28, 1953) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician who achieved…
Taeko Ōnuki (大貫 妙子, Ōnuki Taeko; born November 28, 1953) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician who achieved success and popularity during the 1970s and 80s in the city pop music scene.
Tsutomu Sekine (関根 勤, Sekine Tsutomu; born 21 August 1953, in Minato, Tokyo) is a Japanese comedian, singer and…
Tsutomu Sekine (関根 勤, Sekine Tsutomu; born 21 August 1953, in Minato, Tokyo) is a Japanese comedian, singer and television presenter. His former stage name is Rabbit Sekine (ラビット関根, Rabitto Sekine). He is represented with Asai Kikaku. His daughter is tarento Mari Sekine. Sekine is partnered with Kazuki Kosakai, who is a junior at his talent agency and also a longtime best friend, in a comedy duo called Kosakin.
Keiko Matsuzaka (松坂 慶子, Matsuzaka Keiko; born July 20, 1952) is a Japanese actress.
Junko Saito (斉藤 淳子, Saitō Jun'ko) (née Nakajima (中島 淳子, Nakajima Jun'ko; born 2 May 1952), more commonly known by her…
Junko Saito (斉藤 淳子, Saitō Jun'ko) (née Nakajima (中島 淳子, Nakajima Jun'ko; born 2 May 1952), more commonly known by her stage name Mari Natsuki (夏木 マリ, Natsuki Mari), is a Japanese singer, dancer, actress and philanthropist, who describes herself as a "person who plays." Born in Tokyo, she started work as a singer from a young age. In 2007, Natsuki announced her engagement to percussionist Nobu Saitō (斉藤ノヴ), with their marriage taking place in Spring 2008. Natsuki has participated in musical theatre, including Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof and that of Yukio Ninagawa. She provided the voice of Yubaba in Spirited Away, played the young witch's mother in the Japanese TV remake of Bewitched and has twice been nominated for a Japanese Academy Award. Natsuki played the character Big Mama in the Japanese version of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots and has also acted in television dramas, such as the 2005 series Nobuta o Produce, playing the Vice Principal, Katharine. In 2024, Natsuki reprised her famous roles of Yubaba/Zeniba for the stage production of Spirited Away, performing in Japan and London. In 2026, she performed the role in Seoul, Korea.
Pai Pai Miyuki (パイパイ 美ゆき; born 23 March 1952, in Tokyo) is a Japanese actress and singer. Until 1970, she used the…
Pai Pai Miyuki (パイパイ 美ゆき; born 23 March 1952, in Tokyo) is a Japanese actress and singer. Until 1970, she used the stage name Miyuki Kojima (児島 みゆき, Kojima Miyuki). She is represented with Kagawa Office. She graduated from Musashino-shi Daiichi Elementary School, Musashino Municipal First Junior High School, and Nakano Fumizono High School (now Otsuma Nakano High School).
Sandi A. Hohn (born 鈴木 あや, Suzuki Aya, renamed in the U.S. as Sandra O'Neale, born December 27, 1952), professionally…
Sandi A. Hohn (born 鈴木 あや, Suzuki Aya, renamed in the U.S. as Sandra O'Neale, born December 27, 1952), professionally known as Sandii, is a Japanese singer and vocalist who was a member of the Japanese band Sandii & the Sunsetz. Hohn is also notable for her work on the Japanese animated television series Lupin III Part II.
Keiichi Suzuki (鈴木 慶一, Suzuki Keiichi; born August 28, 1951) is a Japanese composer, singer, and record producer. He…
Keiichi Suzuki (鈴木 慶一, Suzuki Keiichi; born August 28, 1951) is a Japanese composer, singer, and record producer. He co-founded the rock band Moonriders and is best known known outside of Japan for his musical contributions to the video games Mother (1989) and EarthBound (1994), both of which have been released on several soundtracks. More recently, he has composed film scores including The Blind Swordsman: Zatōichi (2003), Tokyo Godfathers (2003), Uzumaki (2000), Chicken Heart (2009), as well as Takeshi Kitano's Outrage trilogy.
Kumiko Ōsugi (大杉久美子, Ōsugi Kumiko; born July 10, 1951) is a J-pop artist from Tokyo. In 1964, she recorded a song with…
Kumiko Ōsugi (大杉久美子, Ōsugi Kumiko; born July 10, 1951) is a J-pop artist from Tokyo. In 1964, she recorded a song with Crown Records using the pseudonym Momoko Shibayama (柴山モモコ, Shibayama Momoko). The first song to be released under her real name was "Attack No. 1" (アタックNo.1, Atakku Nanbā Wan), the opening theme for the Attack No. 1 anime. She went on to perform theme songs for many other anime, including Doraemon, Aim for the Ace!, Araiguma Rascal, Flanders no Inu, and Oz no Mahōtsukai. She is referred to by fans and the Japanese press as the "Queen of Anime Song" and is considered to be one of the "Four Heavenly Kings and Queens of Anison" (アニソン四天王) alongside Ichirou Mizuki, Isao Sasaki, and Mitsuko Horie. The opening theme to Heidi, Girl of the Alps is often mis-attributed to Ōsugi when it was actually performed by Kayo Ishū, a studio singer. Ōsugi did, however, perform the series' ending theme.
Carmen Maki (Japanese: カルメン・マキ, Hepburn: Karumen Maki; born Maki Annette Lovelace, May 18, 1951) is a Japanese singer…
Carmen Maki (Japanese: カルメン・マキ, Hepburn: Karumen Maki; born Maki Annette Lovelace, May 18, 1951) is a Japanese singer and lyricist. After debuting as a folk singer in 1969 with the million-selling single "Toki ni wa Haha no Nai Ko no Yō ni", she quickly shifted to rock music and is best known for fronting the band Oz from 1972 to 1977. Maki was one of the first female rock vocalists in Japan, and her work with Oz and Blues Creation has been credited with pioneering Japanese rock in general.
Kōichi Iwaki (岩城滉一, Iwaki Kōichi) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 8th Yokohama Film…
Kōichi Iwaki (岩城滉一, Iwaki Kōichi) is a Japanese actor. He won the award for best actor at the 8th Yokohama Film Festival for the 1986 film Minami e Hashire, Umi no Michi o. He was a Zainichi Korean until April 5, 2017, when he naturalized. Iwaki is also a racing car driver.
Tomoharu Takeo (竹尾 智晴, Takeo Tomoharu; born February 5, 1951), known by his stage name Ryūsei Nakao (中尾 隆聖, Nakao…
Tomoharu Takeo (竹尾 智晴, Takeo Tomoharu; born February 5, 1951), known by his stage name Ryūsei Nakao (中尾 隆聖, Nakao Ryūsei), is a Japanese actor, voice actor and singer from Tokyo attached to 81 Produce. He worked under the name of Tomoharu Minamiya (南谷 智晴, Minamiya Tomoharu) and is married with two children, a son and daughter. His distinctive voice lands him in the roles of characters with high-pitched voices and sadistic personalities. As a voice actor, he is best known for the roles of Baikinman in Let's Go! Anpanman, Frieza, Tambourine, Cooler, Chilled, and Frost in Dragon Ball, Ishami Nishimura in Touch, Porori in Niko Niko Pun, Resshi in Do-Re-Mi-Fa Donuts, Echikettojii-san in Hotch Potch Station, Sniff in Moomin, the titular character in Topo Gigio, Mayuri Kurotsuchi in Bleach, Caesar Clown and Dr. Indigo in One Piece, and Takashi Shirogane in Beast King GoLion.
Mayumi Itsuwa (五輪 真弓, Itsuwa Mayumi) is a Japanese vocalist, composer, lyricist, and keyboardist who made her debut in…
Mayumi Itsuwa (五輪 真弓, Itsuwa Mayumi) is a Japanese vocalist, composer, lyricist, and keyboardist who made her debut in 1972. Her first studio album entitled Shoujo was recorded in Los Angeles, produced by Grammy Award winner John Fischbach, with distinguished musicians such as David Campbell, Carole King and Charles Larkey who was King's husband at that time. Owing to her introspective compositions, Itsuwa was often nicknamed "Japanese Carole King", along with other Japanese singer-songwriters like Yumi Matsutoya (who had worked under her birth name "Yumi Arai" during the mid-1970s) and Minako Yoshida. Itsuwa gained moderate success on the Japanese albums chart in her early career, and received massive popularity and acclaim through the single "Koibito yo" released in 1980. The song topped Japan's Oricon chart for three consecutive weeks, and won the 22nd Japan Record Award for "Gold Prize" in the same year. It was covered by the country's legendary singers including Hibari Misora and Noriko Awaya in later years, and became a signature song for Itsuwa. In 1981 her song "Revival" also became a very well recognized hit. After "Koibito yo" became a hit, Itsuwa gained popularity also in non-Japanese Asian countries during the 1980s. In Indonesia, "Kokoro No Tomo", "Amayadori" and "Rebaibaru" become the most popular songs ever released by her. In 2006, Mayumi Itsuwa and Delon Thamrin recorded an Indonesian and Japanese version of the song. This was later included on the 2006 compilation album "Duet Love Songs". Many of her songs would fall into the musical genre of torch songs because they often describe the lingering memory of past loves.
Motonari Takano (Japanese: 高野 元成, Hepburn: Takano Motonari; January 12, 1951 - April 1, 2006), better known as Ai…
Motonari Takano (Japanese: 高野 元成, Hepburn: Takano Motonari; January 12, 1951 - April 1, 2006), better known as Ai Takano (アイ高野, Ai Takano) and nicknamed Motchin, was a Japanese singer. He is best known for his performances of the theme songs for the anime Galactic Whirlwind Sasuraiger, Pettonton, and Kyojuu Tokusou Juspion. Takano also sung the songs in Ai Shite Knight for the fictional in-story band, Bee Hive, even though the singer character, Gou, is voiced by singer Isao Sasaki. Before starting his anisong career, Takano was drummer of The Golden Cups and a vocalist of Creation.
Takao Kisugi (来生 たかお, Kisugi Takao), born November 16, 1950, in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. In…
Takao Kisugi (来生 たかお, Kisugi Takao), born November 16, 1950, in Tokyo, Japan, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. In 1974, he debuted as a songwriter and in 1976 made his solo debut as a singer. He often collaborates on songs with his sister, Etsuko Kisugi, who is a lyricist. In 1982, on the third Japan Composition Award, he received the "Best Composer" music award for the song Second Love. In his career, spanning over 45 years, he composed over 400 songs.
Chu Kosaka, Chew Kosaka (小坂 忠), born Masayuki Kosaka (小坂 正行) on July 8, 1948 – April 29, 2022) was a Japanese…
Chu Kosaka, Chew Kosaka (小坂 忠), born Masayuki Kosaka (小坂 正行) on July 8, 1948 – April 29, 2022) was a Japanese singer-songwriter, gospel musician, and pastor. He was known for his foundational contributions to the development of Japanese rock and City pop in the 1970s and later as a pioneer responsible for "laying the foundations" of Japanese gospel music.
Jun Mayuzumi (黛ジュン; born 26 May 1948, in Chōfu, Tokyo) is a Japanese singer. Her best known songs include "Tenshi-no…
Jun Mayuzumi (黛ジュン; born 26 May 1948, in Chōfu, Tokyo) is a Japanese singer. Her best known songs include "Tenshi-no Yūwaku" (Angel's Temptation 1968). She won a Japan Record Award in 1969, and won the inaugural Yamaha Popular Song Contest Grand Prix at the Nemu no Sato Indoor Hall, on November 5, 1970. She appeared on the New Year's Eve Kōhaku Uta Gassen show for four years, 1967-1970.