Yuko Nakazawa
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese pop and enka
singer, and actress, best known as one of the original members of the all-female J-pop group Morning Musume
. She is currently a member of Dream Morning Musume.
offered Nakazawa and the four other runners-up (Natsumi Abe
, Kaori Iida
, Aya Ishiguro
, and Asuka Fukuda
) the chance to be taken under his wing under one condition: they must sell 50,000 CDs of their debut song "Ai no Tane
" with five days of live promotion. The quintet accomplished that task in four and thus Morning Musume
was born. The group has since grown increasingly popular and is infamous for its fluctuating lineup, with members leaving and joining frequently.
In 1998, shortly after Morning Musume's formation, Nakazawa began a solo career, beginning with enka
styled songs. She gradually moved to a more pop sound, but has recently gone back to enka with her eleventh single, "Urara." Her solo work has allowed her voice to shine in a way it rarely did in Morning Musume, as she mostly sung harmonies with only a few solo lines.
Nakazawa has been a regular featured singer on Hello! Project
's "Folk Songs" series. She was also placed in Akagumi 4 in Hello! Project's 2000 summer shuffles and Puripuri Pink in Hello!Project's 2005 summer shuffles, as well as participating in H.P. All Stars along with most of the rest of Hello!Project in 2004.
Being the oldest of the 1st generation of Morning Musume—she was 24 at the time of formation and nearly 28 upon leaving the group—Nakazawa held the role of the group's leader until her graduation on April 15, 2001. She has cited her reasons for leaving as being her age (she was 14 years older than the youngest member of the troupe, then 13-year-old Ai Kago
, at the time of her departure) and her desire to pursue other things by the time she was 30.
Since then, Nakazawa has done some work in Japanese dramas such as Beauty 7 and Home Maker, performed in various plays, and continued in her solo singing career at a steady pace with reasonable success. She worked closely with Morning Musume and hosted their weekly show Hello! Morning
(first regularly, then occasionally), until its end in early 2007.
It was announced on October 19, 2008 by Hello! Project
that Nakazawa, along with the rest of Elder Club will graduate from Hello! Project on March 31, 2009. On February 1, 2009, during the "Hello Pro Award '09 ~Elder Club Sotsugyō Kinen Special~" concert held at Yokohama Arena
, Nakazawa passed on her leadership position in Hello! Project to Ai Takahashi
of Morning Musume.
In 2010, It was announced Yuko Nakazawa will be joining the new group, "Dream Morning Musume" alongside other former-Morning Musume members.
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Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
singer, and actress, best known as one of the original members of the all-female J-pop group Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
. She is currently a member of Dream Morning Musume.
Biography
Yuko Nakazawa was one of five runners-up in a 1997 talent contest for a new Japanese rock idol. After the contest, musician and producer TsunkuTsunku
, better known professionally as , is a prolific Japanese record producer, songwriter, and vocalist.He is best known for having two major roles in the Japanese music landscape: first as the lead singer of the popular rock group Sharam Q, and now as the producer, primary composer, lyricist and main...
offered Nakazawa and the four other runners-up (Natsumi Abe
Natsumi Abe
is a Japanese singer and actress, a former member of Morning Musume, and currently a member of Dream Morning Musume.-Career:On August 13, 2003, she released her first single, "22 Sai no Watashi," which means "Me, 22 years old," just a few days after her 22nd birthday...
, Kaori Iida
Kaori Iida
is a Japanese pop singer and actress, associated with Hello! Project and best known as a founding member of the girl band Morning Musume. She has also recorded with the Morning Musume side project band Tanpopo and is currently a solo artist...
, Aya Ishiguro
Aya Ishiguro
is a singer, writer, TV personality and fashion designer in Japan, most famous for her participation in pop group Morning Musume. She was born in Hokkaidō, Japan on May 12, 1978.Aya Ishiguro was a runner-up in a 1997 contest to find a new female rock idol...
, and Asuka Fukuda
Asuka Fukuda
is a Japanese pop singer, and she was a member of Morning Musume from 1997 until April 18, 1999.In 1997, Fukuda joined Morning Musume along with Yuko Nakazawa, Aya Ishiguro, Natsumi Abe, and Kaori Iida. Although she was the youngest member at that time, she was the first to graduate in April 1999...
) the chance to be taken under his wing under one condition: they must sell 50,000 CDs of their debut song "Ai no Tane
Ai no Tane
is the unofficial debut single of Japanese pop idol group Morning Musume, released under a defunct independent sub-label of Zetima Records on November 3, 1997...
" with five days of live promotion. The quintet accomplished that task in four and thus Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
was born. The group has since grown increasingly popular and is infamous for its fluctuating lineup, with members leaving and joining frequently.
In 1998, shortly after Morning Musume's formation, Nakazawa began a solo career, beginning with enka
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
styled songs. She gradually moved to a more pop sound, but has recently gone back to enka with her eleventh single, "Urara." Her solo work has allowed her voice to shine in a way it rarely did in Morning Musume, as she mostly sung harmonies with only a few solo lines.
Nakazawa has been a regular featured singer on Hello! Project
Hello! Project
is the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
's "Folk Songs" series. She was also placed in Akagumi 4 in Hello! Project's 2000 summer shuffles and Puripuri Pink in Hello!Project's 2005 summer shuffles, as well as participating in H.P. All Stars along with most of the rest of Hello!Project in 2004.
Being the oldest of the 1st generation of Morning Musume—she was 24 at the time of formation and nearly 28 upon leaving the group—Nakazawa held the role of the group's leader until her graduation on April 15, 2001. She has cited her reasons for leaving as being her age (she was 14 years older than the youngest member of the troupe, then 13-year-old Ai Kago
Ai Kago
is a Japanese singer, actress, author and former Guinness World Record holder.At age 12, Kago won the 4th National Audition of Morning Musume held by Up-Front Works Agency in 2000, which led to her admission into the extremely popular idol group as a 4th generation member. In the same year, she...
, at the time of her departure) and her desire to pursue other things by the time she was 30.
Since then, Nakazawa has done some work in Japanese dramas such as Beauty 7 and Home Maker, performed in various plays, and continued in her solo singing career at a steady pace with reasonable success. She worked closely with Morning Musume and hosted their weekly show Hello! Morning
Hello! Morning
was a weekly Japanese TV show featuring members of Morning Musume, and sometimes other Hello! Project members on TV Tokyo. It is also known by the shorter name of . On April 1, 2007, the show ended after seven years of broadcast and a new show, featuring the same people, , took its place...
(first regularly, then occasionally), until its end in early 2007.
It was announced on October 19, 2008 by Hello! Project
Hello! Project
is the umbrella name for all female idol Japanese pop recording artists collective that are under contract with the Up-Front Group. The "mothership" group of Hello! Project is the super-group Morning Musume. Hello! Project's current leader is Risa Niigaki, the leader of Morning Musume...
that Nakazawa, along with the rest of Elder Club will graduate from Hello! Project on March 31, 2009. On February 1, 2009, during the "Hello Pro Award '09 ~Elder Club Sotsugyō Kinen Special~" concert held at Yokohama Arena
Yokohama Arena
is an indoor sporting arena located in Yokohama, Japan. The capacity of the arena is 17,000 and was opened in 1989. The arena was modeled after US sports venue Madison Square Garden in New York City. It is a five minute walk from the closest subway station, Shin-Yokohama Station on the JR/Yokohama...
, Nakazawa passed on her leadership position in Hello! Project to Ai Takahashi
Ai Takahashi
is a Japanese pop singer formerly associated with Hello! Project, and best known as leader of Morning Musume and Hello!Project until 2011, and former member of its popular subgroup, Mini Moni...
of Morning Musume.
In 2010, It was announced Yuko Nakazawa will be joining the new group, "Dream Morning Musume" alongside other former-Morning Musume members.
Discography
Albums
| # | Title | Release date | Peak rank | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio albums | ||||
| 1 | December 12, 1998 | #59 |
|
|
| 2 | July 22, 2004 | #31 |
|
|
| Folk Songs Series | ||||
| 1 | Folk Songs | November 29, 2001 | #9 |
Sayaka Ichii joined the girl group Morning Musume in 1998. She, along with Mari Yaguchi and Kei Yasuda, formed the second generation of members. While in Morning Musume, Sayaka Ichii was put into the spin-off group, Petitmoni. Ichii was also part of the Hello Project! Summer Shuffles 2000 group Aoiro 7... |
| 2 | Folk Songs 2 | May 22, 2002 | #20 |
Melon Kinenbi was an all-girl Japanese pop group within Hello! Project. They were formed after they successfully passed the 2nd Morning Musume & Michiyo Heike Imotobun Audition. Melon Kinenbi is the oldest group in the history of Hello! Project not to have changed any of its members since its formation... , Rika Ishii, and Aya Matsuura Aya Matsuura is a Japanese pop singer from Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.-2000–2009: Hello! Project:Aya auditioned in 2000 for the fourth Morning Musume & Heike Michiyo Protegee Audition and was selected along with Sheki-Dol to become a part of what was later known as Hello! Project. It is a common... |
| 3 | FS3 Folk Songs 3 | October 23, 2002 | #17 |
Maki Goto is a Japanese singer, lyricist and former actress. Born and raised in Edogawa, Tokyo, Goto began her musical career in 1999 when she joined Morning Musume as the only third generation member. Her first single with the group, "Love Machine", topped the Oricon singles charts and sold over a million... and Miki Fujimoto Miki Fujimoto , professionally known by her birth name , is a Japanese pop singer and television actress. After failing the audition to join girl group Morning Musume with the fourth generation members, Fujimoto debuted as solo artist within Hello! Project in 2002 with the single "Aenai Nagai Nichiyōbi"... |
| 4 | FS4 Folk Songs 4 | May 21, 2003 | #25 |
Kei Yasuda is a Japanese singer, musician and actress under the Up Front Agency's Hello! Project. She was a member and co-leader of the pop group Morning Musume. Yasuda, along with Mari Yaguchi and Sayaka Ichii, were the second generation of singers to be recruited into Morning Musume... , Mari Yaguchi Mari Yaguchi , known professionally by her birth name of is a Japanese pop artist and former member of Hello! Project. She is a former member of Morning Musume and Tanpopo, one of its first sub groups, and also founded Minimoni... , and Melon Kinenbi |
| 5 | February 25, 2004 | #36 |
Natsumi Abe is a Japanese singer and actress, a former member of Morning Musume, and currently a member of Dream Morning Musume.-Career:On August 13, 2003, she released her first single, "22 Sai no Watashi," which means "Me, 22 years old," just a few days after her 22nd birthday... , Kei Yasuda, Maki Goto Maki Goto is a Japanese singer, lyricist and former actress. Born and raised in Edogawa, Tokyo, Goto began her musical career in 1999 when she joined Morning Musume as the only third generation member. Her first single with the group, "Love Machine", topped the Oricon singles charts and sold over a million... , Country Musume Country musume is an all-female Japanese pop group within Hello! Project.- History :Country Musume was formed in 1999 and was billed as "Country Girls from Hokkaidō". The initial group consisted of members and Hokkaidō natives Rinne Toda, Azusa Kobayashi, and Hiromi Yanagihara.... , and Aya Matsuura |
|
| Other albums | ||||
| – | Guilty Pleasures 3 (Scott Murphy) |
December 3, 2008 | #20 |
Allister Allister is an American pop punk band from Chicago, Illinois. The four-piece formed in 1996 and were one of the first bands to sign to Drive-Thru Records... 's third cover album, featuring a cover of LOVE Machine Love Machine (Morning Musume song) is the seventh single of the J-pop idol group Morning Musume, released on September 9, 1999 as an 8 cm CD. It sold a total of 1,760,000 copies, making it a massive hit and their highest selling single. In 2004, it was re-released as part of the Early Single Box and again in 2005 as a 12 cm CD... with Yuko Nakazawa, Natsumi Abe and Kei Yasuda |
| – | Legend | December 10, 2008 | #182 |
|
Singles
| # | Title | Release date | Peak rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 5, 1998 | #19 | |
| 2 | December 2, 1998 | #29 | |
| 3 | June 9, 1999 | #24 | |
| 4 | July 12, 2000 | #18 | |
| 5 | February 15, 2001 | #13 | |
| 6 | August 1, 2001 | #13 | |
| 7 | August 28, 2002 | #14 | |
| 8 | "Get Along with You" | May 21, 2003 | #30 |
| 9 | February 11, 2004 | #42 | |
| 10 | "Do My Best" | May 26, 2004 | #52 |
| 11 | September 27, 2006 | #32 | |
| 12 |
|October 10, 2007
|#57
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Videos / DVDs
| # | Title | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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|February 26, 2003
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Dramas
| Title | Start date | End date | TV station |
| 2001-07 | 2001-09 | Nippon Television Nippon Television is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,... |
|
| 2001-01 | 2001-03 | Nippon Television | |
| 2002-01 | 2002-03 | Nippon Television | |
| 2002-04 | 2002-06 | Nippon Television | |
| 2003 | Nippon Television | ||
| 2004-01 | 2004-03 | TBS Tokyo Broadcasting System , TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named .... |
|
| 2004-10 | 2004-12 | ||
| 2005-06 | 2005-09 | ||
| 2004-04 | 2004-06 | TBS | |
| 2007-04-23 | TBS | ||
Variety shows
| Title | Start date | End date | TV station |
| 2000-03 | 2007-03 | TV Tokyo TV Tokyo is a television station headquartered in Toranomon, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Also known as , a blend of "terebi" and "Tokyo", it is the key station of TX Network. It is one of the major Tokyo television stations, particularly specializing in anime... |
|
| 1999-01-05 | 1999-12-28 | TV Tokyo | |
| 2001-04 | 2002-03-26 | ||
| 2001-10-07 | 2004-09-28 | TV Asahi TV Asahi , also known as EX and , is a Japanese television network headquartered in Roppongi, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. The company writes its name in lower-case letters, tv asahi, in its logo and public-image materials. The company also owns All-Nippon News Network.... |
|
| — | Fuji Television Fuji Television is a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the .... |
||
| — | NHK NHK NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee.... |
||
| 2001 | 2005-02-12 | NHK | |
| 2005-04 | 2006-03 | Mainichi Broadcasting System Mainichi Broadcasting System is a broadcasting station in Osaka, Japan, affiliated with Japan Radio Network , National Radio Network , Japan News Network and TBS Network, serving in the Kansai region. MBS is also one of the major stockholders of Tokyo Broadcasting System Holdings, Inc... |
|
| 2006-04-11 | 2006-09-26 | Mainichi Broadcasting System | |
| 2001-10 | 2003-03 | Fuji Television | |
| 2005-01-18 | 2006-07-03 | ||
Movies
| Title | Release | Character | Company |
| 2002-12-14 | Fairy Queen | Toei Company Toei Company is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a... |
|
| 2005-03-19 | Shochiku Shochiku is a Japanese movie studio and production company for kabuki. It also produces and distributes anime films. Its best remembered directors include Yasujirō Ozu, Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Keisuke Kinoshita and Yōji Yamada... |
Radio shows
- Nakazawa Yuko no All Night NipponAll Night NipponAll Night Nippon is a Japanese radio program broadcast by Nippon Broadcasting System and other radio stations from 1–5 am . It preempts broadcasts from TBS Radio's programming.The highest ratings were achieved on the night of October 1, 1967.-DJs:...
Super!- Nakazawa Yuko no All Night Nippon Sunday Special → Nakazawa Yuko no All Night Nippon Sunday Super!
- Young Town Douyoubi
- Music Plaza's Kimama ni Classic
- Maji Asa!
Commercials
- Elleseine
- Nihon Chouou Keiba
- Oriko card
- Shiseidou City Veil
Photobooks
| Title | Release date | Produced by | ISBN |
| Feather | 2001-08 | Wani Books | ISBN 4847026713 |
| 2001-11 | Wani Books | ISBN 4-8470-2739-6 |
Essay books
- 2002 –
- 2003 –
External links
- Official blog
- Up-Front Works discography page
- Kpopwiki: Yuko Nakazawa
- ThePPN: Nakazawa Yuko