Megumi Odaka
Encyclopedia
started her career
in 1984 as a voice
-actress (seiyū
) for the animation-TV-Series Fushigi na koala Blinky aka Noozles
(USA) aka The Wondrous Koala Blinky
(USA), where she played the character Sandy Brown. In 1987 she started her film career at Toho
with the movie "Taketori Monogatari" aka "Princess from the Moon", where she played the role of the blind girl Akeno along with Yasuko Sawaguchi
, who played Kaguya, the princess. Then she starred as Asuka along with Natsuki Ozawa
and Hikari Ishida
in the TV series Hana no Asuka-gumi aka "Radiant Asuka Class" (1988), based on a manga
series about a 14 year old delinquent girl
. Her next role was in the NHK
TV-Series "Seishun kazoku" ("Youth Family") (1989).
After she won the "TOHO Cinderella Contest" in 1987, where she took place with Yasuko Sawaguchi
, she landed the role of Miki Saegusa
in Godzilla vs. Biollante
in 1989. At this time she was a second year high school student and was first afraid of the Godzilla costume. But she quickly befriended suit-actor Kenpachiro Satsuma
. However, TOHO was impressed with her acting skills and she also played Miki Saegusa in the following Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
and the rest of the Heisei Series: Godzilla vs. Mothra
, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
, Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla
and Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
. She won a Japanese Academy Award for "Rookie of the year" for her performance in "Princess from the Moon" in 1988, among others.
She was one of the few actors to play the same role in more than one original Japanese release of a Godzilla film (Takashi Shimura
played Dr. Kyouhei Yamane in the first two films, Raymond Burr
reprised his role as Steve Martin in the edited American releases Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
and Godzilla 1985, and finally Momoko Kochi
who portrayed Emiko Yamane on the original 1954 Godzilla film
reprised her role in a cameo appearance in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah).
At the end of the Heisei Series she said:
"He (actor Akira Takarada
) was in the first Godzilla nearly 40 years ago, before I was even born. I want to be like him at that age--if Toho is still making Godzilla movies then, I`d like to come back and appear in them as Miki Saegusa."
Megumi was also a singer and released several singles, two videos, two photobooks and the two albums Milky Cotton
(1988) and Powder Snow
(1989). She also acted in several Live Stage Productions such as "Anne no aijou" (or "Anne no ai") aka "Anne's Love" or "Anne's Affection" in 1991, "Kiki's Delivery Service" in 1995, "Peter Pan" in 1996 and "Yana no ue no Violinjiki" ("Violin Player on top of the Roof" or "Fiddler on the Roof") in 1994, 1996 and 1998.
Megumi's last noticeable appearance was at G-Fest 2000. The last known was on 25 April 2001, which can be seen here: http://www.geocities.co.jp/MusicStar-Drum/5154/yubin.html
When Megumi was supposed to perform in the stageplay "The bird of fire", her physical condition was bad. She went sick for a time, but she's supposed to be better now. Megumi left the Toho
-Office and actually retired, although she didn't carry it out properly.
} Megumi Odaka Fansite
Career
Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person's "course or progress through life ". It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work ....
in 1984 as a voice
Voice
Voice may refer to:* Human voice* Voice control or voice activation* Writer's voice* Voice acting* Voice vote* Voice message-In film:* Voice , a 2005 South Korean film* The Voice , a 2010 Turkish horror film directed by Ümit Ünal...
-actress (seiyū
Seiyu
Voice acting in Japan has far greater prominence than in most other countries. Japan's large animation industry produces 60% of the animated series in the world; as a result, Japanese voice actors, or , are able to achieve fame on a national and international level.Besides acting as narrators and...
) for the animation-TV-Series Fushigi na koala Blinky aka Noozles
Noozles
, also known as The Wonderous Koala Blinky, is a 26-episode anime by Nippon Animation Company that was originally released in Japan in 1984, under the title Fushigi na Koara Burinkī or Brinky and Printy. It depicts the adventures of a 12-year old girl named Sandy and her koala friends, Blinky and...
(USA) aka The Wondrous Koala Blinky
Noozles
, also known as The Wonderous Koala Blinky, is a 26-episode anime by Nippon Animation Company that was originally released in Japan in 1984, under the title Fushigi na Koara Burinkī or Brinky and Printy. It depicts the adventures of a 12-year old girl named Sandy and her koala friends, Blinky and...
(USA), where she played the character Sandy Brown. In 1987 she started her film career at Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
with the movie "Taketori Monogatari" aka "Princess from the Moon", where she played the role of the blind girl Akeno along with Yasuko Sawaguchi
Yasuko Sawaguchi
, is a Japanese actress.-Biography:She was born in Osaka, Japan to a Japanese mother, and a British father.In early 1984, the Japanese movie studio Toho Company Ltd...
, who played Kaguya, the princess. Then she starred as Asuka along with Natsuki Ozawa
Natsuki Ozawa
, born April 19, 1972 in Oizumigakuen, Nerima, Tokyo, Japan is a Japanese actress.-Filmography:* Junk: Shiryō-gari * Atashi wa juice * Zero Woman - Rei* Yamadamura waltz - Reika Ayakoji...
and Hikari Ishida
Hikari Ishida
is a Japanese actress. She starred along with Megumi Odaka and Natsuki Ozawa in the TV-series Hana no Asuka Gumi. She also released several singles and six albums and she had one minor hit with the song "Emerald no Suna". Ishida also made numerous commercials for hair products and released several...
in the TV series Hana no Asuka-gumi aka "Radiant Asuka Class" (1988), based on a manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
series about a 14 year old delinquent girl
Sukeban
means delinquent girl or boss girl in Japanese, equivalent to the male banchō. A dictionary of says that sukeban only refers to the leader of a girl gang, not any member of the girl gang.-Characteristics:...
. Her next role was in 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....
TV-Series "Seishun kazoku" ("Youth Family") (1989).
After she won the "TOHO Cinderella Contest" in 1987, where she took place with Yasuko Sawaguchi
Yasuko Sawaguchi
, is a Japanese actress.-Biography:She was born in Osaka, Japan to a Japanese mother, and a British father.In early 1984, the Japanese movie studio Toho Company Ltd...
, she landed the role of Miki Saegusa
Miki Saegusa
, played by Megumi Odaka, is a recurring fictional character from the Heisei series of Godzilla films. She's notable for being a psychic that uses her powers to communicate with and, in some instances, control the mutant dinosaur Godzilla and is credited for being the most frequently recurring...
in Godzilla vs. Biollante
Godzilla vs. Biollante
is a 1989 science fiction kaiju film written and directed by Kazuki Ōmori. It was the seventeenth film to be released in the Godzilla franchise and the second in terms of the franchise's Heisei period...
in 1989. At this time she was a second year high school student and was first afraid of the Godzilla costume. But she quickly befriended suit-actor Kenpachiro Satsuma
Kenpachiro Satsuma
is a Japanese actor. He is probably best known for playing Godzilla in the Heisei series of Godzilla films , but played other giant monsters as well.-Films:...
. However, TOHO was impressed with her acting skills and she also played Miki Saegusa in the following Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah
, alternatively spelled Godzilla vs. King Ghidora, is the 18th installment in the Godzilla series of films. This is the fifth film to feature King Ghidorah and the first film to feature Mecha-King Ghidorah, . The movie was released theatrically in Japan on December 14, 1991...
and the rest of the Heisei Series: Godzilla vs. Mothra
Godzilla vs. Mothra
, translated in English as Godzilla vs. Mothra, is the 19th installment in the Godzilla series of films. It is the sixth film to feature Mothra and the only film to feature Battra. The movie was released theatrically in Japan on December 12, 1992...
, Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, released in Japan as , is a 1993 science fiction kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Wataru Mimura. It was the twentieth film in Toho's Godzilla series and the first to feature BabyGodzilla. It is also the fifth film to feature Rodan and the third film...
, Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla
Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla
is a 1994 science fiction kaiju film directed by Kensho Yamashita and written by Hiroshi Kashiwabara. It was the twenty-first film released in the Godzilla series and sixth in the Heisei series of films. It is the second film to feature the Moguera and Little Godzilla and also the seventh film to...
and Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
Godzilla vs. Destoroyah
, alternatively titled Godzilla vs. Destroyer, is a 1995 science fiction kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Kazuki Omori. It was released in Japan on December 9, 1995. It is the 22nd installment in the Godzilla series of films and the seventh and last of the Heisei series...
. She won a Japanese Academy Award for "Rookie of the year" for her performance in "Princess from the Moon" in 1988, among others.
She was one of the few actors to play the same role in more than one original Japanese release of a Godzilla film (Takashi Shimura
Takashi Shimura
was a Japanese actor.He was born in Ikuno, Hyogo, Japan.His debut as actor was the film Akanishi Kakita and cast in the Kenji Mizoguchi's film Osaka Elegy ....
played Dr. Kyouhei Yamane in the first two films, Raymond Burr
Raymond Burr
Raymond William Stacey Burr was a Canadian actor, primarily known for his title roles in the television dramas Perry Mason and Ironside. His early acting career included roles on Broadway, radio, television and in film, usually as the villain...
reprised his role as Steve Martin in the edited American releases Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
Godzilla, King of the Monsters!
Godzilla, King of the Monsters! is a 1956 Japanese/American black-and-white science fiction kaiju film. It is an "Americanized" version of the original Godzilla film, which had previously been shown subtitled in the United States in Japanese community theaters only, and was not known in Europe...
and Godzilla 1985, and finally Momoko Kochi
Momoko Kochi
Momoko Kōchi was a Japanese actress. She was born in Japan. She is best known for her roles in the original Godzilla, playing the character of Emiko Yamane , & in the Mysterians, playing as Hiroko Iwamoto.- Filmography :* Godzilla * Half...
who portrayed Emiko Yamane on the original 1954 Godzilla film
Godzilla (1954 film)
is a 1954 Japanese science fiction film directed by Ishirō Honda and produced by Tomoyuki Tanaka. The film stars Akira Takarada, Momoko Kōchi, Akihiko Hirata and Takashi Shimura. The film tells the story of Godzilla, a giant monster mutated by nuclear radiation, who ravages Japan, bringing back the...
reprised her role in a cameo appearance in Godzilla vs. Destoroyah).
At the end of the Heisei Series she said:
"He (actor Akira Takarada
Akira Takarada
is a Japanese film actor who is most known in the west for his roles in the Godzilla film series.-Overview:Takarada was born in Japan-occupied Korea, and lived for a time in Harbin, China. His father worked as an engineer on the South Manchuria Railway...
) was in the first Godzilla nearly 40 years ago, before I was even born. I want to be like him at that age--if Toho is still making Godzilla movies then, I`d like to come back and appear in them as Miki Saegusa."
Megumi was also a singer and released several singles, two videos, two photobooks and the two albums Milky Cotton
Milky Cotton
Milky Cotton is the first album by Megumi Odaka .-Track listing:#"Natsugoro" – 4:09#"Shiroi Hiyōshi no Heroine" – 3:52#"Himawari to Taiyō" – 4:18#"Blue Wind" – 4:04#"Navigation" – 3:41#"Yuubae no Douro" – 4:12...
(1988) and Powder Snow
Powder Snow
Powder Snow was the second album by Megumi Odaka .-Track listing:#"White Love" – 4:13#"One more time" – 4:15#"OMOIDE" – 4:43#"Mitsumete" – 4:21#"Stance" – 3:59#"Shumatsu no Cinderellatachi" – 4:20#"Attention" – 3:53#"Fuyuzora ni Orion" – 4:26...
(1989). She also acted in several Live Stage Productions such as "Anne no aijou" (or "Anne no ai") aka "Anne's Love" or "Anne's Affection" in 1991, "Kiki's Delivery Service" in 1995, "Peter Pan" in 1996 and "Yana no ue no Violinjiki" ("Violin Player on top of the Roof" or "Fiddler on the Roof") in 1994, 1996 and 1998.
Megumi's last noticeable appearance was at G-Fest 2000. The last known was on 25 April 2001, which can be seen here: http://www.geocities.co.jp/MusicStar-Drum/5154/yubin.html
When Megumi was supposed to perform in the stageplay "The bird of fire", her physical condition was bad. She went sick for a time, but she's supposed to be better now. Megumi left the Toho
Toho
is a Japanese film, theater production, and distribution company. It is headquartered in Yūrakuchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and is one of the core companies of the Hankyu Hanshin Toho Group...
-Office and actually retired, although she didn't carry it out properly.
Filmography
- Princess from the Moon (OT: Taketori Monogatari) (1987)
- Hana no Asuka-gumi (1988) (TV-Series)
- Seishun kazoku (1989) (TV-Series)
- Hey! Agari icchou. (1989) (TV-Series)
- Godzilla vs. BiollanteGodzilla vs. Biollanteis a 1989 science fiction kaiju film written and directed by Kazuki Ōmori. It was the seventeenth film to be released in the Godzilla franchise and the second in terms of the franchise's Heisei period...
(1989) - Ikenai jiyoshikou monogatari (1990) (TV-Series)
- Gekai arimori saeko (1990) (TV-Series) (Episode 5)
- Genji monogatari ue no Makishita no kan (1990) (TV-Series)
- Gogeza monogatari (1991)
- Godzilla vs. King GhidorahGodzilla vs. King Ghidorah, alternatively spelled Godzilla vs. King Ghidora, is the 18th installment in the Godzilla series of films. This is the fifth film to feature King Ghidorah and the first film to feature Mecha-King Ghidorah, . The movie was released theatrically in Japan on December 14, 1991...
(1991) - Anata dake mienai (1992) (TV-Series)
- Yonimo kimyouna monogatari - Haru no tokubetsu-hen (1992) (TV-Series)
- Ude ni oboe ari 2 (1992) (TV-Series) (Episode 5)
- Oushin doctor jiken no Karte (1992) (TV-Series) (Episode 9)
- Kaseifu wa mita! (1992) (TV-Series) (Episode 11)
- Godzilla vs. MothraGodzilla vs. Mothra, translated in English as Godzilla vs. Mothra, is the 19th installment in the Godzilla series of films. It is the sixth film to feature Mothra and the only film to feature Battra. The movie was released theatrically in Japan on December 12, 1992...
(1992) - Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla IIGodzilla vs. Mechagodzilla IIGodzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, released in Japan as , is a 1993 science fiction kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Wataru Mimura. It was the twentieth film in Toho's Godzilla series and the first to feature BabyGodzilla. It is also the fifth film to feature Rodan and the third film...
(1993) - Hit the Goal! (OT: Shoot!Aoki Densetsu Shoot!is a Japanese anime produced by Toei Animation between November 7, 1993 and December 25, 1994 on the Fuji TV television network; there were fifty-eight episodes. The story revolves around a boy named Toshihiko Tanaka, who has just started at Kakegawa High School in order to play soccer with his...
) (1994) - Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzillaGodzilla vs. SpaceGodzillais a 1994 science fiction kaiju film directed by Kensho Yamashita and written by Hiroshi Kashiwabara. It was the twenty-first film released in the Godzilla series and sixth in the Heisei series of films. It is the second film to feature the Moguera and Little Godzilla and also the seventh film to...
(1994) - Godzilla vs. DestoroyahGodzilla vs. Destoroyah, alternatively titled Godzilla vs. Destroyer, is a 1995 science fiction kaiju film directed by Takao Okawara and written by Kazuki Omori. It was released in Japan on December 9, 1995. It is the 22nd installment in the Godzilla series of films and the seventh and last of the Heisei series...
(1995) - Furuhata ninzaburou (1996) (TV-Series) (2nd Season - Episode 14)
- Samurai tantei jiken (1997) (TV-Series) (Episode 14)
- Hakui no futari (1998) (TV-Series)
- Hamidashi Keiji Jounetsu kei (2000) (TV-Series) (4th Series - Episode 17)
Discography
- Soushun no Eki / Doushite desu ka (21.03.1988) (single)
- Blue Wind / Tsuna no Jiki (06.07.1988) (single)
- Milky CottonMilky CottonMilky Cotton is the first album by Megumi Odaka .-Track listing:#"Natsugoro" – 4:09#"Shiroi Hiyōshi no Heroine" – 3:52#"Himawari to Taiyō" – 4:18#"Blue Wind" – 4:04#"Navigation" – 3:41#"Yuubae no Douro" – 4:12...
(07.09.1988) (album) - Autabi Anata o Suki ni naru / Koi ga Samui November (21.11.1988) (single)
- Jounetsu no Sasayaki / Harukaze Memory (21.03.1989) (single)
- Shumatsu no Cinderella tachi / Stance (30.08.1989) (single)
- Powder SnowPowder SnowPowder Snow was the second album by Megumi Odaka .-Track listing:#"White Love" – 4:13#"One more time" – 4:15#"OMOIDE" – 4:43#"Mitsumete" – 4:21#"Stance" – 3:59#"Shumatsu no Cinderellatachi" – 4:20#"Attention" – 3:53#"Fuyuzora ni Orion" – 4:26...
(29.11.1989) (album) - Ima, Kaze no Naka de / Umi o Futari jime (21.02.1991) (single)
- Odaka Megumi BestOdaka Megumi BestOdaka Megumi Best is a compilation album by Megumi Odaka . It includes all singles and some songs from the past albums. It was released in 2002 as a part of the "Bokura-no Best"-Collection by Pony Canyon.-Track listing:#"Soushun no Eki" – 4:20...
(aka: Emi Odaka Best) (21.08.2002) (best-of album)
Photobooks
- Whisper / Sasayaki (30.03.1989) (ISBN 4-8470-2106-1)
- TRY (05.11.1989) (ISBN 4-7648-1624-5)
External links
} Megumi Odaka Fansite
- Encyclopedia Idollica, a 1980s J-popJ-pop, an abbreviation for Japanese pop, is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in 1960s music, such as The Beatles, and replaced kayōkyoku in the Japanese music scene...
idol resource (incomplete and partly incorrect) (incomplete)