Sayuri Kokushō
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
actor
, singer, and tarento
. She was an original member of Onyanko Club
. She works for the talent management firm Sony Music Artists
. Her debut single, Valentine Kiss
, is the most popular Valentine's Day
song in Japan.
when she was young, she attended Nishihara Elementary School and First Kanoya Junior High School, both Kanoya Municipal schools. She then attended Shimizugaoka High School in Kure, Hiroshima
due to her father's transferring from JMSDF Kanoya Air Base
to JMSDF Kure Naval Base while in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
.
While in high school, she represented the Chūgoku region
in the 3rd Miss Seventeen Contest
in 1984. While she didn't win the contest, she was scouted by a representative from CBS Sony
(two others scouted at the same contest were Misato Watanabe
and Shizuka Kudō
. Kokushō later appeared on a radio show with Misato Watanabe
in 1986.) She moved to Tokyo
after becoming a beauty model for Shiseido
and the CBS Sony representative suggested she enter the "Female High School Student Special" contest on Fuji TV's All Night Fuji
, where she made her television debut.
After winning the in-show beauty contest, she made her debut on Yūyake Nyan Nyan as a founding member of Onyanko Club. Because she was attending a high school in Hiroshima Prefecture
at the time, she was described as being from Hiroshima. She was the captain of the track and field club during high school.
(member #8). Because she had already graduated from high school and was attending college, she was senior to most of the other members of Onyanko Club and became the de facto leader of the group. However, the "public image" leaders of the group were promoted as being Eri Nitta
, Miharu Nakajima, Satomi Fukunaga
, and Kazuko Utsumi. Kokushō continued to stand out as a leader of the group, however, even with publicity surrounding the solo debut of fellow member Sonoko Kawai.
Kokushō then had to determine whether she wanted to continue as a member of Onyanko Club or begin a solo career and leave the group. She received some support from Nitta and Kawai, both of whom had started successful solo careers of their own. She made her solo debut on February 1, 1986 with the single Valentine Kiss
, which was backed
by Onyanko Club. The single reached #2 on the Oricon
charts, #1 on the Music Lab and Music Research charts, and #4 on the The Best Ten music program on TBS
. The single also won the Japan Gold Disc Award
for Best Single of the Year. In a 2006 survey in Japan, Oricon Style
found Valentine Kiss to be the most popular Valentine's Day song. She was not, however, able to match the Oricon #1 position reached by Nitta and Kawai with their respective solo debut releases.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, singer, and tarento
Tarento
is a Japanese rendering of the English word "talent" and is used as a catch-all term for mass media personalities who regularly appear on television. Detractors of the phenomenon have referred to it in an English sense as "famous just for being famous" because many that fall into this career line...
. She was an original member of Onyanko Club
Onyanko Club
was a large all-girl Japanese pop idol group in the 1980s. The group gave a new approach to the idol formula with its 52 official members and three unofficial members...
. She works for the talent management firm Sony Music Artists
Sony Music Entertainment Japan
is Sony's music arm in Japan. SMEJ is directly owned by Sony Corporation and independent from the United States-based Sony Music Entertainment due to its strength in the Japanese music industry....
. Her debut single, Valentine Kiss
Valentine Kiss
is the solo debut J-pop single from Sayuri Kokushō released on February 1, 1986 by CBS Sony in Japan. Kokushō was the eighth member of Onyanko Club. The B-side song was ....
, is the most popular Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
song in Japan.
Brief biography
Kokushō was named after Sayuri Yoshinaga, of whom her father was a fan. After spending time living in Sasebo, NagasakiSasebo, Nagasaki
is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 259,800 and the density of 609 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km². The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park...
when she was young, she attended Nishihara Elementary School and First Kanoya Junior High School, both Kanoya Municipal schools. She then attended Shimizugaoka High School in Kure, Hiroshima
Kure, Hiroshima
is a city in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 240,820 and a population density of 681 persons per km². The total area is 353.74 km².- History :...
due to her father's transferring from JMSDF Kanoya Air Base
Kanoya Air Field
is a military aerodrome of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force . It is located southwest of Kanoya in the Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. Runway 08R/26L is equipped with ILS....
to JMSDF Kure Naval Base while in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
The , or JMSDF, is the naval branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II....
.
While in high school, she represented the Chūgoku region
Chugoku region
The , also known as the , is the westernmost region of Honshū, the largest island of Japan. It consists of the prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori and Yamaguchi. It has a population of about 7.8 million.- History :...
in the 3rd Miss Seventeen Contest
Seventeen (Japanese magazine)
Seventeen is a monthly Japanese fashion magazine for female teenagers published by Shueisha.Launched in 1967 as a weekly magazine based on the original American Seventeen, the magazine changed the name to SEVENTEEN in 1987, and to Seventeen in 2008.Since the late 1990s, Seventeen has been the...
in 1984. While she didn't win the contest, she was scouted by a representative from CBS Sony
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
(two others scouted at the same contest were Misato Watanabe
Misato Watanabe
is a female Japanese popular music artist.- Singles :* 'I'm Free' * 'Growin' Up' * 'Shinderu mitai ni Ikitaku nai ' * 'My Revolution'...
and Shizuka Kudō
Shizuka Kudo
is a Japanese singer and pop idol born in Hamura, Tokyo. She debuted as member no. 38 of the Onyanko Club in May 1986 and went on to a successful solo career with 11 no.1 hits.-Biography:...
. Kokushō later appeared on a radio show with Misato Watanabe
Misato Watanabe
is a female Japanese popular music artist.- Singles :* 'I'm Free' * 'Growin' Up' * 'Shinderu mitai ni Ikitaku nai ' * 'My Revolution'...
in 1986.) She moved to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
after becoming a beauty model for Shiseido
Shiseido
is a major Japanese hair care and cosmetics producer. It is the oldest cosmetics company in the world and the fourth largest cosmetics company in the world.-History:...
and the CBS Sony representative suggested she enter the "Female High School Student Special" contest on Fuji TV's All Night Fuji
All Night Fuji
was a popular Japanese television show in the mid-1980s. As the name implies, it went on all night. It generally featured young Japanese men and women smiling and laughing at sexual jokes, stories and videos....
, where she made her television debut.
After winning the in-show beauty contest, she made her debut on Yūyake Nyan Nyan as a founding member of Onyanko Club. Because she was attending a high school in Hiroshima Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.- History :The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province. This location has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded...
at the time, she was described as being from Hiroshima. She was the captain of the track and field club during high school.
Onyanko Club era
On April 25, 1985, Kokushō made her professional debut as a founding member of Onyanko ClubOnyanko Club
was a large all-girl Japanese pop idol group in the 1980s. The group gave a new approach to the idol formula with its 52 official members and three unofficial members...
(member #8). Because she had already graduated from high school and was attending college, she was senior to most of the other members of Onyanko Club and became the de facto leader of the group. However, the "public image" leaders of the group were promoted as being Eri Nitta
Eri Nitta
is a Japanese singer, actress, lyricist, and tarento. She made her professional debut as the fourth member of the all-female singing group Onyanko Club in 1985. She made her solo debut with the hit song on January 1, 1986...
, Miharu Nakajima, Satomi Fukunaga
Satomi Fukunaga
Satomi Fukunaga , is a former japanese idol, singer and actress in the 1980s. She made her debut in 1985 selected as a member of Jpop female band Onyanko Club, which she quits one year later to start a solo career...
, and Kazuko Utsumi. Kokushō continued to stand out as a leader of the group, however, even with publicity surrounding the solo debut of fellow member Sonoko Kawai.
Kokushō then had to determine whether she wanted to continue as a member of Onyanko Club or begin a solo career and leave the group. She received some support from Nitta and Kawai, both of whom had started successful solo careers of their own. She made her solo debut on February 1, 1986 with the single Valentine Kiss
Valentine Kiss
is the solo debut J-pop single from Sayuri Kokushō released on February 1, 1986 by CBS Sony in Japan. Kokushō was the eighth member of Onyanko Club. The B-side song was ....
, which was backed
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
by Onyanko Club. The single reached #2 on the Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
charts, #1 on the Music Lab and Music Research charts, and #4 on the The Best Ten music program on 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 ....
. The single also won the Japan Gold Disc Award
Japan Gold Disc Award
The Japan Gold Disc Awards for Music sales in the Recording Industry Association of Japan, is major music awards held annually in Japan also released as a CD.- List of the Artists of the Year :************...
for Best Single of the Year. In a 2006 survey in Japan, Oricon Style
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
found Valentine Kiss to be the most popular Valentine's Day song. She was not, however, able to match the Oricon #1 position reached by Nitta and Kawai with their respective solo debut releases.