Shoko Sawada
Encyclopedia
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.
. She appeared in a TV commercial for "Panshiron" sponsored by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co.
in 1968, alongside Kiyoshi Atsumi
.
On May 25, 1979, Sawada released "Campus Sketch", her recording debut with Crown Record
. At that time, young female singer-songwriters were rare in Japan, but she benefited from her Japanese idol
good looks and attracted a male audience. Many of the songs she performed were not written by Sawada. She also struggled to make love songs.
Sawada also gained popularity via NHK-FM's radio program "Requests". In October 1989, she hosted the KBS
Kyoto radio program "Hyper Night" every Thursday. Guests on the program included Tarako
and Airi Hiramatsu. She also wrote and composed the song "Shin'ai naru Hitoe" (lit. "To the Dear Person") in memory of Kōzō Murashita
who died in 1999.
Sawada released album History 2 on October 21, 2004 to commemorate her 25th anniversary as a recording artist. She has performed in the "Furano Chapel Concert" at Shin-Furano Prince Hotel for a few days every winter. She has been in the group "The 4/9" with Reiko Sada, the sister of Masashi Sada
, since 2005.
Sawada is currently a radio personality on Yamanashi Broadcasting System
's "Jamboree Saturday of Sawada Seiko". She has also hosted "Paradise afternoon - Subete ni Arigato" every Monday at the Japanese FM's community radio
Music Bird.
sang the original version used in the broadcast. However, SMAP belonged to Victor Entertainment, while the label which released the video was King Records. Because Johney's office did not allow the original version to be released, Sawada sang version of the song.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, reporter, and radio personality
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
. Since the start of her professional singing career in 1980, Sawada has recorded over 27 studio albums.
Life and career
At the age of five, Sawada became a member of the Otowa Basket Lily Association and started singing nursery rhymes and appeared as a child actorChild actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
. She appeared in a TV commercial for "Panshiron" sponsored by Rohto Pharmaceutical Co.
Rohto Pharmaceutical Co.
is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Tatsumi-nishi, Ikuno-ku, Osaka, Japan. founded "", the predecessor of Rohto, in Shimizucho, Higashi-ku , Osaka on February 22, 1899.Yamada sold "Rohto Eyedrops" in 1909...
in 1968, alongside Kiyoshi Atsumi
Kiyoshi Atsumi
Kiyoshi Atsumi , born Yasuo Tadokoro , was a Japanese film actor....
.
On May 25, 1979, Sawada released "Campus Sketch", her recording debut with Crown Record
Nippon Crown
is a Japanese record label originally established as Crown Records on 6 September 1963. It is a spin-off of Nippon Columbia and is currently owned by karaoke maker Daiichikosho.-Artists:Artists signed to Nippon Crown Music include:* Hanaboy* Kimeru* Metis...
. At that time, young female singer-songwriters were rare in Japan, but she benefited from her Japanese idol
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
good looks and attracted a male audience. Many of the songs she performed were not written by Sawada. She also struggled to make love songs.
Sawada also gained popularity via NHK-FM's radio program "Requests". In October 1989, she hosted the KBS
Kyoto Broadcasting System
is a commercial broadcasting station headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It is doing business in Kyoto Prefecture as and in Shiga Prefecture as Its radio station serves Kyoto and Shiga Prefectures and is a member of National Radio Network . Its television station serves Kyoto Prefecture and is a...
Kyoto radio program "Hyper Night" every Thursday. Guests on the program included Tarako
Tarako
, known simply as Tarako, is a Japanese voice actress and singer-songwriter. Her debut role was as a preschooler on Urusei Yatsura. Tarako is currently employed by the talent management firm Troubadour Musique Office.- TV :...
and Airi Hiramatsu. She also wrote and composed the song "Shin'ai naru Hitoe" (lit. "To the Dear Person") in memory of Kōzō Murashita
Kozo Murashita
Kōzō Murashita was a singer-songwriter who was born in Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan...
who died in 1999.
Sawada released album History 2 on October 21, 2004 to commemorate her 25th anniversary as a recording artist. She has performed in the "Furano Chapel Concert" at Shin-Furano Prince Hotel for a few days every winter. She has been in the group "The 4/9" with Reiko Sada, the sister of Masashi Sada
Masashi Sada
is a Japanese singer, lyricist, composer, novelist, actor, and a film producer.Sada formed the folk duo Grape with Masami Yoshida in 1972, and made debut as a recording artist a year after. The pair rose to fame owing to a hit of a song "Shourou Nagashi" composed by Sada, which peaked at the...
, since 2005.
Sawada is currently a radio personality on Yamanashi Broadcasting System
Yamanashi Broadcasting System
, also known as YBS, is a Japanese broadcast network affiliated with Nippon News Network . Their headquarters are located in Yamanashi Prefecture.- Network :* TV: NNN* RADIO: JRN, NRN-Radio:* YBS Radio news* YBS News up...
's "Jamboree Saturday of Sawada Seiko". She has also hosted "Paradise afternoon - Subete ni Arigato" every Monday at the Japanese FM's community radio
Community radio
Community radio is a type of radio service, that offers a third model of radio broadcasting beyond commercial broadcasting and public broadcasting. Community stations can serve geographic communities and communities of interest...
Music Bird.
Singles
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Albums
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Compilations
- Best Selection 1979-1983 (1984)
- For You (1985.08.21)
- 17 Songs Sawada Masako Part I, II (1987)
- History (1998)
- Sawada Seiko Artist Series Collection (1999)
- History 2 (2004)
Others
Sawada also recorded the song "Kimiiro Omoi." There is only a short version for the opening soundtrack CD "Akazukin Chacha Saint Magical Review Vol.4: Afternoon Banana Hour". It is the Akazukin Chacha opening theme for the video software. Japanese group SMAPSMAP
SMAP is a Japanese boy band formed by Johnny & Associates. While originally consisting of six members, the current group members are Masahiro Nakai, Takuya Kimura, Goro Inagaki, Tsuyoshi Kusanagi, and Shingo Katori...
sang the original version used in the broadcast. However, SMAP belonged to Victor Entertainment, while the label which released the video was King Records. Because Johney's office did not allow the original version to be released, Sawada sang version of the song.
External links
- http://ameblo.jp/shoko-sawada/
- http://sawadashoko.boo.jp/