Junko Ohashi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Junko Ohashi
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| Background information | |||||
| Native name |
大橋 純子
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| Born | April 26, 1950 Yūbari, Hokkaido, Japan |
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| Died | November 9, 2023 (aged 73) Tokyo, Japan |
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| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Singer | ||||
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| Alma mater | Fuji Women's Junior College | ||||
| Spouse(s) |
Ken Sato
(m. 1979) |
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| Japanese name | |||||
| Kanji | 大橋 純子 | ||||
| Hiragana | おおはし じゅんこ | ||||
| Katakana | オオハシ ジュンコ | ||||
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Junko Ohashi (大橋 純子, Ōhashi Junko, April 26, 1950 – November 9, 2023) was a famous Japanese singer. She was born on April 26, 1950, and passed away on November 9, 2023, at the age of 73. Junko Ohashi was known for her powerful voice and popular songs like "Silhouette Romance" (1981) and "Tasogare My Love" (1978). She was very successful in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She released more than 20 albums during her career.
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Early Life and Education
Junko Ohashi was born in Yūbari, Hokkaido, Japan. She was the oldest of four children in her family, who owned a restaurant. She went to Hokkaido Yubari High School. Later, she studied at Fuji Women's Junior College. While in college, she joined a band, which helped her start her music journey.
Music Career
Junko Ohashi began her singing career in 1974 with her first album, Feeling Now. She became widely known in 1978 with her hit song "Tasogare My Love". This song was used as the theme for a TV show called Shishi no Gotoku.
At the beginning of her career, she sang hard rock music. However, she later found inspiration from artists like Sérgio Mendes and Janis Joplin. This led her to change her style to soul music. She also performed with other famous musicians, like Kiyohiko Ozaki.
In 1976, her song "Paper Moon" became very popular. After this success, she formed her own band called Junko Ohashi & Minoya Central Station. Her song "Tasogare My Love" won a Gold Award at the 20th Japan Record Awards in 1978.
Another big hit for her was "Silhouette Romance" in 1981. This song reached number 7 on the music charts and sold over 500,000 copies. It also won the best song award at the 24th Japan Record Awards. Junko Ohashi also took part in the famous Kōhaku Uta Gassen music competition several times, starting in 1979.
Personal Life
Junko Ohashi met Ken Sato, a composer, when he was working at Yamaha. They got married in 1979.
Health Challenges and Passing
In 2018, Junko Ohashi shared that she had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer. She had to take a break from her music tours to focus on her treatment. She was able to return to recording and performing in March 2019.
However, in March 2019, she also shared that she was battling breast cancer. In March 2023, it was reported that her esophageal cancer had returned. She stopped touring again to focus on her health. Sadly, Junko Ohashi passed away in a hospital in Tokyo on November 9, 2023, at the age of 73. Her funeral was held on November 15 at Zōjō-ji temple, and she was cremated.
Discography
Junko Ohashi had a long and successful music career. She released more than 20 studio albums, along with several cover albums, self-cover albums, and compilation albums. She also released many popular singles throughout her career, starting in 1974. Her music continues to be enjoyed by fans.
