Megumi Asaoka facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Megumi Asaoka
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|---|---|
| Native name |
麻丘めぐみ
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| Birth name | Kayoko Fujii (藤井 佳代子) |
| Born | October 11, 1955 |
| Origin | Beppu, Ōita Prefecture, Japan |
| Genres | Kayōkyoku |
| Occupation(s) | Idol, singer, actress |
| Years active | 1958–1977, 1983–present |
| Labels | Victor Entertainment |
Megumi Asaoka (麻丘めぐみ, Asaoka Megumi) was born on October 11, 1955. She is a famous Japanese pop singer and actress. Her real name is Kayoko Fujii.
Contents
About Megumi Asaoka
Megumi Asaoka started her career in entertainment when she was just three years old. She performed in many stage shows and appeared in TV commercials.
Early Career and Music Debut
When she was in junior high school, Asaoka became a model. She worked for a Japanese magazine called Seventeen. While modeling, she was offered a chance to record music.
At first, she wasn't sure about singing. She didn't really enjoy singing or being famous. But she later decided to accept the offer. She hoped to earn money to help her family.
Megumi Asaoka released her first song in June 1972. It was a single called "Mebae" [ja]. This song was very popular. It sold over 400,000 copies. It also reached the No. 3 spot on the Oricon charts. The Oricon charts are like a big popularity list for music in Japan.
In the same year, Asaoka won a special award. She received the Best Newcomer prize at the 14th Japan Record Awards. This is a very important music award show in Japan.
Her Biggest Hit Song
In the summer of 1973, Megumi Asaoka had a huge hit song. It was called "Watashi no Kare wa Hidarikiki" [ja], which means "My Boyfriend Is a Lefty." This song became No. 1 on the Oricon charts. It sold more than 500,000 copies!
"My Boyfriend Is a Lefty" was one of the best-selling songs in Japan that year. It is still her most famous song. She performed it on the 24th edition of Kohaku Uta Gassen. This is a very popular TV music show in Japan. She also won a popularity award for the song at the 15th Japan Record Awards.
The song was so popular that many companies made products for left-handed people. They wanted to use the song's success to sell their items.
Becoming a Japanese Idol
Megumi Asaoka helped create what we know today as the modern Japanese idol. Japanese idols are young, multi-talented entertainers. She did this alongside other famous Japanese performers like Saori Minami and Mari Amachi.
Besides her music, Megumi Asaoka was also known for her unique hairstyle. She made the hime cut (princess cut) very popular in Japan. This special hairstyle became her personal trademark.
Later Career and Comeback
Megumi Asaoka got married in September 1977. After her marriage, she stopped performing for a while. She returned to show business in 1983. She has one daughter named Hitomi.
After her comeback, she mostly worked as an actress. In 2009, Megumi Asaoka celebrated a big milestone. She had been in show business for 50 years! She performed 28 songs at a special event to celebrate. Even today, she still performs some of her old songs sometimes.
In 2011, a Japanese music TV show called Music Station made a list. They listed the Top 50 Idols of All-time based on how many records they sold. Megumi Asaoka was placed at No. 47. She had sold over 3,000,000 records!
Megumi Asaoka's Music
Here are some of the songs and albums Megumi Asaoka released during her career.
Singles
| # | Title | Release Date/Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mebae (芽ばえ, Sprout) Debut single |
1972-06-05 (#3) |
| 2 | Kanashimi Yo Konnichiwa (悲しみよこんにちは, Hello Sorrow) | 1972-10-05 (#6) |
| 3 | Onnanoko Nandamon (女の子なんだもん, Just a Girl) | 1973-01-15 (#7) |
| 4 | Mori Wo Kakeru Koibito Tachi (森を駈ける恋人たち, Lovers Running Through the Forest) | 1973-04-30 (#7) |
| 5 | Watashi no Kare wa Hidarikiki (わたしの彼は左きき, My Boyfriend is a Lefty) Biggest hit |
1973-07-05 (#1) |
| 6 | Alps no Shoujo (アルプスの少女, Girl of the Alps) | 1973-10-15 (#8) |
| 7 | Tokimeki (ときめき, A Crush) | 1974-01-15 (#6) |
| 8 | Shiroi Heya (白い部屋, The White Room) | 1974-04-05 (#13) |
| 9 | Kanashimi no Season (悲しみのシーズン, The Season of Sadness) |
1974-09-10 (#10) |
| 10 | Yuki no Naka no Futari (雪の中の二人, Two People in the Snow) | 1974-12-15 (#16) |
| 11 | Mizuiro no Page (水色のページ, Light Blue Page) | 1975-03-05 (#14) |
| 12 | Koi no Ayatori (恋のあやとり, String Figures of Love) | 1975-06-05 (#24) |
| 13 | Utsukushiku Moe Nagara (美しく燃えながら, While It Burns Beautifully) | 1975-08-15 (#37) |
| 14 | Shiroi Bishou (白い微笑, White Smile) | 1975-10-25 (#44) |
| 15 | Sotsugyou (卒業, Graduation) | 1976-02-05 (#63) |
| 16 | Natsu Hakkei (夏八景, Eighth Summer) |
1976-06-05 (#64) |
| 17 | Yogiro no Dekigoto (夜霧の出来事, Misty Night Affair) | 1976-09-05 (#83) |
| 18 | Ginsekai (銀世界, Snow Covered World) |
1977-01-25 (#77) |
| 19 | Neh (ねえ, Hey) | 1977-10-05 (#-) |
| 20 | Aitaiyo (あいたいよ, I Miss You) | 1984-05-25 (#-) |
| 21 | Kyouto Aishuu (京都哀愁, Kyoto Melancholy) | 1985-05-25 (#-) |
| 22 | Rikon Bijin (離婚美人, Divorced Beauty) | 1986-08-21 (#-) |
| 23 | Yasashiku Shinaide (やさしくしないで, Don't Be Careful) | 1991-09-26 (#-) |
Studio Albums
| # | Title | Release Date/Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sawayaka (さわやか) Debut album |
1972-08-05 (#9) |
| 2 | Akogare (あこがれ) | 1972-12-20 (#6) |
| 3 | Megumino Kyuujitsu (めぐみの休日) | 1973-05-25 (#12) |
| 4 | Megumito Wakai Nakama Tachi (めぐみと若い仲間たち) | 1973-08-25 (#13) |
| 5 | Shiroi Heya (白い部屋) |
1974-04-25 (#22) |
| 6 | Roman He No Tabidachi (ロマンへの旅立ち) | 1975-04-25 (#39) |
| 7 | Seishun (青春) | 1975-07-05 (#28) |
| 8 | Haru Shitaku (春支度) | 1976-07-01 (#-) |
| 9 | Fashion Privacy (プライバシー・ファッション) |
1976-07-01 (#92) |
| 10 | Shirakabe No Shouzou (白壁の肖像) | 1976-11-15 (#-) |
Live Albums
| # | Title | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yume Hiraku RECITAL (夢ひらくリサイタル) First live album |
1974-04-25 |
| 2 | 20 Toshi Asaoka Megumi RECITAL (20歳 麻丘めぐみリサイタル) | 1975-12-20 |
| 3 | IDOL Densetsu Tatta 1 Do No RECITAL (アイドル伝説 たった1度のリサイタル) | 1983-05-01 |
