Megumi Asaoka facts for kids

Megumi Asaoka (麻丘めぐみ, Asaoka Megumi) (born October 11, 1955) is a famous Japanese pop singer and actress. Her real name is Kayoko Fujii. She became a popular "idol" in Japan.

Megumi Asaoka's Life and Career

Early Start in Show Business

Megumi Asaoka began her career in entertainment when she was only three years old. She performed in stage shows and appeared in television commercials.

While she was in junior high school, Megumi worked as a model. She modeled for a popular Japanese magazine called Seventeen. During her time as a model, she was offered a chance to record music.

Becoming a Music Star

At first, Megumi was not sure about singing or living a public life. However, she later decided to accept the offer. She hoped to help her family financially.

Megumi made her musical debut in June 1972. Her first song was called "Mebae" ^[ja]. This song sold over 400,000 copies. It reached the No. 3 spot on the Oricon music charts. In the same year, Megumi won the Best Newcomer prize. This award was given at the 14th Japan Record Awards.

Her Biggest Hit Song

In the summer of 1973, Megumi released a song called "Watashi no Kare wa Hidarikiki" ^[ja]. The title means "My Boyfriend Is a Lefty." This song became a huge hit. It reached the No. 1 spot on the Oricon charts. Over 500,000 copies were sold. It was one of the best-selling songs in Japan that year.

This song became her most famous tune. She performed it on the 24th edition of Kohaku Uta Gassen. This is a very popular 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 businesses made products especially for left-handed people.

Impact on Japanese Idol Culture

Megumi Asaoka helped shape what it means to be a modern Japanese idol. She did this along with other famous Japanese entertainers. These included Saori Minami and Mari Amachi.

Besides her music, Megumi Asaoka is also known for her hairstyle. She helped make the hime cut (princess cut) very popular in Japan. This hairstyle became her special look.

Later Career and Comeback

Megumi Asaoka took a break from show business in September 1977. She later returned to performing in 1983. She has one daughter named Hitomi.

After her comeback, she mostly worked as an actress. In 2009, Megumi Asaoka celebrated 50 years in entertainment. She performed 28 songs at a special event. Even today, Megumi Asaoka sometimes performs her old songs.

In 2011, a Japanese music show called Music Station listed her as one of the Top 50 Idols of All-time. This list was based on how many records they sold. Megumi Asaoka was placed at No. 47. Her total sales were more than 3,000,000 copies.

Megumi Asaoka's Music

Singles

Megumi Asaoka released many singles throughout her career. Here are some of her most well-known songs:

Studio Albums

Megumi Asaoka also released several studio albums. These albums featured many of her popular songs.

Live Albums

She also released albums recorded during her live performances.