Shoko Nakagawa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Shoko Nakagawa
中川 翔子
Nakagawa in 2021
Born	Shiyōko Nakagawa (1985-05-05) May 5, 1985 (age 40) Nakano, Tokyo, Japan
Other names	Shokotan (しょこたん)
Occupation	Media personality actress voice actress singer model cartoonist
Years active	1990–present
Agent	Watanabe Entertainment
Spouse(s)	Unknown ​ (m. 2023)​
Parent(s)	Katsuhiko Nakagawa (father)
Musical career
Genres	J-pop rock Anison
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Sony Records
Associated acts	Katsuhiko Nakagawa Deco*27

Shoko Nakagawa, born on May 5, 1985, is a talented Japanese media personality. She is also a singer, actress, voice actress, illustrator, YouTuber, and cosplayer. Many people know her by her nickname, Shokotan (しょこたん). She became famous as the host of Pokémon Sunday. She also sang the opening theme song for the anime Gurren Lagann.

About Shoko Nakagawa

Shoko Nakagawa grew up in Tokyo, Japan. Her father, Katsuhiko Nakagawa, was an actor and musician. Her mother, Keiko Nakagawa, comes from a family known for helping the salmon and trout fishing business. Shoko's father passed away when she was nine years old.

When she was in fifth grade, Shoko found comfort in Pokémon. She said that Pokémon was like a friend to her when she felt lonely.

In 2006, Shoko wrote a book called Shokotan Manual. In it, she shared that her official name was actually Shiyōko (しようこ). This was different from the name Shōko (しょうこ) that she had used for most of her life. When she was born, her aunt registered her name. Her mother wanted to name her Shōko, but the Japanese character for "Shō" was not allowed for names. So, her aunt wrote the name in a different way, which ended up being recorded as Shiyōko.

Shoko's Career Journey

Shoko Nakagawa started her career in entertainment in 2001. She won a big award at the Popolo Girl Audition. This led her to work with Jackie Chan's talent agency.

In 2002, she was chosen as Miss Shōnen Magazine. This was another important step in her career.

Her official blog, Shokotan * Blog, started in 2004. It quickly became very popular. By 2008, her blog had been viewed over one billion times!

Shoko has appeared in several TV shows. In 2004, she was a guest on Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger. She also appeared on a show called "Kangaeru Hitokoma" where she showed off her drawing skills.

From 2005, she was a regular on the TBS show "Ōsama no Brunch". In July 2006, she released her first song, "Brilliant Dream." It did well on the music charts.

Shoko has performed at big events like Anime Expo in Los Angeles. She was also a judge for a section in the famous Japanese comic magazine, Weekly Shōnen Jump.

In 2009, Shoko opened her own store called "mmts" in Nakano Broadway. The store is based on her hobbies and interests. She also appeared in commercials for Norton AntiVirus around 2009-2010.

Nakagawa performing at the 2014 Japan Expo

In March 2014, Shoko released a book of essays called Neko no Ashiato, which means "Cats' Pawprints." This book was later turned into an anime series in 2015 called Omakase Mamitasu. The anime featured characters inspired by Shoko's cat and her family.

Shoko returned to Anime Expo in 2018 to perform as part of Anisong World Matsuri. In 2019, she sang a song called "Kaze to Issho ni" (風といっしょに) with Sachiko Kobayashi. This song was used for the movie Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution. It was a new version of a song from an older Pokémon movie.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Shoko started sharing videos on YouTube. Her videos became very popular. In 2021, one of her videos got over 10 million views in just two months.

In October 2023, Shoko released a new song called "65535." This song was used as the opening theme for the anime series 16bit Sensation: Another Layer. The day after, she announced that she had officially changed her legal name to her stage name, Shoko.

Shoko's Personal Life

Nakagawa at the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Japan Premiere Red Carpet

On April 28, 2023, Shoko Nakagawa shared that she got married to someone who is not famous.

On May 5, 2025, which was her 40th birthday, Shoko announced that she was expecting her first child. She also shared that she started her own company called "miracle." She will continue to work with Watanabe Entertainment.

Shoko's Acting Roles

Shoko Nakagawa has acted in many TV shows and movies. She has also lent her voice to many animated characters.

TV Shows

• AX MUSIC-TV 00 (2003–2004)
• Pokémon Sunday (ポケモン☆サンデー, Pokemon☆Sandē) (2006–2010)
• Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger (特捜戦隊デカレンジャー, Tokusō Sentai Dekarenjā) (2004) as Falupian Yaako (guest appearance) Episode 38
• Isshukan no Koi (一週間の恋) (2006)
• Hou no Niwa (法の庭) (2007)
• Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi (ほんとにあった怖い話) (2007)
• Shūmatsu no Cinderella Sekai! Dangan Traveler (週末のシンデレラ 世界!弾丸トラベラー, Shūmatsu-no-shinderera Sekai! DanganToraberā) (2007–2012)
• Waraiga Ichiban (笑いがいちばん, Waraiga Ichiban) (2007–2010)
• Anmitsu Hime (あんみつ姫) (2008)
• Anmitsu Hime 2 (あんみつ姫2) (2009)
• Pokémon Smash! (ポケモンスマッシュ！, Pokemon Sumasshu!) (2010–2013)
• Pokémon Get TV (ポケモンゲット☆TV, Pokemon Getto Terebi) (2013–2015)
• Gunshi Kanbei (軍師官兵衛) (2014) as Okita
• Mare (まれ) (2015)
• Meet Up at the Pokémon House? (ポケモンの家あつまる?, Pokémon no Uchi Atsumaru?) (2015–present)
• Yuusha Yoshihiko to Michibikareshi 7-nin (勇者ヨシヒコと導かれし七人) (2016)
• Anata no Koto wa sore hodo (あなたのことはそれほど) (2017)
• Tokyo Vampire Hotel (東京ヴァンパイアホテル) (2017)

Movies

• Kabuto-O Beetle (2005)
• Umezu Kazuo: Kyofu Gekijo – Zesshoku (2005)
• Koala Kacho / Executive Koala (2005)
• The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
• X-Cross (2007)
• Gothic Lolita Battle Bear (2013)

Stage Plays

• Maybe Happy Ending (2020)

Anime Voice Roles

Shoko Nakagawa has voiced many characters in anime TV shows and movies.

Pokémon Films Voice Roles

Shoko Nakagawa has voiced characters in almost every Pokémon movie since 2007.

Video Game Voice Roles

• Dragon Quest Heroes (2015) – Alena
• Dragon Quest Heroes II (2016) – Alena
• Toukiden 2 (2016) – Gwen
• Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary (2017) – Alena
• Kingdom Hearts III (2019) – Rapunzel

Japanese Dubbing Roles

Shoko Nakagawa has also voiced characters for the Japanese versions of international movies and animated shows.

Live-action Movies

• Moon Geun-young
  • Innocent Steps – Jang Chae-min
  • My Little Bride – Bo-eun
• Silent Hill (2006) – Alessa Gillespie (voice-over for Jodelle Ferland)
• Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) – Tessa Yeager (voice-over for Nicola Peltz)
• Ra.One (2015) – Desi/Dawsal (voice-over for Priyanka Chopra)
• Venom (2018) – Anne Weying (voice-over for Michelle Williams)
• Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) – Anne Weying (voice-over for Michelle Williams)

Animated Movies and Shows

• Tangled The Series (2017–2020) – Rapunzel
• Tangled (2010) – Rapunzel
• Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) – Rapunzel
• Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2023) – Goldilocks

Shoko's Music

Shoko Nakagawa is a singer with Sony Japan.

Singles

Collaboration Singles

Cover Albums

Mini Albums

Best Albums

Albums

Other Songs

• "Moeyo Giza Mimi Pichū!" (Ending for Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl)
• "Dori Dori" (Ending for Pokémon the Series: XY)
• "Kaze to isshu ni" (Ending for Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution)
• "Taipu: Wairudo" (Ending for Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon)

Shoko's Books and Blogs

Shoko Nakagawa has also released several books, including photobooks and collections of her blog entries.

Photobooks

Blogs

See also

In Spanish: Shōko Nakagawa para niños