Akie Yoshizawa

Akie Yoshizawa (吉沢秋絵, Yoshizawa Akie, born October 20, 1968, in Tokyo, Japan) is a former Japanese idol, singer and actress in the 1980s.{{Harvnb|Ino|2003|p=41}} She made her debut in 1985, simultaneously selected as a member of Jpop female band Onyanko Club and as an actress in the TV series Sukeban Deka II as one of the three main parts. This led to appearances by her band in two episodes. She released a few solo discs before she retired, and married in 1996.

Biography

She was born in Higashimurayama, a suburb of Tokyo, but subsequently moved to Sayama in Saitama Prefecture.{{cite book |last1=Kasai |first1=Kazuji |last2=Akimoto |first2=Yasushi |date=July 3, 1986 |title=あぶな～いおニャン子 |trans-title=Dangerous Onyanko Club |language=ja |location=Tokyo, Japan |publisher=Fusosha Publishing |page=126 |isbn=4-89353-097-6}}

In August 1985, she auditioned for the variety show {{nihongo|Yūyake Nyan Nyan("Sunset Meow Meow")|夕やけニャンニャン}} on Fuji TV and was accepted.{{Harvnb|Iwakiri|1987|p=42}}{{cite magazine |editor-last=Mizojiri |editor-first=Kenji |date=1998-08-01 |title=ザ・スカウト誌上再放送 |trans-title=The Scout: Rebroadcasting in magazine |language=ja |magazine=アイドル発掘王クライマックス(Idol Discovery King Climax) |location=Tokyo, Japan |publisher=Takeshobo |issue=August 1998 |pages=26–35 |isbn=978-4812404010}} Unlike usually, the audition at this time also served as a recruitment for the regular cast of the TV drama Sukeban Deka II. Therefore, she was selected not only to be a member of Onyanko Club, but also to appear regularly in that drama as one of the two semi-lead actresses who support the lead actress, Yōko Minamino, along with Haruko Sagara.{{Harvnb|Iwakiri|1987|p=175}} Moreover, the winner of this audition was also promised to sing the theme song for Sukeban Deka II.{{Harvnb|Iwakiri|1987|p=68}} In November 1985, she became the second Onyanko Club member, after Sonoko Kawai, to make her solo debut with the song {{nihongo|Naze? no Arashi|なぜ?の嵐}}. More strictly speaking, the song was released under the name Akie Yoshizawa with Onyanko Club. Whenever she sang this song on TV, she was supported by Onyanko Club members Aki Kihara, Mika Nagoya, {{nihongo|Harumi Tomikawa|富川春美}}, and {{nihongo|Ruriko Nagata|永田ルリ子}}.

In March 1986, she released a new theme song for the drama, {{nihongo|Kisetsu Hazure no koi|季節はずれの恋}}, which ranked No. 1 on the Oricon chart in its first appearance.{{Harvnb|Iwakiri|1987|p=69}} The B-side of the song was {{nihongo|Membership Number Song|会員番号の唄}}, in which all the members of Onyanko Club introduced themselves. In June 1986, she released her first solo album, {{nihongo|Her summer|彼女の夏|Kanojo no Natsu}}.{{Harvnb|Iwakiri|1987|p=80}} In September 1986, she graduated from Onyanko Club along with popular members such as Eri Nitta and Satomi Fukunaga.{{Harvnb|Iwakiri|1987|p=132}} In addition, a song titled {{nihongo|Me in the Mirror|鏡の中の私|Kagami no naka no Watashi}} was released as a single to commemorate her graduation.{{Harvnb|Iwakiri|1987|p=72}} Nitta showed up only morning classes at {{nihongo|Saitama Prefectural Fukuoka High School|埼玉県立福岡高校}} she attended, while Yoshizawa properly stayed until her classes at {{nihongo|Saitama Prefectural Sayama Seiryō High School|埼玉県立狭山青陵高校}}, which she attended, finished at 3:15 PM.{{cite magazine |editor-last=Komukai |editor-first=Shōji |date=1986-06-01 |title=セブン・スターズ・インタビュー |trans-title=Seven Stars Interview |language=ja |magazine={{nihongo|BOMB|BOMB}} |location=Tokyo, Japan |publisher=Gakken |issue=June 1986 |pages=81}}{{cite magazine |editor-last=Kojima |editor-first=Tamio |date=1986-08-01 |title=夢は20才のジューンブライド |trans-title=She dreams of being a June bride when she turns 20 |language=ja |magazine={{nihongo|Myōjō|明星}} |location=Tokyo, Japan |publisher=Shūeisha |issue=August, 1986 |page=132}} Therefore, she somehow managed to arrive 15 minutes before 5:00 p.m., when Yūyake Nyan Nyan was to be broadcast. In October 1986, her radio program called {{nihongo|Just a little happening|ちょっとハプニング|Chotto Hapuningu}} started on Nippon Broadcasting System.{{Harvnb|Iwakiri|1987|p=176}} In November 1986, she starred in an idol drama called {{nihongo|What's Michael|ホワッツマイケル}}, written by manga artist Makoto Kobayashi.{{Harvnb|Iwakiri|1987|p=173}} In December 1986, she released her first song as a solo artist, {{nihongo|Meteor marionette|流星のマリオネット|Ryūsei no Marionetto}}.{{Harvnb|Iwakiri|1987|p=73}}

In April 1987, she enrolled at {{nihongo|Akikusa Gakuen Junior College|秋草学園短期大学}}.{{cite magazine |editor-last=Igarashi |editor-first=Takao |date=1987-09-01 |title=チャーミング女らしくふくよかに |trans-title=Charming: feminine and plump |language=ja |magazine={{nihongo|Deluxe Magazine|Ore}} |location=Tokyo, Japan |publisher=Kōdansha |issue=September 1987 |pages=29–36}} In August 1987, Tōei premiered a movie called {{nihongo|Meimon! Takonishi Ōendan|名門!多古西応援団}}, in which she played the heroine.{{Harvnb|Iwakiri|1987|p=76}} She also released a song called {{nihongo|Fireworks in the Rain|雨の花火|Ame no Hanabi}}, the theme song for the movie. Moreover, she hosted {{nihongo|Pao Pao Channel|パオパオチャンネル}} on TV Asahi, a variety show for children, along with TV personality {{nihongo|Junji Takada|高田純次}}.{{cite magazine |editor-last=Akasaka |editor-first=Shigeru |date=1987-12-01 |title=ダンクな～るほどネットワーク|trans-title=Dunk Nāruhodo Network |language=ja |magazine={{nihongo|DUNK|DUNK}} |location=Tokyo, Japan |publisher=Shūeisha |issue=December 1987 |page=57}}

In 1991, she retired from the entertainment industry and became a writer for a fashion magazine.{{cite magazine |last=Kanai |first=Satoru |date=1996-04-03 |title=おニャン子の10年 |trans-title=The Decade of Onyanko |language=ja |magazine={{nihongo|Takarajima|宝島}} |location=Tokyo, Japan |publisher=Takarajimasha |issue=April 3, 1996 |page=39,43}} She then became an editor at a publishing house, {{nihongo|Shufu to Seikatsusha|主婦と生活社}}.{{cite news |title=「おニャン子」全54人のメンバーの現在は!? |trans-title=What is the current status of all 54 members of "Onyanko"!? |url=https://taishu.jp/articles/-/45735?page=2 |language=ja |publisher=Futabasha |location=Tokyo, Japan |date=2015-09-23 |access-date=2022-07-22}} In 1993, she published a book titled {{nihongo|I'm sorry, God!!|神様、ごめんなさい!!|Kamisama Gomennasai}} In 1996, she married and lived abroad for a time before returning home.

Discography

;Singles

Naze? no Arashi - 1985
Kisetsuhazureno Koi - 1986
Kagami no Naka no Watashi - 1986
Ryuuseino Marionette - 1986
Signal no Mukouni - 1987
Ame no Hanabi - 1987
Anata yori Sutekina Hito - 1990

;Albums

Kanojo no Natsu - 1986
Aoi Tori o Sagashite - 1987
Charming - 1987

;Compilations

Milky Mind - 1988
Paris e Ikkitai - 1992
Kanojo no Natsu + Single Collection

Videos

{{cite AV media |title=硝子の少数意見 |trans-title=Minority Opinion by Glass |language=ja | medium=Videotape | asin=B00005L2W8 | location=Tokyo, Japan | publisher={{nihongo|BMG JAPAN|BMG JAPAN}} | date=1987-02-05}}

References

{{cite book |editor-last=Iwakiri |editor-first=Jun |date=August 24, 1987 |title=おニャン子白書 |trans-title=The White Paper On Onyanko Club |language=ja |location=Tokyo, Japan |publisher=Fusosha Publishing |isbn=4-594-00169-6}}
{{cite book |editor-last=Ino |editor-first=Ryōsuke |date=November 18, 2003 |title=おニャン子クラブと永遠のグループアイドル |trans-title=Onyanko Club And Eternal Group Idols |language=ja |location=Tokyo, Japan |publisher=Takarajimasha |isbn=978-4796636919}}

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20080919030109/http://www.idollica.com/yoshizawa/YoshizawaAkie.html Akie Yoshizawa on Idollica]
[https://us.imdb.com/name/nm0949102/ Akie Yoshizawa on the IMDB]
{{in lang|ja}} [http://www2d.biglobe.ne.jp/~tis/panic/data/25/index.html Akie Yoshizawa profile on Onyanko Club fansite database]

Category:Onyanko Club

Category:Japanese idols

Category:Japanese women pop singers

Category:Japanese actresses

Category:Living people

Category:1968 births

Category:People from Higashimurayama, Tokyo

Category:Singers from Saitama Prefecture