Junko Kawada
{{short description|Japanese actress and singer}}
{{Expand Japanese|topic=bio|河田純子|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Junko Kawada
| image =
| caption =
| native_name = 河田 純子
| native_name_lang = ja
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1974|11|22}}
| birth_place = Akita, Akita, Japan
| alias = {{ubl|
- Junko Oyama (大山 純子)
- Junko Ōka (桜華 純子)
- Jurika (樹凛花)
}}
| occupation = {{hlist|Singer-songwriter|actress}}
| agent =
| height =
| spouse = {{marriage|Shungo Oyama|2010}}
| children =
| website = {{url|www.kawadajunko.com}}
| signature =
| module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes
| background = solo_singer
| instrument = Vocals
| genre = {{hlist|J-pop|pop rock}}
| years_active = {{ubl|
- 1983–1995
- 2005–2006
}}
| label = CBS Sony
| associated_acts = {{hlist|Rakutenshi|Nanatsuboshi|Lenpha}}
| module2 = {{Infobox Chinese | child = yes
| kanji = 河田 純子
| romaji = Kawada Junko
| hiragana = かわだ じゅんこ
| katakana = カワダ ジュンコ
}}
}}
}}
{{nihongo4|Junko Kawada|河田 純子|Kawada Junko}} (born November 22, 1974, in Akita, Akita, Japan) is a former J-pop idol, singer-songwriter and actress. Throughout her career, she released three albums and nine singles.{{cite web |url=https://idol.ne.jp/kawadajyunko |title=河田純子 |website=idol.ne.jp |date=26 December 2018 |access-date=2022-01-06}}
Biography
=Early life=
=Idol career=
During her first year in junior high school, Kawada entered an audition hosted by CBS Sony, Fuji TV, and Shueisha. In her second year of junior high school, she left her parents' home and moved to a dormitory that was run by CBS Sony to focus on her singing and dancing lessons until she made her debut at the age of 13.{{cite web |url=https://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/18763369/ |title=女子アナ日下千帆の「美女は友達」元アイドルがケニアでビジネスを |website=Livedoor |date=2020-08-20 |access-date=2022-01-06}}
Kawada finished runner-up on the 2nd Tohato All Raisin Princess Contest in 1987, losing to Hanako Asada. Two years later, she formed the idol unit {{nihongo4|Rakutenshi|楽天使}} with Shinobu Nakayama and Mamiko Tayama. In 1990, Rakutenshi became part of the idol group {{nihongo4|Nanatsuboshi|七つ星||lit. Seven Stars}}, which included Rumi Shishido and Lip's. During her career as an idol, Kawada appeared in numerous commercials and recorded anime theme songs.
=Retirement and post-career=
Kawada retired in 1995 at the age of 20 without any formal announcements and became an office lady for 10 years until she became a middle manager. In 2005, she returned to the entertainment scene as a member of the idol duo Lenpha, under the pseudonym {{nihongo4|"Jurika"|樹凛花}}. The duo lasted a year before Kawada finally announced her retirement.
In 2009, Kawada moved to the health and beauty business by opening {{nihongo4|Salon de Angel Angel|サロン・ド・エンジェル・エンジェル|Saron do Enjeru Enjeru}} under the name {{nihongo4|Junko Ōka|桜華 純子|Ōka Junko}}. In addition, she expanded her business in Kenya to help create jobs for underprivileged neighborhoods.{{cite web |url=http://you-do.spo-sta.com/staff/1867 |title=桜華 純子 |website=Spo-Sta |access-date=2022-01-06}}
In 2013, Kawada recorded the songs "Egao" and "Aitakute" for lyricist Miju, who was fighting a rare illness.{{cite web |url=http://blog.kawadajunko.com/?eid=1425995 |title=「笑顔」と「あいたくて」 |website=Kawada Junko Blog |date=2013-06-12 |access-date=2022-01-06}}
Personal life
Kawada married MMA fighter Shungo Oyama on September 20, 2010. She stood by him at ringside until his retirement in 2014.
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
!Information !Oricon weekly !Sales !RIAJ certification{{cite web |url=https://www.riaj.or.jp/f/data/cert/gd.html |title=ゴールドディスク認定 |publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan |language=Japanese |access-date=2022-01-06}} |
|---|
| 1989
|Ashita Genki Nina are |style="text-align:center;"|46 |align="left"| |align="left"| |
| 1990
|Jun Mind
|style="text-align:center;"|25 |align="left"| |align="left"| |
| 1991
|Prologue
|style="text-align:center;"|55 |align="left"| |align="left"| |
=Compilation albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col"|Title
!scope="col"|Album details |
|---|
| scope="row"|Golden Best Limited: Complete Singles Collection
|
|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+ List of singles, with selected chart positions |
| scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Date ! scope="col" colspan="1" | Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Sales (JPN) ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | RIAJ ! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Album |
|---|
| style="width:3em;font-size:85%"|JPN Oricon |
| scope="row" align="left"|"Kagayaki no Sketch"
| March 1, 1989 | 52 | | | rowspan="3"|Ashita Genki Nina are |
| scope="row" align="left"| "Kimi no Yume no Tame ni"
| May 12, 1989 | 44 | | |
| scope="row" align="left"| "Suteki ni Wa-ga-ma-ma"
| July 21, 1989 | 51 | | |
| scope="row" align="left"| "Hero Girl"
| November 22, 1989 | 61 | | | {{non-album single}} |
| scope="row" align="left"| "Kakū no Koibitotachi"
| March 21, 1990 | 38 | | | rowspan="2"|Jun Mind |
| scope="row" align="left"| "Shi-n-yu-u"
| August 1, 1990 | 39 | | |
| scope="row" align="left"| "Never Mind"
| November 1, 1990 | 40 | | | rowspan="2"|Prologue |
| scope="row" align="left"| "Owaranai Toki"
| February 1, 1991 | 64 | | |
| scope="row" align="left"| "Shiroi Iro wa Koibito no Iro"
| October 25, 1991 | 80 | | | {{non-album single}} |
| scope="row" align="left"| "Egao" / "Aitakute"
| April 17, 2013 | — | | | {{non-album single}} |
| colspan="6"| "—" denotes a release that did not chart. |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.kawadajunko.com/}}
- {{MusicBrainz artist|mbid=c7a4c820-84db-427f-aa0e-54afb331cf2f|name=Junko Kawada}}
- {{Discogs artist|8202845-Junko-Kawada|Junko Kawada}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kawada, Junko}}
Category:Japanese women pop singers
Category:Musicians from Akita (city)
Category:Singers from Akita Prefecture