Maria Anzai
{{short description|Japanese idol}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Maria Anzai
| image =
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1953|12|16}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2014|3|15|1953|12|16}}
| death_place = Tokyo, Japan
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| occupation = {{flatlist|
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Maria Anzai (安西 マリア, Anzai Maria, b. Mariko Shibasaki on December 16, 1953 - d. March 15, 2014) was a Japanese idol.
Biography
Maria Anzai made her debut in 1973 with a Japanese language version of "Namida no Taiyō",{{cite book | last = 舌津| first =智之| title = どうにもとまらない歌謠曲 | publisher =Shōbunsha| year =2002 | page = 81}} originally performed in English by Japanese singer Emy Jackson.{{cite web|url=http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2014/03/08/kiji/K20140308007732670.html|title=Article on illness of Maria Anzai|language=ja}} The single sold over 500,000 copies.{{cite web|url=http://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2014/03/16/kiji/K20140316007788530.html|title=Article on Maria Anzai at Sponichi Annex|language=ja}} That same year she was nominated for Best Newcomer of the Year at the 15th Japan Record Awards,{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2034902/full/|title=Article on death of Maria Anzai on Oricon|date=5 November 2014 |language=ja}} but was beaten by Junko Sakurada. She has also acted in movies and television series.
She retired from show business in 1978, married and emigrated to Hawaii. She released 12 singles between 1973 and 1978 and 4 albums.
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{imdb name|1452330}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Anzai, Maria}}