Momoko Kikuchi

{{Short description|Japanese singer and entertainer}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Momoko Kikuchi

| image = Momoko Kikuchi 20170118a.jpg

| caption =

| native_name = 菊池 桃子

| native_name_lang = ja

| birth_name = 菊池 桃子

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|5|4}}

| birth_place = Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan

| death_date =

| alias =

| genre = J-pop, Kayokyoku

| occupation = Actress, entertainer, singer, scholar

| years_active = 1984–present

| label = {{unbulleted list|VAP (1984–1991; 2020s-present)|Epic/Sony Japan (1993–)}}

| death_place =

| website =

| spouse = {{marriage| Tetsu Nishikawa |1995|January 2012|reason=divorced}}

{{marriage|Hiroaki Niihara
|2019}}

}}

{{nihongo|Momoko Kikuchi|菊池 桃子|Kikuchi Momoko|born May 4, 1968}}{{cite web|url=http://www.parfit.co.jp/artist/momoko/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610070548/http://www.parfit.co.jp/artist/momoko/index.html|title=菊池 桃子|language=ja|publisher=Parfit Promotion|accessdate=October 29, 2015|archivedate=June 10, 2020|url-status=dead}} is a Japanese actress, entertainer, singer, and scholar who was formerly represented by the talent agency, Parfit Production.{{cite web|title=一億総活躍議員、なぜ菊池桃子が?|url=http://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20151027_359831.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062630/http://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20151027_359831.html|website=News Post Sebun|publisher=Shogakukan|accessdate=1 November 2015|archivedate=4 March 2016|language=Japanese|url-status=dead}} On June 22, 2020, Kikuchi announced that she has left Parfit Production and gone independent.

Her ex-husband is professional golfer Tetsu Nishikawa. Kikuchi was also a brand adviser for such women's goods as Emom and Momokoselection.

Biography

{{BLP unsourced section|date=February 2020}}

Momoko Kikuchi was born in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan, scouted in 1982, and started to make TV appearances in 1983. She officially made her debut as an idol in 1984, releasing her first single just before her 16th birthday, and instantly shot to fame. She produced seven consecutive no. 1 songs on the Oricon Chart from 1985 to 1987.

In the late 1980s, Kikuchi tried to shed the "idol" label and formed RA-MU, a band featuring more original material and rock music, but the band failed to be recognized. Unwilling to return to perform as an idol singing mainstream bubblegum pop, Kikuchi since shifted her focus to acting, and has been successful as an actress.

In 2011, Japanese music program Music Station held a special report counting down the Top 50 Idols of All-Time based on their singles' total sales. The list spans several decades, and Kikuchi was in the 42nd place, with a sales record of 4,110,000 copies.

In April 2014, Kikuchi celebrated her 30th anniversary in the show business by releasing her seventh album, the first since 1991, which is a re-recording of all her hit songs during her idol period.

On April 17, 2024, Kikuchi released her first EP, Eternal Harmony.

Personal life

In November 2019, Kikuchi married technocrat Hiroaki Niihara.{{cite web |title='80s Japanese pop star Momoko Kikuchi weds Abe govt official |url=https://asia.nikkei.com/Location/East-Asia/Japan/80s-Japanese-pop-star-Momoko-Kikuchi-weds-Abe-govt-official |website=Nikkei Asia |access-date=20 January 2024}}

Momoko Kikuchi Special Live “EMERALD”~40th Anniversary&Birthday~ was held on May 3, 2024 at Christ Shinagawa Church Gloria Chapel.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable"
Year

!Title

!Label

!Sales

|1984Ocean Siderowspan=8| Vap

|

rowspan=2| 1985Tropic of Capricorn

|JPN: 466,130+

|Terra Warrior Ψ Boy Original Sound Track (With Tetsuji Hayashi)

|

rowspan=3| 1986Graduation Memories

|

|Adventure

|

|Graduation Memories (Piano And Orchestra Version)

|

|1987Escape from Dimension

|

|1991Miroir

|

|2014青春ラブレター 〜30th Celebration Best〜Epic Records

|

|2022ShadowVap

|

=EP=

class="wikitable"
Year

!Title

!Label

|2024Eternal HarmonyVap

=Singles=

class="wikitable"
Year

!Title

!Label

rowspan=3| 1984青春のいじわる (Seishun no ijiwaru)rowspan=13| Vap
|Summer Eyes
|雪にかいた Love Letter
rowspan=3| 1985Sotsugyō (Graduation)
|Boyのテーマ (Boy no Theme)
|もう逢えないかもしれない (Mō aenai ka mo shirenai)
rowspan=4| 1986Broken Sunset
|Deja Vu
|夏色片想い (Natsu-iro kataomoi)
|Say Yes!
rowspan=3| 1987アイドルを探せ (Idol o sagase)
|Nile in Blue
|ガラスの草原 (Garasu no sōgen)

=Compilations=

class="wikitable"
Year

!Title

!Label

|1989The Greatest Hits (Majestic Twelve)rowspan=4| Vap
rowspan=2| 1993Special Selection 1
|Special Selection 2
|2011Golden ☆ Best

Filmography

=TV series=

class="wikitable"
Year

! Title

! Role

! Network

! Notes

1985GraduationMomoko WatanabeNTV
1987Koi wa Hi-ho!Momoko FuruyaNTVLead role
rowspan="2"| 1989Kimi no Hitomi ni Koishi Teru!Machiko MochizukiFuji TV
Dō-kyū-seiKyoko SakuraFuji TV
rowspan="3"| 1990HotelKyoko MizutaniTBS
Koi no ParadiseShiori NanamiFuji TV
Yonimo Kimyōna Monogatari: KuseMariko YoshinagaFuji TV
rowspan="4"| 1991Pattern B (Hana no OL-hen): Giri Choko ni o YōjinNorikoTBSLead role
Nurse StationMariko NakataTBSLead role
Vingt Cinq Ans KekkonYuko MatsunagaFuji TV
Jinan Jijo Hitorikko MonogatariArika SayakaTBS
rowspan="3"| 1992Nobunaga King of ZipanguNōhimeNHKTaiga drama
Someday My Prince Will ComeFuji TV
Pa Te OMari EgawaFuji TVLead role
rowspan="2"| 1993Ano Ni Tsu ni KaeritaiChiako AokiFuji TVLead role
Yellow CardNoriko YasakaTBS
rowspan="2"| 1994TekireikiMakoto TakaseTBSLead role
OtokogiraiAkiitoguchi HosokawaTBSLead role
1995Akarui KazokukeikakuRiko SakamakiFuji TV
rowspan="2"| 2007Yamada Tarō MonogatariAyako YamadaTBS
Churaumi Kara no NengajōYoshiko MoritaFuji TV
2008Marumaru Chibi Maruko-chanTakashi-kun's motherFuji TV
rowspan="4"| 2010FukusukeYukiko IragashiTHK
Nyotei KaorukoKaoruko ItamiTV Asahi
Nasake no Onna: Kokuzeikyoku Sasatsu-kanYuka TaniguchiTV AsahiEpisode 1
Ojīchan wa 25-saiAsuka KuriharaTBS
2013Glass no IeHiroko OnakaNHK
2014Asunaro San San Nana HyōshiHiroko FujimakiFuji TV
2015Happy RetirementKiyoko YasuiTV Asahi
2018Boys Over Flowers Season 2Oto Edogawa's motherTBS
2020YellMasa KoyamaNHKAsadora
2021Enjoy Drinking AloneReika BenikawaWowow{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemacafe.net/article/2021/04/30/72617.html|title= 大政絢主演「ひとりで飲めるもん!」特報公開、桐山漣&谷村美月が出演|access-date= May 28, 2021|work= Cinema Cafe|date= 30 April 2021}}

=Films=

class="wikitable"
Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

1984Pantsu no AnaDebut
1985Tera Senshi PSI BoyMomokoLead role
1986Bakumatsu Seishun Grafiti Ronin Ryoma SakamotoOkiku
1987Idol WosagaseChikako FujitaniLead role
1992Pa Te OMari EgawaLead role
1998Sore Ike! Anpanman te no Hi-ra o Taiyō niRina-chanVoice
2005Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of MewIrene / ReneVoice
2011Princess ToyotomiKunimatsu's mother
2017Peach GirlSakurako Adachi/Momo's mother
2019Angel Sign

References

{{reflist}}