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Kawai Naoko
Kawai Naoko (河合奈保子) is a Japanese pop idol singer and actress.
Profile
- Real Name: Kinbara Nahoko (金原奈保子)
- Birthdate: July 24, 1963
- Birthplace: Osaka, Osaka Prefecture
- Blood Type: O
- Instruments: Piano, Guitar, Mandolin, Synthesizer
Information
Kawai Naoko got her start in music when she took piano lessons in elementary school and joined the folk song club in middle school. She also joined a mandolin club while in high school. While in her second year of middle school, she tried out for the talent program Star Tanjou! but didn't make the selection. But she got her chance in show business when she won the Bideki's Young Siblings Audition, singing ANRI's "Olivia wo Kikinagara". She trained for a year in Tokyo with lessons in composing, singing, and writing lyrics.
Kawai made her debut with the single "Ooki na Mori no Chiisai no Ouchi" on June 1980. Her second single, "Young Boy", became Naoko's first hit by selling over a million copies and winning the Rookie of the Year award at mostly every music festival in Japan. But two years after her debut, Naoko suffered a severe spine fracture when she was rehearsing for NHK Hall's Let's Go Young. She went on a two month hiatus to heal the fracture and wear a corset to help the healing for about a year.
After the two month rest, Kawai made her comeback on the television program Yoru no Hit Studio. By the end of 1982, Kawai made her first appearance on the end of the program Kouhaku Uta Gassen, singing another hit, "Smile For Me". She kept on winning various awards for various music festivals, including winning the Best Album of Year at the Japan Record Taishou in 1984 for her album Dead Dream Coast. After winning this award, Kawai decided that she would start write her albums with her first self written song appearing as a bonus track for the best album NAOKO22 in 1985. A year later, she would release her first album as a singer, composer, and music producer in 1986, entitled Scarlett, which won the Superior Composer Award at that year's Japan Composition First Prize.
By the late 1980s, Kawai started her acting career by appearing in doramas and musicals. In 1990, she would win the Rookie of the Year Award for starring in the musical THE LOVER in ME Koibito ga Yuurei. During the same time, she took part as a keyboardist and backing vocals for two of The Gentle Wind session albums.
In 1996, Kawai announced that she married a hair makeup artist. She retired for show business a year later as she gave birth to the couple's first child. But she won't retire for long as she released three albums in 2005 on Apple's Itunes.
Discography
Studio Albums
- [1980.10.10] LOVE
- [1981.05.10] Twilight Dream (トワイライト・ドリーム)
- [1981.08.10] Diary (ダイアリー)
- [1982.07.21] Summer Heroine (サマー・ヒロイン)
- [1983.01.21] Arubamu (あるばむ)
- [1983.06.01] Sky Park (スカイ・パーク)
- [1983.10.02] Half Shadow (ハーフ・シヤドウ)
- [1984.06.01] Summer Delicacy (サマー・デリカシー)
- [1984.08.28] Daydream Coast (デイドリーム・コースト)
- [1984.12.05] Sayonara Monogatari (さよなら物語)
- [1985.03.05] Stardust Garden (スターダスト・ガーデン)
- [1985.12.12] 9 1/2 NINE HALF
- [1986.10.21] Scarlett (スカーレット)
- [1987.06.24] JAPAN as waterscapes
- [1988.04.01] Members Only
- [1989.11.21] Calling You
- [1990.06.01] Bookend (ブックエンド)
- [1993.11.21] engagement
- [2006.04.26] nahoko Oto / blue (nahoko 音 / blue)
- [2006.04.26] nahoko Oto / orange {nahoko 音 / orange}
- [2006.11.02] nahoko Oto {nahoko 音)
Mini Albums
- [1983.07.24] Beautiful Day (ビューティフル・デイ)
- [1987.09.21] Bara Ado (ばらあど)
- [1987.12.10] Timeless ~Naoko special mix~
- [1988.09.21] Fabric Voices
Live Albums
- [1980.12.10] LIVE
- [1982.02.25] NAOKO IN CONCERT
- [1982.11.21] Brillant (ブリリアント)
- [1988.10.21] NAOKO THANKSGIVING PARTY
Best Albums
- [1981.11.25] Angel
- [1982.09.xx] Kawai Naoko Zenkyokushuu (河合奈保子全曲集)
- [1983.12.21] Prism (Angel II) (プリズム(AngelII))
- [1983.12.21] Collection (コレクション)
- [1984.03.21] Ai Naoko no Wakakusairo no Tabi (愛・奈保子の若草色の旅)
- [1985.07.24] NAOKO22
- [1985.07.24] Collection II (コレクションII)
- [1986.05.21] Zenktokushuu Namida no Hollywood (全曲集 涙のハリウッド)
- [1989.03.21] Pure Gold
- [1989.05.01] Kawai Naoko Sakuhinshuu Masterpieces (河合奈保子作品集 Masterpieces)
- [1990.12.01] NAOKO KAWAI Super Twin DX (NAOKO KAWAI スーパー・ツインDX)
- [1993.09.21] Kawai Naoko Best Selection I (河合奈保子 ベスト・コレクションI)
- [1993.09.21] Kawai Naoko Best Selection II (河合奈保子 ベスト・コレクションII)
- [2001.09.29] JEWEL BOX
- [2003.02.01] JEWEL BOX 2
- [2006.12.06] Kawai Naoko Single Collection (河合奈保子・しんぐるこれくしょん)
- [2007.12.19] NAOKO PREMIUM
Singles
- [1980.06.01] Ooki na Mori no Chiisai no Ouchi (大きな森の小さなお家)
- [1980.08.25] Young Boy (ヤング・ボーイ)
- [1980.12.10] Aishitemasu (愛してます)
- [1981.03.10] 17 Sai (17才)
- [1981.06.01] Smile For Me (スマイル・フォー・ミー()
- [1981.09.01] Moonlight Kiss (ムーンライト・キッス)
- [1981.12.05] Love Letter (ラブレター)
- [1982.03.10] Ai wo Kudasai (愛をください)
- [1982.06.10] Natsu no Heroine (夏のヒロイン)
- [1982.09.01] Kenka wo Yamete (けんかをやめて)
- [1982.12.01] Invitation
- [1983.03.01] Straw Touch no Koi (ストロー・タッチの恋)
- [1983.06.01] Escalation (エスカレーション)
- [1983.09.14] UNBalance (UNバランス)
- [1983.12.01] Gimonfu (疑問符)
- [1984.03.01] Soyokaze no Melody (微風のメロディー)
- [1984.06.01] Control (コントロール)
- [1984.08.28] Kuchibiru no Privacy (唇のプライバシー)
- [1984.12.01] Kita Eki no Solitude (北駅のソリチュード)
- [1985.03.05] Jurres Train (ジェラス・トレイン)
- [1985.06.12] Debut / MANHATTAN JOKE (デビュー/MANHATTAN JOKE)
- [1985.10.03] Lavender Lips (ラヴェンダー・リップス)
- [1985.12.12] THROUGH THE WINDOW ~Tsuki ni Furu Yuki~ (THROUGH THE WINDOW~月に降る雪~)
- [1986.04.01] Namida no Hollywood (涙のハリウッド)
- [1986.07.24] Setsuna no Natsu (刹那の夏)
- [1986.11.28] Half Moon Serenade (ハーフムーン・セレナーデ)
- [1987.03.01] Omoide no Coney Island (想い出のコニーズ・アイランド)
- [1987.07.24] Izayoi Monogatari (十六夜物語)
- [1988.03.01] Kanashii Hito (悲しい人)
- [1988.07.21] Harbour Light Memories
- [1989.11.10] Kanashimi no Anniversary (悲しみのアニバァサリー)
- [1990.04.10] Mi Rai (美・来)
- [1990.09.01] Nemuru, Nemuru, Nemuru (眠る、眠る、眠る)
- [1992.06.21] Golden sunshine day
- [1993.10.21] Engage (エンゲージ)
- [1994.03.21] Yume no Ato Kara (夢の跡から)
Books
- [1981.01.15] Hessatsu Kindai Eiga Kawai Naoko Tokushuugou (別冊近代映画 河合奈保子特集号)
- [1981.03.01] Yume 17sai Ai Kokoro wo Komete Naoko Yori (夢・17歳・愛 心をこめて奈保子より)
- [1981.06.26] Soyokaze no Message (そよ風のメッセージ)
- [1981.08.05] KAWAI Naoko Photo Message (KAWAI奈保子フォトメッセージ)
- [1981.10.15] Tokimeki no Message (ときめきのメッセージ)
- [1982.03.27] Hohoemi Step (ほほえみステップ)
- [1982.07.01] Hessatsu Kindai Eiga Kawai Naoko PART 3 (別冊近代映画 河合奈保子スペシャルPART3)
- [1982.08.01] Summer Heroine (さまーひろいん)
- [1982.12.20] Idol Byakka 3 Kawai Sonoko (アイドル百科3 河合奈保子)
- [1983.02.23] Cherry Pink no Petit Heart (チェリーピンクのプチハート)
- [1983.04.05] NAOKO IN BANGKOK Kawai Naoko Shashinshuu PART 4 (NAOKO IN BANGKOK 河合奈保子写真集PART4)
- [1983.05.20] Wataboushi Tonda Naoko no Toubyou Sketch (わたぼうし翔んだ 奈保子の闘病スケッチ)
- [1983.10.20] Suteki na Jikan (素敵な時間)
- [1984.01.20] Last Prelude (らすと・ぷれりゅうど)
- [1984.04.15] NAOKO IN AUSTRALIA Kawai Naoko Shashinshuu PART 5 (NAOKO IN AUSTRALIA 河合奈保子写真集PART5)
- [1984.06.10] Otona no Shibatsueki Sugisaru Ai wo Kotoba ni (大人の始発駅 過ぎ去る愛を言葉に)
- [1984.10.25] NAOKO 5TH ANNIVERSARY
- [1985.07.06] LOVELY SUMMER
- [1985.07.15] Naoko Kawai Naoko Shashinshuu PART 6 (奈保子 河合奈保子写真集PART6)
- [1986.01.15] NAOKO TRANS AMERICA Kawai Naoko Sashinshuu PART 7 (NAOKO TRANS AMERICA 河合奈保子写真集PART)
- [1986.03.25] Sunshine Venus
- [1986.06.25] Kawai Naoko Shashinshuu (河合奈保子写真集)
- [1986.12.25] Bessatsu Scola (36) Kawai Sonoko Shashinshuu Scarlet (別冊スコラ(36)河合奈保子写真集 スカーレット)
- [1987.12.25] Treffen
Awards
- 1980: 7th Annual ABC Song New Face Grand Prix for Judge Honorable Mention for the song Young Boy
- 1980: 10th Annual Ginza Music Festival for Enthusiastic Performance Award for the song Young Boy
- 1980: 13th Annual Shinjuku Music Festival for Silver Prize for the songYoung Boy
- 1980: 7th Annual Yokohama Music Festival for Rookie of the Year Award
- 1980: 6th Annual You Choose All Japan Song Music Festival for Rookie of the Year Award for the song Young Boy
- 1980: 22nd Annual Japan Record Awards for Rookie of the Year Award for the song Young Boy
- 1980: 7th Annual FNS Music Festival for Rookie of the Year Award for the song Young Boy
- 1981: 16h Annual Golden Arrow Awards for Graph Award
- 1981: 7th Annual Nippon Television Music Festival for Golden Pigeon Award for the song Smile For Me
- 1981: 23rd Annual Japan Record Award for Golden Idol Award for the song Smile For Me
- 1982: 24th Annual Japan Record Award for Gold Prize for the song Kenka wo Yamete
- 1982: 9th Annual FNS Music Festival for Rookie of the Year for Superior Song Music Award for the song Kenka wo Yamete
- 1983: 2nd Annual Megalopolis Music Festival for Pops Prize
- 1983: 25th Annual Japan Record Award for Gold Prize for the song Escalation
- 1983: 10th Annual FNS Music Festival for Rookie of the Year for Superiority Song Music Award for the song UNBalance
- 1983: 10th Annual You Choose All Japan Song Music Festival for Best Idol Award for the song UNBalance
- 1984: 10th Annual Nippon Television Music Festival Nippon Television Special Award
- 1984: 11th Annual Yokohama Music Festival for Music Festival Award
- 1984: 15th Annual Japan Music Awards for Broadcast Music Producer Union Award ffor the song Kuchibiru no Privacy
- 1984: 26th Annual Japan Record Award for Gold Prize and Best Album Award for the song Kuchibiru no Privacy and album Dead Dream Coast
- 1984: 10th Annual You Choose All Japan Song Music Festival for Best Song Award for the song Kuchibiru no Privacy
- 1984: 11th Annual FNS Music Festival for Superior Song Music Award for the song Kuchibiru no Privacy
- 1985: 12th Annual Yokohama Music Festival for Music Festival Award
- 1985: 11th Annual You Choose All Japan Song Music Festival for Judge Honorable Mention Award for the song Lavender Lips
- 1985: 25th Annual Japan Record Award for Gold Prize for the song Debut
- 1986: 13th Annual Yokohama Music Festival for Music Festival Award
- 1987: 7th Annual Japan Composition First Prize for Superior Composer Award for the song Izayoi Monogatari
- 1987: 9th Annual Prague International Music Festival for Best Song Award, Chief Secretary Award, and 3rd Place Award for the song Izayoi Monogatari
- 1990: 27th Annual Golden Arrow Awards for Play Rookie of the Award and Best Rookie of the Year Award for the musical THE LOVER in ME Koibito ga Yuurei