Togawa Jun

Togawa Jun in 戸川純の気持ち (1984)

Togawa Jun (戸川純) is a Japanese pop singer and actress currently under Sony Music Entertainment. Her singing is often operatic, or harshly screamed. Her lyrics frequently display a bizarre, grim sense of humor which has connected her in many ways to the ero-guro subculture.

Profile

• Stage Name: Togawa Jun (戸川純)
• Real Name: Togawa Junko (戸川順子)
• Birthdate: March 31, 1961 (1961-03-31)
• Birthplace: Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
• Family: Togawa Kyoko (Younger Sister)
• Bands:
  • HALMENS (1979 - 1984) (Guest Vocal)
  • GUERNICA (1982; 1988 - 1989)
  • YAPOOS (1984 - Present)

Information

Born in 1961, she started as an actress in the play Oushou in elementry school. Her father did not approve of her going into music after university, and demanded that if she was going to sing she better famous. Years later she became a singer in 1979, guesting with a band called HALMENS. In 1980 she made her professional acting debut in the TBS dorama Shiawase Senso. She also made her solo singing debut four years later with the release of her debut album, Tamahime-sama. In the same year her sister Togawa Kyoko also started her music career and they often helped each other out on songs and each have participated on each others albums. Before the decade was up, Togawa has covered many styles of music and became the vocalist for the bands YAPOOS and GUERNICA before focusing more on her acting career.

In the early 80's and 90's she became known for her commercials that she has done for the Washlet TOTO toilet and in 1989 she celebrated her first decade with the single, "Virgin Blues".

In 1995 Togawa tried to commit suicide by silting her throat and ended up in the hospital, fortunately the wound was not fatal but left scars on her neck.

Sadly, in 2002 Togawas sister Togawa Kyoko committed suicide by hanging herself at the age of 38 in her apartment on July 2002. Togawa went into a depressive state from her sisters death and tried to commit suicide again for the second time, fortunately, her suicide attempt was unsuccessful again.

She celebrated her thirtieth anniversary in her singing career by releasing the box set TEICHIKU WORKS JUN TOGAWA~30TH ANNIVERSARY.

Currently, Togawa is working with other artists like, Jim O'Rourke and Otomo Yoshihide. She has also appeard on many chat shows.

Quotes

• "There is a feeling I’ve had ever since childhood: that there exist many different "worlds" and I was born in the wrong one, a world I don’t quite fit into. I’ve felt this strong feeling of wrongness all through my life. There is no space for me in this world. Every time I believe I've finally found my place, someone comes to me and says “Go away! You’re not supposed to be here.”"
• "Now I know why I have been so strongly attracted to parasites and worms. It's a feeling of the continuity of life. I feel there is a basic continuity between humans and these creatures. I might even call this feeling "love." Humans and other creatures are not as different as they look."

Discography

Togawa Jun (Pre-Debut) in 樹液すする、私は虫の女 (2001)

Togawa Jun promoting "Radar Man" (1984)

Togawa Jun promoting Kyokuto Ian Shoka (1985)

Togawa Jun promoting "Sayonara wo Oshiete" (1986)

Togawa Jun in Rockin' on Japan (1987)

Togawa Jun in JUN TOGAWA AS ONLY A LUMP OF MEAT (2005)

Togawa Jun in wonderland (1989)

Togawa Jun promoting TOGAWA LEGEND SELF SELECT BEST & RARE 1979 - 2008 (2008)

Albums

• [1984.01.24] Tamahime-sama (玉姫様; Princess Tama)
• [1984.08.25] Choujikuu Korodasutan Ryokouki (超時空コロダスタン旅行記; The Super Dimension Traveler) (Apogee & Perigee)
• [1985.03.25] Kyokuto Ian Shoka (極東慰安唱歌; Far Eastern Comfort Songs) (Togawa Jun Unit)
• [1985.11.10] Suki Suki Daisuki (好き好き大好き; I Like I Like I Love)

Mini-Albums

• [1989.12.16] Showa Kyonen (昭和享年; Year Of The Showa)
• [2000.09.25] 20th Jun Togawa (Cover Album)
• [2004.09.02] TOGAWA FICTION (Togawa Jun Band)

Other Albums

• [1984.04.25] Ura Tamahime (裏玉姫; Live Princess Tama) (Togawa Jun with YAPOOS) (Live Album)
• [1987.04.25] Tokyo no Yaban (東京の野蛮; Tokyo Barbarism) (Remix Album)

Best Albums

• [1987.11.28] Twin Best - JUN TOGAWA HISTORY (ツイン・ベスト - JUN TOGAWA HISTORY)
• [1990.09.11] Best Selection (ベストセレクション) (Jun Togawa & GUERNICA)
• [1996.09.26] Twins Super Best of Jun Togawa
• [2000.06.28] The Very Best of Togawa Jun (ベリー・ベスト・オブ・戸川純)
• [2001.12.19] Togawa Jun TWIN VERY BEST COLLECTION (戸川純 TWIN VERY BEST COLLECTION)
• [2008.07.09] TOGAWA LEGEND SELF SELECT BEST & RARE 1979 - 2008
• [2012.07.25] Mushi no Onna - Mika Ninagawa Selection (蛹化（むし）の女～蜷川実花セレクション)

Box Sets

• [2009.07.22] TEICHIKU WORKS JUN TOGAWA~30TH ANNIVERSARY

Singles

• [1984.05.25] Radar Man (レーダーマン)
• [1985.04.10] Poesy (ポエジー)
• [1985.10.25] Osozaki Girl (遅咲きガール; Late Blooming Girl)
• [1986.02.10] Sayonara wo Oshiete (さよならをおしえて; Teach Me Goodbye)
• [1990.10.21] Virgin Blues (バージンブルース)

Other Singles

• [1984.07.10] Tsuki Sekai Ryoko (月世界旅行) (Apogee & Perigee)
• [1991.07.21] JUN TOGAWA IN THE '90S THE INFINITE PRODUCTIONS REMIX

VHS / DVDs

• [1984.04.05] Okkiten "Live" Ganyuu (玉姫伝~ライブ含有)
• [1986.04.25] TOUR LIVE'85~'86 (Jun Togawa & YAPOOS)
• [2005.11.02] Higashiguchi DVD (東口DVD) (Yamamoto Hisato & Togawa Jun)
• [2006.02.22] Okkiten "Live" Ganyuu (玉姫伝~ライブ含有) (DVD Reissue)
• [2006.02.22] TOUR LIVE'85~'86 (Jun Togawa & YAPOOS) (DVD Reissue)

Filmography

Movies

• [1983] Kazoku Gemu
• [1984] Main Theme
• [1985] Checkers in Tan Tan Tanuki
• [1985] Paradise View
• [1985] Hoshikuzu Kyodai no Densetsu
• [1985] Yabanjin no Youni
• [1988] Hunting Tigers
• [1988] Kamu Onna
• [1988] Hope and Pain
• [1988] Tsuribaka Nisshi
• [1989] Untamagiru
• [1989] Peach
• [1989] Tora-san, My Uncle
• [1989] Tsuribaka Nisshi 2
• [1990] Tsuribaka Nisshi 3
• [1991] Studio Story, Cool Baby
• [1991] Tsuribaka Nisshi 4
• [1992] Afureru Atsui Namida
• [1992] Explosion! (BAKU)
• [1992] Kirai Janaiyo 2
• [1992] Tsuribaka Nisshi 5
• [1993] Ai Ni Tsuite, Tokyo
• [1993] Chibusa
• [1993] Tsuribaka Nisshi 6
• [1994] Tsuribaka Nisshi Supesharu
• [1994] Tsuribaka Nisshi 7
• [1995] Ruby Fruit

Dramas

• [1980] Shiawase Senso
• [1980] Piman Hakusho
• [1981] Omoide Zukuri
• [1982] Keiji Yoroshiku
• [1982] Kimi Haumi wo Mitaka
• [1983] O Yu
• [1983] Ato wa Neru Dake
• [1984] Mujaki na Kankei
• [1985] Haraimodoshita Koibito
• [1985] Hanada Haruyoshi Chinan Demo Yarimasu
• [1985] Hana Yakana Gosan
• [1986] Hakone Hatsumode de
• [1986] Taiyo ni Hoero!
• [1987] Shikaku Kankei
• [1987] Jungle
• [1988] Dokushin Sobetsu-kai
• [1989] Keiji no Hatsukoi Monogatari
• [1990] 24-Sai Onna Dake no Rotenburo
• [1990] Satsui no Danran
• [1994] Yocho Kiriko

Television

• [1984.04 - 1985.03] Telephone Shocking
• [1985] Hit The Studio R&N
• [1985] Yoru no A Time

Radio

• [1981.12.28] Radio Paranoia
• [2007.12.23] Heat Onsen

Commercials

• [1982] Yamaha Electone
• [1982 - 1995] TOTO
• [1982] Sweet Kiss
• [1984] Suntory Holdings Limited -Gold-
• [1985] Maxell

Publications

Books

• [1984] Junki Susuru, Watashi wa Mushi no Onna (樹液すする、私は虫の女; Sip Sap, I am Pupating Woman)
• [1984] Togawa Jun no Kimochi (戸川純の気持ち; Togawa Jun's Feelings)
• [1987] Togawa Jun no Utopia (戸川純のユートピア; Togawa Jun's Utopia)
• [2009] Heart Onsen (ハート温泉; Heart Hot Springs)

Photobooks

• [1988] JUN TOGAWA AS A PIECE OF FLESH
• [2005] JUN TOGAWA AS ONLY A LUMP OF MEAT

External Links

• Sony Music Japan Page
• Teichiku Records Page
• Official Facebook
• Official Twitter
• Oricon Profile
• Japanese Wikipedia: 戸川純