Nakazawa Yuko

Nakazawa Yuko (2008)

Nakazawa Yuko is one of the five original members of Morning Musume, and was one of the oldest members of Hello! Project. She (along with Heike Michiyo) also served as the leaders of the entire Hello! Project. She graduated from Hello! Project along with the rest of the Elder Club, but is still signed with Up-Front. Is part of Morning Musume OG.

Profile

• Name: Nakazawa Yuko (中澤裕子)
• Nicknames: Yuu-chan, "Big Sis", Misoji (Three Decades Old)
• Birthday: June 19, 1973 (1973-06-19)
• Birthplace: Fukuchiyama, Kyoto, Japan
• Blood type: O
• Height: 159 cm
• Hobbies: Map driving
• Favorite phrase: "Survival of the fittest..."
• Favorite color: Purple
• Favorite flowers: Cherry blossoms
• Favorite season: Summer
• Favorite food: Squid, boiled fresh white rice
• Disliked food: Bananas, tomatoes, miso soup with bean curd and onions
• Habits: Bites tongue when asleep
• Hello! Project groups:
  • Morning Musume (1997–2001)
  • Akagumi 4 (2000)
  • H.P. All Stars (2004)
  • Hello! Project Shirogumi (2005)
  • Puripuri Pink (2005)
  • Elder Club (2007–2009)
• Other:
  • Afternoon Musume (2010)
  • Ganbarou Nippon Ai wa Katsu Singers (2011)
  • Morning Musume OG (2011-)

History

Nakazawa joined Morning Musume in 1997 as a part of the first generation and was Morning Musume's first leader. She graduated in April 2001 and was the first member to start a solo career in addition to being a member of Morning Musume.

She has also acted in doramas such as Beauty 7, Gokusen, and had the title role as the mother of a four year old in Homemaker. After graduating from Morning Musume., she became the host of Hello! Morning, a position she held until Yasuda Kei took over after her own graduation in 2003. Nakazawa frequently appeared as a guest and as a regular on news and skit segments in the show.

In December of 2011 it was announced that she was engaged and to be married in the Spring of 2012. She planned to move to his home in Fukuoka after the marriage, but said she would continue to work. The marriage papers were handed in on April 1st, 2012, while the ceremony was held around the beginning of June in Hawaii. During an event for her 39th birthday on June 19, 2012 Yuko announced that she is five months pregnant.

It was announced that Yuko gave birth to a baby girl on November 27, 2012. On May 7, 2015 she gave birth to a boy.

Trivia

• From the date Morning Musume was formed (September 7, 1997) to the date she graduated (April 15, 2001), Nakazawa's tenure in Morning Musume lasted 1,316 days.
• She worked as an OL prior to joining Morning Musume at age 24.
• She is known as an older sister figure within Hello! Project but is also famous for her aggressive, yankii-like (delinquent) personality as well.
• She has grown accustomed to usually speak in Tokyo dialect, and has usually suggested fellow members from Kansai (Heike Michiyo, Kago Ai, and more recently Mitsui Aika) to speak in Tokyo dialect while in Hello! Project. Ironically, she is known for bursting out in her native Kansai dialect whenever she is annoyed, usually "scaring" younger members.
• Was particularly close to Ichii Sayaka before her graduation from Morning Musume and Hello! Project, and still remains fairly a close friend to her and her new family.
• She used to be a big fan of punk music.
• She has one sister (as well as a niece).
• She has two chihuahuas, Taro (male) and Hana (female).
• Has stated that her reason for graduating from Morning Musume was that she began to feel physically limited from keeping up with the group's activities because of her age.
• At one point, she hated bananas so much that she felt repulsed just being in the same room as them. However, when asked by Tsuji Nozomi what had changed about her since she had graduated from Morning Musume, Nakazawa said that she could now be in the same room as someone eating a banana and be fine with it.
• Is not a big fan of using phones and is known for not answering the phone, so much so that Yasuda Kei has said it is a "miracle" if Nakazawa answers the phone.

Discography

Albums

• [1998.12.12] Nakazawa Yuko Dai Isshou (中澤ゆうこ第一章)
• [2004.07.22] Dai Nishou ~Tsuyogari~ (第二章～強がり～)

Best Albums

• [2008.12.10] Legend

Singles

• [1998.08.05] Karasu no Nyoubou (カラスの女房)
• [1998.12.02] Odaiba Moonlight Serenade (with Takayama Gen) (お台場ムーンライトセレナーデ)
• [1999.06.09] Junjou Koushinkyoku (純情行進曲)
• [2000.07.12] Shanghai no Kaze (上海の風)
• [2001.02.15] Kuyashi Namida Porori (悔し涙ぽろり)
• [2001.08.01] Futarigurashi (二人暮し)
• [2002.08.28] Tokyo Bijin (東京美人)
• [2003.05.21] GET ALONG WITH YOU
• [2004.02.11] Genki no Nai Hi no Komoriuta / Nagaragawa no Hare (元気のない子守唄／長良川の晴れ)
• [2004.05.26] DO MY BEST
• [2006.09.27] Urara (うらら)
• [2007.10.10] Danna-sama (だんな様)

Other Singles

• [2007.06.19] Song & Monologues...Kisetsu no Monogatari ~Kikitai Koto~ (Song & Monologues… 季節の物語〜聞きたいこと〜) (Fan Club single)

Compilations / Other

• [2000.04.26] Hello! Project - Petit Best ~Ki Ao Aka~ (#11 Junjou Koushinkyoku)
• [2001.02.14] Morning Musume - Morning Musume Fc Special CD (#1 Yu.u.wa.ku) (Fan Club album)
• [2001.04.18] Various - Together! -Tanpopo, Petit, Mini, Yuko- (#4 Kuyashi Namida Porori, #9 Shanghai no Kaze, #12 Akai Nikkichou (by Nakazawa Version))
• [2001.12.19] Hello! Project - Petit Best 2 ~3, 7, 10~ (#11 Futarigurashi)
• [2002.12.10] Hello! Project - 2003 Nendo Hawaii Genteiban Hello! Project Best 1 (#9 Seishun Jidai, #13 Momen no Handkercheif)
• [2002.12.10] Hello! Project - 2003 Nendo Hawaii Genteiban Hello! Project Best 2 (#7 Tokyo Bijin, #12 Ano Subarashii Ai wo Mou Ichido)
• [2002.12.18] Hello! Project - Petit Best 3 (#9 Tokyo Bijin)
• [2003.02.19] Minimoni - Minimoni ja Movie Okashi na Daibouken! Original Soundtrack (#3 Watashi wa Kono Yo de Ichiban Bijin)
• [2002.04.26] Hello! Project - 2003 Nendo Hawaii Genteiban Hello! Project Best 3 (#5 Watashi wa Kono yo de Ichiban Bijin)
• [2003.12.17] Hello! Project - Petit Best 4 (#14 GET ALONG WITH YOU)
• [2004.12.22] Hello! Project - Petit Best 5 (#10 DO MY BEST)
• [2006.12.20] Hello! Project - Petit Best 7 (#12 Urara)

DVDs

• [2002.11.27] Nakazawa Yuko Single M Clips 1
• [2003.01.22] Shinshi wa Mini ga Osuki! at studio DREAM MAKER
• [2005] Yuko Nakazawa Christmas Live Tour 2004 Winter
• [2006.xx.xx] Nakazawa Yuko FC Tour In Hokkaidou
• [2007.10.10] TYPE-Y 2007 BIRTHDAY LIVE
• [2008.??.??] Nakazawa Yuko Songs & Monologues ~Aki no Yonaga no Hitori goto~
• [2008.??.??] Nakazawa Yuko Special Christmas Live 2007 ~Blanche~

Concerts

Morning Musume OG Concert

• [2011.04.23 - 20011.05.29] Dream Morning Musume Concert Tour 2011 Haru no Mai ~Sotsugyousei DE Saikessei~ (ドリーム モーニング娘。コンサートツアー2011 春の舞～卒業生 DE 再結成～)

Works

Filmography

Movies

• [2001] Pinch Runner
• [2003] Minimoni ja Movie Okashi na Daibouken! (Voice)
• [2005] Tetsujin 28 Gou
• [2011] TWILIGHT File VIII: Fighting Okan (ファイティング　オカン TWILIGHT FILE VIII)
• [2011] http://www.koitani.co.jp/ Koitani Bashi ~Vallée de l'amour~]
• [2012] Atsuhime Number 1 (篤姫ナンバー1) (as Tae)

TV Dramas

• [2001] ビューティ7 (Beauty 7)
• [2001] 向井荒太の動物日記～愛犬ロシナンテの災難～ (Mutai Arata no Doubutsu Nikki ~Aiken Rosinante no Sainan~)
• [2002] ギンザの恋 (Ginza no Koi)
• [2002] ごくせん (Gokusen)
• [2003] 伝説のマダム (Densetsu no Madame)
• [2004] こちら本池上署 (Kochira Hon Ikegami Sho 3, 4 & 5)
• [2004] ほーむめーかー (Homemaker)
• [2007] 月曜ゴールデン (Getsuyou Golden)

Commercials

• [2011] DHCプロティンダイエット (HC Protein Diet)

Theater

• [2001] フットルース (Footloose)
• [2003] 江戸の花嫁 (Edo no Hanayome)
• [2005] 笠置シズ子物語 わが歌ブギウギ (Kasagi Shizuko Monogatari Wagauta Boogie Woogie)
• [2006] アパッチ砦の攻防「戸惑いの日曜日」 (Apache Toride no Koubou "Tomadoi no Nichiyoubi")
• [2007] ぶるー・ブルー・バースディ (Blue Blue Birthday)
• [2007] 佐賀のがばいばあちゃん (Saka no Gabai Baachan)
• [2010] (Boku wa Juuni-hitoe ni Koi wo Suru)

Radio

• [2000-2001] 中澤裕子のallnightnippon SUPER! (Nakazawa Yuko no All Night Nippon SUPER!)
• [2002-2004] ヤングタウン土曜日 (Young Town Douyoubi)
• [2004-2006] 気ままにクラシック (Ki mama ni Classic)
• [2005-____] マジアサ! (Majiasa!)

Photobooks

• [2001.08.24] Feather amazon.co.jp
• [2002.11.25] 私が思う、こんな女 (Watashi ga Omou, Konna Onna) amazon.co.jp

Essay Books

• [2002.07.??] 改心 (Kaishin) amazon.co.jp
• [2003.11.17] ずっと後ろから見てきた (Zutto Ushiro Kara Mite Kita) amazon.co.jp

External links

• Official website
• UP-FRONT WORKS Nakazawa Yuko discography
• Official Instagram
• Wikipedia Profiles: Japanese: 中澤裕子 | English: Yuko Nakazawa
• Namida-Girl.net Profile
• Hello! Database entry
• IMDb entry
• projecthello.com: Nakazawa Yuko lyrics