Nagayama Yoko

Profile

 * Name: 長山洋子 (ながやま ようこ)
 * Name (romaji): Nagayama Yoko
 * Profession: Actress and singer
 * Birthdate: January 13, 1968
 * Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
 * Star sign: Capricorn
 * Blood type: AB
 * Talent agency: Burning Production

About Yoko
Nagayama Yoko is currently a traditional Japanese ballad "enka" singer. She converted to enka in 1993, eleven years after her original debut as a Japanese POP star.

As a child, Yoko specialized in the Minyo (a specific style of enka) style of singing, under the supervision and encouragement of her father. When she was in 4th grade, Yoko won the Victor Young Minyo Performers' award. As a present for her success, Yoko received a Tsugaru Shamisen (Japanese guitar) from her father, quickly becoming her prized possession. This achievement led the way to Yoko's next stage in her singing career.

Originally, Yoko planned to make her debut as an enka singer. Although her parents was against the idea of becoming a professional singer, they approved her idea of choosing enka as her debut singing style. However, tradition doesn't favor Yoko well, as the Japanese enka fans prefer their singers to be much older. So, against her parents' wishes, she debuted as a JPOP singer on April 1, 1984 just so that she could get her foot in the door.

During Yoko's JPOP years, her most popular hit was a re-make of Shocking Blue's 1969 song Venus (Sun Music, 1986). In the late 1980's, Yoko appeared in several period dramas, movies, and on-stage. In her on-stage appearances, she had very little stage time, sharing the venue with about a dozen other JPOP stars.

In 1993, a Japanese enka opportunity popped up for Yoko, and she took it, recording her first enka hit Higurashi (JVC Music, 1993). At the 44th Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Yoko made her first appearance. To date, she has appeared on the annual New Year's Eve event twelve times, eleven of those appearances back-to-back. --groink (updated 2005-Jun-28)

TV Shows

 * Nishimura Kyotaro Travel Mystery Ai to Satsui no Tsugaru Shamisen (TV Asahi, 2005)
 * Sanbiki gi Kiru! (三匹が斬る!) (TV Asahi, 1990)
 * Yuwaku (TBS, 1990)
 * Kimi ga Uso wo Tsuita (Fuji TV, 1988)
 * Kono Ko Dare no Ko? (Fuji TV, 1986)
 * Hanayome Ishou wa Dare ga Kiru (花嫁衣裳は誰が着る) (Fuji TV, 1986)
 * Janus no Kagami (Fuji TV, 1985)

TV Show Theme Songs

 * Lonely Good Night, from The School Cop (Fuji TV, 1988)
 * Kumo ni Noritai, from Hanayome Ningyo wa Nemuranai (花嫁人形は眠らない) (TBS, 1986)

Awards & Achievements

 * APPEARANCE: (2007) 58th Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Jonkara Onnabushi
 * APPEARANCE: (2006) 57th Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Kizuna
 * APPEARANCE: (2005) 56th Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Bashofu
 * APPEARANCE: (2004) 55th Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Jonkara Onnabushi
 * APPEARANCE: (2003) 54th Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Jonkara Onnabushi
 * APPEARANCE: (2002) 53rd Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Meguri ai
 * APPEARANCE: (2001) 52nd Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Toya monogatari
 * APPEARANCE: (2000) 51st Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Akai yuki
 * APPEARANCE: (1999) 50th Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Sadame yuki
 * APPEARANCE: (1998) 49th Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Tousan no shi
 * APPEARANCE: (1997) 48th Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Tategami
 * APPEARANCE: (1996) 47th Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Yokohama. Shiruetto
 * APPEARANCE: (1995) 46th Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Suterarete
 * APPEARANCE: (1993) 44th Kouhaku Uta-Gassen, Higurashi
 * AWARD: (1977) Victor Young Minyo Performers' award