Akiko Ikuina 生稲 晃子 | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Born | (1968-04-28)28 April 1968 (age 56) Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | J-pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actor,tarento, politician |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | Production Ogi |
| Website | ogipro |
Akiko Ikuina | |
|---|---|
生稲晃子 | |
| Member of theHouse of Councillors | |
| Assumed office July 26, 2022 | |
| Constituency | Tokyo at-large district |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Liberal Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Tomohiro Sayama |
| Committees | Committee on Economy and Industry, Committee on Rules and Administration, Special Committee on Consumer Affairs, Research Committee on Foreign Affairs and National Security |
Akiko Ikuina (生稲 晃子,Ikuina Akiko, born April 28, 1968 inTokyo) is a Japanese singer, actress,tarento, and politician.[1][2] She joined the Japanese popidol groupOnyanko Club in 1986.[3][4]
She was born inSetagaya, Tokyo, but moved toKoganei when she was a little girl.[5][6] She has an elder sister and an elder brother.[5] She was considered an honor student in elementary school.[5][6] Additionally, she was a member of a localsoccer club.[5][7][8] After enrolling at Koganei Municipal Midori Junior High School (緑中学), she took upvolleyball.[5][6][7] She also became the central figure in her class, and her group was known as theIkuina Corps (生稲軍団,Ikuina Gundan).[6] She was nicknamedfull moon (満月,Mangetsu) because of her round face.[5][7] At the time, she was courted by many boys.[9]
In April 1984, she enrolled at Kichijō Girls' High School (吉祥女子高校), and at the urging of her elder brother, an enthusiastic idol fan, she applied for the Horipro Talent Scout Caravan (ホリプロタレントスカウトキャラバン), a nationwide idol audition, but was not accepted.[5][8][10] This, however, led her to join an entertainment agency affiliated withHoripro, and she became active as a model.[5][8][11] In 1986, it was decided that the popular mangaTouch would be made into a movie, and she auditioned for the role of the heroine of the movie.[5][8][10] She was told in advance by the audition officials that you would be selected, nevertheless, she was subsequently rejected in the final round because of her affiliation with an entertainment agency.[8] She cried at this treatment and developed an intense distrust of the entertainment industry.[8]
However, in June 1986, she auditioned for a variety show called Yūyake Nyan Nyan("Sunset Meow Meow") (夕やけニャンニャン) featuring the then very popular idol groupOnyanko Club, and she was accepted.[5][8][7] After joining Onyanko Club, she was calledOinarisan (おいなりさん,Oinarisan), but eventually became known asAkko (あっこ,Akko).[12] In November 1986, Onyanko Club released a song calledKoi wa Question, and she was selected as one of the lead vocalists for the first time.[13] This song is considered one of Onyanko Club's most accomplished works.[14] In December 1986, comedian Makoto Tokonamegawa (常滑川まこと) got into trouble when he pressed his crotch against her face during Yūyake Nyan Nyan.[15]
In February 1987, she took the entrance exams forRikkyo University,Seikei University, andOtsuma Women's University, in addition toWaseda University where her elder brother was enrolled, but was not accepted, partly because her entertainment activities did not allow her enough time to study.[16][17] In April 1987, she had no choice but to attend English literature department atKeisen Women's Junior College.[5][18] However, She was selected, along withShizuka Kudō andMakiko Saitō, to be a member of the sub-groupUshirogami Hikaretai, replacingUshiroyubi Sasaregumi, which was disbanded after the graduation ofMamiko Takai.[6][19] At the time of its formation, she was considered the main figure.[11] In addition, she became a DJ on a radio show called Onyanko no Abunai Yorudayo (おニャン子のアブない夜だよ), along with popular memberMarina Watanabe.[20][21] In May 1987, their debut song, Toki no Kawa wo Koete (時の河を超えて), was released.[19][22] This song was the theme song for the animeHigh School! Kimengumi and ranked number one on theOricon charts.[19][22] In July 1987, they hosted a radio show, Tokyo Best Hit (TOKYOベストヒット), along with TV personalityTsutomu Sekine.[20][21] She also became a topic of conversation when she appeared inLawson'sKaraage commercial.[21] Although Onyanko Club disbanded in September 1987, Ushirogami Hikaretai continued its activities, and they held concerts, but their activities were suspended in May 1988.[23] Shortly thereafter, she made her solo debut with the song Mugiwara de Dance (麦わらでダンス), the theme song of the animeTsuide ni Tonchinkan.[18][20]
Since then, she has been active in TV dramas and variety shows in addition to singing.[18][24] From 1999 to 2003, she played the role of a mother who used to be ayankee (the term "yankee" here means "delinquent girl") in a well-received drama series called Kids War (キッズ・ウォー).[18][24] She also appeared in a popularJidaigeki calledThe Unfettered Shogun.[24] In 2010, she studiedpsychology at theHeartful Life Counselor Academy (ハートフルライフカウンセラー学院,Hārtofuru Raifukaunserā Gakuin) and became a certifiedcognitive behavioral therapist.[24][25] In 2022, she became an outside director of TAYA Co., Ltd (田谷), a nationwide chain of beauty salons.[26]
In 2003, she marriedTomohiro Sayama (佐山智洋,Sayama Tomohiro), a producer for a commercial production company.[18][27] They then opened ateppanyaki restaurant.[27] In 2006, She gave birth to a baby girl.[18][27]
In November 2015, Ikuina announced that she had received treatment forbreast cancer. She was first diagnosed in April 2011 on her 43rd birthday, and had undergone five different surgical procedures in the time between her diagnosis and her announcement, the most recent of which had resulted in a totalmastectomy of her right breast.[28] In 2016, she released a book entitled "To my Right Breast: Thank You and Farewell"(右胸にありがとう そしてさようなら) documenting the four-year, eight-month long battle from her diagnosis to her fifth surgery.[29]
In September 2016, she became an expert member of the Council for the realization of work style reform (働き方改革実現会議), a consultative committee established by the government.[30]
On April 4, 2022, Ikuina announced her bid for parliament under theLiberal Democratic Party. 2 days later she stated "I'd like to not dirty the Onyanko Club name and do my best." Her opposition to same-sex marriage on an NHK questionnaire attracted controversy, with 14 out of 26 questions left unanswered.[31] It was later revealed that Ikuina's response on a question about Coronavirus policy was identical to LDP opponentKentaro Asahi's, only changed to be grammatically feminine.[32]
In July 2022, she was elected fifth in the six-memberHouse of Councillors' Tokyo constituency.[18][33][34]
On 15 August 2022,Kyodo News erroneously reported that Ikuina attendedYasukuni Shrine, which honours Japan's war dead, including convicted Class-A war criminals. This report led to criticism in South Korea, as the shrine is viewed by many as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism. The controversy was further amplified when it was announced that Ikuina would represent the government at a ceremony honouring Koreans who had died while being forced to labour at theSado mines, prompting South Korea to protest her attendance.[35]
Ikuina denied the Kyodo report regarding her visit to Yasukuni Shrine. On 25 November 2024, Kyodo News issued an apology for the erroneous report and acknowledged that the misinformation had adversely affected Japan–South Korea relations.[36][37]
| Year | Title | Details | Peak chart position (Oricon) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | "Mugiwara de Dance" (麦わらでダンス) |
| #8 |
| "Virgin Shounen ni Kuchizuke wo" (Virgin少年に接吻を) |
| #9 | |
| 1989 | "Fanfare ga Kikoeru" (ファンファーレが聴こえる) |
| #15 |
| "Japanese Girl" |
| #23 | |
| "Wasuretai no ni" (忘れたいのに) |
| #39 | |
| 1990 | "Nichiyōbi wa Iranai" (日曜日はいらない) |
| #48 |
| 1991 | "Luna GREAT" |
| #93 |
| 1995 | "Funky Lullaby" (ファンキーララバイ) |
| — |
| 2008 | "Oh! Sanpo Biyori" (Oh!散歩日和) |
| — |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
