Naoko Ken
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in Japanese. (September 2014) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
Naoko Ken | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Naoko Asada ( Naoko Noguchi ( |
| Born | July 7, 1953 |
| Origin | Amagiyukashima, Shizuoka, Japan |
| Genres | Folk, blues, novelty, enka |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress, YouTuber |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Labels | Toho Records Canyon Records Pony Canyon Gauss Entertainment Unchanged Records |
| Website | Official |
| Naoko Ken | |
|---|---|
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2020 - |
| Subscribers | 228k[1] |
| Total views | 57,827,982 million times[1] |
Last updated: January 15, 2024 | |
Naoko Ken（
Biography
[edit]In 1971, Ken debuted as an enka-oriented singer with a single "Daitokai no Yasagure On'na". In 1975, after the release of several charted singles, she gained the first outstanding commercial success with a song "Guzu", which was written by Ryudo Uzaki and his wife Yoko Aki. "Abayo", a song written by Miyuki Nakajima became the most successful single for Ken, selling more than 600,000 copies. In 1976, the prize-winning song reached number-one spot on the Oricon, Japan's most eminent chart. In addition to the success as a musician, she also obtained popularity as a tarento in the mid 1970s, through her comical acts on multiple TV shows including Kakkurakin Daihousou!!.
After a temporary hiatus in 1977 owing to her arrest on suspicion of possession of marijuana,[2] she returned to the Japanese entertainment industry with the hit tune "Kamome wa Kamome". The melancholic ballad written by Nakajima became known as one of her signature songs, finally sold in excess of 300,000 units. In 1982, she gained huge commercial success as a singer again with a cover version of the Southern All Stars' song "Natsu wo Akiramete", winning several Japanese music prizes. The song is her last top-ten hit solo single so far.
Due to her songs’ popularity, Ken was selected for the annual Red and White Song festival every year from 1976 to 1986 except 1977, the year that she went hiatus due to her drug case, and made another return to the prestigious programme on 1993 for her 11th and last appearance so far.
Through her long-term career as a comedic TV personality, she has released several novelty singles with other performers such as Ken Shimura. The song "Natsuzakari Ho no Ji Gumi" recorded with an idol singer Toshihiko Tahara in 1985 is the last top-40 hit single for Ken on the Japanese record charts. To date, her last single was released in 1985.
Discography
[edit]Singles
[edit]| Year | Single | Chart positions | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP [3] | |||
| 1971 | "Daitokai no Yasagure On'na ( |
- | Toho |
| 1972 | "Yane no Ue no Komoriuta ( |
- | |
| "Futari de Miru Yume ( |
- | ||
| "Kyoto no On'na no Ko ( |
52 | ||
| "Kon'nichiwa Otoko no Ko (こんにちわ |
- | ||
| 1973 | "On'na Gokoro no Tango ( |
59 | |
| "Uwasa no Otoko (うわさの |
60 | ||
| 1974 | "Dai 3 no On'na ( |
- | Canyon |
| 1975 | "Guzu ( |
9 | |
| 1976 | "Ichinensou ( |
28 | |
| "La La La" / "Ame ga Sora wo Suteru Hi wa ( |
28 | ||
| "Abayo (あばよ)" / "Tsuyogari wa Yose yo ( |
1 | ||
| 1977 | "Kaze wo Kuratte ( |
14 | |
| "Oh Kamisama (オゝ |
43 | ||
| "Furarete Yatusa (ふられてやるさ)" / "Yakou Ressha ( |
35 | ||
| 1978 | "Kamome wa Kamome (かもめはかもめ)" / "Furareta Kibun de (ふられた |
7 | |
| "Mado Glass ( |
8 | ||
| "Minikui Ahiru no Ko (みにくいあひるの |
17 | ||
| 1979 | "Kuchibeni wo Fukitore ( |
55 | |
| "Hi wa Nobori Hi wa Shizumi ( |
33 | ||
| "Ai wo Mou Ichido ( |
- | ||
| "Hitoripocchi de Odorasete (ひとりぽっちで |
39 | ||
| 1980 | "Kuchiguse (くちぐせ)" /"Irusu ( |
31 | |
| "Suna no Fune ( |
- | ||
| "Yumemakura ( |
91 | ||
| 1981 | "Minaide ( |
- | |
| "Wakare no Tasogare ( |
- | ||
| "Bossa Nova (ボサノバ)" /"Shushifu ( |
69 | ||
| 1982 | "Natsu wo Akiramete ( |
5 | |
| "Furareta Kibun (ふられた |
53 | ||
| 1983 | "Lonely Way" /"Koi no Senaka ( |
- | |
| "Ai, Douja Koi, Douja ( |
71 | ||
| "Nakasete ( |
41 | ||
| 1984 | "Yoru ni Aozamete ( |
- | |
| "Meigaza ( |
- | ||
| "Roppongi Rain ( |
78 | ||
| 1985 | "Kishū ( |
- | |
| 1986 | "Tokyo Mikaeri Bijin (Tokyo |
73 | |
| 1987 | "Ame no Hi no Eigakan ( |
- | |
| "Uramado Twilight ( |
- | ||
| 1989 | "Fuyu no Cattleya Kaigan ( |
- | Pony Canyon |
| 1992 | "Kanashii On'na ( |
- | |
| 1993 | "Maigo ( |
- | |
| "Mary Jane" / "Half Moon" | - | ||
| 1994 | "Hanabi ( |
- | |
| 1995 | "Waltz (ワルツ)" / "Silk no Umi (SILKの |
- | |
| 2019 | "Watashi wa Naiteimasu ( |
- | Unchanged |
Collaboration singles
[edit]| Year | Single | Chart positions | Additional information | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP [3] | ||||
| 1985 | "Natsuzakari Ho no Ji Gumi ( |
5 | Credit to "Toshi and Naoko" | Canyon |
| 1992 | "Hanashi ga Chigaujanai ( |
91 | Credited to "Naoko and Lilacs" | Pony Canyon |
| 2001 | "Ginza Atari de Gin! Gin! Gin! ( |
41 | Credited to "Ken♂♀Ken" Produced by Tsunku | |
| 2004 | "Koi Suredo Shanana ( |
123 | Gauss Entertainment |
Albums
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon [4] | ||
| On-na Gokoro ( |
|
- |
| Dai-San no On-na ( |
|
- |
| Guzu ( |
|
- |
| Nakiwarai ( |
|
- |
| Kamome no You ni (かもめのように) |
|
- |
| Ken Naoko, Nakajima Miyuki wo Utau ( |
|
- |
| Naoko VS Aku Yu |
|
- |
| Akireta Otoko Tachi (あきれた |
|
- |
| Renairon ( |
|
- |
| Naoko Mistone |
|
- |
| Standard ni Kanashikute (スタンダードに |
|
- |
| Again |
|
- |
| Meigaza ( |
|
- |
| Deep |
|
- |
| Deep |
|
- |
| RE-Naoko: Kanashii Onna ( |
|
- |
| Ago: Ano Koro he Love Letter (あの |
|
- |
| Long Live Live Yayoi ( |
|
- |
| Ichizu ( |
|
- |
| Ame Nochi Hare Tokidoki Namida ( |
|
- |
Compilations
[edit]| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon [4] | ||
| Sono Michi Original 14 (その |
|
- |
| Ken Naoko ( |
|
- |
| Ken Naoko Original Best Hit Kuroi Namida ( |
|
- |
| Ken Naoko Original Best Hit ( |
|
- |
| Aitsu no Inai Yoru Ken Naoko Original Best Collection (あいつのいない |
|
- |
| Meguriai (めぐりあい) |
|
- |
| Best Selection |
|
- |
| Ken Naoko The Special Series ( |
|
- |
| Ken Naoko The Best ( |
|
- |
| Super Best |
|
- |
| Non Stop Ken Naoko (NON STOP |
|
- |
| Ken Naoko Best ( |
|
- |
| Naoko Sings Ballads |
|
- |
| Ken Naoko Best Hits: Memories ( |
|
- |
| Ken Naoko Best Collection ( |
|
- |
| Ken Naoko Special Best ( |
|
- |
| Ken Naoko Best Collection: Hanabi ( |
|
- |
| My Classics |
|
- |
| Anthology Ken Naoko Best (Anthology |
|
- |
| Ken Naoko Meikyoku Zenshuu Singles Perfect Selection ( |
|
- |
| LOVE LIFE LIVE Vol.1: 35th Anniversary |
|
- |
| Best Collection 32 (ベスト・コレクション32) |
|
- |
| Single A-Side Complete (シングルA |
|
- |
| Cover Sakuhin Collection (カバー |
|
- |
| Single B-Side Complete (シングルB |
|
- |
| Nakajima Miyuki Sakuhin Complete ( |
|
- |
| Platinum Best Ken Naoko Single&Cover Collection (プラチナムベスト |
|
- |
| All Time Best (オールタイム・ベスト) |
|
- |
Box sets
[edit]| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon [4] | ||
| Ken Naoko: Miryoku no Subete ( |
|
- |
Filmography
[edit] |
Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Wash | Norie Isogai | Ikunosuke Okazaki | Lead role | [6] |
Kōhaku Uta Gassen Appearances
[edit]| Year | # | Song | No. | VS | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 (Showa 51)/27th | 1 | LA-LA-LA | 9/24 | Aoi Teruhiko | |
| 1978 (Showa 53)/29th | 2 | Kamome Wa Kamome (かもめはかもめ) | 4/24 | Goro Noguchi | |
| 1979 (Showa 54)/30th | 3 | Hitori Pocchide Odorasete (ひとりぽっちで |
11/23 | Takashi Hosokawa | |
| 1980 (Showa 55)/31st | 4 | Yumemakura ( |
13/23 | Yūzō Kayama | |
| 1981 (Showa 56)/32nd | 5 | Bosanoba (ボサノバ) | 16/22 | Ryuu Tetsuya | |
| 1982 (Showa 57)/33rd | 6 | Natsu Wo Akiramete ( |
8/22 | Sugawara Youichi | |
| 1983 (Showa 58)/34th | 7 | Nakasete ( |
18/21 | Sugawara Youichi (2)& Shiruiya | |
| 1984 (Showa 59)/35th | 8 | Meigaza ( |
5/20 | Yamamoto Jyouji | |
| 1985 (Showa 60)/36th | 9 | Kishuu ( |
9/20 | Haruo Minami | |
| 1986 (Showa 61)/37th | 10 | Tokyo Mikaeribijin (Tokyo |
8/21 | Shibugakitai | |
| 1993 (Heisei 5)/44th | 11 | Kamome Wa Kamome (2) | 15/26 | Kaientai | Returned after 7 years |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "About
研 ナオコ Naoko Ken". YouTube. - ^
芸能人 裏 情報 :芸能人 の薬物 逮捕 一覧 表 "(List of Japanese entertainers who was arrested for possession of illegal drugs)". Retrieved May 9, 2008.{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ a b "Naoko Ken Oricon Singles Hot 100". Archived from Yamachan Land (Japan's charts archives) – Albums Chart Daijiten – the original on October 16, 2007. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ a b c "
研 ナオコの作品 ". Oricon (in Japanese). December 30, 2007. Retrieved December 27, 2023. - ^ Name of the recording label "Unchanged Records", please do not remove it!
- ^ "
仕事 で、介護 で「体 を洗 う」ことになったソープ嬢 を主人公 に。風俗 と介護 を結 びつけて考 えた深 い理由 ". Yahoo JAPAN NEWS. Yahoo Japan. December 25, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Artists | |
