Emi Ito
were a Japanese vocal group consisting of twin sisters Emi (, ''Itō Emi'') and Yumi Itō (, ''Itō Yumi''). They were born in Nagoya, Japan in April, 1 1941. As identical twins they had voices only slightly apart in timbre, which resulted in their singing together sounding like a solo artist utilizing double tracking or reverb. Career While still in high school, the twins were discovered by a talent scout while performing at a night club. They were brought to Tokyo where they became the first clients for Watanabe Productions. In 1959, the Peanuts became a hit at the Nichigeki theater. That same year, they released their first recording, ''Kawaii Hana'' ("Cute Flower"). In their early years they sang Japanese covers of standards, foreign hits, and Japanese folk songs; then they began singing originals, written by their producer, Hiroshi Miyagawa, and such songwriters as Koichi Sugiyama and Rei Nakanishi. They were the first to perform "Koi no Vacance". The twins embarked on a ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kayōkyoku
is a Japanese pop music genre, which became a base of modern J-pop. ''The Japan Times'' described ''kayōkyoku'' as "standard Japanese pop" or " Shōwa-era pop". ''Kayōkyoku'' represents a blend of Western and Japanese musical scales. Music in this genre is extremely varied as a result. ''Kayōkyoku'' in the narrower and more practical sense, however, excludes J-pop and ''enka''. Unlike "J-pop" singers such as Southern All Stars' Keisuke Kuwata, the singers of the ''kayōkyoku'' genre do not use stylized pronunciations based on the English language, but prefer traditional Japanese. There are exceptions, such as in singer Momoe Yamaguchi's song "Rock 'n' Roll Widow". Unlike ''enka'', ''kayōkyoku'' is also not based on emotional displays of effort while singing. Famous ''kayōkyoku'' artists include Kyu Sakamoto, The Peanuts, The Tigers, Candies, Pink Lady, Seiko Matsuda, Junko Sakurada, The Checkers and Onyanko Club. Characteristics Kayokyoku music has simple melodies ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Michael Pfleghar
Michael Pfleghar (20 March 1933 – 23 June 1991) was a German film director and screenwriter. He directed 17 films between 1958 and 1987. He died of suicide. Selected filmography * ''Dead Woman from Beverly Hills'' (1964) * '' Serenade for Two Spies'' (1965) * ''How to Seduce a Playboy'' (1966) * ''The Oldest Profession'' (1967, anthology film) * ''Visions of Eight ''Visions of Eight'' is a 1973 American documentary film offering a stylized look at the 1972 Summer Olympics. Produced by Stan Margulies and executive produced by David L. Wolper, it was directed by eight directors. It was screened out-of-compet ...'' (1973, anthology film) * ' (1973–1979, TV series) * '' Zwei himmlische Töchter'' (1978, TV series) * '' Die lieben Verwandten'' (1991, TV series) References External links * 1933 births 1991 suicides Mass media people from Stuttgart 20th-century German male writers Suicides by firearm in Germany {{Germany-film-director-stub ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Akira Fuse
is a Japanese singer and actor. He debuted in 1965 with the single . Career His greatest hits are and . He currently makes consistent appearances on television, performs occasional seasonal tours, hosts a late night talk show, and is involved in a number of stage plays. In 2005, he enjoyed a revival when his music was used in the popular Japanese TV-series ''Kamen Rider Hibiki'' with its ending theme and later its second opening theme . Personal life He married the actress Olivia Hussey in 1980 and later divorced in 1989 after he was unable to attain work in the United States and Olivia was unable to relocate her first-born son, Alexander Gunther Martin, to Japan. They had one child, son Maximillian Fuse. Trivia Gen Hoshino created the parody character "Akira Nise" (ニセ明, ''Nise Akira'', literally ''Fake Akira'') as a tribute to Akira Fuse. Guest role Fuse guest starred in ''Kamen Rider Hibiki'' as the senior former Oni master, who gifts Hibiki the Armed Saber (episo ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Tsunehiko Kamijō
is a Japanese singer, actor and voice actor Voice acting is the art of performing voice-overs to present a character or provide information to an audience. Performers are called voice actors/actresses, voice artists, dubbing artists, voice talent, voice-over artists, or voice-over talent .... Filmography Live-action films *''Tora-san's Lullaby'' (1974) – Yatarō Ōkawa *''Tora-san's Rise and Fall'' (1975) – A pirate *''Death of a Tea Master'' (1989) – Yamanoue Sōji *''The Mourner'' (2015) Anime films *''Porco Rosso'' (1992) – Mamma Aiuto Gang Boss *''Princess Mononoke'' (1997) – Gonza *''Doraemon: Nobita's Great Adventure in the South Seas'' (1998) – Mr. Cash *''Spirited Away'' (2001) – Chichiyaku Television dramas *Taiga drama series **''Tokugawa Ieyasu (Taiga drama), Tokugawa Ieyasu'' (1983) – Torii Suneemon **''Takeda Shingen (Taiga drama), Takeda Shingen'' (1988) – Murakami Yoshikiyo **''Hideyoshi (Taiga drama), Hideyoshi'' (1996) – Saitō Toshim ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Masaaki Sakai
is a popular Japanese performer from Tokyo. He is best known to English-speaking audiences as the title star of the TV show ''Monkey''. Biography Masaaki Sakai is a Japanese actor, singer and martial artist. Born the son of , a famous comedian in Japan, Sakai initially came to fame by fronting the group sounds band The Spiders. This group, formed in 1962, was popular throughout the 1960s; they spawned several hit songs as well as thirteen situation comedy films featuring their music. He took the title role of ''Son Goku'' (literally meaning "Descendant Aware of Vacuity", but the Chinese character for "descendant" is a punning reference to a similar character meaning "Monkey") in the 1970s Japanese TV program '' Saiyūki'' (lit. "Journey to the West"). This gained him fame in many English-speaking countries in the early 1980s when it was dubbed by the BBC and retitled ''Monkey''. Due to his fame playing the mythical character ''Songoku,'' Sakai created a dance called "the ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Frank Nagai
Frank Nagai (フランク 永井; March 18, 1932 – October 27, 2008) was a Japanese singer. Known for his attractive baritone voice. His real name was Kiyoto Nagai (永井 清人 ''Nagai Kiyoto''). Life Frank Nagai was born in Matsuyama, Miyagi, Japan. He had his major debut in 1954 when he was discovered by composer Tadashi Yoshida (吉田 正). He had many hit songs such as ''Yurakucho de Aimasho'', '' Tokyo Night Club'', ''Kimi Koishi'', and ''Omae ni''. He also appeared in motion pictures, including the film ''Nishi Ginza Eki Mae'' (1958), for which he sang the title song. He enjoyed immense popularity as a singer in Japan. He is credited with discovering female singer Kazuko Matsuo (松尾 和子), who later became quite famous. The two often sang duets together. He attempted suicide on October 21, 1985, attempting to hang himself, distressed that his lover bore his illegitimate child. He survived, but was left with permanent brain damage. Notable songs * (有楽 ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Teruhiko Saigō
was a Japanese singer and actor. As a singer, he was known as one of the three "''Gosanke''" (referring to ''gosanke'', the three great Tokugawa houses), along with Yukio Hashi and Kazuo Funaki. The stage name was based on the Meiji Restoration one of three heroes, but also the Kagoshima Local hero Takamori Saigo. Career Saigō made his debut in 1964 with the song "Kimi Dake o", for which he won a Japan Record Award for best new artist.History Japan Record Awards. Accessed May 12, 2008. As an actor, he has portrayed people as varied as 20th century Prime Minister (in the 1983 film ''Shōsetsu Yoshida Gakkō'') and 16th century samurai [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Jackey Yoshikawa And His Blue Comets
Jackey Yoshikawa and His Blue Comets ( ) is a Japanese J-pop-rock band, active from 1957. History of the band The band formed in 1957 just as The Blue Comets. In 1963 they renamed "Jackie Yoshikawa and the Blue Comets" with Jackie Yoshikawa serving as the leader of the group. Their debut single "Aoi Hitomi" ("Blue Eyes") was an immediate success, selling over 100,000 copies in its English-language version and over 500,000 copies in its Japanese-language version. Their major hit was the 1967 song "Blue Chateau" (ブルー・シャトウ, "Burū shatō"), which won a Japan Record Award and sold over one million copies. Thanks to their popularity, they were the first musical group invited to participate in a ''Kōhaku Uta Gassen'' contest. Their last song to chart was "Ame no Hymn", which was released in January 1971 and reached the No. 65 on the Oricon Chart , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and in ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kyu Sakamoto
was a Japanese singer and actor. He was best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Arukō" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. He was also the first Japanese artist to have a number one single on the Australian singles chart. Sakamoto was killed on 12 August 1985 in the crash of Japan Air Lines Flight 123, along with 519 others on board the flight. Life and career Early years: 1941–1949 Childhood in Kawasaki and Kasama Sakamoto was born on 10 December 1941, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, to Hiroshi Sakamoto, a cargo tender officer, and his second wife, Iku. He was the youngest of his father's nine children, which is why he was nicknamed , meaning "lil nine". Kyū is also an alternate reading of the ''k ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Furimukanaide
is a single by Japanese music duo The Peanuts. Written by Tokiko Iwatani and Hiroshi Miyagawa, the single was released on February 10, 1962, by King Records. The song was written in the style of American pop music at the time. It stood out in the Japanese music scene, as it was an original composition in contrast to the "cover pops" that were translations of western pop songs. In addition, it was one of the earliest Japanese songs recorded in stereo. The Peanuts performed the song on the 13th ''Kōhaku Uta Gassen''. "Furimukanaide" was featured in the film , which also starred the Peanuts. It was also used in the 2009 anime film '' Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance'', as well as the 2015 Fuji TV drama series . Track listing Wink version "Furimukanaide" was covered by the idol duo Wink as their 15th single, released on July 22, 1992, by Polystar Records. This version was used as the ending theme of the Fuji TV quiz show ''Naruhodo! The World''. The B-side, "Romance no ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Suku Suku
"Sucu Sucu" is a dance and a song written by Tarateño Rojas from Bolivia, who recorded his version in 1959. It became very popular in the 1960s and many singers and bands from all over the world made their own version of the song often in their own language. The song became even more popular worldwide once it was chosen to be the theme of ''Top Secret'', a 1960s TV series, performed by Laurie Johnson and his orchestra. Diverse acts such as the Skatalites and Alberto Cortez did their own version of the song. Different versions Czechoslovakian version *Sláva Kunst Se Svým Orchestrem - Sucu Sucu Danish version * John Hatting – Sucu Sucu *Posten Fra Ranum - Sucu Sucu Dutch version *Eddy Christiani – Sucu Sucu (Mijn sombrero) (1961) English versions *Harry Stoneham - Sucu Sucu (1970) *Nina & Frederik - Sucu Sucu (1961) * The Polka Dots - Sucu sucu (1961) Finnish version *Brita Koivunen - Sucu Sucu (1961) * Kai Lind - Sucu Sucu (1961) * Seppo Pirhonen - Sucu Sucu (1961) *Iskelm ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Kenji Sawada
is a Japanese singer, composer, lyricist and actor, best known for being the vocalist for the Japanese rock band The Tigers. Nicknamed because of his self-professed adoration of Julie Andrews, he was born in Tsunoi, Iwami (now part of Tottori), Tottori Prefecture, Japan, and raised in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto at age 3. As a singer (often he also worked as a songwriter) and actor, Sawada prospered greatly on Japanese popular culture in the last three decades of the Shōwa era. At the end of the 1960s, he had great success as the lead singer of the band The Tigers. After the breakup of The Tigers and another project Pyg, he began his own solo career. Music career Sawada was the lead singer of the best-known J-pop music act of the late 1960s Group Sounds era band The Tigers. A national teen idol, his nickname is Julie. Japanese pop stars of that era often adopted nicknames, particularly often English-language girls' names. His nickname is derived from the actress Julie Andrews as ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |