Yukiko Iwai (singer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the voice actor, see Yukiko Iwai.

Yukiko Iwai
Birth name岩井 由紀子
Also known asYūyu (ゆうゆ, Yūyu)
Born (1968-05-26) 26 May 1968 (age 53)
OriginYokohama, Japan
GenresJpop
Occupation(s)Singer, actor
Years active1987–1997
LabelsPony Canyon
Associated actsOnyanko Club
Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi
Mamiko Takai

Yukiko Iwai (岩井 由紀子, Iwai Yukiko), also known by the nickname Yūyu (ゆうゆ, Yūyu), is a Japanese singer and actress born 26 May 1968 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Iwai was a member of the all-girl pop group Onyanko Club (from 21 June 1985 until 31 August 1987), and she was the shortest of all the members at 150 centimetres (4 ft 11 in).[1][2][3] She was also half of the pop group Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi, a spin-off group of Onyanko Club.[1][2]

She graduated from Kaetsu Women's Junior High and High School (now Kaetsu Ariake Junior High and High School), but left Kaetsu Women's Junior College (now Kaetsu University Junior College) before she finished. She is the younger in a set of identical twins.

Biography[]

She moved to Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture after her parents divorced when she was younger. She made her media debut in 1985 as a gravure model in , a magazine for which her older sister was on the editorial committee.[citation needed]

On 21 June 1985, she became the 19th member of Onyanko Club after auditioning on the TV program Yūyake Nyan Nyan, and she appeared on the cover of their first album, Kick Off. Shortly afterward, she and Mamiko Takai, also a member of Onyanko Club, formed the group Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi. About this time, she acquired the nickname "Yūyu". Yukiko Iwai performed the lead vocals for Onyanko Club's fifth single, Osaki ni Shitsurei, released in July 1986. From that point, she became the main vocalist for the majority of their albums, and was considered central to the success of the group.[citation needed]

She made her solo debut with the single Angel Bodyguard (天使のボディーガード, Tenshi no Bodīgādo) on 25 March 1987. In April of that same year, Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi was disbanded because Takai graduated from Onyanko Club and moved on to other things. Onyanko Club itself disbanded in August later that year, and Iwai began working for Watanabe Productions (Nabe Pro) along with fellow Onyanko Club member Sonoko Kawai. She also began working under her nickname "Yūyu", turning it into a stage name.

Immediately after Yukiko Iwai turned solo, it became an "winter era of idols" in a reaction to the boom of Onyanko Club, and she retired from singer activity with Peter Pan Again (もう一度ピーターパン, Mōichido Pītā Pan) issued in February 1989. Since then, she has appeared in variety shows such as "" and played an active role as an image character of the game software company Taito.[citation needed]

In 1994, she changed her stage name back to her real name "Yukiko Iwai", but by this time her activity was sluggish. And she retired from the entertainment world in 1997 when she married a young businessman.[4] Even after she retired, she participated in the reunion event of the Onyanko Club.

Discography[]

Singles
  • 1987.03.25 : Bodyguard of an Angel (天使のボディガード, Tenshi no Bodyguard) (with Onyanko Club)
  • 1987.07.22 : -3 °C (-3 °C, Mainasu Sando)
  • 1987.10.28 : Full Moon of Twenty-five Cent (25セントの満月, Nijūgo Sento no Mangetsu)
  • 1988.01.21 : I Cannot Follow ~Good Luck, Boyfriend~ (ついて行けない ~がんばれボーイフレンド~, Tsuite Ikenai ~Gambare Boyfriend~)
  • 1988.04.21 : Around the Left Chest (左胸あたり, Hidarimune Atari)
  • 1988.07.27 : I Intend to Goodbye (サヨナラ志願, Sayonara Shigan)
  • 1988.11.30 : Gangster of the Starry Sky (星空のギャングスター, Hoshizora no Gangster)
  • 1989.02.08 : Peter Pan Again (もう一度ピーターパン, Mōichido Pīta Pan)
    The opening theme of "the Adventures of Peter Pan". The coupling song "Dream, Open Sesame!" (夢よ開けゴマ!, Yume yo Hirake Goma) is the ending theme of "the Adventures of Peter Pan".
Albums
  • 1987.07.29 : Yūyu Ray (ゆうゆ光線)
  • 1987.12.16 : No! (いやっ!)
  • 1988.07.21 : Summer Tasty (Summer Tasty)
  • 1988.07.21 : It's thick! (Kotteru Ne!, こってるネ!)
Compilations
  • 1989.03.21 : It's the Best! (ベストだもんね!, Best Damon Ne!)
  • 2002.02.20 : My Favorite! Colle!ction Yūyu Best (MY これ!クション ゆうゆ BEST, My Kore!kushon YuuYu Best)
  • 2007.08.17 : Yūyu Singles Complete (ゆうゆSINGLESコンプリート, Yūyu Singles Complete)

Appearance on TV[]

Variety shows
  • (from October 1987 to September 1988)
  • (from October 1988 to September 1994)
Animes
As the spin-off group Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi.
As the singer of theme songs.

Video games[]

External links[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Iwai "Yuuyu" Yukiko". Encyclopedia Idollica. Archived from the original on 18 August 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi". Encyclopedia Idollica. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  3. ^ "うしろゆびさされ組 – アーティスト情報". Yahoo!ミュージック. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
  4. ^ Entertainment topics : Yukiko Iwai (updated on 8 December 2018)
Retrieved from ""