Akina Nakamori is a Japanese pop singer and actress. She was one of the most popular singers of the 1980s in Japan. She is known for her deep, power-house voice.

Akina made her debut in 1982 with the single Slow Motion. Within two years of her debut, she set herself apart from all the singers of her generation by singing provocative songs, with a chameleon-like image change with the release of each new single. Her mature and rebellious image was to be the direct opposite of the other pop rival, Seiko; who projected a girl next door, sweet-natured charm. The media competed them against each other throughout the '80s, scrutinizing every detail of their lives and supposed rivalry. During that period, Akina has always expressed admiration and respect for Seiko, even humming to Seiko's songs when both happen to be on the same live shows.

Her hairstyle and dress sense was very much copied by teenagers back in the '80s. Music-wise, her recording company molded her to be a successor after the mature and sophisticated Momoe Yamaguchi, a legendary Japanese singer who retired at age 21 for marriage. Her songs were always of heartbreaks or rebellion, never to stray far from the 'mold'.

It came as a shock when news of her attempted suicide broke in July 1989 in her then-boyfriend Masahiko Kondo's apartment, after he called off their engagement. She retreated from the public eye for a while.

Her live performances continue to be of a very high standard, showcasing her vocals. Her 2000, 2002, and 2003 concerts were huge successes. 2006 marked her 25th anniversary in show business. According to the Oricon Charts, she is one of a handful of singers who manage to have albums in the Top 10 in the '80s, '90s, and 2000s; proving her resilience to the taste-changing music industry.

Akina has ventured into acting in the last decade, with varying success.

Regardless of her lack of prolific songs in recent years, Akina was honored by the Japanese Music critics as the '5th' best voice in the country's recording history, even ahead of her rival, Matsuda Seiko, at '7th' place.

In 2007 she released an album with enka covers and won the Recors Taishou Best Enka Album Prize and other prizes that year.

She announced the establishment of her own management company HZ VILLAGE on August 30, 2022.

(Source: Jpopasia) Edit Biography