Yoko Minamino


Yoko Minamino is a Japanese actress and singer. She graduated from Horikoshi High School. She played Saki Asamiya in the second season of the live action Sukeban Deka TV series replacing fellow idol star Yuki Saitō. She is currently employed by the K Dash Group talent agency. She has previously worked for the S1 Company, Southern Field, and Sweet Basil talent agencies.

History

While attending the private Shoin High School in Kobe, Minamino successfully passed an audition in 1982. During the summer of her second year of high school, she moved to Tokyo where she attended Horikoshi High School along with fellow entertainers Miharu Morina and Minako Honda. Minamino and Honda met when they both took the entrance examination.
Minamino made her debut television role in 1984 in Meimon Shiritsu Jōshi Kōkō. She began working for the talent agency S1 Company at this time. Despite being a mostly unknown face in Japanese entertainment, Minamino was given an unusually large number of photos in a seinen manga magazine.
This led to her being cast in 1985 in the role of Saki Asamiya in the second season of Fuji TV's Sukeban Deka, a popular live action TV series about a juvenile delinquent being forced to go undercover for the police in a high school known for its rough gangs. This role made Minamino an instant star, and many phrases from this season became fashionable. She was also nominated at the 11th Annual Japan Academy Prize event as "Rookie of the Year" for her performance in the movie version released in 1987. Her "Saki Asamiya" character was used in a wide range of adverts.
She made her singing debut on 1985-06-23 with her song Hazukashi Sugite. Along with Shizuka Kudo, Miho Nakayama, and Yui Asaka, Minamino was considered one of the Four Divas of the time until she temporarily suspended her career in 1992. In 1988 she played two roles, including the starring role, in the Taiga drama Takeda Shingen. That same year, she reached the number one spot for sales of publicity photo shots sold, setting a new record. Minamino was also honored by the country of Grenada when they issued postage stamps featuring two different head shots.
In 1989, Minamino switched talent agencies, moving from S1 Company to the private Southern Field agency. In the 1992 film Kantsubaki, she made her first nude appearance, closely followed by her second in Watashi o Daite, Soshite Kiss-shite that same year. Minamino was nominated for the 16th Annual Japan Academy Prize for "Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role" for her performances in both of these films.
Minamino has appeared in interviews and photo shoots in Shueisha's Weekly Playboy magazine since 1984. In the 1989-08-01 issue, she appeared on the cover.

Filmography

Television

Series

One-shot dramas

Discography

Singles

Singles marked with "※" reached No. 1 on Oricon chart.
Single titleJapaneseRelease dateLyricsCompositionArrangementNotes
1Hazukashi Sugite恥ずかしすぎて23 06 1985Kang Jin-hwaShunichi TokuraMasaaki Ōmura
2Sayonara no Memaiさよならのめまい21 11 1985Etsuko KisugiTakao KisugiMitsuo Hagita
3Kanashimi Monument悲しみモニュメント21 03 1986Etsuko KisugiKisaburō SuzukiHiroshi Shinkawa
4Kaze no Madrigal風のマドリガル21 07 1986Reiko YukawaDaisuke InoueMitsuo Hagita
5Approach接近 01 10 1986Yumi MoritaToshio KametoMitsuo Hagita
6Rakuen no Door楽園のDoor01 02 1987Megumi OguraTakao KisugiMitsuo Hagita※
7Hanashi Kaketakatta話しかけたかった01 04 1987Nobumi TozawaMasayuki KishiMitsuo Hagita※
8Pandora no Koibitoパンドラの恋人01 07 1987Shun TaguchiToshio KametoMitsuo Hagita※
9Aki no Indication秋のIndication23 09 1987Eiko KyoMitsuo HagitaMitsuo Hagita※
10Haikara-san ga Tōruはいからさんが通る02 12 1987Megumi OguraWataru KuniyasuMitsuo Hagita※
11Toiki de Net吐息でネット26 02 1988Shun TaguchiToshihiko ShibayaMitsuo Hagita※
12Anata o Aishitaiあなたを愛したい18 06 1988Shun TaguchiMitsuo HagitaMitsuo Hagita※
13Aki kara mo, Soba ni Ite秋からも、そばにいて13 10 1988Megumi OguraTamashiro ItōMitsuo Hagita※
14Namida wa Doko e Itta no涙はどこへいったの15 02 1989Kang Jin-hwaToshihiko ShibayaMitsuo Hagita
15Trouble Makerトラブル・メーカー21 06 1989Yoko MinaminoYasuhiro KidoMitsuo Hagita
16Film no Mukōgawaフィルムの向こう側29 11 1989Ryo AskaRyo AskaJun Satō※
17Doublegameダブルゲーム01 06 1990Toyohisa ArakiTakashi MikiKei Wakakusa
18Hen na no!!へんなの!!01 07 1990Chiroru TaniboToshihiko ShibayaToshihiko Shibaya
19Mimi o Sumashite Goran耳をすましてごらん01 08 1990Daichi YamadaJōji YuasaMitsuo Hagita
20Kiss-shite LonelinessKISSしてロンリネス21 11 1990Tomoko AranTetsurō OdaMasao Akashi
21Natsu no Obaka-san夏のおバカさん08 06 1991Yasushi AkimotoYoko MinaminoMasao Akashi
22Haikara-san ga Tōru / Toiki de Netはいからさんが通る/吐息でネット27 07 2005as above for each songas above for each songas above for each songself cover

Sources:

Albums

The majority of albums released after 1991 are "Best of" albums.
Album titleJapaneseRelease dateRelease labelCatalog no.FormatNotes
Gelatoジェラート21 04 1986CBS-Sony32DH-397CD
Sukeban Deka II: Shōjo Tekkamen Densetsu Original Soundtrackスケバン刑事II 少女鉄仮面伝説オリジナル・サウンドトラック21 05 1986CBS-Sony
Virginalヴァージナル01 11 1986CBS-Sony32DH-540CD
Sukeban Deka Original Soundtrackスケバン刑事オリジナル・サウンドトラック05 03 1987CBS-Sony28KH-2067Cassette
Bloomブルーム02 05 1987CBS-Sony32DH-653CD
Garlandガーランド01 11 1987CBS-Sony32DH-830CD
Haikara-san ga Tōru Original Soundtrackはいからさんが通るオリジナル・サウンドトラック21 12 1987CBS-Sony32DH-863CD
Nanno Singles 21 03 1988CBS-Sony CD"Best of " album
Globalグローバル15 07 1988CBS-Sony38DH-5081CDfirst press included a bonus disc titled Nanno Compatibility Diagnosis Game
Yoko's Favorites 21 07 1988 "Best of " album, includes a mini album featuring "B-side" songs with commentary
Badaiju: Rindenbaumu Original Soundtrack菩提樹 リンデンバウム オリジナル・サウンドトラック13 08 1988CBS-Sony28AH-5103
--		LP
CD		not all songs by Minamino
Snowflakesスノーフレイクス14 12 1988CBS-Sony32DH-5173CD
ORE Special Collection: 5-nin no Idol-tachiOREスペシャル・コレクション 〜5人のアイドルたち〜1988CBS-Sony32DH-5144CD
Gaucheゴーシュ12 07 1989CBS-Sony28AH-5273LP
Dear Christmasディアー・クリスマス01 12 1989CBS-SonyCSCL-1045CD
Gatherギャザー23 06 1990
Nanno Songless 15 07 1990
Nanno Singles II 01 01 1991 "Best of " album
Natsu no Obaka-san夏のおバカさん01 07 1991CBS-SonySRCL-1987CDsame title as the single release
Diamond Smileダイヤモンド・スマイル25 03 1992CBS-SonySRCL-2351CD"Best of " album
Pearl Tearsパール・ティアーズ25 03 1992 "Best of " album
Affairs of Yesterday 21 06 1992 "Best of " album featuring songs selected by Minamino herself
Dear My Best 21 11 1992 "Best of " album, 2 discs
Golden J-Pop: The Best Minamino YokoゴールデンJポップ ザ・ベスト南野陽子21 08 1998CBS-SonySRCL-4333/4CD"Best of " album, 2 discs
2000 My Best 21 06 2000 "Best of " album
Bakumatsu 2001 Original Soundtrack幕末2001オリジナル・サウンドトラック23 10 2001
Rakuen no Door楽園のDoor09 10 2002 Dream Price 1000
Nanno Singles III + My Favorites 16 07 2003 "Best of " album, 2 discs
Nanno Boxナンノ・ボックス22 06 2005CBS-SonyMHCL-561CD11 discs and a DVD
Hit Style: No. 1 History 25 01 2006CBS-SonyMHCL-779CD2 discs, omnibus album featuring 32 different No. 1 hit J-pop stars
Nanno Soundtracks + Songlessナンノ・サウンドトラックス+ソングレス21 06 2006CBS-SonyMHCL-830CD6 discs, soundtrack songs from movies in which she starred, also Nanno Songless and Nanno Compatibility Diagnosis Game
Sukeban Deka Last Memorial: Asamiya Saki yo Eien niスケバン刑事 ラスト・メモリアル 〜麻宮サキよ永遠に〜20 09 2006CBS-SonyMHCL-891CDalso features Yuki Saitō and Yui Asaka

Sources:

Commercial tie-ins

Minamino has performed the theme songs for multiple television series and movies, and her music has been used in many commercials. Following is a list of some of them.
Song titleJapanese titleDescription of useNotes
Sayonara no MemaiさよならのめまいInsert song for Sukeban Deka II: Shōjo Tekkamen Densetsu seriesfor Fuji TV
Approach接近 Theme song for Toki o Kakeru Shōjofor Fuji TV
Kanashimi Monument悲しみモニュメントTheme song for Sukeban Deka II: Shōjo Tekkamen Densetsu seriesfor Fuji TV
Kaze no Madrigal風のマドリガルTheme song for Sukeban Deka II: Shōjo Tekkamen Densetsu seriesfor Fuji TV
Rakuen no Door楽園のDoorTheme song for the movie Sukeban Deka
Yuki no Kahen雪の花片Commercial for the Onkyo "Radian"
Hiruyasumi no Yūutsu昼休みの憂鬱Commercial for Fujitsu Personal Computers FM77AV40EX model
Aki no Indication秋のIndicationCommercial for Cecil Chocolate from Glico
Haikara-san ga Tōruはいからさんが通るUsed multiple times:
  1. Theme song for the movie Haikara-san ga Tōru
  2. Commercial for Fujicolor film from Fujifilm
Ame no Mukōgawa雨のむこうがわCommercial for the Onkyo "Radian"
Toiki de Net吐息でネットCommercial for "Fitnet Lipstick" and the "Spring Bazaar" from Kanebo
Aki kara mo, Soba ni Ite秋からも、そばにいてCommercial for "Almond Chocolate" and "Pocky" from Glico
Carib ni Ikitaiカリブに行きたいCommercial for the FM77AV40EX computer by Fujitsu Personal Computers
Anata o Aishitaiあなたを愛したいUsed multiple times:
  • Theme song from the movie Badaiju: Rindenbaumu
  • Commercial for JR West "WENS" service
    		•
    Just Sweet Love Commercial for "Cecil Chocolate" from Glico
    Lift no Shita de Aimashōリフトの下で逢いましょうCommercial for "Ski Train JR Spur-gō" for JR West
    Namida wa Doko e Itta no涙はどこへいったのCommercial for "WENS" service from JR West
    Hitomi no Naka no Mirai瞳のなかの未来Opening theme song for the NHK series Aoi Blink
    Summer Fragranceサマー・フレグランスCommercial for JR West
    Mimi o Sumashite Goran耳をすましてごらんTheme song for Itsuka Mita Aoi Sora on Nippon Television
    Omoi no Mama ni 思いのままにMessage song for the NTV Nippon Television 24-Hour "TV-Ai wa Chikyū o Sukū" campaign
    Kiss-shite LonelinessKISSしてロンリネスCommercial for "Cool, Nikki, Basshon" candy drops from Asadaame
    Lonely Blue Commercial for the Nagoya Railroad "MediaCard"

    Video

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