Keiko Fuji

Keiko Fuji
Native name 藤 圭子
Born Junko Abe (阿部 純子)
(1951-07-05)5 July 1951
Ichinoseki, Iwate, Japan
Died 22 August 2013(2013-08-22) (aged 62)
Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Occupation
Spouse(s)
Kiyoshi Maekawa
(m. 1971; div. 1972)

Teruzane Utada
(m. 1982; div. 2007)
Children Hikaru Utada
Musical career
Genres
Years active 1969–1979, 1981–Unknown
Labels
Associated acts

Junko Abe (阿部 純子, Abe Junko) (5 July 1951 – 22 August 2013), known primarily by the stage name Keiko Fuji (藤 圭子, Fuji Keiko) was a Japanese enka singer and actress. She had success in Japan in the 1960s and 1970s with her ballad-type songs. She was married on-and-off with Utada Teruzane, and was the mother of Japanese pop singer Utada Hikaru.

Life and career

Fuji was born in Iwate Prefecture, where her father was a rōkyoku singer. Her mother was a blind shamisen player or goze. As a child, Fuji sometimes accompanied her parents and sang with them when they were on tour. Her song "Keiko no Yume wa Yoru Hiraku" (Keiko's version of "Yume wa Yoru Hiraku") won the "mass popularity award" at the Japan Record Award in 1970. By this song, she took part in the 21st Kōhaku Uta Gassen. Fuji lent her voice in the anime television series Wandering Sun, acting as main character Nozomi who is also a singer in the show.[1] This allowed her to gain higher exposure in the Japanese music world.

She married the Enka singer Kiyoshi Maekawa and retired from singing in 1979, announcing her retirement during a TV show on 30 December of that year. The marriage ended in divorce, after which she emigrated to the U.S.

Her debut album, Shinjuku no Onna/Enka no Hoshi Fuji Keiko no Subete (新宿の女/「演歌の星」藤圭子のすべて, Woman in Shinjuku/"Star of Enka" All of Keiko Fuji), released 5 March 1970, topped the Oricon album chart for 20 consecutive weeks, and her next album Onna no Blues (女のブルース, Woman's Blues), released 5 July 1970, continued topping that chart for 17 consecutive weeks. She topped the Oricon album chart for a 37 consecutive weeks, an incredible record in Japan's music history. Her debut album's number-one record of 20 consecutive weeks remains the longest consecutive number-one record in Oricon history.[2]

She was married to Teruzane Utada, a record producer. Their only child, Hikaru Utada, was born in 1983. The couple married and divorced seven times.[3]

2006 confiscation of money by the DEA

On 3 March 2006, U.S. DEA officials confiscated more than $420,000 in U.S., Canadian, and Australian currencies from Junko Utada's carry-on luggage at JFK Airport, New York, as she waited to board a flight to Las Vegas. Utada denied any wrongdoing, and was not charged with any crime. However, the government initiated forfeiture proceedings, seeking to seize the money, which it alleged represented proceeds of drug sales or was intended to be used to buy drugs.

Utada disputed the government's claim. In August 2008, the matter remained pending in Federal District Court in New York.[4] On 27 January 2009, the Federal District Court in New York ordered the confiscated money returned to her, citing lack of evidence.[5]

Death

Keiko Fuji died on 22 August 2013, by jumping from the thirteenth floor of a 13-floor condominium building in Shinjuku, Tokyo.[6][7][8] No foul play was suspected. Her body was found in the grounds of her apartment building. Police said that her slippers were found at the end of her balcony, with no suicide note found.[9][10][11]

Discography

Like U3

For U3 discography see Hikaru Utada discography

Solo

LPs

  • Shinjuku no Onna / "Enka no Hoshi" Fuji Keiko no Subete - 5 March 1970
  • Onna no Blues - 5 July 1970
  • Utaitsugarete 25-nen Fuji Keiko Enka o Utau - 5 December 1970
  • Saihate no Onna - 5 March 1971
  • Keiko no Jinsei Gekijō - 5 July 1971
  • Fuji Keiko Recital - 5 October 1971
  • Keiko no Warabeuta - 25 December 1971
  • Shiranai Machi de - 25 December 1971
  • Fuji Keiko On Stage - 25 May 1972
  • Wakare no Tabi - 25 June 1972
  • Original Golden Hits Collection - 5 August 1972
  • Tōkuheikitai / "Enka no Tabi" - 5 December 1972

CDs

  • Fuji Keiko Densetsu no Meikyoku - 21 October 1999
  • Kiite Kudasai Watashi no Jinsei: Fuji Keiko Collection - 20 December 2000
  • Fuji Keiko Complete Single Collection: 15-nen no Kiseki - 21 September 2005
  • Golden Best Fuji Keiko - 26 October 2005
  • Super Best - 11 December 2005
  • Golden Best Fuji Keiko Hit & Cover Collection Enka to Yukariuta - 8 December 2010

Singles

  • "Shinjuku no Onna" (25 September 1969)
  • "Onna no Blues" (5 February 1970, Oricon number 1)
  • "Keiko no Yume wa Yoru Hiraku" (25 April 1970, cover of "Yume wa Yoru Hiraku" by En Mari, Oricon number 1)
  • "Inochi Azukemasu" (25 July 1970)
  • "Onna wa Koi ni Ikiteiku" (25 October 1970)
  • "Sai Hate no Onna" (5 February 1971)
  • "Koi Jingi" (5 May 1971)
  • "Michinoku Kouta" (5 June 1971)
  • "Ai no Junrei " (5 July 1971)
  • "Shiranai Machi de " (25 October 1971)
  • "Kyōto kara Hakata made" (25 January 1972)
  • "Wakare no Tabi" (25 May 1972)
  • "Hana wa Nagarete" (25 September 1972)
  • "Kanashimi no Machi" (5 December 1972)
  • "Ashita kara Watashi wa" (25 March 1973)
  • "Hana Kouta" (July 1973)
  • "Henreki " (25 August 1973)
  • "Koi no Yuki wa Risō " (5 November 1973)
  • "Kyoto Blues" (5 April 1974)
  • "Hinokoku Kouta" (June 1974)
  • "Watashi wa Kyōto e Kaerimasu" (5 July 1974)
  • "Inochi Hi" (25 August 1974)
  • "Anata no Uwasa " (January 1975)
  • "Ikiteru dake no Onna" (25 April 1975)
  • "Sasurai" (September 1975)
  • "Hashigozake" (5 November 1975)
  • "Onna dakara" (25 April 1976)
  • "Kiite Kudasai Watashi no Jinsei" (25 August 1976)
  • "Aishū Sakaba " (5 February 1977)
  • "Anata Hitosuji" (25 June 1977)
  • "Omokage Hirano" (5 November 1977)
  • "Ginza Nagare-uta" (May 1978)
  • "Yoi-yoi Sakaba" (October 1978)
  • "Kita no Minatochō" (March 1979)
  • "Kawaii Onna " (October 1979)
  • "Keika" (October 1981)
  • "Aitsu ga Warui " (1984)
  • "Chōyohanayo to" (October 1984)
  • "Tokyo Meiro" (June 1986)
  • "Shinjuku Banka" (25 February 1987)
  • "Tabiji" (1988)
  • "Shinchi no Ame" feat. Katsurasanshi (February 1989)
  • "Sake ni You hodo" (April 1994)
  • "Tengoku" (August 1996)
  • "Tsumetai Tsuki - Nakanaide" with Cubic U (September 1996)
  • "Chitose no Kagaribi" (October 1996)
  • "Otome" (October 1997)

Select filmography

Movies

  • Eiga Sakariba Nagashi-uta Shinjuku no Onna (1970, Nikkatsu)
  • Zube Kōbanchō Yume wa Yoru Hiraku (1970, Toei Company)
  • Namida no Nagashi-uta Inochi Azukemasu (1970, Shochiku)
  • Joshi Gakuen Yabai Sotsugyō (1970, Nikkatsu)
  • Fuji Keiko waga Uta no aru Kagiri (1971, Shochiku)

Television

  • Gozonji Kinsan Torimonochō "Shibai no Inochi Hi" (Episode 16, 1974, Nihon Educational Television/NET)
  • Furimuku na Tsurukichi "Kantsubaki" (Episode 16, second part, 1975, NHK)
  • Ikiteru dake no Kyōaku (Chapter 41 story license the second series of ruthless, NET, 1975)
  • Hyōteki (Ryōko Ogura, 1979, KTV)
  • Shin-kaikyō Monogatari (1981, TV Asahi)
  • Nichiyō Emi Gekijō "Sabushiro no The Hatarake Kōgyō" (1986/1987, ABC)

References

  1. ↑ http://www.mushi-pro.co.jp/2010/09/%E3%81%95%E3%81%99%E3%82%89%E3%81%84%E3%81%AE%E5%A4%AA%E9%99%BD/
  2. ↑ オリコンのアルバム１位が千作品に　最多はユーミン (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. 19 September 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  3. ↑ "Divorce for Hikki...and Parents!". Japan Zone. March 5, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Japanese Pop Queen's Mom In Fight With DEA". Hikaru Utada's parents seek return of $421k in seized "drug money". Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  5. ↑ 藤圭子さんに４２万ドル返還へ　米空港で０６年差し押さえ (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 28 January 2009. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
  6. ↑ "歌手の藤圭子さん自殺か". NHK News. 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "Ex-singer Keiko Fuji plunges to death in alleged suicide". Kyodo news.
  8. ↑ "Pop star Hikaru Utada's mother dies in suspected suicide－ 毎日ｊｐ(毎日新聞)" (in Japanese). Mainichi.jp. 2013-02-08. Archived from the original on 2013-08-24. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
  9. ↑ "Former singer Keiko Fuji, mother of Hikaru Utada, falls to death". Japan Today. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "Singer Keiko Fuji dies in apparent suicide". The Japan News. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
  11. ↑ "Hikaru's Mother, Keiko Fuji has passed away". UtadaNet.com. Retrieved 2013-12-11.
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