Minako Honda

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Minako Honda
Minako Honda on the cover of her album Cancel (1986).
Background information
Birth nameMinako Kudo
Also known asMinako Honda, Minako Honda.
Born(1967-07-31)July 31, 1967
Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan
OriginAsaka, Saitama, Japan
DiedNovember 6, 2005(2005-11-06) (aged 38)
Bunkyo, Tokyo Japan
GenresPop, kayokyoku, operatic pop, classical crossover
Occupation(s)Singer, actress
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1985–2005
LabelsToshiba-EMI, Columbia Music Entertainment
Websitewww.minako-channel.com
EducationHorikoshi High School

Minako Kudo (Japanese: 工藤美奈子, Hepburn: Kudō Minako), better known as Minako Honda (Japanese: 本田美奈子, Hepburn: Honda Minako, July 31, 1967 – November 6, 2005),[2] later changed to Minako Honda. (Japanese: 本田美奈子., Hepburn: .Honda Minako),[3] was a Japanese idol and musical singer. In 1985, she made her debut with the single "Satsui no Vacance".

She was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia on January 5, 2005. At 4:38 A.M. on November 6, 2005, Honda died at the Juntendo University Hospital in Bunkyō, Tokyo.[2]

Early life[edit]

Kudo was born in Japan on July 31, 1967 at Narimasu Maternity Hospital in Narimasu, Itabashi. Kudo's family initially lived in Shibamata, Katsushika but would end up moving to Asaka, Saitama where at an early age she would enroll in Asaka's Shirayuri Kindergarten.[3]

Beginnings[edit]

As a child Kudo was very involved with singing, largely influenced by her mother who dreamed of becoming a singer. In Kudo's graduation collection from Asaka's 6th Elementary School in Aska City, she wrote that, "It would be nice if I could become an actress or singer." While at Asaka Daiichi Junior High School at the age of 14, she would audition for Star Tanjō!, where in the TV qualifying round she would sing "Hello Goodbye" by Yoshie Kashiwabara which would win her that round and advance her to the battle tournament round, for that she would sing "Blue Angel" by her cousin, Seiko Matsuda, however none of the production companies expressed interest and Kudo would not win the competition.[4]

While Kudo was enrolled at Tokyo Seitoku University Junior & Senior High School in 1983, she would visit Harajuku because the record label Bondo Kikaku was recruiting a new member for the group called Shojotai. Bondo Kikaku had also participated in the show Star Tanjō!. While still working with Bondo Kikaku in 1984, she heard a demo of Meiko Nakahara's song "Kimitachi Kiwi Papaya Mango da ne", which had just become a hit, this lead Kudo to believe Bondo Kikaku's President, Keiji Takasugi was taking the company in the wrong direction, and would make her decide to become a solo artist.[4]

In 1984, Kudo performed at the Nagasaki Kayo Festival, which was a television contest to where teenagers and young adults competed to become new idols by winning what was called the grand prix. On the show, Honda was highly evaluated by judges who noted her powerful voice and overwhelming singing ability which led her to win the Grand Prix part of the competition.[5]

Following her success in the Nagasaki Kayo Festival, Kudo would make her debut under the name Minako Honda with the song "Satsui no Vacane", this lead her to receive a Japan Record Award for the best new artist of that year.[5]

Looking to follow up on the success of "Satsui no Vacane", Honda would release "1986 nen no Marilyn", in which a controversy would arise from her performances, in which Honda would shake her hips suggestively while wearing a navel costume, at the time this was not common for idols and was thought to be offensive.[5]

In 1988, she made an attempt to revive her dwindling career by forming an all girl rock group called "Minako with Wild Cats", the group however would disband a year later due to lack of any hit songs.[5]

In 1990 a turning point came for her career. Honda had auditioned for a part in the Tokyo production of Broadway play Miss Saigon, she won out over 15,000 other candidates for the part of Kim.[5] While still starring in the role as Kim in Miss Saigon in the 1990s, Honda visited Vietnam. There she visited the famous Củ Chi tunnels just outside Ho Chi Minh City. She was found by Vietnamese authorities having photographs taken of her in the Củ Chi tunnels draped only in a Vietnamese flag. She was fined and expelled from Vietnam shortly after.[6]

She would go on to perform in leading roles in Fiddler on the Roof, The King and I, and Les Miserables.[5][2]

Later career and illness[edit]

Towards the end of her life, she released several classical albums demonstrating her soprano singing voice, including religious works such as "Amazing Grace" and Ave Maria. She also sang theme songs for several anime programs.[7]

She did not abandon pop music in her adult career; indeed, she became recognized for her vocal improvement in the adult pop genre. Her song "Tsubasa" is famous for the "long note" that she holds for 30 seconds.

In 2004, Honda would add a period to the end of her name; this was done because Honda believed there was judgment to her surname.[3]

Honda became ill in late 2004, but still performed in December in spite of a fever and fatigue. When her cold-like symptoms failed to improve, she sought medical treatment and was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia on January 5, 2005.[5]

Honda was able to celebrate her 38th birthday at home feeling relatively well, but had a relapse shortly afterwards. Chromosome aberration was discovered and she received a dose of anticancer medicine from the United States to treat it. She recovered again briefly, but then suffered another relapse.[3]

Death[edit]

Honda developed lung complications on October 21, 2005 and she lapsed into a coma on November 3. At 4:38 a.m. on November 6, 2005, Honda died at the Juntendo University Hospital in Bunkyō, Tokyo, officially from acute myelogenous leukemia. She was 38 at the time of her death.[3]

Discography[edit]

During her life, Honda released 14 original albums, 5 compilation albums, 25 physical singles, 1 digital single and 6 home-video releases.[8]

  • Note: All releases after 2005 are posthumous.

Singles[edit]

As soloist[edit]

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Year Single Peak chart positions Formats
JPN
Oricon
[9]
1985 "Satsui No Vacance"
（殺意のバカンス） 		21 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
"Suki To Iinasai"
（好きと言いなさい） 		21 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
"Aoi Shumatsu"
（青い週末） 		23 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
"Temptation"
 10 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
1986 "1986 Nen No Marilyn"
（1986年のマリリン） 		3 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
"Sosotte"
 3 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
"Help"
 2 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
"The Cross: Ai No Jyujika"
(愛の十字架) 		5 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
1987 "Oneway Generation"
 2 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
"Crazy Nights/Golden Days"
 10 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
"Heart break"
 3 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
"Kodoku Na Hurricane"
(孤独なハリケーン) 		2 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
"Kanashimi Swing"
(悲しみSWING) 		3 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
1989 "7th Bird: Ai Ni Koi
(愛に恋) 		53 CD, LP, digital download
1990 "Shangri-La" 62 CD, digital download
1994 "Tsubasa" (つばさ) 62 CD, digital download
1995 "Lullaby: Yasashiku Dakasete" (ら・ら・ば・い～優しく抱かせて) 19 CD, digital download
"Boku No Heya De Kurasou" (僕の部屋で暮らそう) 99 CD, digital download
"Fall in Love With You: Koi ni Ochite" (恋に落ちて) - CD, digital download
1996 "Shining Eyes" - CD, digital download
1999 "Kaze no Uta" (風のうた) 300 CD, digital download
2000 "Honey" 289 CD, digital download
2001 "Hoshizora" (星空) - CD, digital download
2003 "Nadja!!" (ナージャ!!) 150 CD, digital download
2004 "Shinsekai" (新世界) 85 CD, digital download
"—" denotes items which did not chart.

As Minako With Wildcast[edit]

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Year Single Peak chart positions Formats
JPN
Physical
[9]
1988 "Anata To Nettai"
（あなたと、熱帯） 		10 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
"Stand Up: Full Metal Armor"
 59 CD, LP, Cassette, digital download
1989 "Katte Ni Sasete"
（勝手にさせて） 		49 CD, LP, digital download
"—" denotes items which did not chart.

Albums[edit]

As soloist[edit]

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon
[9]
M'Syndrome 2
Lips 3
Cancel 2
Oversea 4
Midnight Swing 23
Junction 75
Hare Tokidoki Kumori (晴れ ときどき くもり) 99
Ave Maria 22
Toki (時) 39
Amazing Grace 7
Kokoro wo Komete (心を込めて) 23
Yasashii Sekai (優しい世界) 46
Eternal Harmony 163
Last Concert (ラスト・コンサート) 128
Again 89
"—" denotes items which did not chart.

As Minako With Wildcast[edit]

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon
[9]
Hyōteki (豹的) 32
Wild Cats 86

Compilation albums[edit]

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon
[9]
The Minako Collection 13
Look over my shoulder 63
Life Minako Honda: Premium Best 23
CD+DVD THE Best 19
I Love You 113
Angel Voice: Minako Honda Memorial Best 66
Classical Best: Ten ni Hibiku Uta 32
Anthem of Life: Sweet Ballads Best 233
"—" denotes items which did not chart.

Home-video release[edit]

List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak positions
JPN
Oricon
[9]
The Virgin Concert in Budokan 208
Dangerous Bond Street -
Dramatic Flash -
DISPA 1987 -
Minako in L.A. -
Katteni Sasete -
Tropical Holiday in Hawai -
Tropical Holiday -
"—" denotes items which did not chart.

Movie soundtracks[edit]

  • Passenger (October 25, 1988)

Theatre[edit]

Note: Minako Honda was originally cast as Fantine in Les Misérables for the Japanese tour in 2005, but due to her death, another actor was given the part.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Umeda, Keiko (January 16, 2019). "映画ヒットで思い出す、クイーンが愛した本田美奈子". Nikkan Sports. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Obituary: Minako Honda". The Japan Times. November 7, 2005. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e "最後は微笑んで…本田美奈子さん白血病で死去／復刻". Nikkan Sports. November 7, 2016. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Masaaki, Yokouchi (2007). 天に響く歌歌姫本田美奈子の人生.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "今もなお色褪せぬ本田美奈子．さんの輝き 抜群の歌唱力とヘソ出し衣装で一世風靡". Iza. Sankei Digital Inc. October 25, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  6. ^ Templer, Robert (1999). Shadows and Wind: A View of Modern Vietnam. New York, New York: Penguin Books. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-14-028597-0.
  7. ^ Macdonald, Christopher (November 8, 2005). "Minako Honda Dies". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  8. ^ "Columbia 本田美奈子. Discography". Columbia Japan. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "本田美奈子のCD・DVDリリース一覧". Oricon. Retrieved July 28, 2018.

External links[edit]

Preceded by FNS Music Festival for Best New Artist
1985 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Shinjuku Music Festival for Gold Prize
1985 (with : Shigeyuki Nakamura) 		Succeeded by
Shonentai, Mariko
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