- Chiba Prefecture-born Meiko Nakahara is remembered as a singer and composer who not only wrote songs for herself but for other artists as well
- She had a brief career but during the period, released about 100 songs some of which won her notable awards
- Though she is nowhere to be found now, there is a band that was formed in her stead as a tribute to her and her extraordinary City pop songs.
Japanese Pop would probably never be complete without the mention of the name Meiko Nakahara or at least one of her songs. Born in Japan, the singer and composer has often been described as one who brought about the Golden age of Japanese Pop/City Pop.
Although she had a brief stint at fame, she was exceptional in her craft and has left an indelible mark on the surface of entertainment in her country and indeed the world at large.
Meiko Nakahara had a lot of song credits to her name but one which made her the famous name we know today is Kimitachi Kiwi Papaya Mango dane which was released after her debut single Kon’ya dake Dance Dance Dance and the album Coconuts House.
Here Are Interesting Details about Meiko Nakahara You Should Know
1. Meiko Nakahara Dropped Out of School For Music
Meiko Nakahara was born Meiko Obara on the 8th day of May 1959 in Yotsukaido of the Chiba Prefecture of Japan. From her childhood, she had a thing for music and when she was old enough to, she made a decision that greatly influenced her future.
Her parents were allegedly owners of a gas station and her dad wanted her to further her education. However, upon falling in love with music, she chose to drop out of conventional school. She opted to study music at a school of music run by singer Suzuki Kunihiko. Certainly, this decision infuriated her dad who only opened up to the idea of her career when he realized it made his daughter happy.
Meiko started off playing instruments until she got very comfortable with her voice and began to sing. By the age of 15, she entered a music competition in Japan. Eventually, she picked up a career in music and within a short period of time, became a household name in Japanese pop.
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2. Her Career Lasted for Just a Decade
Upon graduating from the school of music, she had brief stints appearing in TV shows. However, she started her journey toward being a singer by performing as a backup vocalist for other artists.
Meiko’s first song was released in 1982 and it was titled Kon’ya dake Dance Dance Dance. However, this was not the song that made her famous in entertainment. Just like many renowned musicians, the singer had to wait two years to be recognized.
Finally, she got much-needed recognition when she released Kimitachi Kiwi Papaya Mango dane. The song gained so much popularity, it ranked as one of the top 50 Best Selling singles of the year in Japan in 1984.
However, 8 years down the line with over a hundred songs to her name, Nakahara vanished into thin air. She released her last single in 1991 and by 1992, performed on her very last live tour.
Information that is noteworthy is the fact even after her retirement from music, she still wrote and composed songs for other artists. Yu Hayami, Vivian Hsu, and the band Checkicco are examples of people she wrote songs for after 1992.
3. Meiko’s Songs Have Been Featured in Several Animes
Obara’s song titled Ro Ro Ro Russian Roulette was the opening theme for the anime series Dirty Pair which aired in 1985. Uchu Ren’ai (Space Fantasy) was also the closing theme for the same series and it is also a song by the composer.
In 1986, Ro Ro Ro Russian Roulette won the Best Song award at the 8th Anime Grand Prix.
In addition to these, her songs Kagami no Naka no Actress and Dance in the Memories were the third opening and closing songs for the anime Kimagure Orange Road.
4. A Band was Set up in Nakahara’s Honour
In 2010, a band called LOTOS: Meiko Nakahara Tribute Band was set up. This band was launched in honor of the Japanese singer and composer who had gone under the radar more than a decade prior.
Though the band knows nothing about her whereabouts either, they felt a connection strong enough to bring her fans together. As of 2019, the band was said to have still been active and functioning.
5. She Was Nicknamed the ‘Second Yumin’
When Meiko was taken in by Toshiba Emi in 1982, they nicknamed her the Second Yumin because her voice was almost a replica of that of the famous singer and songwriter Matiutoya nicknamed ‘Yumin’. Their voices have often been described as ‘low and distinctive’.
6. A Beauty Brand Took Advantage of Her Meiko Nakahara
It was said that her songs were peculiar for teenage girls and were supposed to be very relatable to them. However, it did not quite reach the target market as should be. Nonetheless, a brand took advantage of her songs and used them to make ads for their cosmetics.
Kanebo is the name of the Japanese beauty and they made use of her mature image and adopted the song Kimitachi kiwi papaya mango dane for the adverts for their beauty products.
7. Where is Meiko Nakahara Though?
Meiko Nakahara was said to have been one of the pioneers of City Pop’s golden age. Together with names such as Kisugi Takao, Sugiyama Kiyotaka, and Omega Tribe, she made it to the list of those who revamped pop in Japan.
However, upon her retirement and subsequent disappearance, nobody seems to know what she is up to. She was said to have first gone on a hiatus in 1988 but returned soon after. While on her break, she visited the United States, and there, she released a couple of songs marking her return to music. Nonetheless, she totally retired a couple of years later.
2022 makes it 30 years since her disappearance. Rumors have made waves suggesting that she started life afresh with a new identity after being tired of showbiz. Some people believe that she is somewhere in New York since she was last heard of in the city. Others claim she retired to Tokyo and is living a happy life there.
There is another school of thought that claims she got married and focused on tending to her home and kids. Moreso, there’s a thought that after releasing 12 albums in a decade, she retired back home to help her parents run their family business.
Whatever the case may be, Meiko Nakahara’s fans are still waiting for the 54 year old to resurface. They are even very optimistic that she would return with a bang.
