Okada Yukiko

Okada Yukiko (岡田有希子) was a Japanese pop singer, actress, and winner of the talent show Star Tanjo! in Tokyo, Japan.

Early life
Okada was born as Sato Kayo (佐藤佳代) on August 22, 1967, the second daughter of the Satō family. The family later moved to Nagoya. In elementary school, Okada loved to read, especially comic books, and she was a talented artist. In junior high school, Okada wanted to become a singer and applied for every possible audition. She was rejected every time until she was finally accepted to a TV talent program, Star Tanjō! on Nippon Television, singing Kitahara Sawako's MY BOYFRIEND for the audition, and Nakamori Akina's Slow Motion for the final round, which she won in March 1983.

Career
On April 21, 1984, Okada released her first single, "First Date". She was known as "Yukko", a nickname created by her fans.

That year, Okada won Rookie of the Year and was awarded the 26th Japan Record Awards Grand Prix Best New Artist Award for her third single, -Dreaming Girl- Koi, Hajimemashite.

Okada played the leading role in her first television drama Kinjirareta Mariko (The Forbidden Mariko), in 1985. Her 1986 single Kuchibiru Network, written by Matsuda Seiko and composed by Sakamoto Ryuichi, reached number one on the Oricon weekly singles chart dated February 10, 1986.

Death
She died on April 8, 1986, at the age of 18.

Studio Albums

 * [1984.09.05] Cinderella (シンデレラ)
 * [1985.03.21] FAIRY
 * [1985.09.18] Jyuugatsu no Ningyo (十月の人魚)
 * [1986.03.21] Venus Tanjou (ヴィーナス誕生)

Best Hits Albums
. *Re-Released on September 11, 2019.
 * 1) [1984.11.28] Okurimono (贈りもの)
 * 2) [1985.12.05] Okurimono II (贈りものII)
 * 3) [1999.03.17] Memorial BOX (メモリアルBOX)
 * 4) [2002.05.15] YUKIKO OKADA * ALL SONGS REQUEST
 * 5) [2002.12.18] 84-86 Bokura no Best SP YUKIKO OKADA CD/DVD-BOX (Okurimono III) (84-86 ぼくらのベスト SP　岡田有希子 CD/DVD-BOX 「贈りものＩＩＩ」)*
 * 6) [2012.11.21] The Premium Best Okada Yukiko (ザ・プレミアムベスト 岡田有希子)
 * 7) [2014.07.30] GOLDEN☆IDOL OKADA YUKIKO (ゴールデン☆アイドル 岡田有希子)
 * 8) [2019.10.16] Mariya's Songbook

Hi-Res Albums

 * 1) [2015.09.16] Present Okada Yukiko (プレゼント 岡田有希子)
 * 2) [2015.09.16] Hi-Res Gentei Joukyuushamuke Rare Ongen Okada Yukiko (ハイレゾ限定 上級者向けレア音源 岡田有希子)

Singles

 * 1) [1984.04.21] First Date (ファースト・デイト)
 * 2) [1984.07.18] Little Princess (リトル プリンセス)
 * 3) [1984.09.21] -Dreaming Girl- Koi, Hajimemashite (-Dreaming Girl- 恋、はじめまして)
 * 4) [1985.01.16] Futari Dake no Ceremony (二人だけのセレモニー)
 * 5) [1985.04.17] Summer Beach
 * 6) [1985.07.17] Kanashii Yokan (哀しい予感)
 * 7) [1985.10.05] Love Fair
 * 8) [1986.01.29] Kuchibiru Network (くちびるNetwork)
 * 9) [1986.05.14] Hana no Image (花のイマージュ)
 * 10) [2002.12.04] Believe In You (2002 Strings Version)

Video Releases

 * 1) [2002.12.18] Memories in Swiss

Gallery

 * -|1982-83=

Trivia

 * She designed one of her own dresses for a concert. [2][3]
 * She went to high school with Honda Minako, Minamino Yoko, Morina Miharu, Tanaka Kumi and Okamura Yukiko.
 * Yukiko loved ice cream.
 * She often practiced ballet.
 * Yukiko loved star earrings, and wore them because she saw them to be lucky.
 * She had two favorite colors: pink and yellow.
 * Yukiko was very nearsighted, and wore thick glasses in her private life.
 * She had two idol catchphrases:
 * "I'll always be with you, ok?"
 * "I'm the little princess who comes from a wonderful land."