Kondo Masahiko

Kondo Masahiko (近藤真彦) is a Japanese singer-songwriter, actor, racecar team director, talento, and a former member of the board of directors of the agency SMILE-UP.

History[]

Kondo was scouted after a photo of his school basketball team was submitted to Johnny's & Associates by a friend of one of his teammate's relatives. Kondo made his debut in 1979 as an actor alongside Tahara Toshihiko and Nomura Yoshio in the drama series Sannen Bgumi Kinpachi Sensei. He immediately became very popular and made his solo debut in December 1980 as an idol singer. Unlike his groupmate Tahara who had a mostly female fanbase, Kondo also became popular with the male demographic, expanding his opportunities as a talent. He enjoyed great success as both an actor and singer, even winning the Japan Record Awards in 1987. He took a short hiatus from entertainment in summer 1989, but returned by the end of the year.

On November 16, 2020, Kondo was placed on an indefinite hiatus from entertainment by his agency Johnny & Associates over accusations of several extramarital affairs in recent years. He resigned from the agency on April 30, 2021 and claimed he was retiring from entertainment, but ultimately resumed his career in September of the same year. He also founded his own talent agency, MK Company upon his return from hiatus.

Discography[]

Singles[]

[1980.12.12] Seaker Blues (スニーカーぶる〜す)
[1981.03.21] Yokohama Chick (ヨコハマ・チーク)
[1981.06.21] Blue Jeans Memory (ブルージーンズメモリー)
[1981.09.30] Gin Gira Gin ni Sarigenaku (ギンギラギンにさりげなく)
[1982.01.07] Jonetsu☆Neppu☽Sere da ne (情熱☆熱風☽せれなーで)
[1982.03.31] Furarete BANZAI (ふられてBANZAI)
[1982.06.30] High Teen Boogie (ハイティーン・ブギ)
[1982.09.30] Horetaze! Kanpai (ホレたぜ！乾杯)
[1983.01.30] Midnight Station (ミッドナイト・ステーション)
[1983.04.27] Manatsu no Ichibyo (真夏の一秒)
[1983.07.15] Tameiki Rocabilly (ためいきロ・カ・ビ・リー)
[1983.11.01] Royal Straight Flush (ロイヤル・ストレート・フラッシュ)
[1984.03.01] Ichibanyaro (一番野郎)
[1984.06.06] Keji Menasai (ケジメなさい)
[1984.09.13] Eien ni Himitsu sa (永遠に秘密さ)
[1985.02.13] Yoishotsu! (ヨイショッ！)
[1985.06.05] Yumehan (夢絆)*
[1985.10.21] Taisho (大将)
[1986.02.26] Junjo Monogatari (純情物語)
[1986.07.04] Seishun (青春)
[1986.09.10] Baby Rose
[1987.01.01] Orokamono (愚か者)
[1987.06.11] Sasurai (さすらい)
[1987.09.18] Naite mirya iijan (泣いてみりゃいいじゃん)
[1987.12.09] 1987 LIVE SINGLES
[1988.04.08] Made in Japan
[1988.09.14] Ah, Gutto (あぁ、グッと)
[1989.02.03] Yuuyake no Uta (夕焼けの歌)
[1989.06.01] Just For You
[1989.07.05] Iikagen (いいかげん)
[1989.11.10] Andalusia ni Akogarete (アンダルシアに憧れて)
[1990.04.08] Kimama ni WALKIN' (気ままにWALKIN')
[1990.05.05] Kimama ni WALKIN' -One Step At A Time- (気ままにWALKIN' -One Step At A Time-)
[1990.07.12] Ho Ho Ho・・・
[1990.10.24] Suki (好き)
[1991.07.19] Desperate -Narazumono- (デスペラード -ならず者-)
[1990.12.12] Burai-ha (無頼派)
[1992.05.21] Shonen no Kokoro (少年のこころ)
[1993.11.21] Kita Machikado (北街角)
[1995.07.21] Saigo no Love Song (最後のラヴ・ソング)
[1996.02.21] Midnight Shuffle (ミッドナイト・シャッフル)
[1997.02.21] Ai wa Hitotsu (愛はひとつ)
[1998.05.20] KING and QUEEN
[2002.05.22] Yoishotsu! '02 〜Nihon no Minasan Homete iki ma Show〜 (ヨイショ！'02 〜日本の皆さんホメていきまショー〜) (MATCHY with O.A.I)
[2005.12.14] Chosen-sha (挑戦者)
[2007.01.24] Shanghai bojo / Jonetsu Namida (上海慕情／情熱ナミダ)
[2008.01.23] Mezamero! Yasei (目覚めろ！野性) (MATCHY with Question?)
[2008.12.23] BANKA 〜Otokotachi no Banka〜 (BANKA 〜男たちの挽歌〜)
[2009.12.13] -MOTTO-
[2010.02.22] Zanbara (ざんばら)
[2012.11.21] Let's Go!
[2014.02.26] Chitose Renbo (千年恋慕)
[2015.02.19] Otona no Ryugi (大人の流儀)
[2017.12.03] Kiseki (軌跡)

. *Also released on a 12-Inch Record on December 1, 1985.

Studio Albums[]

[1981.03.05] Thank Ai You (Thank 愛 You)
[1981.12.16] Gin Gira Gin ni Sarigenaku (ギンギラギンにさりげなく)
[1982.07.18] BANZAI
[1983.04.01] RISING
[1984.01.01] WINNING
[1984.08.01] Shining
[1985.08.01] SUMMER IN TEARS
[1986.04.10] Mei Bamen (名場面)
[1986.12.12] DREAM
[1987.11.25] FOR YOU Hoyo (FOR YOU 抱擁)
[1988.11.02] Japan
[1989.12.12] KICKS
[1990.11.10] Uso no nai Kotoba -THE TRUTH- (うそのない言葉 -THE TRUTH-)
[1991.12.21] Burai-ha (無頼派)
[1992.12.02] Kirei (綺麗)
[1993.12.12] Kita Machikado (北街角)
[1997.07.01] GET BACK

Mini Albums[]

[1981.07.19] 17 Birthday (17バースデー)
[1988.07.01] SUMMER COLLECTION
[1989.07.19] Natsu no Air Mail (夏のエアメール)

Live Album[]

[1990.07.19] LIVE 10th Anniversary '90

Tribute Album[]

[2006.01.25] MATCHY TRIBUTE 25th anniversary

Best Hits Albums[]

[1985.04.04] THE MATCHY best song for you
[1987.06.04] KONDO MASAHIKO THE BEST (近藤真彦 THE BEST)
[1990.12.12] By Your Request
[1996.11.21] THE ROCK BEST
[2006.02.28] MATCHY★BEST
[2007.02.07] MATCHY★BEST Ⅱ
[2015.07.19] Sanjyu go　Kondo Masahiko×Ijuin Shizuka＝ Nijyuyon Kyoku (三十五周年　近藤真彦×伊集院静＝二十四曲)

CD-BOX[]

[2006.01.01] Matchy bako 〜25th Anniversary Complete Singles Edition〜) (マッチ箱〜25th Anniversary Complete Singles Edition〜)

Other[]

[1981.09.05] Blue Jeans Memory (ブルージーンズメモリー)
[1983.08.04] Arashi wo yobu Otoko (嵐を呼ぶ男)

Videos[]

[2007.05.09] '07 Valentine's Day in Budokan ('07 Valentine's Day in 武道館)
[2008.07.19] Kondo Masahiko Live 07.12.26 - 08.02.14 (近藤真彦ライブ 07.12.26 - 08.02.14)

Filmography[]

Trivia[]

He got married to an ordinary woman in 1994 and has one son with her born in 2007.
- Before his marriage, he was in a relationship with Nakamori Akina from 1985-1989 and they were supposedly engaged to be married. The engagement was broken off in 1989 after Nakamori discovered evidence of multiple affairs, one of which that was possibly with her married rival Matsuda Seiko. Both Kondo and Matsuda denied the affair. Kondo and Nakamori attempted to reconcile, but the relationship ended for good in the early 1990s.
He was a member of the unofficial group Tanokin Trio with Tahara Toshihiko and Nomura Yoshio.
In 1984 he took up race car driving as a hobby, and over time became very involved, participating in several major races. In 1998 he formed his own racing team, Kondo Racing, and eventually became the team's coach. When he went on hiatus in 2020, he stepped down as coach, but returned to the role following his return to entertainment in September 2021.

External links[]

Website (Kondo Racing)