Jpop Wiki

Welcome to the wiki. Please create an account if you want to get started editing and please visit the Guidelines page for further details on the rules of the wiki and how our editing format works.

READ MORE

Jpop Wiki
Jpop Wiki
Japanese Music Wiki
65,432
pages
in: July Births, 1965 Births, People born in Showa Period,
and 16 more

Nakamori Akina

Sign in to edit

Nakamori Akina (中森明菜) is a Japanese soloist, former idol and former actress.

She is best known for being one of the highest selling idols/solo singers of the 1980s.

History[]

Nakamori, the second youngest of six siblings, was encouraged by her mother to become a singer from a young age, although she herself did not care for singing.[1] She began auditioning for the TV talent show Star Tanjou! in middle school, failing in 1979 and 1980 but winning first place in 1981 with a record-breaking score. This victory led to her signing with Reprise Records, a Warner Pioneer subsidiary.

She debuted as an orthodox idol in 1982 with the single Slow Motion, but it was considered a commercial failure as it did not break into the top 20 of the Oricon weekly charts. Her planned next single was cancelled and a new, more daring song, Shoujo A, was released in its place. This single exceeded sales expectations, and after that Nakamori became one of the most popular idols of the 1980s. She also began a side acting career around this time, and dropped out of high school to support her entertainment career.

In 1984, Nakamori began to gradually shed her idol image by releasing a wider variety of music in different genres and singing styles. This transition was met with great commercial and critical success. She also starred in her first leading role in a movie in 1985, further strengthening her popularity. Although she had more freedom with her own artistic expression through her music and image, she still maintained an extremely vigorous schedule, which lead to several physical and mental health problems.

✝ This text contains information about suicide ✝
After a long battle with her health, burnout, and romantic relationship issues, Nakamori attempted suicide in her then boyfriend Kondo Masahiko's apartment in July 1989. She was rushed to the hospital and survived. Soon after the attempt

Nakamori went on a one year hiatus from entertainment in summer 1989 to focus on improving her mental health, and returned to the industry in 1990. However, due to the unexpected hiatus as well as alleged behavior issues, her contract with Reprise Records was not renewed, and several projects were canceled. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, her releases became increasingly sporadic due to frequent label changes and worsening health issues, though she enjoyed greater artistic freedom in her musical style.

After going on an extended hiatus in 2009 due to health issues, Nakamori briefly returned to entertainment in 2014. After that, she refused public appearances, but still communicated with fans through her fan club. She continued to release music occasionally up until the release of her 2017 album Akina, and ceased any activity after that.

Speculation about a possible permanent retirement ended in August 2022 when she launched an X (former Twitter) account, announced her comeback with new management, and reformed her fan club. In December 2023, she opened a YouTube channel and began posting self-covers of her older music. In April 2024, she revealed plans for five exclusive dinner shows at the COTTON CLUB in July, marking her both her first semi-public appearance in six and a half years, and first live performance in seventeen years.[2].

In December 2024, Nakamori released her first public interview in many years and announced more dinner shows and a scheduled appearance at the music festival Gigo Rock in Oita Prefecture in April 2025, which was her first public appearance and performance since her return not limited to select fan club members.[3] In June 2025, she announced a possible return to the acting world via voice acting, providing her voice for a supporting character in the children's anime series Araiguma Kara Kara dan.[4] In December 2025, it was reported that is allegedly planning for a nationwide public concert tour in late 2026.[5]

She aims for a full return to entertainment as her health improves.

Discography[]

Albums[]

  1. [1982.07.01] prologue (Jomaku) (プロローグ〈序幕〉)
  2. [1982.10.27] variation (Hensokyoku) (バリエーション〈変奏曲〉)
  3. [1983.03.23] fantasy (Gensokyoku) (ファンタジー〈幻想曲〉)
  4. [1983.08.10] NEW AKINA Etranze (NEW AKINA エトランゼ)
  5. [1984.05.01] ANNIVERSARY
  6. [1984.10.10] POSSIBILITY
  7. [1985.04.03] BITTER AND SWEET
  8. [1985.08.10] D404ME
  9. [1986.08.11] Fushigi (不思議; Mystery)
  10. [1986.12.24] CRIMSON
  11. [1987.08.25] Cross My Palm
  12. [1988.03.03] Stock
  13. [1988.08.03] Femme Fatale
  14. [1989.07.25] CRUISE
  15. [1993.09.22] UNBALANCE+BALANCE
  16. [1995.07.21] la alteración
  17. [1997.03.21] SHAKER
  18. [1998.06.17] SPOON
  19. [1999.12.01] will
  20. [2002.05.22] Resonancia
  21. [2003.05.14] I hope so
  22. [2006.06.21] DESTINATION
  23. [2009.08.26] DIVA
  24. [2015.12.30] FIXER
  25. [2017.11.08] Akina (明菜)

Mini Albums[]

  1. [1982.12.24] Seventeen
  2. [1984.12.21] SILENT LOVE
  3. [1985.12.21] MY BEST THANKS
  4. [1988.06.01] Wonder
  5. [1996.12.18] VAMP

Best Albums[]

  1. [1983.12.21] BEST AKINA Memoires (BEST AKINA メモワール)
  2. [1986.04.01] BEST
  3. [1987.05.01] CD'87
  4. [1988.12.24] BEST II
  5. [1992.11.10] BEST III
  6. [1993.04.25] YOUR SELECTION ~The Very Best of AKINA~
  7. [1993.07.10] Lyricism ~BALLAD COLLECTION~
  8. [1993.11.10] AKINA
  9. [1993.12.10] Mou Hitori no Akina (もう一人の明菜)
  10. [1994.03.25] Namida no Kawari ni... ~BALLAD COLLECTION II~ (涙のかわりに… ~BALLAD COLLECTION II~)
  11. [1994.03.25] PLAY WITH THE DANGER ~ROCK COLLECTION~
  12. [1994.05.18] Only Woman ~Best of Love Songs~
  13. [1994.11.30] SINGLES27 1982-1991
  14. [1995.12.06] true album akina 95 best
  15. [1998.03.04] AKINA NAKAMORI SUPER BEST
  16. [1998.05.25] Recollection ~Nakamori Akina Super Best~ (Recollection 〜中森明菜スーパー・ベスト〜)
  17. [1998.06.25] Recollection ~NAKAMORI AKINA REMIX~
  18. [1998.09.25] Recollection ~NAKAMORI AKINA REMIX II~
  19. [1998.10.21] AKINA NAKAMORI BEST COLLECTION
  20. [1999.10.20] Akina Nakamori Special Best
  21. [2001.11.14] AKINA NAKAMORI 20TH ANNIVERSARY BEST
  22. [2001.12.19] NAKAMORI AKINA SUPER VALUE
  23. [2002.12.04] Akina Nakamori ~ Utahime Double Decade (Akina Nakamori〜歌姫ダブル・ディケイド)
  24. [2006.01.11] BEST FINGER 25th anniversary selection
  25. [2007.01.17] Utahime Best ~25th Anniversary Selection~ (歌姫ベスト ~25th Anniversary Selection~)
  26. [2007.03.28] Ballad Best 25th Anniversary Selection (バラード・ベスト 25th Anniversary Selection)
  27. [2008.02.27] Utahime Densetsu ~ '90s BEST (歌姫伝説～’９０ｓ　ＢＥＳＴ)
  28. [2008.03.07] SUPER BEST COLLECTION "AKINA + EAST LIVE"
  29. [2009.06.10] Complete Single Collections ~ First Ten Years (コンプリート・シングル・コレクションズ〜ファースト・テン・イヤーズ)
  30. [2012.07.11] Best Collection ~Love Songs & Pop Songs~ (ベスト・コレクション 〜ラブ・ソングス&ポップ・ソングス〜)
  31. [2014.01.29] Dramatic Airport -AKINA TRAVEL SELECTION- (ドラマティック・エアポート －AKINA TRAVEL SELECTION－)
  32. [2014.06.18] Burning Love ~Jounetsu no Natsu Best~ (Burning Love 〜情熱の夏ベスト〜)
  33. [2014.06.18] Akina Nakamori Mini Album Collection
  34. [2014.08.06] ALL TIME BEST -Original- (オールタイム・ベスト -オリジナル-)
  35. [2014.08.06] ALL TIME BEST COVER -Utahime- (オールタイム・ベスト・カヴァー -歌姫-)
  36. [2020.12.21] Utahime -Stereo Sound Selection- (歌姫 -Stereo Sound Selection-)
  37. [2021.09.30] Utahime -Stereo Sound Selection- Vol. 2
  38. [2021.12.10] Utahime -Stereo Sound Selection- Vol. 3
  39. [2022.03.24] Utahime -Stereo Sound Selection- Vol. 4
  40. [2022.05.01] "slow motion" & "Hajimemashite" BOX (「スローモーション」&「はじめまして」BOX)
  41. [2022.07.13] ALL TIME BEST -Original- Stereo Sound Selection Vol. 5 (オールタイム・ベスト -オリジナル- Stereo Sound Selection Vol. 5)
  42. [2022.09.21] "NEW AKINA Étranger" & "NEW AKINA Étranger Akina Nakamori in Europe" BOX (「NEW AKINA エトランゼ」&「NEW AKINA エトランゼ 中森明菜 in ヨーロッパ」BOX)
  43. [2022.11.16] Utahime -Stereo Sound Selection- Vol. 6
  44. [2022.12.21] Singles ~ 1981-85 Nakamori Akina 11 Great Hit Singles + 6 by Yuzo Shimada

Live Albums[]

  1. [1989.11.17] AKINA EAST LIVE INDEX-XXIII
  2. [1991.11.28] Listen to Me

Cover Albums[]

  1. [1994.03.24] Utahime (歌姫; Song Princess)
  2. [2002.03.20] -ZEROalbum- Utahime 2
  3. [2002.12.04] Utahime Special Edition
  4. [2003.12.03] Utahime 3 ~ Shuumaku (歌姫3 〜終幕; Song Princess ~ End)
  5. [2007.06.27] Enka (艶華)
  6. [2008.12.24] Folk Song ~ Utahime Jojouka (フォーク・ソング～歌姫抒情歌; Song Princess' Expression of Feelings)
  7. [2009.06.24] Mood Kayou ~Utahime Showa Meikyoku Shuu~ (ムード歌謡 ～歌姫昭和名曲集～; Mood Songs ~Collection of Famous Pieces of Music from the Showa Era~)
  8. [2009.07.29] Folk Song 2 ~ Utahime Aishouka (フォーク・ソング2　～歌姫哀翔歌)
  9. [2015.01.28] Utahime 4 -My Eggs Benedict- (歌姫4 -My Eggs Benedict-)
  10. [2016.11.30] Belie
  11. [2017.05.03] Vampire
  12. [2017.11.08] Cage

Singles[]

  1. [1982.05.01] slow motion (スローモーション)
  2. [1982.07.28] Shoujo A (少女A; Girl A)
  3. [1982.11.10] Second Love (セカンド・ラブ)
  4. [1983.02.23] 1/2 no Shinwa (1⁄2の神話; 1/2 of the Myth)
  5. [1983.06.01] Twilight -Yugure Dayori- (トワイライト -夕暮れ便り-)
  6. [1983.09.07] Kinku (禁区; Forbidden Zone)
  7. [1984.01.01] Kita Wing (北ウイング; North Wing)
  8. [1984.04.11] Southern Wind (サザン・ウインド)
  9. [1984.07.25] Jukkai (1984) (十戒 (1984); Ten Commandments (1984))
  10. [1984.11.14] Kazari Janai no yo Namida wa (飾りじゃないのよ涙は; I'm not made of Tears)
  11. [1985.03.08] MI AMORE (ミ・アモーレ)
  12. [1985.05.01] Akai Tori Nigeta (赤い鳥逃げた; The Runaway Red Bird)
  13. [1985.06.19] SAND BEIGE -Sabaku e- (砂漠へ; SAND BEIGE -In the Desert-)
  14. [1985.10.09] SOLITUDE
  15. [1986.02.03] DESIRE -Jounetsu- (DESIRE -情熱-; DESIRE -Passion-)
  16. [1986.05.26] Gypsy Queen (ジプシー・クイーン)
  17. [1986.09.25] Fin
  18. [1986.11.10] Nonfiction Ecstasy (ノンフィクション エクスタシー)
  19. [1987.02.04] TANGO NOIR
  20. [1987.06.03] BLONDE
  21. [1987.09.30] Nanpasen (難破船; Shipwreck)
  22. [1988.01.27] AL-MAUJ (アルマージ)
  23. [1988.05.18] TATTOO
  24. [1988.11.01] I MISSED "THE SHOCK"
  25. [1989.04.25] LIAR
  26. [1990.07.17] Dear Friend
  27. [1990.11.16] Mizu ni Sashita Hana (水に挿した花; Flower in Water)
  28. [1991.03.25] Futari Shizuka "Tenkawa Densetsu Satsujin Jiken" Yori (二人静 -「天河伝説殺人事件」より)
  29. [1993.05.21] Everlasting Love / NOT CRAZY TO ME
  30. [1994.03.24] Kataomoi / Aibu (片想い/愛撫)
  31. [1994.09.02] Yoru no Dokoka de ~night shift~ (夜のどこかで 〜night shift〜)
  32. [1994.10.05] Gekka (月華)
  33. [1995.06.21] Genshi, Onna wa Taiyou Datta (原始、女は太陽だった)
  34. [1995.11.01] Tokyo Rose
  35. [1996.08.07] MOONLIGHT SHADOW - Tsuki ni Hoero (MOONLIGHT SHADOW-月に吠えろ)
  36. [1997.02.21] APPETITE
  37. [1998.02.11] Kisei ~Never Forget~ (帰省 〜Never Forget〜)
  38. [1998.05.21] Konya, Nagareboshi (今夜、流れ星)
  39. [1998.09.23] Tomadoi (とまどい)
  40. [1999.01.21] Ophelia (オフェリア)
  41. [1999.12.01] Trust Me
  42. [2001.05.31] It's brand new day
  43. [2002.05.02] The Heat ~musica fiesta~
  44. [2003.04.30] Days
  45. [2004.05.12] Akai Hana (赤い花; The Red Flower)
  46. [2004.07.07] Hajimete Deatta Hi no You ni (初めて出逢った日のように)
  47. [2005.12.07] Rakka Ryusui (落花流水)
  48. [2006.05.17] Hana yo Odore (花よ踊れ)
  49. [2009.09.23] DIVA
  50. [2015.01.21] Rojo -Tierra-
  51. [2015.09.30] unfixable
  52. [2016.02.24] FIXER -WHILE THE WOMEN ARE SLEEPING-
  53. [2024.07.15] [[BL

Digital Singles[]

  1. [2010.07.13] Crazy Love
  2. [2024.07.15] BLONDE -JAZZ-
  3. [2024.07.15] TATTOO -JAZZ-
  4. [2024.07.15] Gypsy Queen -JAZZ-
  5. [2024.07.15] slow motion-JAZZ-
  6. [2024.07.15] Kita Wing -JAZZ-
  7. [2024.07.15] FIN -JAZZ-

Video Releases[]

  1. [1983.10.12] NEW AKINA Étranger Akina Nakamori in Europe (NEW AKINA エトランゼ 中森明菜 in ヨーロッパ)
  2. [1985.05.01] Hajimemashite Nakamori Akina (はじめまして 中森明菜)
  3. [1985.12.10] BITTER & SWEET 1985 SUMMER TOUR
  4. [1987.12.21] Cross My Palm
  5. [1989.11.28] AKINA EAST LIVE INDEX-XXIII
  6. [1992.07.25] Yume '91 Akina Nakamori Special Live (夢 '91 Akina Nakamori Special Live)
  7. [1993.08.25] Live in '87 A HUNDRED days
  8. [1993.08.25] Live in '88 Femme Fatale
  9. [1995.03.24] "UTAHIME" AKINA NAKAMORI PARCO THEATER LIVE
  10. [1997.09.22] felicidad AKINA NAKAMORI LIVE '97
  11. [2001.09.27] Akina Nakamori. 2001. 20th Anniversary Live ~It's brand new day~
  12. [2002.07.10] Apasionado
  13. [2002.12.04] AKINA NAKAMORI MUSICA FIESTA TOUR 2002
  14. [2003.12.17] Live tour 2003 ~I hope so~
  15. [2006.01.11] Akina Nakamori Special Live 2005 Empress at CLUB eX
  16. [2007.01.17] LIVE TOUR 2006 The Last Destination
  17. [2009.07.29] CLIP2002~2007&MORE
  18. [2010.08.18] AKINA NAKAMORI Special Live 2009 "Empress at Yokohama"
  19. [2010.12.22] Nakamori Akina IN Yoru no Hit Studio (中森明菜 IN 夜のヒットスタジオ)

Box Sets[]

  1. [1996.05.01] Collection 1982-1991
  2. [2000.11.22] The Century of AKINA ~ Warner 30th Anniversary Box
  3. [2002.08.21] For Dear Friends - Akina Nakamori Single Collection Box
  4. [2004.12.01] Utahime Complete Box Empress Akina Nakamori 1994 ~ 2004
  5. [2006.06.21] AKINA BOX 1982-1989
  6. [2012.03.28] The Best Ten Nakamori Akina Premium BOX (ザ・ベストテン 中森明菜 プレミアムBOX)
  7. [2014.06.18] Singles Box 1982-1991
  8. [2015.09.30] Nakamori Akina Premium BOX Lucas ~ NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen & Let's Go Young etc. (中森明菜プレミアムBOX ルーカス〜NHK紅白歌合戦&レッツゴーヤング etc.)
  9. [2016.05.04] Nakamori Akina THE LIVE DVD COMPLETE BOX (中森明菜 THE LIVE DVD COMPLETE BOX)
  10. [2021.06.09] ANNIVERSARY COMPLETE ANALOG SINGLE COLLECTION 1982-1991

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • She has two older brothers and two older sisters. Her younger sister, gravure model Nakamori Akiho, passed away from cirrhosis of the liver on May 27, 2019. Her mother Nakamori Chieko passed away from cancer in 1995. Her father Nakamori Akio passed away from pneumonia complications on December 14, 2024[6]
    • Nakamori stopped speaking to her biological family in the late 1980s, likely due to her younger sister pursuing an adult modeling career using the family name and issues concerning how the money she made was handled by her family. The last time she saw her biological family was in 1995 at her mother's funeral service. She has allegedly never contacted any other family members or attended any funerals or family events since. She legally removed herself from the Nakamori family registry in 1998. In 2025, one of her older brothers confirmed that she had since been legally adopted as an adult by the family behind her management company HZ VILLAGE'.[7] Although she likely has a new legal name, she still uses "Nakamori" as her stage name as of 2025
  • When she first debuted she was considered by both the media and her own management to be the second Yamaguchi Momoe, so many of her early songs were written in the style of Yamaguchi's music. However, Nakamori herself hated this perception and wanted to be seen as her own person. Her voice coach, Omoto Yasutaka (1934-2025), took notice of this and began to encourage her to learn her own style of singing rather than copy Yamaguchi.[8] Over time, she did develop her own style and this perception was gradually broken down
  • She dated fellow idol Kondo Masahiko from 1984 to 1989. They were also allegedly engaged to be married at some point, but it was broken off in 1989 as a result of Kondo's multiple affairs
  • She was supposed to debut under the stage name "Mori Asuna" (森アスナ) but Nakamori refused to debut unless it was under her real name[9][10]
  • She took ballet lessons as a child and stopped when she became an idol, however she would incorporate many elements of ballet into her choreography routines
  • In the 1980s Nakamori stated she struggled to make friends in the entertainment industry. However, she was friends with some celebrities like Kawada Atsuko[11], Fujii Fumiya, Koizumi Kyoko, and Tahara Toshihiko
    • Tahara stated that their friendship had always been similar to a "older brother-little sister" type relationship, often sharing their concerns about one another, and he also referred to Nakamori as something like a platonic soulmate. After losing contact for several years, they began talking again in 2025. Tahara said that Nakamori had been going to bed early, working out and taking vocal lessons regularly as part of her return to entertainment plan[12]
  • She shares a birthday with Ishikawa Hidemi
  • She is known to be technologically inept. In a 2006 interview on the television show HEY! HEY! HEY!, she admitted she had never owned a cell phone. In 2024 she stated that she owned an Apple smart phone and enjoyed using the digital voice assistant Siri, but was still confused by social media[13]
  • She is a longtime fan of the comedian duo Nakagawa-ke (中川家)[14]
  • In 2025 she admitted that she has never enjoyed singing and only initially pursued a singing career for financial reasons. However, overtime she grew to value her fans over all else. She considered permanent retirement from entertainment during her hiatus starting in 2017, but decided to come back because she still had many dedicated fans cheering and even concerned for her even while inactive. She even went to far as to say that if she only had a single fan left that wanted her to sing, she would do it for them.[15]
  • She is known to often bow in gratitude very deeply, with her head sometimes coming below her knees. Sometimes her fans refer to her as a "human flip-phone."[16]
  • Nakamori was known throughout her career to love alcoholic beverages, and stated on many occasions that red wines and mixed drinks with vodka were her favorite. It is speculated by many fans and even the tabloid media that at some points in her career she experienced addiction and/or dependency, due to reported erratic behavior and statements she made during interviews, although it has never been confirmed. However, in December 2025 it was reported that part of her return to entertainment plan included abstaining from alcoholic drinks, and allegedly she became sober at some point within the year.[17]

Reference List[]

  1. ↑ [1]
  2. ↑ https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2335933/?ref=news_group
  3. ↑ https://www.sanspo.com/article/20241204-Y5GV7FCTIRMTJN5V64KLHNRXIY/
  4. ↑ https://animeanime.jp/article/2025/06/26/91472.html
  5. ↑ https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/de12642a1b2a132611159f52ecdf958749165fa2?page=1
  6. ↑ https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ad30780184524b30d744b73ac8562ad87fa54be3
  7. ↑ https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ad30780184524b30d744b73ac8562ad87fa54be3
  8. ↑ https://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20250309_2027133.html?DETAIL
  9. ↑ Yasuda Koichi, “Research on Loneliness: Akina Nakamori and Her Times, Part 2,” Weekly Post , August 2, 2013 issue, Shogakukan , 2013.
  10. ↑ https://www.iza.ne.jp/article/20200219-UN4SMW37SZK6BHHB7ENIFMHAGM/
  11. ↑ https://jisin.jp/entertainment/interview/2093236/
  12. ↑ https://www.sponichi.co.jp/entertainment/news/2025/06/22/kiji/20250622s00041000282000c.html?page=1
  13. ↑ https://www.nikkansports.com/entertainment/news/202412150001066.html
  14. ↑ https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2337838/full/
  15. ↑ https://www.gqjapan.jp/article/20251001-akina-nakamori-vol1
  16. ↑ https://www.gqjapan.jp/article/20251001-akina-nakamori-vol1
  17. ↑ https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/de12642a1b2a132611159f52ecdf958749165fa2?page=2

External Links[]

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.