Nagura Marina (名倉満里奈) née Watanabe (渡辺) is a Japanese actress, talento, former idol singer and a former member of Onyanko Club.
History[]
Born to two restaurant owners, Watanabe was encouraged by her mother and elder sister to enter the Miss Seventeen contest. Although she didn’t win any of the prizes, CBS/Sony ended up scouted her for their junior program. She joined Onyanko Club on a friend's recommendation in 1986 with a high audition score and quickly became popular, even getting lead vocals on Osaki ni Shitsurei after only being an active member for about a month before recording began. Her solo debut followed shortly after in October 1986 to huge success.
After Onyanko Club disbanded in 1987, Watanabe continued her music career, rebranding herself as a singer and later transitioning to the Shibuya-kei genre in the 1990s. She retired from singing in 1996 but remained active in acting and television hosting. In 2023, she briefly returned to music, performing and touring with DJ Night Tempo.
Discography[]
- Albums
- [1987.02.26] MARINA
- [1987.09.02] EVERGREEN
- [1988.07.21] SUNNY SIDE
- [1989.04.07] MISS
- [1989.12.15] TWO OF US
- [1990.07.21] a piece of cake!
- [1991.08.01] mood moonish
- Mini Albums
- [1987.12.09] CHRISTMAS TALES
- [1996.03.21] Ring-a-Bell
- Best Albums
- [1988.04.01] DIARY
- [1990.11.18] FUNNY FACE
- [1997.07.21] Watanabe Marina Best Collection (渡辺満里奈ベストコレクション)
- [2010.04.28] GOLDEN☆BEST WATANABE MARINA (GOLDEN☆BEST 渡辺満里奈)
- [2017.09.20] MY FAVOURITE POP
- Collaboration Albums
- [1986.12.05] Merry X'mas for You (w/ Kokusho Sayuri, Kawai Sonoko, Jounouchi Sanae, and Watanabe Minayo)
- Collaboration Best Albums
- [1987.12.09] Otoshidama (お年玉) (w/ Kokusho Sayuri, Kawai Sonoko, Jounouchi Sanae, and Watanabe Minayo)
- [2010.04.28] GOLDEN☆BEST Kawai Sonoko / Kokusho Sayuri / Jounouchi Sanae / Watanabe Minayo / Watanabe Marina (GOLDEN☆BEST 河合その子・国生さゆり・城之内早苗・渡辺美奈代・渡辺満里奈) (w/ Kokusho Sayuri, Kawai Sonoko, Jounouchi Sanae, and Watanabe Minayo)
- [2012.01.10] Sony Music no Onyanko 5 Ri Musume Best of Best (ソニーミュージックのおニャン子5人娘 ベスト・オブ・ベスト) (w/ Kokusho Sayuri, Kawai Sonoko, Jounouchi Sanae, and Watanabe Minayo)
- Singles
- [1986.10.08} Shinkokyu Shite (深呼吸して; Just Take a Deep Breath) (w/ Onyanko Club)
- [1987.01.01] White Rabbit Kara no Message (ホワイトラビットからのメッセージ; The White Rabbit's Message)
- [1987.04.08] Marina no Natsu (マリーナの夏; Marina's Summer)
- [1987.07.15] Natsuyasumi Dake no Sideseat (夏休みだけのサイドシート; Summer Vacation's Sideseat)
- [1987.11.11] Chiisana Breakin' my heart (ちいさなBreakin' my heart; A Small Breakin' my heart)
- [1988.03.12] Mitsumete Agetai (見つめてあげたい; I'm Gazing at You)
- [1988.06.22] Natsu no Tanpen (夏の短編; Short Summer)
- [1988.10.21] Mou Yume Kara Samenaide (もう夢からさめないで; Don't Wake Me From the Dream Yet)
- [1989.03.01] Calendar (カレンダー)
- [1989.07.21] Niji no Shounen (虹の少年; Rainbow Boy)
- [1989.11.22] Mune ga Ippai (胸がいっぱい; Overflowing with Feelings)
- [1990.04.08] Atarashii Kimochi (新しい気持ち; New Feelings)
- [1990.07.01] Daisuki na Shirt (大好きなシャツ; My Favorite Shirt)
- [1991.08.01] Shiawase no Rinkaku (幸せの輪郭; The Outline of Happiness)
- [1992.05.21] Birthday Boy (バースデイ ボーイ)
- [1995.02.22] Ureshii Yokan (うれしい予感; Feeling Happy)
- Collaboration Singles
- [1997.10.22] Taiyou to Hana Uta (太陽とハナウタ)
- Video Releases
- [1988.05.28] 1988, Haru. Marina. (1988、春。満里奈。; 1988, Spring. Marina.)
- [1988.11.21] “photograph”
- [1990.03.21] Atarashii Kimochi ~MY ONLY TRUE LOVE STORY~ (新しい気持ち～MY ONLY TRUE LOVE STORY～; New Feelings ~MY ONLY TRUE LOVE STORY~)
- [1990.09.21] Daisuki na Shirt (1990 Ryokou Sakusen) (大好きなシャツ (1990旅行作戦); My Favorite Shirt (1990 Travel Strategy))
- [2010.12.01] Watanabe Marina Maternity Pilates ~Kokoro mo Karada mo Relax Ninpu-san no Tame no Anshin Kaiteki Exercise~ (渡辺満里奈 マタニティ･ピラティス～心も身体もリラックス 妊婦さんのための安心･快適エクササイズ～; Watanabe Marina Maternity Pilates ~Relax Your Mind and Body Safe and Comfortable exercises for Pregnant Women~)
- Compilations / Others
- [1988.06.22] Natsuyasumi -Idol Summer Song Collection-
- [1988.11.21] Christmas no Idol-tachi
- [1990.04.21] Super Idol Best Hit 16
- [1991.10.25] Exotica Bojou
- [1992.08.01] YAWARA! Soreyuke Koshinuke Kids!!
- [1993.09.09] Happy End ni Sasagu
- [1995.11.11] MAX JAPAN 2
- [1997.07.01] GOLDEN J-POP 1985~86
- [1999.11.03] 20 Seiki BEST / Idol History Vol. 3
- [2000.11.22] Seishun Uta Nenkan '86 BEST 30
- [2003.11.27] CITY POP ~SONY MUSIC edition
- [2004.11.17] Idol Miracle Bible Series Idol Christmas
- [2007.07.18] Summer Girl
- [2008.03.19] Otokabe JAPAN
- [2008.06.25] Shoujo Jidai ~Mune Kyun Bakka.~
- [2009.12.23] LOVELY POPS
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Her Onyanko Club member number was 36.
- On October 23, 2005 she married comedian Nagura Jun.
- The couple are the parents of two children, a boy (born December 9, 2007) and a girl (born June 24, 2010).
- Her niece is stage actress and talento Watanabe Nanoka (渡辺菜花.)
- The couple are the parents of two children, a boy (born December 9, 2007) and a girl (born June 24, 2010).
- She has an older sister and a younger brother.
- She is currently good friends with Nomiya Maki, formerly of Pizzicato Five.
- During her Onyanko Club days, she was good friends with Shiraishi Mako. It was rumored that she disliked Watanabe Minayo, but the rumors have never been confirmed. She has stated herself that she did not have a good relationship with Kudo Shizuka. Watanabe has also stated that she disliked a four person friend group in Onyanko Club who were always holding hands.[1]
- She has had a long standing good relationship with Tunnels since her debut in Onyanko Club. The pair often treated her exceptionally well as compared to other Onyanko Club members, and after she graduated she became a popular celebrity pick on their TV shows.
- Her first name was extremely unusual around the time of her birth. In the years following her debut, variants of "Marina" became a popular girls name in Japan.