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Watanabe Minayo

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Watanabe Minayo (渡辺美奈代) is a Japanese idol, model, actress, businesswoman, social media influencer and a former member of Onyanko Club.

She joined Onyanko Club on November 29, 1985, and graduated on September 20, 1987, where the group disbanded.

History[]

Watanabe was scouted by CBS/Sony in junior high after attending an extracurricular music school, and was then signed to Burning Production. In late 1985, Burning Production staff advised her to try out for Onyanko Club through the Young Paradise radio audition show. She was later officially accepted as member #29 as the runner up to Yokota Mutsumi. After singing backup on Kokusho Sayuri’s debut single, her popularity soared, leading to her own solo debut. Known for her childish and girly image, she continued her solo career after Onyanko Club disbanded but eventually prioritized modeling. She retired from singing in 1996 after getting married and became a housewife, but remained partially active in the entertainment world.

After her marriage, Watanabe began to expand her ventures beyond an entertainment career and founded multiple businesses such as a nail salon and furniture store. She is currently the owner of a fashion boutique[1] called Minayo Select in Minato City, Tokyo. and became a top family-life blogger in Japan. In addition to her family blog, Watanabe is also a popular family life vlogger via her YouTube channel and TikTok. Although she is officially retired from singing, Watanabe continues to organize and perform annual concerts for her fan club for many years and still considers herself an idol.

In 2017, Watanabe released her first EP in over 20 years, and in 2021, she released a comeback single written by her eldest son for the 35th anniversary of her solo debut.

Profile[]

  • Member Number: 29
  • Qualifications: Ordinary driver's license
  • Hobbies: Interior decorating, nail art, searching for new items, and fashion
  • Special Skills: Housework in general (especially cleaning), table tennis, and danshari

Discography[]

Albums[]

  1. [1986.11.29] Alfalfa (アルファルファ)
  2. [1987.05.28] HOPPING
  3. [1987.12.21] Frill (フリル)
  4. [1988.08.19] MY BOY -Utae! Taiyou- a summer place (MY BOY -歌え! 太陽- a summer place; MY BOY -Sing! The Sun- a summer place)
  5. [1989.02.10] Koishiteru to, Ii ne -the Heart of Love- (恋してると、いいね -the Heart of Love-; It's Nice When You're in Love -the Heart of Love-)

Best Albums[]

  1. [1988.07.01] Sweet Little Songs
  2. [1989.12.21] KISS! KISS! KISS! -MINAYO WATANABE BEST-
  3. [1991.09.21] WILL ~MINAYO SELECTIONS~
  4. [1997.07.21] Watanabe Minayo Best Collection (渡辺美奈代ベスト・コレクション)
  5. [2002.11.20] GOLDEN☆BEST Watanabe Minayo SINGLES (GOLDEN☆BEST 渡辺美奈代 SINGLES)
  6. [2016.07.27] Watanabe Minayo 30th Anniversary Complete Singles Collection (渡辺美奈代 30th Anniversary Complete Singles Collection)

Mini Albums[]

  1. [2017.07.19] HAPPY STORY

Collaboration Albums[]

  1. [1986.12.05] Merry X'mas for You (w/ Kawai Sonoko, Kokusho Sayuri, Jounouchi Sanae, and Watanabe Marina)

Collaboration Best Albums[]

  1. [1987.12.09] Otoshidama (お年玉; New Year's Gift) (w/ Kawai Sonoko, Kokusho Sayuri, Jounouchi Sanae, and Watanabe Marina)
  2. [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/ Kawai Sonoko, Kokusho Sayuri, Jounouchi Sanae, and Watanabe Marina)
  3. [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/ Kawai Sonoko, Kokusho Sayuri, Jounouchi Sanae, and Watanabe Marina)

Singles[]

  1. [1986.07.16] Hitomi ni Yakusoku (瞳に約束; Promise to Your Eyes)
  2. [1986.10.15] Yuki no Kaeri Michi (雪の帰り道; Snow on the Way Home)
  3. [1987.01.15] TOO ADULT
  4. [1987.04.15] PINK no CHAO (PINKのCHAO)
  5. [1987.07.29] Amaryllis (アマリリス)
  6. [1987.11.18] Girls on the Roof (ガールズ・オン・ザ・ルーフ)
  7. [1988.02.26] Ryoute Ippai no Memory (両手いっぱいのメモリー; Two Hands Full of Memories)
  8. [1988.05.18] Chotto Fallin' Love (ちょっとFallin' Love; A Little Fallin' Love)
  9. [1988.08.03] Daite Ageru (抱いてあげる; I'll Hold You)
  10. [1988.11.09] Ii Ja Nai (いいじゃない; It's Nice)
  11. [1989.01.21] Ai ga Nakucha, ne! (愛がなくちゃ、ネッ!; Without Love, Right!)
  12. [1989.06.14] Winter Spring, Summer Fall (Winterスプリング、Summerフォール)
  13. [1989.11.22] Romance Kouitten (恋愛紅一点; Lone Woman Romace)
  14. [1990.08.22] Pizzicato Princess (ピチカート・プリンセス)
  15. [1991.08.23] Hanako no Kekkon (Hanakoの結婚; Hanako's Marriage)
  16. [1995.04.26] Ofuro de GO! (オフロでGO!; GO in the Bath!)
  17. [1996.04.24] Iroiro Atta Kedo (いろいろあったけど; I've Been Through a Lot)
  18. [2021.09.29] BIG LOVE

Collaboration Singles[]

  1. [2012.08.15] Natsu no Hi no 1993 (夏の日の1993; Summer Day 1993) (w/ M-ROCH)

Video Releases[]

  1. [1987.03.xx] Dream Times Minayo-chan (どりーむたいむす 美奈代chan)
  2. [1988.12.21] ZENBU MINAYO
  3. [1999.11.21] Pizzicato Princess (ピチカート・プリンセス)
  4. [2012.09.28] Minayo-Watanabe 25+2 Anniversary Live 2012
  5. [2015.01.11] Minayo Watanabe BirthDay Live 2014
  6. [2017.05.14] FOREVER IDOL 374
  7. [2018.06.09] Minayo Watanabe Birthday Live 2017
  8. [2019.06.09] Minayo Watanabe Birthday Live 2018
  9. [2020.05.15] Minayo Watanabe Memorial Live 2019
  10. [2021.09.xx] Minayo Watanabe Birthday Live 2020
  11. [2021.09.xx] BIG LOVE Music Video
  12. [2022.05.28] Minayo Watanabe Birthday Live 2021
  13. [2022.09.15] ZENBU MINAYO and more
  14. [2023.01.22] Minayo Watanabe Birthday Live 2022

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • In 1996, she married HOT SOX member Mickey. The couple met through a mutual connection belonging to their agency at the time, Burning Production, who set them up on a date.[2] Former Onyanko Club members Yamamoto Susan Kumiko, Iwai Yukiko, Yamamori Yuriko, and Yoshizawa Akie attended the reception ceremony.
  • She has two older siblings and one younger sister. One of her older siblings is a brother.
  • Her best friend in Onyanko Club was Iwai Yukiko. Although she was often paired with Watanabe Marina due to their identical last name, it is said they disliked each other.
  • Her unusual given name is the result of her parents wanting a similar sounding name to the then extremely popular name Minako (美奈子), but adding a different last character to make it more unique. [3]
  • She attended Horikoshi High School. She became friends with many students, such as Saito Makiko, Sakai Noriko and Nishimura Tomomi. She graduated in 1988.
    • She attended Inazawa Girls' High School for one year before transferring to Horikoshi.
    • Her best friend at school was Nishimura. The pair even traveled to Walt Disney World in Florida, United States together.
  • She was good friends with Kawai Kazumi and attended her funeral.[4]
  • She briefly lived in the same dormitory as fellow Onyanko Club members Kudo Shizuka, Jounouchi Sanae, Kawai Sonoko, and Kokusho Sayuri in 1985.
  • Akimoto Yasushi said that she was the most "orthodox idol" out of any Onyanko Club member and also stated that she was "born to be an idol."[5]

External Links[]

  1. ↑ https://minayo-select.stores.jp/
  2. ↑ Shuukan Post article published November 16, 2001. 週刊ポスト 2001年11月16日号『中尾彬のウンチク付き突っ込み美女対談 第38回』（232-235ページ）
  3. ↑ Her autobiography "Itsumademo Idol!" published in 2001. ISBN: 4873662001
  4. ↑ Nikkan Sports article published on May 13, 1997
  5. ↑ From "Onyanko White Paper," Fuji Television Publishing, August 24, 1987. ISBN-10. 4594001696
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