Watanabe Minayo (渡辺美奈代) is a Japanese idol, model, actress, businesswoman, 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 shifted to gravure modeling, retiring from singing in 1996 after getting married.
She now owns a beauty salon, boutique, and furniture store[1], and became a top family-life blogger in Japan. Watanabe occasionally returns to singing and holds annual concerts for her fan club around her birthday.
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[]
- [1986.11.29] Alfalfa (アルファルファ)
- [1987.05.28] HOPPING
- [1987.12.21] Frill (フリル)
- [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)
- [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[]
- [1988.07.01] Sweet Little Songs
- [1989.12.21] KISS! KISS! KISS! -MINAYO WATANABE BEST-
- [1991.09.21] WILL ~MINAYO SELECTIONS~
- [1997.07.21] Watanabe Minayo Best Collection (渡辺美奈代ベスト・コレクション)
- [2002.11.20] GOLDEN☆BEST Watanabe Minayo SINGLES (GOLDEN☆BEST 渡辺美奈代 SINGLES)
- [2016.07.27] Watanabe Minayo 30th Anniversary Complete Singles Collection (渡辺美奈代 30th Anniversary Complete Singles Collection)
Mini Albums[]
- [2017.07.19] HAPPY STORY
Collaboration Albums[]
- [1986.12.05] Merry X'mas for You (w/ Kawai Sonoko, Kokusho Sayuri, Jounouchi Sanae, and Watanabe Marina)
Collaboration Best Albums[]
- [1987.12.09] Otoshidama (お年玉; New Year's Gift) (w/ Kawai Sonoko, Kokusho Sayuri, Jounouchi Sanae, and Watanabe Marina)
- [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)
- [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[]
- [1986.07.16] Hitomi ni Yakusoku (瞳に約束; Promise to Your Eyes)
- [1986.10.15] Yuki no Kaeri Michi (雪の帰り道; Snow on the Way Home)
- [1987.01.15] TOO ADULT
- [1987.04.15] PINK no CHAO (PINKのCHAO)
- [1987.07.29] Amaryllis (アマリリス)
- [1987.11.18] Girls on the Roof (ガールズ・オン・ザ・ルーフ)
- [1988.02.26] Ryoute Ippai no Memory (両手いっぱいのメモリー; Two Hands Full of Memories)
- [1988.05.18] Chotto Fallin' Love (ちょっとFallin' Love; A Little Fallin' Love)
- [1988.08.03] Daite Ageru (抱いてあげる; I'll Hold You)
- [1988.11.09] Ii Ja Nai (いいじゃない; It's Nice)
- [1989.01.21] Ai ga Nakucha, ne! (愛がなくちゃ、ネッ!; Without Love, Right!)
- [1989.06.14] Winter Spring, Summer Fall (Winterスプリング、Summerフォール)
- [1989.11.22] Romance Kouitten (恋愛紅一点; Lone Woman Romace)
- [1990.08.22] Pizzicato Princess (ピチカート・プリンセス)
- [1991.08.23] Hanako no Kekkon (Hanakoの結婚; Hanako's Marriage)
- [1995.04.26] Ofuro de GO! (オフロでGO!; GO in the Bath!)
- [1996.04.24] Iroiro Atta Kedo (いろいろあったけど; I've Been Through a Lot)
- [2021.09.29] BIG LOVE
Collaboration Singles[]
- [2012.08.15] Natsu no Hi no 1993 (夏の日の1993; Summer Day 1993) (w/ M-ROCH)
Video Releases[]
- [1987.03.xx] Dream Times Minayo-chan (どりーむたいむす 美奈代chan)
- [1988.12.21] ZENBU MINAYO
- [1999.11.21] Pizzicato Princess (ピチカート・プリンセス)
- [2012.09.28] Minayo-Watanabe 25+2 Anniversary Live 2012
- [2015.01.11] Minayo Watanabe BirthDay Live 2014
- [2017.05.14] FOREVER IDOL 374
- [2018.06.09] Minayo Watanabe Birthday Live 2017
- [2019.06.09] Minayo Watanabe Birthday Live 2018
- [2020.05.15] Minayo Watanabe Memorial Live 2019
- [2021.09.xx] Minayo Watanabe Birthday Live 2020
- [2021.09.xx] BIG LOVE Music Video
- [2022.05.28] Minayo Watanabe Birthday Live 2021
- [2022.09.15] ZENBU MINAYO and more
- [2023.01.22] Minayo Watanabe Birthday Live 2022
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In 1996, she married HOT SOX member Mickey. Former Onyanko Club members Yamamoto Susan Kumiko, Iwai Yukiko, Yamamori Yuriko, and Yoshizawa Akie attended the reception ceremony.
- Their children are B2takes!! member Yajima Manaya and multi-talent Yajima Natsuki.
- 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.
- She attended Horikoshi High School. She became friends with many students, especially underclassmen in the year below, 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.
- She lived in the same dormitory as fellow Onyanko Club members Kudo Shizuka, Jounouchi Sanae, Kawai Sonoko, and Kokusho Sayuri in 1985.