Quick Facts
Gemini
Biography
Hiromi Hanamura (花村 博美, Hanamura Hiromi) (born June 13, 1968 in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan), better known by her stage name Hiroko Moriguchi (森口 博子, Moriguchi Hiroko) is a female Japanese singer and tarento. She is also the host of her own radio show Kiss & Smile on Bay FM 78. Moriguchi is affiliated with the talent agency NoReason Inc., where she also serves as Second Production Department Manager.
Biography
The youngest of four sisters, Hiromi Hanamura (花村 博美, Hanamura Hiromi) lived with her mother after her parents divorced when she was eight years old. She graduated from Fukuoka City Takamiya Junior High School and Fukuoka Prefectural Fukuoka Chuo High School, then transferred to Horikoshi High School Performing Arts Course. Her classmates included Yōko Oginome, Kumiko Takeda, Miyuki Imori, Sayuri Iwai, Eri Murata, and Mie Takahashi. During her teenage years, Hanamura performed as a backing singer in the Tokyo Music Academy performing arts group "School Mates" (スクールメイツ, Sukūrumeitsu). She auditioned in several idol singer competitions, only to be disqualified in her attempts. Hanamura adopted the stage name "Hiroko Moriguchi" as a nod to musician Masaaki Hirao and female golfer Yuko Moriguchi.
After finishing second place in NHK's Winning Song Kayō Tengoku (勝ち抜き歌謡天国, Kachinuki Kayō Tengoku), Moriguchi signed with King Records and released her debut single "Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete" (水の星へ愛をこめて, "From the Aqueous Star with Love") for the anime TV series Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. The song reached No. 16 on Oricon's charts. Her follow-up songs, however, failed to achieve the same success. In 1987, Moriguchi recorded the song "Kareha-iro no Smile" (枯葉色のスマイル, Kareha-iro no Sumairu, "Dead Leaf-Colored Smile") to promote the Kirin Lemon Whity drink. While the beverage sold well in Japan, the song was unable to make the Top 100 chart.
In 1988, Moriguchi recorded the song "Samurai Heart" (サムライハート, Samurai Hāto) for the anime series Yoroiden Samurai Troopers. Before graduating from high school, she participated in several variety shows and quiz programs. Moriguchi also released her first gravure idol book and video Hiroko Moriguchi Photo Album (森口博子写真集, Moriguchi Hiroko Shashin-shū) that year and her second gravure book Wow! in 1990.
In 1991, Moriguchi recorded "Eternal Wind ~Hohoemi wa Hikaru Kaze no Naka~" (ETERNAL WIND〜ほほえみは光る風の中〜, "Eternal Wind ~Smile in the Shining Wind~") for the anime film Mobile Suit Gundam F91. The song reached No. 9 on Oricon's charts and stayed in the Top 100 for 27 weeks. It also placed 47th in Oricon's annual ranking and consistently placed in NHK's Kōhaku Uta Gassen for six consecutive years, making it her biggest hit. She also recorded songs for the Fuji TV variety show Yume ga Mori Mori (夢がMORI MORI, "Dream Is Mori Mori") and was a mainstay during its run from 1992 to 1995. Moriguchi released her third gravure book Cool in 1997. Throughout the 1990s, she appeared in television commercials for companies such as Kao Corporation, National, Daihatsu, and Asahi Breweries.
In 2003, Moriguchi played Hiroko in the NHK TV series Teruteru Kazoku (てるてる家族, Teruteru Family) and made appearances in the TBS series Ai no Gekijō (愛の劇場, Theater of Love). In 2005, she was appointed as general manager of the Japan Amateur Baseball Association team Misaki Fukuoka Blossoms (福岡美咲ブラッサムズ, Misaki Fukuoka Burossamusu). However, she and co-manager Nobuyuki Kagawa resigned following a reorganization of the team, which as since been renamed Fukuoka Oceans 9 (福岡オーシャンズ9, Fukuoka Ōshanzu Nain).
On February 28, 2012, Moriguchi joined Yoko Minamino and Tomomi Nishimura to form the trio "Blooming Girls". Their debut single "Knock!! Knock!! Knock!!" peaked at No. 66 on Oricon's singles charts on June 13. In 2015, Moriguchi released the single "I Wish ~Kimi ga Iru Konomachi de~" (I wish〜君がいるこの街で〜, "I Wish ~In This Town Where You Are~") to commemorate her 30th anniversary in the music business. Since 2017, Moriguchi has been a participant in Nippon BS Broadcasting's Momoiro Uta Gassen (ももいろ歌合戦), held every New Year's Eve.
Moriguchi released Gundam Song Covers on August 7, 2019 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Gundam franchise. The album reached No. 3 on Oricon's Weekly Album Chart on August 16, making it her first top-10 album since 1991's Eternal Songs. On November 16, 2019, the album was announced as one of six recipients of the Planning Award at the 61st Japan Record Awards, which will be held on December 30. Moriguchi is set to release the follow-up album Gundam Song Covers 2 on June 10, 2020.
Personal life
During the 1990s, Moriguchi suffered from cold sensitivity. Starting in 2000, she changed her diet and sleeping habits to remedy her condition.
Discography
Singles
| # | Title | Oricon peak position | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete" (水の星へ愛をこめて, "From the Aqueous Star with Love") | 16 | 1985 August 5 |
| 2 | "Sumire no Kimochi -Try Me Again-" (すみれの気持ち -TRY ME AGAIN-, "Violet Feelings -Try Me Again-") | 87 | 1986 February 21 |
| 3 | "Still Love You" | N/A | 1987 April 21 |
| 4 | "Kareha-iro no Smile" (枯葉色のスマイル, Kareha-iro no Sumairu, "Dead Leaf-Colored Smile") | N/A | 1987 November 21 |
| 5 | "Endless Dream" (エンドレス・ドリーム, Endoresu Dorīmu) | N/A (1988) 94 (1991) | 1988 April 21 1991 March 21 |
| 6 | "Samurai Heart" (サムライハート, Samurai Hāto) | 88 | 1988 September 21 |
| 7 | "Yume no Aikagi" (夢の合鍵, "Dream Key") | N/A | 1989 August 21 |
| 8 | "Koi wa Tahiti de Are-Are-A!" (恋はタヒチでアレアレア!, Koi wa Tahichi de Are-Are-A!, "Love in Tahiti Is Are-Are-A!") | 32 | 1990 August 21 |
| 9 | "Eternal Wind ~Hohoemi wa Hikaru Kaze no Naka~" (ETERNAL WIND〜ほほえみは光る風の中〜, "Eternal Wind ~Smile in the Shining Wind~") | 9 | 1991 February 5 |
| 10 | "Yasashī Hoshi de" (やさしい星で, "With a Gentle Star") | 67 | 1991 November 21 |
| 11 | "Yume ga Mori Mori" (夢がMORI MORI, "Dream Is Mori Mori") | 50 | 1992 May 21 |
| 12 | "Speed" (スピード, Supīdo) | 15 | 1992 September 24 |
| 13 | "Whistle" (ホイッスル, Hoissuru) | 10 | 1993 June 9 |
| 14 | "Ai wa Yume no Tonari ni ~Dear Formula 1 Pilot~" (愛は夢のとなりに〜Dear Formula 1 Pilot〜, "Love Is Next to a Dream ~Dear Formula 1 Pilot~) | 25 | 1993 October 21 |
| 15 | "Let's Go" | 13 | 1994 February 16 |
| 16 | "Yūwaku Shite yo ne Natsudakara" (誘惑してよね夏だから, "Be Tempted, Summer") | 37 | 1994 June 22 |
| 17 | "Lucky Girl ~Shinjiru Mono wa Sukuwa Reru~" (LUCKY GIRL〜信じる者は救われる〜, "Lucky Girl ~Believers Will Be Saved~") | 30 | 1994 November 3 |
| 18 | "Motto Umaku Suki to Ietanara" (もっとうまく好きと言えたなら, "If You Like It Better") | 19 | 1995 March 3 |
| 19 | "Anata no Soba ni Iru Dake de" (あなたのそばにいるだけで, "Just Beside You") | 20 | 1995 June 21 |
| 20 | "Anata to Itatokikan" (あなたといた時間, "Time With You") | 17 | 1995 September 21 |
| 21 | "Shisen" (視線, "Gaze") | 35 | 1996 June 5 |
| 22 | "Sono Mune no Naka de Zutto Zutto" (その胸の中でずっとずっと, "All the Time in My Heart") | 60 | 1997 March 5 |
| 23 | "Someday Everyday" | N/A | 1997 August 21 |
| 24 | "Hitori Janai yo" (一人じゃないよ, "I'm Not Alone") | 82 | 1997 November 12 |
| 25 | "Say Say Say" | N/A | 1998 November 6 |
| 26 | "Ashita, Kaze ni Fukarete" (明日、風に吹かれて, "Tomorrow, Blowing in the Wind") | N/A | 2000 November 22 |
| 27 | "Yasashiku Naritai" (優しくなりたい, I Want to Be Kind") | 171 | 2005 April 27 |
| 28 | "Mō Hitotsu no Mirai ~Starry Spirits~" (もうひとつの未来〜starry spirits〜, "Another Future ~Starry Spirits~") | 23 | 2007 November 28 |
| 29 | "Puzzle" | 120 | 2010 May 12 |
| 30 | "I Wish ~Kimi ga Iru Konomachi de~" (I wish〜君がいるこの街で〜, "I Wish ~In This Town Where You Are~") | 43 | 2015 June 17 |
| 31 | "Hoshi Yori Saki ni Mitsukete Ageru" (星より先に見つけてあげる, "I'll Find It Before the Stars") | 57 | 2015 November 17 |
| 32 | "Sora no Kanata de" (宇宙の彼方で, "Beyond the Universe") | 58 | 2016 November 16 |
| 33 | "Torikago no Shōnen" (鳥籠の少年, "Boy of the Bird Cage") | 35 | 2018 February 14 |
| 34 | "Akatsuki no Kuruma" (暁の車, "Wheels of Dawn") | N/A | 2019 September 2 |
Collaborations
| # | Title | Collaboration with | Oricon peak position | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Izayuke Wakataka Gundan" (いざゆけ若鷹軍団, "Izuyake Wakataka Corps") | Full Monty | N/A | 2003 March 26 |
| 2 | "Knock!! Knock!! Knock!!" | Blooming Girls | 66 | 2017 June 13 |
| 3 | "Tsuioku Symphonia"/"Hatenai ano Sora e" (追憶シンフォニア/果てないあの宇宙へ, "Recollection Symphonia"/"To That Endless Universe") | Mami Ayukawa | 11 | 2019 October 23 |
Studio albums
| # | Title | Oricon peak position | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mizu no Hoshi e Ai wo Komete (水の星へ愛をこめて, From the Aqueous Star with Love) | N/A | 1985 November 21 |
| 2 | Prime Privacy | N/A | 1989 November 21 |
| 3 | Tranquility -Yasashi Hoshi de- (TRANQULITYーやさしい星でー, Tranquility -A Gentle Star-) | N/A | 1991 November 21 |
| 4 | Hikkoshi wo Suru yo! (引っ越しをするよ!, I'm Moving!) | N/A | 1992 September 16 |
| 5 | Issho ni Aruite Ikeru (いっしょに歩いていける, Let's Walk Together) | N/A | 1993 July 27 |
| 6 | Ashita Genki Nina are (あした元気になあれ, Get Well Tomorrow) | N/A | 1993 December 1 |
| 7 | Let's Go | N/A | 1994 May 25 |
| 8 | Parade | N/A | 1995 July 5 |
| 9 | Kitto Aitaku Narudeshou (きっと会いたくなるでしょう, I Really Want to See You) | N/A | 1996 September 21 |
| 10 | Happy Happy Blue | N/A | 1997 September 17 |
Mini albums
| # | Title | Oricon peak position | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vocal | N/A | 1990 February 21 |
Cover albums
| # | Title | Oricon peak position | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gundam Song Covers | 3 | 2019 August 7 |
| 2 | Gundam Song Covers 2 | TBA | 2020 June 10 |
Compilations
| # | Title | Oricon peak position | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Still Love You | N/A | 1989 January 21 |
| 2 | Eternal Songs | 10 | 1991 June 21 |
| 3 | Eternal Songs II | 19 | 1992 July 22 |
| 4 | Best of My Life~Moriguchi Hiroko Single Selection | N/A | 1995 November 22 |
| 5 | Kiseki: Best Selection (軌跡BEST SELECTION) | N/A | 1998 February 21 |
| 6 | All Singles Collection | N/A | 2000 June 13 |
| 7 | Single Best Collection (シングル ベスト コレクション, Singuru Besuto Korekushon) | 100 | 2010 July 7 |
| 8 | Perfect Best (パーフェクト・ベスト, Pāfekuto Besuto) | 222 | 2013 October 2 |
Videos
- Hiroko Moriguchi 1st Concert Baradoll Panic Hyû Hyû (1990 November 21)
- Hikkoshi o Surukara Asobini oide
(引っ越しをするから遊びにおいで, Come to Play Because You Are Moving) (1992 November 21) - Heart Vitamine Tour '93 Tokidokidokidoki Shiyou yo
(HEART VITAMINE TOUR '93 ときどきドキドキしようよ, I'm Sometimes Excited) (1993 September 22) - Vitamines (1995 March 3)
- Heart Vitamin Tour ‘95 Parade (1995 December 6)
- Hiroko Moriguchi Concert Tour ‘96 SISEN (1997 March 5)
- ‘97 Concert Tour Happy Happy Blue (1998 June; Club M exclusive)
- ‘99 15th Anniversary Concert (2000 April; Club M exclusive)
- ‘01 New Year Live 2001~21 Seiki e no Okurimono~
(‘01 New Year Live 2001〜21世紀への贈りもの〜, Gifts for the 21st Century) (2001 April; Club M exclusive) - Idol Golden Legend: Hiroko Moriguchi
(アイドル黄金伝説 森口博子, Aidoru Kogane Densetsu Moriguchi Hiroko) (2001 June 22) - ‘02 Song for you Vol.1〜tant tant tant〜 (2003; Club M exclusive)
- ‘05 Hiroko Moriguchi 20th Anniversary Concert ~Deatte Kurete Arigatō~
(‘05 HIROKO MORIGUCHI 20th Annversary Concert 〜出逢ってくれて ありがとう〜, Thank You for Meeting Me) (2005) - Hiroko Moriguchi 25th Anniversary Concert ~Puzzle na Jikan~
(HIROKO MORIGUCHI 25th Anniversary Concert 〜PUZZLEな時間〜, Puzzle Time) (2010 December) - Hiroko Moriguchi 30th Anniversary Concert: I Wish ~Kimi ga Iru Konomachi de~
(HIROKO MORIGUCHI 30th Anniversary Concert I wish～君がいるこの街で～, I Wish ~In This Town Where You Are~) (2015 October 28)
Books
- Hiroko Moriguchi Photo Album
(森口博子写真集, Moriguchi Hiroko Shashin-shū) (Fresh Scholar, 1988 May) - Wow (Scholar, 1990 April)
- Cool (Bunkasha, 1997 June)
- Gekkan wa Kata ★ Rensai-chū
(月刊はかた ★連載中) (2015 April)