Yōko Oginome

Yōko Oginome (荻野目 洋子, Oginome Yōko, born December 10, 1968 in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan), real name Yōko Tsujino (辻野 洋子, Tsujino Yōko), is a singer, actress and voice actress. Oginome spent most of her elementary and junior high years living in the town of Ranzan in Saitama Prefecture, though she attended school in the city of Sakura. She graduated from Horikoshi High School in Nakano, Tokyo. She is represented by the talent management firm Vision Factory (formerly Rising Production). Oginome's older sister is actress Keiko Oginome.
In 2001, Oginome was four months pregnant when she had a shotgun wedding with Ryuso Tsujino, a professional tennis player with whom she had graduated from Horikoshi High School. Oginome had a second child in 2004, and took a year off work to spend time with her children and family. She announced the pending birth of her third child in her blog on 2006-03-16, and the safe delivery on 2006-08-10.
Her fans often call her Oginome-chan.

While in elementary school, she won a contest and was selected to be part of a three-member group called "Milk" under the CBS/Sony label. The group only released two singles and broke up a little over a year after forming. During junior high, Oginome auditioned for a part in Kitty Film's live action movie Shonben Rider, and was subsequently voice cast in their new anime series Miyuki in the role of the heroine, Miyuki Wakamatu. This led to roles in the anime film Bari Bari Densetsu and the kids TV series Ugo Ugo Rūga.

She made her solo singing debut in 1984 with Future Sailing after finishing up work on Miyuki, though she didn't become well known for another year or so after that. During this slow period, her single Beloved Caribbean received wide play as a rooting song at baseball and soccer games for teams such the Seibu Lions, Fukuoka Daiei Hawks, and Cerezo Osaka.

The song that catapulted Oginome into the ranks of superstars was her 1985 release Dancing Hero (Eat You Up), a cover of Angie Gold's hi-NRG song Eat You Up. After that song, almost every song she released was instantly popular, and she began to appear in commercials and on variety shows where her Eurobeat style gained even more exposure. She was also host of the Young Studio 101 variety show, a show hosted at various times by other popular idol stars such as Yoko Minamino and Miyoko Yoshimoto.

Her acting career really started in 1986 with starring roles in programs such as the TBS drama Early Spring Story (早春物語, Sōshun Monogatari), the 1987 TBS series Cheers to the Baby! (赤ちゃんに乾杯！, Akachan ni Kanpai!), and the 1989 Fuji TV drama Please Don't Worry! (こまらせないで!, Komarasenai de!). Oginome also sang the theme songs for these programs. She also appeared in several NHK drama series, including Rin Rin to (凛凛と) (1990), Tokyo Kunitori Monogatari (トーキョー国盗り物語) (1993), and Nagoya Okane Monogatari (名古屋お金物語) (1995).

Oginome has crossed wits with comedian and actor Beat Takeshi on the NTV network variety show Super Jockey, a show known for its crass humor and topics of discussion. She also appeared as a guest performer on the TBS network variety show Takeshi – Tokoro no Dracula ga Neratteru (たけし・所のドラキュラが狙ってる), starring Takeshi and George Tokoro (and having similar topics of discussion and humor as Super Jockey). On both shows, she was asked some embarrassing questions regarding her love life and why she wasn't married (this was before she was married), though she was able to come back and handle the questions without becoming too flustered.

Singles

1984

• Future Sailing (未来航海－Sailing－, Mirai Kōkai—Seiringu—) (1984-04-03, debut song)
• A Story Beginning with Goodbye (さよならから始まる物語, Sayonara kara Hajimaru Monogatari) (1984-07-21)
• December Memory (ディセンバー・メモリー, Disenbā Memorī) (1984-11-05)

1985

• Borderless Romance (無国籍ロマンス, Mukokuseki Romansu) (1985-02-21)
• Beloved Caribbean (恋してカリビアン, Aishite Karibian) (1985-05-21)
• Just Like the Heart: I'm Just a Lady (心のままに～I'm just a lady～, Kokoro no Mama ni: Aimu Jasuto a Redī) (1985-08-05)
• Dancing Hero (Eat You Up) (ダンシング・ヒーロー（Eat You Up）, Danshingu Hīrō (Īto Yū Appu)) (1985-11-21, performed at her first appearance on Kōhaku Uta Gassen, the song is also used frequently for Bon Odori)

1986

• Flamingo in Paradise (フラミンゴ in パラダイス, Furamingo in Paradaisu) (1986-03-26)
• Dance Beat 'Til Dawn (Dance Beatは夜明けまで, Dansu Bīto wa Yoake made) (1986-06-10)
• Roppongi Pure-Heart Clique (六本木純情派, Roppongi Junjōha) (1986-10-29)

1987

• Coastal Sun Tribe (湾岸太陽族, Wangan Taiyō Zoku) (1987-03-03)
• Goodbye Fruits (さよならの果実たち, Sayonara no Kajitsu-tachi) (1987-06-21)
• North Wind Carol (北風のキャロル, Kitakaze no Kyaroru) (1987-10-27, theme song for the TBS drama Cheers to the Baby! (赤ちゃんに乾杯！, Akachan ni Kanpai!) beginning 1987-10-10)

1988

• Stranger Tonight (ストレンジャーtonight, Sutorenjā Tunaito) (1988-01-21)
• Stardust Dream (スターダスト・ドリーム, Sutādasuto Dorīmu) (1988-04-27)
• Dear—To Yonder Cobalt (DEAR～コバルトの彼方へ, Diā—Kobaruto no Achira e) (1988-07-21, theme song for the film I Want to Meet Marilyn (マリリンに逢いたい, Maririn ni Aitai))

1989

• Verge of Love (ヴァージ・オブ・ラヴ, Vāji obu Ravu) (1989-01-18)
• This Could Be the Night (1989-02-21, used in a Kyōdō Petroleum commercial for its High-Octane Jet GP-1 fuel)
• Shōnan Heartbreak (湘南ハートブレイク, Shōnan Hātobureiku) (1989-06-07 used in a Kyōdō Petroleum commercial for its High-Octane Jet GP-1 fuel)
• You're My Life (ユア・マイ・ライフ, Yua Mai Raifu) (1989-09-27)

1990

• Gallery (ギャラリー, Gyararī) (1990-06-27, lyrics and song by Yōsui Inoue)
• In the Eyes of Youth (少年の瞳に…, Shōnen no Hitomi ni...) (1990-12-05)

1991

• Beauty and the Beast (美女と野獣, Bijo to Yajū) (1991-06-05, the background vocals are by Toshinobu Kubota)
• Hey... (ねえ, Nee) (1991-12-16, used in a commercial for "Victoria")

1992

• Steal Your Love (1992-03-27, used in a commercial for Ginza Jewelry Maki Camellia Diamond)
• Coffee Rumba (コーヒー・ルンバ, Kōhī Runba) (1992-05-08, under the name "Yo-Co")
• Loving Romantically (ロマンティックに愛して, Romantikku ni Aishite) (1992-07-01)

1993

• Dream Planet (夢みるPLANET, Yumemiru Puranetto) (1993-05-21, under "Oginome Yōko with Ugo Ugo Rūga" name)
• Tokyo Girl (1993-06-23)
• Romance (ロマンセ, Romanse) (1993-08-21, used in a commercial for the Nissan Laurel C34)

1994

• Hallelujah of Love (恋のハレルヤ, Koi no Hareruya) (1994-11-23)

1995

• Time for Happiness (幸福への時間, Kōfuku e no Jikan) (1995-06-21)
• Tomorrow Will Be Sunny! (明日は晴れる！, Ashita wa Hareru!) (1995-08-23)

1997

• Look up to the Sky (1997-03-21)
• Make It On My Own (1997-08-21, "maxi-single" the title sing with "Limited Club Mixes" as the other three songs)
• From My Garden (1997-11-21)

1998

• We'll Be Together (1999-06-23)
• Feeling (1999-11-20)

2001

• Love (2001-10-24)

Sources:

Milk singles

These are singles released as part of the pop group "Milk".

• The "First Years from Then" (ザ・あれからいちねん, Za Are kara Ichinen) (April 1979, CBS/Sony, EP: 06SH 473)
• Little Kiss (リトル・キッス, Ritoru Kissu) (1980-08-01, Warner Japan, EP: L-358W)

Albums

1980s

• Teens Romance (ティーンズ・ロマンス, Tīnzu Romansu) (1984-09-05)
• Freesia Rain (フリージアの雨, Furījia no Ame) (1985-03-05)
• Shell Terrace (貝殻テラス, Kaigara Terasu) (1985-09-05)
• Oginome Yōko the Best (荻野目洋子 ザ・ベスト, Oginome Yōko za Besuto) (1985-12-25)
• Raspberry Wind (ラズベリーの風, Razuberī no Kaze) (1986-04-21)
• Heartbeat Express (ハートビート・エクスプレス, Hātobīto Ekusupuresu) (1986-08-05)
• Non-Stopper Oginome Yōko "The Beat" Special (NON-STOPPER 荻野目洋子"The BEAT"Special, Nonsutoppā Oginome Yōko "Za Bīto" Supesharu) (1986-12-16, debuted at #1 on the Oricon charts)
• Route 246 Connection (246コネクション, 246 Konekushon) (1987-07-16)
• Pop Groover The Best (1987-12-19)
• CD-Rider (1988-08-24, debuted at #1 on the Oricon charts)
• Verge of Love (1988-12-17)
• Verge of Love (ヴァージ・オブ・ラヴ) (1989-02-21, the Japanese version of the album above)
• Fair Tension (1989-11-21)

1990s

• Knock on My Door (1990-08-21)
• '91 Oginome Collection (1990-12-16)
• Trust Me (1991-07-03)
• Best Collection '92 (1991-12-21)
• Pop Singer (流行歌手, Ryūkō Kasha) (1992-06-03)
• Nudist (1992-11-21)
• Best Hits Non Stop Clubmix (1992-12-16)
• De-Luxe (1993-07-21)
• Scandal (1994-12-16)
• History (Colezo! Twin) Oginome Yōko (History＜COLEZO! TWIN＞荻野目洋子, Hisutorī Korezo! Tuin Oginome Yōko) (1995-06-28, 2-CD set)
• Chains (1997-12-17)

2000s

• (Colezo!) Oginome Yōko Best Collection (＜COLEZO!＞荻野目洋子 Best Selection, Korezo! Oginome Yōko Besuto Korekushon) (2005-03-24, 1-CD selection from the 1995 release)
• Cover Lover vol.2: Bossa de Disco (2005-10-19, collaborative indie release for which she performed as a guest)
• Voice Nova (2006-02-22)
• Songs And Voice (2009-11-25)
• Dear Pop Singer (2014-08-20)

Sources:

Anime

• Bari Bari Densetsu (Ai)
• Miyuki (Miyuki Wakamatsu)

TV series

• Ugo Ugo Rūga (a TV show for kids) (Planet-chan)

Sources: