Momoe Yamaguchi
| Momoe Yamaguchi 山口 百恵 |
|
|---|---|
| Born |
17 January 1959 Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan |
| Occupation | |
| Years active | 1973–1980 |
| Spouse(s) | Tomokazu Miura (1980–present) |
Momoe Yamaguchi (Japanese: 山口 百恵 Hepburn: Yamaguchi Momoe?, born 17 January 1959) is a Japanese former singer, actress, and idol whose career lasted from 1972 to 1980. Often simply referred to by her given name, "Momoe", Yamaguchi was one of the most successful singers in Japanese music in her day, releasing 32 singles, including three number one hits, and 21 albums. She also starred in 15 feature films and several serial dramas on television. At 21, Yamaguchi retired at the height of her popularity to marry her frequent costar, Tomokazu Miura; she has never performed or made a public appearance since.
Momoe Yamaguchi was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1959. Not long afterwards she was left in the care of her maternal grandparents. At around four, she was returned to her parents and the family then moved to Yokohama. Her father, who was already married to another women with children, and never married to her mother. The family moved once again to Yokosuka. Her mother raised Momoe and her younger sister Toshie by herself.
Yamaguchi began a career in show business while she was still a student in junior high school. At the end of 1972, at the age of 13, Yamaguchi, along with many of her schoolmates, applied by postcard to appear on the idol talent search television show Star Tanjō!. After a series of successful preliminary auditions, she appeared on the show covering a hit song "Kaiten Mokuba", by Yumi Makiba earlier that year. Though she finished second, Yamaguchi received offers from several music producers, and signed with Hori Productions. Her family moved to Tokyo. Yamaguchi transferred to Shinagawa Joshi Gakuin, and then attended Hinode Joshi Gakuin High School, a school which allows its students to carry on careers in show business.
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