Shizuka Kudo
| Shizuka Kudo 工藤 静香 |
|
|---|---|
| Birth name | 工藤 静香 (Kudō Shizuka) |
| Born | 14 April 1970 |
| Origin | Hamura, Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | Pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, Actress |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Labels | Pony Canyon |
| Associated acts | Onyanko Club, SMAP |
Shizuka Kudo (工藤 静香 Kudō Shizuka?, born 14 April 1970) is a Japanese singer pop idol and actress born in Hamura, Tokyo. She debuted as member no. 38 of the Onyanko Club in May 1986 and went on to a successful solo career with 11 no.1 hits.
Kudo began her career age just 14 in three-piece pop unit Seventeen Club, formed from a 1984 'Miss Seventeen Contest' organized by Japanese magazine Seventeen. They released two singles in 1985 on Sony Records and Kudo later said she joined "just to have fun."
Onyanko Club debuted on the first of April 1985 on their own Fuji TV variety show Yūyake Nyan Nyan with eleven high school girls selected from participants in the Fuji TV All Night High School Girl Special (オールナイトフジ女子高生スペシャル?) aired in February that same year. Kudo auditioned for the group after completing high school in May 1986, becoming member no.38.
The group gave a new approach to the idol formula with 52 official members and three unofficial members, with several, including Shizuka Kudo, forming sub-groups, such as Ushirogami Hikaretai.Ushirogami Hikaretai, which teamed Kudo with Akiko Ikuina and Makiko Saito released five singles and two albums in a one-year period from May 1987 until March 1988 with a live album their final release in July 1988 (Hora ne, Haru ga Kita - First Concert).
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