Keiko Fuji Explained

Keiko Fuji
Native Name:藤 圭子
Native Name Lang:ja
Birth Place:Ichinoseki, Iwate, Japan
Birth Date:1951 7, df=y
Death Place:Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Spouse:
    Children:Hikaru Utada
    Module:
    Embed:yes
    Background:solo_singer
    Years Active:1969–1979, 1981–1998

    [1] (5 July 1951 – 22 August 2013), known primarily by the stage name was a Japanese Japanese: [[enka]] singer and actress. She had success in Japan in the 1960s and 1970s with her ballad-type songs. She was married on-and-off with Utada Teruzane, and was the mother of Japanese pop singer Hikaru Utada.

    Life and career

    Fuji (sometimes credited as Keiko Fujita)[2] was born in Iwate Prefecture, where her father was a Japanese: [[rōkyoku]] singer. Her mother was a Japanese: rōkyoku [[shamisen]] player . As a child, Fuji sometimes accompanied her parents and sang with them when they were on tour. Her song "Keiko no Yume wa Yoru Hiraku" (Keiko's version of "Yume wa Yoru Hiraku") won the Mass Popularity Award at the Japan Record Awards in 1970. She also performed this song in the 21st Kōhaku Uta Gassen New Year's Eve TV special.

    Her debut album,, released 5 March 1970, topped the Oricon album chart for 20 consecutive weeks, and her next album, released 5 July 1970, continued topping that chart for 17 consecutive weeks. She topped the Oricon album chart for a 37 consecutive weeks, an incredible record in Japan's music history. Her debut album's number-one record of 20 consecutive weeks remains the longest consecutive number-one record in Oricon history.[3]

    She married the Japanese: enka singer Kiyoshi Maekawa and retired from singing in 1979, announcing her retirement during a TV show on 30 December of that year. The marriage ended in divorce, after which she emigrated to the United States, where she became active in music again by 1981. There, she married Teruzane Utada, a record producer. Their only child, Hikaru Utada, was born in 1983 in New York City (and later themselves became a record-setting pop star in Japan by their late teens). The couple married and divorced seven times.[4]

    2006 confiscation of money by the DEA

    On 3 March 2006, U.S. DEA officials confiscated more than $420,000 in American, Canadian, and Australian currencies from Keiko Fuji's carry-on luggage at JFK Airport, New York, as she waited to board a flight to Las Vegas. Keiko denied any wrongdoing, and was not charged with any crime. However, the government initiated forfeiture proceedings, seeking to seize the money, which it alleged represented proceeds of drug sales or was intended to be used to buy drugs.

    Keiko disputed the government's claim. In August 2008, the matter remained pending in Federal District Court in New York.[5] On 27 January 2009, the Federal District Court in New York ordered the confiscated money returned to her, citing lack of evidence.[6]

    Death

    Keiko Fuji died on 22 August 2013 after jumping from the thirteenth floor of a condominium building in Shinjuku, Tokyo.[7] [8] [9] No foul play was suspected. Her body was found on the grounds of her apartment building. Police said that her slippers were found at the end of her balcony, with no suicide note found.[10] [11] [12] However, her child Hikaru Utada claims there was a suicide note.[13]

    Discography

    Like U3

    For U3 discography see Hikaru Utada discography

    Solo

    LPs

    CDs

    Singles

    Select filmography

    Movies

    Television

    Kōhaku Uta Gassen Appearances

    YearSongNo.VSRemarks
    1970 (Showa 45)/21st1Keiko No Yumewayoruhiraku (圭子の夢は夜ひらく)13/24Teruhiko Saigō
    1971 (Showa 46)/22nd2Michinoku Kouta (みちのく小唄)+Minato No Wakareuta (港の別れ唄*)9/25Hiroshi Uchiyamada and Cool Five (original schedule)
    Kazuo Funaki
    1972 (Showa 47)/23rd3Kyoto Kara Hakatamade (京都から博多まで)13/23Kenichi Mikawa
    1975 (Showa 50)/26th4Sasurai (さすらい)3/24Masaaki SakaiReturned after 3 years
    1976 (Showa 51)/27th5Hashigo Sake (はしご酒)15/24Tonosama Kings

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: 宇多田、藤圭子さん"遺書"明かす「母らしい、非常に率直な遺言書」. 5 November 2014 . 11 August 2021.
    2. Web site: http://www.nikkeibp.co.jp/archives/052/52415.html . https://web.archive.org/web/20110719012716/http://www.nikkeibp.co.jp/archives/052/52415.html . dead . July 19, 2011 . ja:藤圭子の娘・宇多田ヒカルは16歳、いきなり200万枚ヒットでR＆Bクイーンに . Keiko Fujita's daughter, Hikaru Utada, is 16 years old and suddenly becomes an R&B queen with 2 million record sales . ja . NikkeiBP.co.jp . . March 5, 1999 . November 30, 2008.
    3. Web site: http://www.asahi.com/komimi/TKY200709190117.html. ja:オリコンのアルバム1位が千作品に 最多はユーミン. Asahi Shimbun. 19 September 2007. 3 January 2009. ja.
    4. http://www.japan-zone.com/news/2007/03/05/divorce_for_hikkiand_parents.shtml "Divorce for Hikki ... and Parents!"
    5. Web site: Japanese Pop Queen's Mom in Fight With DEA. Hikaru Utada's parents seek return of $421k in seized "drug money". 22 August 2013.
    6. Web site: http://sankei.jp.msn.com/entertainments/entertainers/090128/tnr0901281759010-n1.htm . ja:藤圭子さんに42万ドル返還へ 米空港で06年差し押さえ . Sankei Shimbun . 28 January 2009 . 9 September 2009 . ja . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090131031121/http://sankei.jp.msn.com/entertainments/entertainers/090128/tnr0901281759010-n1.htm . 31 January 2009 .
    7. Web site: 歌手の藤圭子さん自殺か . NHK News . 22 August 2013 . 22 August 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130822071642/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20130822/k10013948151000.html . 22 August 2013 .
    8. News: Ex-singer Keiko Fuji plunges to death in alleged suicide. Kyodo News.
    9. Web site: Pop star Hikaru Utada's mother dies in suspected suicide－ 毎日jp(毎日新聞) . ja . Mainichi.jp . 8 February 2013 . 24 August 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130824230922/http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20130822p2g00m0dm082000c.html . 24 August 2013 .
    10. Web site: Former singer Keiko Fuji, mother of Hikaru Utada, falls to death. 22 August 2013 . Japan Today. 22 August 2013.
    11. Web site: Singer Keiko Fuji dies in apparent suicide . The Japan News . 24 August 2013.
    12. Web site: Hikaru's Mother, Keiko Fuji has passed away . UtadaNet.com. 11 December 2013.
    13. Web site: 宇多田、藤圭子さん"遺書"明かす「母らしい、非常に率直な遺言書」 . 5 September 2013 . Oricon News . ja . 5 October 2019.

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