Junko Ohashi Explained

Background:person
Junko Ohashi
Native Name:大橋 純子
Native Name Lang:ja
Birth Date:26 April 1950
Birth Place:Yūbari, Hokkaido, Japan
Death Place:Tokyo, Japan
Occupation:Singer
Module:
Alma Mater:Fuji Women's Junior College
Embed:yes
Module2:
Child:yes
Kanji:大橋 純子
Romaji:Ōhashi Junko
Hiragana:おおはし じゅんこ
Katakana:オオハシ ジュンコ

was a Japanese singer best known for her songs "Silhouette Romance" (1981) and "Tasogare My Love" (1978). She was known for her "overwhelming singing ability" and was mainly successful between late 1970s and early 1980s.[1] Her discography consists of more than 20 albums. After a brief hiatus due to battling esophageal and breast cancers, she returned to music in 2019.[2] Unfortunately, on November 9 2023, Ohashi died at the hospital in Tokyo at the age of 73.[3]

Early life and education

Ohashi was born in Yūbari, Hokkaido, Japan on April 26, 1950, the oldest of four children from a family that ran a restaurant.[1] [4] She graduated from Hokkaido Yubari High School, later attending and graduating from Fuji Women's Junior College. While at college, she joined a band.

Career

Ohashi made her debut as a singer with the album Feeling Now (1974).[4] She had her breakout in 1978, with the hit "Tasogare My Love", the theme song of the TBS drama series Shishi no Gotoku.[5] During her initial stages of her career, she was known to sing hard rock, but switched to soul after being inspired by artists Sérgio Mendes and Janis Joplin.[6] She accompanied Kiyohiko Ozaki on a live tour, and later served as a supporting act.

In 1976, she released the song "Paper Moon", which became a hit. With the success of the album of the same name, she formed the band Junko Ohashi & Minoya Central Station.[7] In 1978, she released the song "Tasogare My Love", which won her a Gold Award during the 20th Japan Record Awards. In 1981, she released the song "Silhouette Romance", which ranked at number 7 on the Oricon Singles Chart, was awarded best song at the 24th Japan Record Awards and sold over 500,000 copies.[8] She also participated in several editions of the Kōhaku Uta Gassen competition, starting from 1979.

In 2018, Ohashi announced that she would be on hiatus after her esophageal cancer diagnosis, returning to recording and touring in March 2019.[9] [10]

Personal life

Ohashi met composer Ken Sato while he was working at Yamaha, marrying him in 1979.[11]

Health problems and death

In 2018, Ohashi revealed that she was diagnosed with early-stage esophageal cancer, cancelling tour dates in order to focus on her treatment, but was able to resume touring afterwards.[12] However, in March 2019, Ohashi revealed that she was also suffering from breast cancer.[13]

On March 22, 2023, it was reported that Ohashi had relapsed and stopped touring again due to focusing on treating her esophageal cancer.[13] Unfortunately, eight months later, on November 9, Ohashi died at the hospital in Tokyo at the age of 73.[14] [15] Her funeral was held at Zōjō-ji temple on November 15 after she was cremated.[16]

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:20em;"
Album details
scope=rowFeeling Now
scope=rowPaper Moon
scope=rowRainbow
scope=rowCrystal City
scope=row
scope=rowFlush
scope=rowFull House
scope=rowHot Life
scope=rowTea For Tears
scope=row
scope=rowPoint Zero
  • Released: September 21, 1983
  • Label: Philips Records
  • Format: LP, CD, cassette
scope=rowDef
scope=rowQuestion
scope=rowPagoda
scope=rowMiscellaneous
  • Released: February 1, 1993
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=rowBlue Desert
  • Released: March 1, 1994
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=rowFor Tomorrow
  • Released: October 1, 1995
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=row
  • Released: September 1, 1996
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=rowTime Flies
  • Released: August 21, 1999
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=rowQuarter
  • Released: August 22, 2001
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=rowJune
  • Released: June 4, 2003
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=rowTrinta
  • Released: April 21, 2004
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD

Cover albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:20em;"
Album details
scope=rowJ'selection Vol.1
  • Released: November 2, 1994
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=rowJ'selection Vol.2
  • Released: December 1, 1995
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=rowJ'selection Vol.3
  • Released: December 1, 1996
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=rowTerra
  • Released: July 19, 2007
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=rowTerra 2
  • Released: June 10, 2009
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=row
  • Released: May 22, 2019
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD

Self-cover albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:20em;"
Album details
scope=rowNeo History
  • Released: September 21, 1993
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=rowLive Life
  • Released: June 18, 2014
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD

Compilation albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="1" style="width:20em;"
Album details
scope=rowSpecial Friend Album
  • Released: June 1978
  • Label: Philips
  • Format: LP
scope=rowTasogare My Love
  • Released: November 1978
  • Label: Philips
  • Format: LP
scope=rowMotion & Emotions
  • Released: November 1978
  • Label: Philips
  • Format: LP
scope=rowMinds
  • Released: June 1982
  • Label: Philips
  • Format: LP
scope=rowMagical
  • Released: July 1984
  • Label: Philips
  • Format: LP
scope=row
  • Released: 25 January 1986
  • Label: Philips
  • Format: CD
scope=row
  • Released: 15 August 1989
  • Label: Philips
  • Format: CD
scope=row
  • Released: 26 May 1993
  • Label: Philips
  • Format: CD
scope=row
scope=rowThe Best Songs of Junko Ohashi
  • Released: 5 December 1998
  • Label: VAP
  • Format: CD
scope=row
  • Released: 30 June 1998
  • Label: Mercury Music
  • Format: CD
scope=row
  • Released: 19 December 2001
  • Label: Kitty Mme
  • Format: CD
scope=row
scope=row
  • Released: 18 January 2006
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
  • Format: CD
scope=row
  • Released: 30 August 2006
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
  • Format: CD
scope=row
  • Released: 17 January 2007
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
  • Format: CD
scope=row
  • Released: 19 December 2007
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
  • Format: CD
scope=row
  • Released: 18 March 2009
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
  • Format: CD
scope=rowComplete Single Best
  • Released: 10 June 2009
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
  • Format: CD
scope=row
scope=row
  • Released: 6 August 2014
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
  • Format: CD
scope=row
  • Released: 21 March 2018
  • Label: Universal Music Japan
  • Format: CD

Singles

SingleYearAlbum
scope=row1974Feeling Now
scope=row1976
scope=row
scope=row
scope=row1977Rainbow
scope=row
scope=row1978
scope=row
scope=row
scope=row
scope=rowFlush
scope=row1979Full House
scope=row
scope=row1980Hot Life
scope=row"Ooh Boy"
scope=row
scope=row1981Tea for Tears
scope=row
scope=row1982
scope=row
scope=rowMagical
scope=row1988DEF
scope=row
scope=rowQuestion
scope=row1992
scope=row1993
scope=row
scope=row"Rain"1994Blue Desert
scope=row1995For Tomorrow
scope=row1996
scope=row1999
scope=row2002
scope=row2005
scope=row2010

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 歌手・大橋純子(1)歌って育った夕張でコンサート. ja. Sankei Shimbun. July 14, 2014.
  2. Web site: 大橋純子 初期の食道がん公表 4月以降の仕事を治療のためキャンセルdate=March 15, 2018. Sports Nippon. ja.
  3. Web site: 2023-11-12 . Junko Ohashi : Tribute and retrospective – AFTER 5 – Blog . 2023-11-17 . AFTER 5 - Blog . en-US.
  4. News: 「シルエット・ロマンス」大橋純子さん急逝 73歳 3月に食道がん再発判明、闘病中の突然の悲報… . 13 November 2023 . . 11 November 2023 . ja.
  5. Web site: 筒美京平さん、自ら弾いた「たそがれマイ・ラブ」. ja. The Asahi Shimbun. October 15, 2020. Katayama, Takeshi.
  6. Web site: 大橋純子さん73歳死去「どこででもいいから歌いたい」…語っていた歌への熱い思い . ja. November 11, 2023. Nikkan Gendai.
  7. Web site: 大橋純子の迫力と 美乃家セントラル・ステイションの バンドらしいアンサンブルが 拮抗した名盤『RAINBOW』. ja. OKMusic. November 2, 2022.
  8. News: 歌手 大橋純子さん死去73歳 ヒット曲「シルエット・ロマンス」 . ja . 13 November 2023 . . 11 November 2023.
  9. Web site: 大橋純子が食道がんのため活動休止「気持ちは前向きです」. March 16, 2018. Natalie. ja.
  10. Web site: 大橋純子が食道がん克服し活動再開、5月にカバーアルバム発表. ja. Natalie. March 8, 2019.
  11. Web site: 大橋純子さん急逝 もんたさん死去で悲痛コメントから20日後…「天国でデュエットを」「言葉出ない」の声 . ja. Sports Nippon.
  12. Web site: 大橋純子 早期の食道がんを公表「本当か、という気持ち」「私を応援していただければ」. ja. March 15, 2018. Daily Sports.
  13. Web site: 大橋純子が食道がん再発を公表「とても残念」 過去に乳腺がんも. Daily Sports. March 23, 2023.
  14. Web site: Junko Ohashi, singer of 'Silhouette Romance,' dies at 73. November 11, 2023. Yomiuri Shimbun.
  15. Web site: 大橋純子さん急逝 73歳 70年代後半~80年代に活躍したミュージシャンの訃報相次ぐ… . ja. Sports Nippon. November 11, 2023.
  16. Web site: 歌手の大橋純子さん死去 73歳、「シルエット・ロマンス. ja. The Asahi Shimbun. November 11, 2023.