Shoko Nakagawa Explained

Shoko Nakagawa
Native Name:中川 翔子
Native Name Lang:ja
Birth Name:Shiyōko Nakagawa
Birth Date:5 May 1985
Birth Place:Nakano, Tokyo, Japan
Years Active:1990–present
Agent:Watanabe Entertainment
Father:Katsuhiko Nakagawa
Module:
Embed:yes
Background:solo_singer
Instrument:Vocals
Years Active:2001–present

is a Japanese media personality, singer, actress, voice actress, illustrator, and YouTuber. Also known by her nickname, she is best known as the presenter of Pokémon Sunday, and as the performer of the opening theme from the anime Gurren Lagann.

Biography

Born and raised in Tokyo metropolitan area to her father, Katsuhiko Nakagawa, actor and musician, and her mother Keiko Nakagawa, a great-granddaughter of Kazutaka Ito, who is known for introducing and promoting the salmon and trout hatchery business. Her father died of leukemia on September 17, 1994 when she was 9.[1] [2] Nakagawa found escape from bullies by connecting with Pokémon when she was in 5th grade. "When I was a kid, I didn't have friends, but I did have Pokémon."[3]

In the 2006 book, she wrote that her legal name was rather than, which she had been using for most of her life. At the time of her birth, she and her mother had to remain in the hospital, and her maternal aunt was left with registering her in the koseki. Her mother's intended name of was declined due to not being included in the list of jōyō kanji or jinmeiyō kanji that are approved for use in Japanese names. The aunt wrote in hiragana instead, but because she wrote very quickly, the small yo appeared larger than intended and the name was recorded as .[4]

She made her entertainment debut in 2001, winning the Grand Prix award at the Popolo Girl Audition[5] and representing Jackie Chan talent agency. Later, on the "Yume-Ga-Oka Residence" programme on SKY PerfecTV!, she was given Jackie Chan's photobook by Midorikawa Shobō, who were guests on the show. She commented "I thought he was an enemy of Bruce Lee's", apparently referring to Enter the Dragon.

In 2002, she was chosen as Miss Shōnen Magazine.[5]

Her official blog, Shokotan * Blog, opened in 2004, and by April 2006 it had received a total of 100 million hits. On February 2, 2008, the daily Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun reported that her blog had been accessed 1 billion times.

In 2004, she made a guest appearance in the 38th episode of Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger, after having previously appeared as a child in Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman. She later appeared with Katsumura on Men B.

She appeared in a brief section of "Kangaeru Hito" ("People who think") on the Fuji TV network in 2004 as an illustrator, after which she appeared regularly on the later version of the programme which started with minor changes in early 2005, "Kangaeru Hitokoma" ("Thinking about one frame [of a cartoon strip]"). On the Fuji TV show Kangaeru Hitokoma, on which she is an occasional guest, she drew in the style of Kazuo Umezu.

For one year starting in May 2005, Nakagawa appeared as a regular on the TBS programme "Ōsama no Brunch". In July 2006, she released her debut single "Brilliant Dream". It entered the Oricon chart at number 29, with initial sales of 6313 copies. Nakagawa performed at Anime Expo 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Some of her work was shown on May 11, edition of Downtown Deluxe on Nippon TV network, Nakagawa was a member of the judging panel in the "Jump Damashii" section of the Shūeisha publication Weekly Shōnen Jump, starting from Jump number 13 of 2006.

On May 30, 2006, airing of Kasupe!, in the section entitled, "Fuji Bank Celebrity Evaluator", it was discovered that she liked the manga Kachō Shima Kōsaku, eliciting a comment from the host, Sayaka Aoki, that she had pretty "grown-up tastes".

In 2009, she opened a store called "mmts" with the theme of her hobby in Nakano Broadway.

In 2009–2010, she appeared in a series of commercials for Norton AntiVirus.[6] [7]

In March 2014, Nakagawa's book of autobiographical essays, Neko no Ashiato ("Cats' Pawprints"), was published by Magazine House.

In March 2015, the book was adapted as an anime series titled Omakase Mamitasu ("Leave It to Mamitasu") on NHK,[8] which featured characters based on Nakagawa's cat and her late father and grandfather.[9]

In 2018, Nakagawa returned to Anime Expo to perform as part of Anisong World Matsuri.[10]

In 2019, Nakagawa performed the song with Sachiko Kobayashi, which was used as the theme song to the theatrical film ; it is a cover of a song originally performed by Kobayashi, which was used as the theme song to the 1998 film .[11]

In 2020 following the temporary loss of work due to COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point, and she started distributing videos on YouTube, separate from the channel that distributes music videos set up by the office.[12] Since then, her blog has hardly been updated.

In 2021, she posted her swimsuit video on YouTube, and she became very popular with over 10 million views in two months.

On April 28, 2023, Nakagawa announced her marriage to a non-celebrity.[13]

In November 2023, Nakagawa announced that she legally changed her name to be the same as her stage name.[14]

Filmography

TV

Films

Stageplays

Anime

YearTitleRoleNote
2005Eyeshield 21 Suzuna Taki
2012Saint Seiya Omega Saori Kido / Athena
2013 Oracle FishFilm
Majocco Shimai no Yoyo to Nene Bahiku
2015 Oracle FishFilm
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season II DianaONA
Black Moon arc[16]
Dragon Ball Super Oracle Fish
2016Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season III DianaTV Anime
Death Busters arc[17]
2017 Risa Deiba
2021Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie Diana2-Part film
Season 4 of Sailor Moon Crystal [18]
2023Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre Mayumi SantoONA[19]
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie Diana2-Part film
Season 5 of Sailor Moon Crystal

Pokémon films

YearTitleRole
2007 Maki
2008 Infy
2009 Notched-Ear Pichu
2010 Proof
2011 Aude
2012 Keldeo
2014 Millis Steele
2015 Mary
2016 Racel
2017 Nurse Joy
2018 Riku
2020Karen

Video games

Japanese dub

Live-action

Animation

Discography

Shoko Nakagawa is signed to Sony Japan.

Singles

Title Release date First week sales Total sales Information
"Brilliant Dream" July 5, 2006 6,313 10,459 Opening theme for Yoshimune
February 14, 2007 10,023 15,784 Theme for TBS's program Pokémon Sunday theme song and Wanagona theme song.
June 27, 2007 30,517 67,453 Opening theme for Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
"Snow Tears" January 30, 2008 26,068 43,450 Ending theme for Hakaba Kitaro
"Shiny Gate" August 6, 2008 13,564 20,316 Theme song for Tokyo OnlyPic 2008
September 10, 2008 32,906 49,368 Ending Song of the anime film Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Guren-hen
October 22, 2008 13,758 20,236 Commercial song for Fujiya Look Royal Mode
April 29, 2009 23,383 38,932 Ending Song of Gekijoban Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Lagann Hen
July 15, 2009 13,533 21,954 Ending Song of .A special edition of the single features, an ending song for
October 14, 2009 12,407 15,027 Contains the Ending Song of the Japanese Version of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs ("Rainbow Forecast") and Shokotan's version of Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl second opening song ("Ame ni Kiss no Hanataba o").
"RAY OF LIGHT" April 28, 2010 12,977 22,637 Fifth ending theme for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
August 18, 2010 13,217 17,729 Opening theme for Occult Academy
April 6, 2011 6,506 9,006 Original song
June 8, 2011 12,729 15,212 Second ending theme for Beelzebub
January 11, 2012 8,156 Theme song for TV show Uchikuru!?
June 5, 2013 Theme song for game Sennen Yusha: Tokiwatari no Tomoshibito
December 11, 2013 "Sakasama Sekai" as theme song for game Puzzle & Dragons Z and "Once Upon a Time (Kibō no Uta)" as the opening for the Japanese broadcast of Once Upon a Time
February 18, 2015 16,180 Ending theme for Pokémon XY anime
"Blue Moon" November 28, 2018 19,183 Second ending theme for Zoids Wild
"Furefure" September 9, 2020 3,275 Second ending theme for Genie Family 2020
"I like you just the way you are."(君のまんまがいいんだよ)March 9, 2022Movie Shimajiro "Shimajiro and Kirakira Oukoku no Oujisama" theme song

Collaboration Singles

Title Release date First week sales Total sales Information
March 10, 2013 Theme song of Uchikuru!?
Featured artist with Hideyuki Nakayama
January 22, 2014 For the movie Gothic Lolita Battle Bear
Featured artist with Tokusatsu
July 23, 2014 For the movie
Featured artist with angela
"PUNCH LINE!" April 29, 2015 15,838 22,754 Collaboration with Dempagumi.inc. Opening theme for Punch Line[29]
October 28, 2015 11,958 Collaboration with Sachiko Kobayashi. Theme song for game Mugen Knights
"Magical Circle" November 17, 2017 Collaboration with Technoboys Pulcraft Green-Fund. Second Ending Song for the third series of Magical Circle Guru Guru.
November 7, 2018Featuring artist CHiCO with HoneyWorks
July 10, 2019Collaboration with Sachiko Kobayashi. A theme song for the anime movie Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back EVOLUTION

Cover albums

Title Release date First week sales Total sales
May 2, 2007 12,579 31,501
September 19, 2007 17,836 23,964
March 10, 2010 15,343
October 12, 2011
October 12, 2011
September 24, 2014

Mini albums

Title Release date First week sales Total sales
August 15, 2012 7,775
UCHI-SHIGOTO, SOTO-SHIGOTO!January 9, 2013

Best albums

Title Release date First week sales Total sales
May 2, 2012 14,203
Super Shokotan Best(超!しょこたん☆べすと――(°∀°)――!)February 22,2023

Albums

Title Release date First week sales Total sales
Big Bang!!! March 19, 2008 32,612 45,793
Magic Time January 1, 2009 26,197 40,015
Cosmic Inflation October 6, 2010 14,453 21,459
9lives April 2, 2014
RGB ~True Color~ December 4, 2019

Other songs

Printed media

Photobooks

Title Issue date Publisher ISBN Photobook information
Jewel Box April 1, 2004 Ascom First photobook
July 25, 2005 Second photobook
April 15, 2007 Third photobook
November 25, 2008 Shufu-to-Seikatsu-sha Guide on how to use cosmetics/dress up doll
January 23, 2010 A collection of illustrations by Shoko Nakagawa
July 16, 2010 Kodansha A manga about the life of Shoko Nakagawa from her childhood. The limited edition contains an extra book with pictures and a pencil box.
January 28, 2011 Wani Books Second collaboration with Mika Ninagawa.
May 30, 2012 Kodansha
January 25, 2013 Enterbrain Contains Interviews from the beginning of her career until 2013 and many pictures.
July 10, 2013 Shogakukan

Blogs

Title Issue date Publisher ISBN Notes
October 10, 2005 Goma Books Entries from November 2004 to August 2005
November 10, 2006 Goma Books Entries from September 2005 to August 2006
January 25, 2008 Kadokawa Group Publishing Entries from October 2006 to December 2007
January 16, 2010 Kadokawa Group Publishing Entries from March 2008 to October 2009

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Without Pokémon, We Wouldn't Have Japan's Nerd Heroine. Kotaku. August 8, 2013 . en-us. May 9, 2020.
  2. Web site: 中川翔子、亡き父・勝彦さんのイケメン伝説を明かす「街を歩くとみんな振り返って"目がハート"に」 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能 . 2024-02-03 . スポニチ Sponichi Annex . ja.
  3. Web site: She Didn't Have Friends. She Had Pocket Monsters.. Kotaku. July 18, 2011 . en-us. May 9, 2020.
  4. Book: ja:しょこ☆まにゅ. Shokotan Manual. Shoko Manyu. December 1, 2006. Gakken. Japan. ja. 978-4054031999.
  5. Book: Galbraith, Patrick W.. The Otaku Encyclopedia: An Insider's Guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan . Kodansha International. 2009. 206. 978-4-7700-3101-3.
  6. Web site: ノートン2009は「ギザ貪欲すなぁ」中川翔子が新製品をPR. internet.watch.impress.co.jp. April 18, 2020.
  7. Web site: 中川翔子、過酷な撮影に「ほんとに苦しかった...」 – 「ノートン 2010」新CM. September 1, 2009. マイナビニュース. ja. April 18, 2020.
  8. Web site: Shokotan's Autobiographical Cat & Family Essays Get TV Anime. Anime News Network. en. May 13, 2020.
  9. Web site: Shoko Nakagawa – Interview (2019). January 2, 2019. J-Generation. en-US. May 13, 2020.
  10. Web site: Interview: Shoko Nakagawa. Anime News Network. en. April 18, 2020.
  11. Web site: Shokotan, Enka Singer Sachiko Kobayashi Sing Pokémon's Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution Film Theme . . February 13, 2020 . April 6, 2019.
  12. Web site: 【中川翔子さん】「自分にできることはないかな」をいつも心の片隅に それが、助け合いの第一歩 . 2023-07-29 . 東京ボランティアレガシーネットワーク . ja.
  13. News: Morrissy . Kim . 2023-04-28 . Singer, Voice Actress Shoko Nakagawa Announces Marriage . . 2023-04-28.
  14. https://twitter.com/shoko55mmts/status/1727317058592141600
  15. Web site: CAST|ミュージカル『メイビー、ハッピーエンディング』. 2020-09-20. www.tohostage.com.
  16. Web site: Idol Shoko Nakagawa to Voice Diana in Sailor Moon Crystal. Nelkin. Sarah. March 3, 2015. Anime News Network. March 31, 2015.
  17. Web site: Sailor Moon Crystal Season III Videos Preview Animation, Theme Songs. Hodgkins. Crystalyn. March 2, 2016. Anime News Network. March 26, 2016.
  18. Shoko Nakagawa confirms her return to voice Diana in Sailor Moon Eternal films!. shoko55mmts. しぶとい中川翔子 . 1278928285611593728.
  19. Web site: Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre Anime Unveils More Cast, All 20 Stories. Pineda. Rafael Antonio. December 8, 2022. Anime News Network. December 9, 2022.
  20. Web site: Shoko Nagakawa (visual voices guide) - BTVA - Behind The Voice Actors. September 9, 2019. behindthevoiceactors.com. . Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources..
  21. Web site: 討鬼伝2 – コーエーテクモゲームス. September 9, 2019. gamecity.ne.jp. ja.
  22. Web site: アリーナ | キャラクター | いただきストリート ドラゴンクエスト&ファイナルファンタジー 30th ANNIVERSARY | SQUARE ENIX|access-date= September 9, 2019. jp.square-enix.com. ja.
  23. Web site: サイレントヒル. July 9, 2019. Star Channel.
  24. Web site: トランスフォーマー/ロストエイジ. February 16, 2021. Fukikaeru.
  25. Web site: 諏訪部順一と中村獅童が"最恐"タッグ「ヴェノム」吹替版、中川翔子も参加. March 30, 2021. Natalie.
  26. Web site: 続投決定!『ヴェノム2』日本語吹き替えキャストがコメント発表. August 2, 2021. Cinema Today. July 6, 2021.
  27. Web site: シュガー・ラッシュ:オンライン. December 17, 2018. Fukikaeru.
  28. Web site: 「長ぐつをはいたネコ」伝説ネコは山本耕史、土屋アンナ・中川翔子・小関裕太らも出演. January 26, 2023. January 26, 2023. natalie.mu.
  29. Web site: Shokotan, Dempagumi.inc to Perform Punch Line Anime's Theme Song. May 18, 2023 .