In the years that we've been writing on "Kayo Kyoku Plus", we've realized that a few singers got their fifteen minutes of fame only to disappear completely from view. Takako Mamiya（間宮貴子）and Meiko Nakahara（中原めいこ）are two notable examples. Maybe another one was Reiko Takahashi（高橋玲子）who a lot of fans know for her super cheerful City Pop "Sunset Road". She released her two singles in the late 1980s and that was all she wrote seemingly.
Well, commenter Robert B. contacted me last week and informed me that he had found this new Reiko Takahashi YouTube channel established by the singer herself on January 27th last week, which includes a video containing a brief statement of gratitude from her for her fans' support back in the 1980s and currently. The number of comments for it has made a steady line upwards.
Then a few days later, the YouTube channel Kimi no Station: The Home of City Pop posted an English-language version of Takahashi's "Sunset Road" with the added subtitle of "Let me into your place". According to the blurb under the video, this version was only available on the tape cassette form of the July 1st 1987 single.
Also through the blurb, I discovered that Takahashi under the new name of Rayko was a part of an all-Japanese house band that played on Season 5 of "The Eric Andre Show" back in 2020. You can see her at the upper right of the screen at the 8-second mark. Plus, you can check out her Instagram account. Thanks to Robert B. for the tip.
Yeah, I actually heard about this the other day on Twitter/X, as someone posted about the Rayko connection and there were people who chimed in, basically saying "oh yeah, I played with her before" or "oh, she taught me Japanese." Small world!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was certainly wonderful to hear from her and straight to her fans.
DeleteBravo on the excellent detective work on Reiko Takahashi! It is awesome to learn that she lived happily ever after. Perhaps there is a key here that will help to unlock some of the other long-standing Kayo Kyoku plus mysteries.
ReplyDeleteWell, Takahashi was willing to divulge her status. Not sure if the others have been willing to do so, and of course, that's their prerogative.
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