Having a passing interest in architecture especially for buildings that have that futuristic tinge, I was quite elated to get this shot of Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower in Shinjuku. I never had any particular need to enter the above ground floors but I did access the basement ones where a bookstore resides. Access was possible through the covered passage leading from Shinjuku Station's West Exit to the hotel-and-skyscraper area.
Anyways, I want to introduce a new person into "Kayo Kyoku Plus". Her name is Kaho Shimada（島田歌穂）and she's a singer and a musical theatre actress. I can't quite remember whether she's appeared on "Uta Con"（うたコン）since its beginnings several years ago but I remember that she used to appear fairly often on the show's predecessor "Kayo Concert"（歌謡コンサート）on NHK with her golden tones.
As an example, I can offer her "Rosey" from her 2nd album "Distractions" which was released in February 1990. Written and composed by Takashi Tsushimi（都志見隆）, it's a pretty stylish pop love ballad about realizing too late that a love has now gotten away. It's a sad song to be sure but the arrangement and Shimada's rich and resonant vocals can bring fans back for repeat listenings. Many singles and albums of hers have come out between 1981 and 2019. Shimada's most famous role on stage is that of Eponine in the Tokyo production of "Les Misérables".
Born Kaho Shima（島歌穂）in 1963 in Tokyo, the future entertainer grew up in the midst of a musical family. Her father, Takaho Shimada（島田敬穂）, was a musician who trained one of the Anison Kings, Isao Sasaki（ささきいさお）, while her mother, Reiko Tsukubane（筑波嶺玲子）, was a jazz singer who emerged from the famed Takarazuka Troupe. Teenaged Kaho had a recurring role in a tokusatsu comedy series "Ganbare!! Robocon"（がんばれ!!ロボコン...Do Your Best!! Robocon） through the mid-1970s and then made her debut as an aidoru in April 1981 with her first single "Manga-tique Romance", a 70s funk/disco-sounding tune written by Fumiko Okada（岡田有希子）and composed/arranged by Katsuo Ono（大野克夫）.
Perhaps one reason that I haven't seen Shimada recently on an NHK program (she did appear on the Kohaku Utagassen in 1988 and 1989) is that she may be very busy as an assistant professor of drama at the Osaka University of Arts.
Her video still has a bit of the 70's feel but she clearly has the early 1980's hairstyle that seems to have been required of Aidoru in the early 80's!
ReplyDeleteHi, Brian. Thanks for reminding me of the hair. I forgot to mention that in the article. Yep, that Seiko-chan cut was quite the hairdo for several months.
Delete"I can't quite remember whether she's appeared on "Uta Con"（うたコン）since its beginnings several years ago"
ReplyDeleteHere ya go. Her blog entry from 2017. Arrangements by her fella Ken Shima, whom you've also covered in the past.
https://ameblo.jp/shimadakaho/entry-12250402095.html
No longer available on youtube, but there are a few clips of her with Hiromi on bilibili from various music programmes, Eponine and Fantine.
Hello, Jim and much obliged on the confirmation of her appearances. Ahh...what a fine combination of Iwasaki and Shimada...and starting their careers as aidoru, too.
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