Kakuko Yamagata (山形 香公子, Yamagata Kakuko[2], born 23 September, 1969), known professionally as Anju Suzuki (鈴木 杏樹, Suzuki Anju), is a Japanese actress, television presenter, and singer (under the stage name Kakko).[1]
Anju Suzuki | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kakuko Suzuki 23 September 1969 Minoh, Osaka, Japan |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Musical career | |
| Also known as | Kakko |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Eurobeat[1] |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | CBS Records, Yoshimoto Kogyo |
Career
Suzuki was born in Minoh, Osaka and raised in Kobe, Hyogo. At age 17, she was spotted by a CBS records scout when she was commuting to school. Soon after, she moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a singing career.[3] Suzuki worked behind the scenes at PWL Records, doing office duties and familiarising herself with the business side of operations, before she was given the chance to record.[4] Her first single "We Should Be Dancing" (produced by Stock Aitken Waterman) was released in February 1990 and peaked at number 101 on the UK single chart.[4] Her second release "What Kind Of Fool", released in June 1990, reached number 123 in the UK singles chart.[5] Met with little success, she returned to Japan in 1991 and began working as an actress. She has become a popular actress in TV dramas and appears in many commercials.
Suzuki hosted Music Fair from 1995 to 2016.[6]
On 8 July 2022, Suzuki released her first single in 32 years, a re-recording of “We Should Be Dancing” performed as a duet with comedian and singer Takashi Fujii.[citation needed]
Personal life
Suzuki married surgeon Motoo Yamagata in June 1998.[7] The couple met in January 1998 when Suzuki was admitted to hospital for abdominal pain. Yamagata was her operating surgeon.[7] He died of liver disease on 1 February 2013.[8]
Filmography
Film
- High School Teacher (1993)
- Birthday Present (1995)
- ZOO SO-Far (2005)
- What a Wonderful Life!! (2011)
- Aibou Series X DAY (2013)
- Waka Okami wa Shōgakusei! (2018)
Television
- Asunaro Hakusho (1993)
- Chōnan no Yome (1994)
- Wakamono no Subete (1994)
- Music Fair (1995–2016), Host
- Natsuzora (2019), Ranko Kameyama
Discography
Singles
Solo
- We Should Be Dancing (CBS, 1990)
- What Kind Of Fool (CBS, 1990)
Kakko and Takashi Fujii
- We Should Be Dancing (Yoshimoto, 2022)
Night Tempo feat. Anju Suzuki
Live Once (2023)
Awards
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Golden Arrow Award | Graph Award | Herself | Won | [9] |
| 1994 | Drama Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Chōnan no Yome | Won | [10] |
| 1995 | Elan d'or Awards | Newcomer of the Year | Herself | Won | [11] |
References
External links
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