Junko Yagami

Junko Yagami (八神 純子, Yagami Junko, born 5 January 1958), is a Japanese singer and songwriter from Aichi Prefecture.[2] She has released 25 albums, including 6 live concert albums, and is a notable figure in Japanese music of the 1970s and 1980s.[3][4]

Junko Yagami
Junko Yagami in 1981
Born
Yagami Junko (八神 純子)

(1958-01-05) 5 January 1958[1]
Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan[1]
OccupationSinger, singer-songwriter
Musical career
Genres
Years active1978–present
Websitejunkoyagami.com


Early life and career

Yagami was born in 1958 in Nagoya, Chūbu, Japan as the eldest daughter of Ryozo Yagami, the founder and fourth chairman of Yagami Mfg. Co. Ltd.[5] Yagami learned the piano at the age of 3 and Japanese dancing from the first grade. Yagami recalled, "I've loved singing ever since I was a little girl, and sang the songs of The Peanuts (ザ・ピーナッツ) and Shirley Bassey songs towards the wall at home."[6] She attended Aichi Shukuto Senior High School. After graduating from high school, she went on to do music from 1976 onward. Her professional debut began in 1980. After her debut, she appeared on a program named “Dede and Junko's Music Trip”.

At age 16 she took part in the 8th (1974) Yamaha Popular Song Contest with the song Alone on a Rainy Day (雨の日のひとりごと) that was then released on 10 December 1974 as a single by Canyon Records/AARD-VARK.[2][1] Her other entry into the contest The Time of Happiness (幸せの時) was also released as a single on 10 February 1975.[1] Her 1978 single みずいろの雨 (Mizuiro no ame) was a large hit.[1] She took part in the 31st (1980) Kōhaku Uta Gassen. Throughout the 80s she continued releasing numerous popular albums such as 1985's COMMUNICATION.[7][3] In 1986, Yagami married singer J.J. Stanley and took on the married name Stanley.[2] She has also worked under the name June Stanley.[1]

Later career

As of 2019, she lives in the United States and remains active as both a recording and concert artist in the US and Japan.[2]

She released her 19th album "There you are" in 2016[8] and in 2019 held a concert tour titled Live　キミの街へ～Here　We　Go！ across Japan.[2][9][10]

Discography

Studio Albums
Year Album name Label Notes
1978思い出は美しすぎてDiscomate
1979素顔の私
1980Mr. メトロポリス
1982夢見る頃を過ぎても
1983Lonely Girl
1983I Wanna Make A Hit Wit-Choo
1983Full Moon
1985CommunicationMoon Records
1985純
1986Yagamania
1987Truth HurtsNEC Avenue
1989Love is Gold
1990My Invitation
1991State of Amber
1993Mellow CafeNEC Avenue
1994Renaissance
1997So AmazingId Net Inc.As June Stanley
2013Here I Am 〜Head To Toe〜GT Music
2016There You AreListen J Label

Live Albums
Year Album name Label Notes
1984Junko The LiveDiscomate
2014The Night FlightGT MusicWith Tsugutoshi Goto, Masaki Matsubara, Jun Sato & Syuichi Murakami
2016The Night Flight 2Listen J Label
2017Premium Symphonic Concert
2017The Night Flight 3
2018This Is The ヤガ祭りGT Music

Cover Albums
Year Album name Label Notes
1992Christmas at Junko'sBandai Music
1996Inside MyselfId Net Inc.As June Stanley
2012Vreath 〜My Favorite Cocky Pop〜GT Music

Soundtracks
Year Album name Label Notes
1983Yamato Final - Synthesizer FantasyColumbiaWith Jun Fukamachi, Hiroshi Miyagawa and Kentarō Haneda

Compilations
Year Album name Label
1980Junko the BestDiscomate
1982Summer In Summer
1984軌跡I
1984軌跡II
1984Best 15
1987Chapter II Best SelectionMoon Records
1990ベスト・オブ・ミーNEC Avenue
1996The Best SelectionContinental
2006ポプコン・マイ・リコメンド 八神純子 ポップヒッツKing Records
20091974~1986 Singles PlusVictor
20132CD Best 1978-1983Yamaha Music Communications
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References
  1. "八神純子". tower.jp. Tower. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  2. "61歳八神純子「継続は力なり」３オクターブ健在". Nikkan Sports. 16 July 2019. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  3. Di Trapani, Stefano (29 December 2019). "Capodanno al City Pop". Vice. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  4. Beseven, Saeptem (11 July 2018). "La City Pop, bande-son de vos apéros estivaux". Slate. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
  5. "元八神製作所社長で歌手八神純子さんの父、八神良三氏死去". Jiji. 25 June 2019. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  6. 八神純子『探しものは心の中に』p.100（角川書店、1997年）
  7. Guzman, Richard (26 February 2019). "Record collectors alert: Find rare Japanese vinyl at this 2-week-only pop-up". Daily News. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  8. Hisakatsu, Tanaka (8 August 2017). ""日本のAORの女王"・八神純子　これからも歌い続けていくために必要な事、大切にしたい想い". Yahoo News JP. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  9. "八神純子の新曲配信へ「さらなる挑戦を聞いて」". Nikkan Sports. 17 August 2019. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  10. "再評価される八神純子ら「シティー・ポップ」お宝探しに来日するＤＪも". Tokyo Sports. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2019.


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