Momoko Kikuchi
Momoko Kikuchi (菊池 桃子, Kikuchi Momoko, born May 4, 1968)[1] is a Japanese actress, entertainer, singer, and scholar who is represented by the talent agency, Parfit Production.[2]
Momoko Kikuchi 新原 桃子 | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | 菊池 桃子 |
| Born | May 4, 1968 Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan |
| Genres | J-pop |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, entertainer, singer, scholar |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Labels |
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On June 22, 2020, Kikuchi announced that she has left Parfit Production and went independent.
Her ex-husband is professional golfer Tetsu Nishikawa. Kikuchi was also a brand adviser for such women's goods as Emom and Momokoselection.
Biography
Idol era
Momoko Kikuchi was born in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan,[1] scouted in 1982, and started to make TV appearances in 1983. She officially made her debut as an idol in 1984, releasing her first single just before her 16th birthday, and instantly shot to fame. She produced seven consecutive no. 1 songs on the Oricon Chart from 1985 to 1987.
In the late 80s, Kikuchi tried to shed the "idol" label and formed RA-MU a band featuring more original material and rock music, but the band failed to be recognised. Unwilling to return to perform as an idol singing mainstream bubblegum pop, Kikuchi shifted her focus to acting from there on, and has been successful as an actress.
In 2011, Japanese music program Music Station held a special report counting down the Top 50 Idols of All-Time based on their singles' total sales. The list spans several decades, and Kikuchi was in the 42nd place, with a sales record of 4,110,000 copies.
In April 2014, Kikuchi celebrated her 30th anniversary in the show business by releasing her seventh album, the first since 1991, which is a re-recording of all her hit songs during her idol period.
Current
In November 2019, Kikuchi married technocrat Hiroaki Niihara.
Discography
Studio albums
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Ocean Side | Vap |
| 1985 | Tropic of Capricorn | |
| Terra Warrior Ψ Boy Original Sound Track (With Tetsuji Hayashi) | ||
| 1986 | Graduation Memories | |
| Adventure | ||
| Graduation Memories (Piano And Orchestra Version) | ||
| 1987 | Escape from Dimension | |
| 1991 | Miroir | |
| 2014 | 青春ラブレター 〜30th Celebration Best〜 | Epic Records |
Singles
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 青春のいじわる (Seishun no ijiwaru) | Vap |
| Summer Eyes | ||
| 雪にかいた Love Letter | ||
| 1985 | Sotsugyō (Graduation) | |
| Boyのテーマ (Boy no Theme) | ||
| もう逢えないかもしれない (Mō aenai ka mo shirenai) | ||
| 1986 | Broken Sunset | |
| Deja Vu | ||
| 夏色片想い (Natsu-iro kataomoi) | ||
| Say Yes! | ||
| 1987 | アイドルを探せ (Idol o sagase) | |
| Nile in Blue | ||
| ガラスの草原 (Garasu no sōgen) |
Compilations
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | The Greatest Hits (Majestic Twelve) | Vap |
| 1993 | Special Selection 1 | |
| Special Selection 2 | ||
| 2011 | Golden ☆ Best |
Filmography
TV series
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Graduation | Momoko Watanabe | NTV | |
| 1987 | Koi wa Hi-ho! | Momoko Furuya | NTV | Lead role |
| 1989 | Kimi no Hitomi ni Koishi Teru! | Machiko Mochizuki | Fuji TV | |
| Dō-kyū-sei | Kyoko Sakura | Fuji TV | ||
| 1990 | Hotel | Kyoko Mizutani | TBS | |
| Koi no Paradise | Shiori Nanami | Fuji TV | ||
| Yonimo Kimyōna Monogatari: Kuse | Mariko Yoshinaga | Fuji TV | ||
| 1991 | Pattern B (Hana no OL-hen): Giri Choko ni o Yōjin | Noriko | TBS | Lead role |
| Nurse Station | Mariko Nakata | TBS | Lead role | |
| Vingt Cinq Ans Kekkon | Yuko Matsunaga | Fuji TV | ||
| Jinan Jijo Hitorikko Monogatari | Arika Sayaka | TBS | ||
| 1992 | Nobunaga King of Zipangu | Nōhime | NHK | Taiga drama |
| Someday My Prince Will Come | Fuji TV | |||
| Pa Te O | Mari Egawa | Fuji TV | Lead role | |
| 1993 | Ano Ni Tsu ni Kaeritai | Chiako Aoki | Fuji TV | Lead role |
| Yellow Card | Noriko Yasaka | TBS | ||
| 1994 | Tekireiki | Makoto Takase | TBS | Lead role |
| Otokogirai | Akiitoguchi Hosokawa | TBS | Lead role | |
| 1995 | Akarui Kazokukeikaku | Riko Sakamaki | Fuji TV | |
| 2007 | Yamada Tarō Monogatari | Ayako Yamada | TBS | |
| Churaumi Kara no Nengajō | Yoshiko Morita | Fuji TV | ||
| 2008 | Marumaru Chibi Maruko-chan | Takashi-kun's mother | Fuji TV | |
| 2010 | Fukusuke | Yukiko Iragashi | THK | |
| Nyotei Kaoruko | Kaoruko Itami | TV Asahi | ||
| Nasake no Onna: Kokuzeikyoku Sasatsu-kan | Yuka Taniguchi | TV Asahi | Episode 1 | |
| Ojīchan wa 25-sai | Asuka Kurihara | TBS | ||
| 2013 | Glass no Ie | Hiroko Onaka | NHK | |
| 2014 | Asunaro San San Nana Hyōshi | Hiroko Fujimaki | Fuji TV | |
| 2015 | Happy Retirement | Kiyoko Yasui | TV Asahi | |
| 2018 | Boys Over Flowers Season 2 | Oto Edogawa's mother | TBS | |
| 2020 | Yell | Masa Koyama | NHK | Asadora |
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Pantsu no Ana | Debut | |
| 1985 | Tera Senshi PS Boy | Momoko | Lead role |
| 1986 | Bakumatsu Seishun Grafiti Ronin Ryoma Sakamoto | Okiku | |
| 1987 | Idol Wosagase | Chikako Fujitani | Lead role |
| 1992 | Pa Te O | Mari Egawa | Lead role |
| 1998 | Sore Ike! Anpanman te no Hi-ra o Taiyō ni | Rina-chan | Voice |
| 2005 | Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew | Irene / Rene | Voice |
| 2011 | Princess Toyotomi | Kunimatsu's mother | |
| 2017 | Peach Girl | Sakurako Adachi/Momo's mother | |
| 2019 | Angel Sign | ||
References
- "菊池 桃子" (in Japanese). Parfit Promotion. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
- "一億総活躍議員、なぜ菊池桃子が？". News Post Sebun (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
