Momoko Kikuchi

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Momoko Kikuchi
菊池 桃子
Background information
Birth name菊池 桃子
Born (1968-05-04) May 4, 1968 (age 55)
Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan
GenresJ-pop, Kayokyoku
Occupation(s)Actress, entertainer, singer, scholar
Years active1984–present
Labels
Spouse(s)
(m. 1995; div. 2012)
Hiroaki Niihara
(m. 2019)

Momoko Kikuchi (菊池 桃子, Kikuchi Momoko, born May 4, 1968)[1] is a Japanese actress, entertainer, singer, and scholar who was formerly represented by the talent agency, Parfit Production.[2] On June 22, 2020, Kikuchi announced that she has left Parfit Production and gone 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[edit]

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 recognized. 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.

In April 17, 2024, Kikuchi released her first EP, Eternal Harmony.

Personal life[edit]

In November 2019, Kikuchi married technocrat Hiroaki Niihara.[3]

Momoko Kikuchi Special Live “EMERALD”~40th Anniversary&Birthday~will be held on May 3, 2024 at Christ Shinagawa Church Gloria Chapel

Discography[edit]

Studio albums[edit]

Year Title Label Sales
1984 Ocean Side Vap
1985 Tropic of Capricorn JPN: 466,130+
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
2022 Shadow Vap

EP[edit]

Year Title Label
2024 Eternal Harmony Vap

Singles[edit]

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[edit]

Year Title Label
1989 The Greatest Hits (Majestic Twelve) Vap
1993 Special Selection 1
Special Selection 2
2011 Golden ☆ Best

Filmography[edit]

TV series[edit]

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
2021 Enjoy Drinking Alone Reika Benikawa Wowow [4]

Films[edit]

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[edit]

  1. ^ a b "菊池 桃子" (in Japanese). Parfit Promotion. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  2. ^ "一億総活躍議員、なぜ菊池桃子が?". News Post Sebun (in Japanese). Shogakukan. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
  3. ^ "'80s Japanese pop star Momoko Kikuchi weds Abe govt official". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  4. ^ "大政絢主演「ひとりで飲めるもん!」特報公開、桐山漣&谷村美月が出演". Cinema Cafe. 30 April 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.

External links[edit]