Keiko Fuji

Keiko Fuji
Native name 藤 圭子
Birth name Junko Abe (阿部 純子)
Born (1951-07-05)5 July 1951
Origin Ichinoseki, Iwate, Japan
Died 22 August 2013(2013-08-22) (aged 62)
Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Genres Enka, pop
Occupation(s) Singer, actress
Years active 1969–1979, 1981–Unknown
Labels Victor Entertainment
RCA Records
BMG Japan
CBS Sony
Associated acts Hikaru Utada
Teruzane Utada
Kiyoshi Maekawa

Junko Abe (阿部 純子 Abe Junko) (5 July 1951 – 22 August 2013), known primarily by the stage name Keiko Fuji (藤 圭子 Fuji Keiko) was a Japanese enka singer and actress. She had success in Japan in the 1960s and 1970s with her ballad-type songs. She was married on-and-off with Utada Teruzane, and was the mother of Japanese pop singer Utada Hikaru.

Life and career

Fuji was born in Iwate Prefecture, where her father was a rōkyoku singer. Her mother was a blind shamisen player or goze. As a child, Fuji sometimes accompanied her parents and sang with them when they were on tour. Her song "Keiko no Yume wa Yoru Hiraku" (Keiko's version of "Yume wa Yoru Hiraku") won the "mass popularity award" at the Japan Record Award in 1970. By this song, she took part in the 21st Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

She married the Enka singer Kiyoshi Maekawa and retired from singing in 1979, announcing her retirement during a TV show on 30 December of that year. The marriage ended in divorce, after which she emigrated to the U.S.

Her debut album, Shinjuku no Onna/Enka no Hoshi Fuji Keiko no Subete (新宿の女/「演歌の星」藤圭子のすべて Woman in Shinjuku/"Star of Enka" All of Keiko Fuji), released 5 March 1970, topped the Oricon album chart for 20 consecutive weeks, and her next album Onna no Blues (女のブルース Woman's Blues), released 5 July 1970, continued topping that chart for 17 consecutive weeks. She topped the Oricon album chart for a 37 consecutive weeks, an incredible record in Japan's music history. Her debut album's number-one record of 20 consecutive weeks remains the longest consecutive number-one record in Oricon history.[1]

She was married to Teruzane Utada, a record producer. Their only child, Hikaru Utada, was born in 1983. The couple married and divorced seven times.[2]

2006 confiscation of money by the DEA

On 3 March 2006, U.S. DEA officials confiscated more than $400,000 in U.S., Canadian, and Australian currencies from Junko Utada's carry-on luggage at JFK Airport, New York, as she waited to board a flight to Las Vegas. Utada denied any wrongdoing, and was not charged with any crime. However, the government initiated forfeiture proceedings, seeking to seize the money, which it alleged represented proceeds of drug sales or was intended to be used to buy drugs.

Utada disputed the government's claim. In August 2008, the matter remained pending in Federal District Court in New York.[3] On 27 January 2009, the Federal District Court in New York ordered the confiscated money returned to her, citing lack of evidence.[4]

Death

Keiko Fuji died on 22 August 2013, by jumping from the thirteenth floor of a 28-floor condominium building in Shinjuku, Tokyo.[5][6][7] No foul play was suspected. Her body was found in the grounds of her apartment building. Police said that her slippers were found at the end of her balcony, with no suicide note found.[8][9][10]

Discography

Like U3

For U3 discography see Hikaru Utada discography

Solo

LPs

CDs

Singles

Select filmography

Movies

Television

References

  1. ↑ オリコンのアルバム１位が千作品に　最多はユーミン (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. 19 September 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
  2. ↑ "Divorce for Hikki...and Parents!". Japan Zone. March 5, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Japanese Pop Queen's Mom In Fight With DEA". Hikaru Utada's parents seek return of $421k in seized "drug money". Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  4. ↑ 藤圭子さんに４２万ドル返還へ　米空港で０６年差し押さえ (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 28 January 2009. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
  5. ↑ "歌手の藤圭子さん自殺か". NHK News. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Ex-singer Keiko Fuji plunges to death in alleged suicide". Kyodo news.
  7. ↑ "Pop star Hikaru Utada's mother dies in suspected suicide－ 毎日ｊｐ(毎日新聞)" (in Japanese). Mainichi.jp. 2013-02-08. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
  8. ↑ "Former singer Keiko Fuji, mother of Hikaru Utada, falls to death". Japan Today. Retrieved 22 August 2013.
  9. ↑ "Singer Keiko Fuji dies in apparent suicide". The Japan News. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
  10. ↑ "Hikaru's Mother, Keiko Fuji has passed away". UtadaNet.com. Retrieved 2013-12-11.

External links

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