Junko Ohashi
大橋 純子
Background information
Born(1950-04-26)April 26, 1950
Yūbari, Hokkaido, Japan
DiedNovember 9, 2023(2023-11-09) (aged 73)
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active
  • 1974–2023
Labels
Websitewww.junko-ohashi.com
Alma materFuji Women's Junior College
Spouse
Ken Sato
​
(m. 1979)​
Japanese name
Kanji大橋 純子
Hiraganaおおはし じゅんこ
Katakanaオオハシ ジュンコ

Junko Ohashi (大橋 純子, Ōhashi Junko, April 26, 1950 – November 9, 2023) was a Japanese singer best known for her songs "Silhouette Romance" (1981) and "Tasogare My Love" (1978). She was known for her "overwhelming singing ability" and was mainly successful between late 1970s and early 1980s.[1] Her discography consist of more than 20 albums.[2] After a brief hiatus battling esophageal and breast cancer, she returned to music in 2019 before dying from her esophageal cancer, which had returned in 2023.[3]

Early life and education

Ohashi was born in Yūbari, Hokkaido, Japan on April 26, 1950, the oldest of four children from a family that ran a restaurant.[1] She graduated from Hokkaido Yubari High School, later attending and graduating from Fuji Women's Junior College. While at college, she joined a band.

Career

Ohashi made her debut as a singer with the album Feeling Now (1974).[4] She had her breakout in 1978, with the hit "Tasogare My Love", the theme song of the TBS drama series Shishi no Gotoku.[5] During her initial stages of her career, she was known to sing hard rock, but switched to soul after being inspired by artists Sérgio Mendes and Janis Joplin.[6] She accompanied Kiyohiko Ozaki on a live tour, and later served as a supporting act.

In 1976, she released the song "Paper Moon", which became a hit. With the success of the album of the same name, she formed the band Junko Ohashi & Minoya Central Station.[7] In 1978, she released the song "Tasogare My Love", which won her a Gold Award during the 20th Japan Record Awards. In 1981, she released the song "Silhouette Romance", which ranked at number 7 on the Oricon Singles Chart, was awarded best song at the 24th Japan Record Awards and sold over 500,000 copies.[4][8] She also participated in several editions of the Kōhaku Uta Gassen competition, starting from 1979.[4]

In 2018, she announced that she would be on hiatus after revealing that she had esophageal cancer, returning to recording and touring in March 2019.[9][10]

Personal life

Ohashi met composer Ken Sato while he was working at Yamaha, marrying him in 1979.[11]

In 2018, she revealed that she was diagnosed with early-stage esophageal cancer, cancelling tours in order to focus on her treatment, but was able to resume touring after during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.[12] In March 2019, she revealed that she had also suffered from breast cancer.[13] On March 22, 2023, she reported a relapse and stopped touring to again focus on treating the cancer.[13] On November 9, 2023, Ohashi passed away.[14][15] Her wake was held at Zōjō-ji temple on November 15.[16]

References

  1. 1 2 "歌手・大橋純子（１）歌って育った夕張でコンサート". Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). July 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Junko Ohashi : Tribute and retrospective – AFTER 5 – Blog". AFTER 5 - Blog. 2023-11-12. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
  3. ↑ "大橋純子　初期の食道がん公表　４月以降の仕事を治療のためキャンセルdate=March 15, 2018". Sports Nippon (in Japanese).
  4. 1 2 3 "「シルエット・ロマンス」大橋純子さん急逝 73歳 3月に食道がん再発判明、闘病中の突然の悲報…". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 11 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  5. ↑ Katayama, Takeshi (October 15, 2020). "筒美京平さん、自ら弾いた「たそがれマイ・ラブ」". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese).
  6. ↑ "大橋純子さん73歳死去「どこででもいいから歌いたい」…語っていた歌への熱い思い". Nikkan Gendai (in Japanese). November 11, 2023.
  7. ↑ "大橋純子の迫力と 美乃家セントラル・ステイションの バンドらしいアンサンブルが 拮抗した名盤『RAINBOW』". OKMusic (in Japanese). November 2, 2022.
  8. ↑ "歌手 大橋純子さん死去73歳 ヒット曲「シルエット・ロマンス」". NHKニュース (in Japanese). 11 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "大橋純子が食道がんのため活動休止「気持ちは前向きです」". Natalie (in Japanese). March 16, 2018.
  10. ↑ "大橋純子が食道がん克服し活動再開、5月にカバーアルバム発表". Natalie (in Japanese). March 8, 2019.
  11. ↑ "大橋純子さん急逝　もんたさん死去で悲痛コメントから20日後…「天国でデュエットを」「言葉出ない」の声". Sports Nippon (in Japanese).
  12. ↑ "大橋純子　早期の食道がんを公表「本当か、という気持ち」「私を応援していただければ」". Daily Sports (in Japanese). March 15, 2018.
  13. 1 2 "大橋純子が食道がん再発を公表「とても残念」　過去に乳腺がんも". Daily Sports. March 23, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Junko Ohashi, singer of 'Silhouette Romance,' dies at 73". Yomiuri Shimbun. November 11, 2023.
  15. ↑ "大橋純子さん急逝　73歳　70年代後半～80年代に活躍したミュージシャンの訃報相次ぐ…". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). November 11, 2023.
  16. ↑ "歌手の大橋純子さん死去　73歳、「シルエット・ロマンス". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). November 11, 2023.
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