Anju Suzuki

Kakuko Yamagata (山形 香公子, Yamagata Kakuko[2], born 23 September, 1969), known professionally as Anju Suzuki (鈴木 杏樹, Suzuki Anju), is a Japanese actress, television presenter, and singer (under the stage name Kakko).[1]

Anju Suzuki
Born
Kakuko Suzuki

(1969-09-23) 23 September 1969
Minoh, Osaka, Japan
Occupations
  • Actress
  • television presenter
Years active1990–present
Musical career
Also known asKakko
OriginLondon, England
GenresEurobeat[1]
Instrument(s)Vocals
LabelsCBS Records, Yoshimoto Kogyo

Career

Suzuki was born in Minoh, Osaka and raised in Kobe, Hyogo. At age 17, she was spotted by a CBS records scout when she was commuting to school. Soon after, she moved to the United Kingdom to pursue a singing career.[3] Suzuki worked behind the scenes at PWL Records, doing office duties and familiarising herself with the business side of operations, before she was given the chance to record.[4] Her first single "We Should Be Dancing" (produced by Stock Aitken Waterman) was released in February 1990 and peaked at number 101 on the UK single chart.[4] Her second release "What Kind Of Fool" did not chart. Met with little success, she returned to Japan in 1991 and began working as an actress. She has become a popular actress in TV dramas and appears in many commercials.

Suzuki hosted Music Fair from 1995 to 2016.[5]

On 8 July 2022, Suzuki released her first single in 32 years, a re-recording of “We Should Be Dancing” performed as a duet with comedian and singer Takashi Fujii.

Personal life

Suzuki married surgeon Motoo Yamagata in June 1998.[6] The couple met in January 1998 when Suzuki was admitted to hospital for abdominal pain. Yamagata was her operating surgeon.[6] He died of liver disease on 1 February 2013.[7]

Filmography

Film
  • High School Teacher (1993)
  • Birthday Present (1995)
  • ZOO SO-Far (2005)
  • What a Wonderful Life!! (2011)
  • Aibou Series X DAY (2013)
  • Waka Okami wa Shōgakusei! (2018)

Television

Discography

Solo
  1. We Should Be Dancing (CBS, 1990)
  2. What Kind Of Fool (CBS, 1990)

Kakko and Takashi Fujii
  1. We Should Be Dancing (Yoshimoto, 2022)

Night Tempo feat. Anju Suzuki

Live Once (2023)

Awards
Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1993 Golden Arrow Award Graph Award Herself Won [8]
1994 Drama Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress Chōnan no Yome Won [9]
1995 Elan d'or Awards Newcomer of the Year Herself Won [10]

References
  1. 鈴木杏樹、女優になる前はロンドンで歌手 藤井フミヤと出会っていた！. sanspo.com (in Japanese). Sankei Digital. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  2. 杏樹、夫危篤知りながら生出演していた (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. 14 February 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  3. 「あすなろ白書」同窓会“あすなろ会”にキムタク参加 鈴木杏樹が明かす. Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. 30 July 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  4. "A Journey Through Stock Aitken Waterman: Ep 55: We Should Be Dancing to Use It Up And Wear It Out on Apple Podcasts". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  5. 鈴木杏樹『MUSIC FAIR』涙で卒業発表 恵俊彰と3月末でラスト. Oricon News (in Japanese). Oricon. 19 February 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  6. 鈴木杏樹ショック 夫の山形基夫さん急死 生番組本番中に悲報. Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Sports Nippon. February 3, 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  7. 鈴木杏樹、帰国後の生出演で「皆さんに支えられています」と感謝. Sankei News (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 9 February 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  8. "List of Golden Arrow Award Winners" (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan Magazine Publishers Association. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2006. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  9. "1st Drama Academy Awards". The Television (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  10. "Elan d'or Awards Winners List" (in Japanese). Nippon Producers Association. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
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