中森明菜 | en

(中森明菜, Nakamori Akina) is a Japanese pop singer and actress born on 13 July 1965 in Kiyose, Tokyo, Japan. She was one of the most popular singers in 1980s Japan. Best known for 難破船 (Nanpasen), Nakamori made her debut on May 1, 1982 with the single スローモーション (Slow Motion). One of her best-known performances remains that of Desire where she came out in a white kimono and wig, leaving everyone with a very strong image of her. Her own image was always more mature than that of her companions, and her voice much lower and huskier.

She attempted suicide in July 1989 in her then-boyfriend 近藤真彦 (Masahiko Kondo)'s apartment after discovering that 松田聖子 (Seiko Matsuda), her main competition, and her boyfriend were having an affair together. Afterward, she disappeared from the public eye and is rumored to have spent her days drinking heavily in Hawaii. Her career since her suicide attempt has never regained the popularity she experienced in the early- to mid-1980s. But she kept performing even after 1996. Her performances before Japanese audiences continue to be of high quality. Her 2000, 2002 and 2003 concerts attracted large numbers of fans. She still performs and releases original songs (as of 2005). She is also on the New Year’s TV show Kōhaku Uta Gassen. .