Asami Kobayashi


Asami Kobayashi, which is the stage name for Toshiko Tanabe, is a Japanese singer, actress and model.

Life and career

Born in Kōriyama, Kobayashi started her career as an idol while still at high school; she made her record debut in 1972 with "Hatsukoi no merodī", which reached the 18th position on the Oricon Singles Chart. She eventually had her breakout in the late 1970s as a model and an actress for commercials of major brands such as Shiseido and Parco.
Kobayashi's major hit was the 1984 song "Amaoto wa Chopin no Shirabe", a cover of Gazebo's "I Like Chopin" with Japanese lyrics by Yumi Matsutoya; the song peaked at the top of the Oricon Singles Chart for three weeks. She also worked as an actress in TV dramas and films. In 1991, she married and retired from show business to focus on her family.
Kobayashi made her official comeback in 2016, posing on the cover of the magazine Kunel. In 2020, she was the subject of a biography, Kobayashi Asami ― dai ni-maku, written by Hiroshi Nobue.

Discography

Singles

#TitleRelease date
1Hatsukoi no Melody
Debut single
1972-08-05
2Rakuyō no Melody 1972-12-20
3Koi no Lesson 1973-04-20
4Aru Jijō1974-10-05
5Apartment no Kagi1975-02-20
6Watashi no Kanashimi1975-07-05
7Yume no Atosaki1976-02-20
8Amaoto wa Chopin no Shirabe
Biggest hit
1984-04-21
9Kanashimi no Spy
1984-11-21
10Chiffon no Sasayaki1985-05-22
11Utsuri Yuku Kokoro1987-03-05
12I Miss You1987-06-21