Keiko Fuji


Junko Utada, known primarily by the stage name Keiko Fuji 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 Teruzane Utada, and was the mother of Japanese pop singer Hikaru Utada.

Life and career

Fuji was born in Iwate Prefecture, where her father was a rōkyoku singer. Her mother was a rōkyoku shamisen player. 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" won the Mass Popularity Award at the Japan Record Awards in 1970. She also performed this song in the 21st Kōhaku Uta Gassen New Year's Eve TV special.
Her debut album, Shinjuku no Onna/Enka no Hoshi Fuji Keiko no Subete, released 5 March 1970, topped the Oricon album chart for 20 consecutive weeks, and her next album Onna no 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.
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 United States, where she became active in music again by 1981. There, she married Teruzane Utada, a record producer. Their only child, Hikaru Utada, was born in 1983 in New York City. The couple married and divorced seven times.

2006 confiscation of money by the DEA

On 3 March 2006, U.S. DEA officials confiscated more than $420,000 in American, Canadian, and Australian currencies from Keiko Fuji's carry-on luggage at JFK Airport, New York, as she waited to board a flight to Las Vegas. Keiko 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.
Keiko disputed the government's claim. In August 2008, the matter remained pending in Federal District Court in New York. On 27 January 2009, the Federal District Court in New York ordered the confiscated money returned to her, citing lack of evidence.

Death

Keiko Fuji died on 22 August 2013 after jumping from the thirteenth floor of a condominium building in Shinjuku, Tokyo. No foul play was suspected. Her body was found on the grounds of her apartment building. Police said that her slippers were found at the end of her balcony, with no suicide note found. However, her child Hikaru Utada claims there was a suicide note.

Discography

Like U3

For U3 discography see Hikaru Utada discography

Solo

LPs

  • Shinjuku no Onna / "Enka no Hoshi" Fuji Keiko no Subete – 5 March 1970
  • Onna no Blues – 5 July 1970
  • Utaitsugarete 25-nen Fuji Keiko Enka o Utau – 5 December 1970
  • Saihate no Onna – 5 March 1971
  • Keiko no Jinsei Gekijō – 5 July 1971
  • Fuji Keiko Recital – 5 October 1971
  • Keiko no Warabeuta – 25 December 1971
  • Shiranai Machi de – 25 December 1971
  • Fuji Keiko On Stage – 25 May 1972
  • Wakare no Tabi – 25 June 1972
  • Original Golden Hits Collection – 5 August 1972
  • Tōkuheikitai / "Enka no Tabi" – 5 December 1972

    CDs

  • Fuji Keiko Densetsu no Meikyoku – 21 October 1999
  • Kiite Kudasai Watashi no Jinsei: Fuji Keiko Collection – 20 December 2000
  • Fuji Keiko Complete Single Collection: 15-nen no Kiseki – 21 September 2005
  • Golden Best Fuji Keiko – 26 October 2005
  • Super Best – 11 December 2005
  • Golden Best Fuji Keiko Hit & Cover Collection Enka to Enka – 8 December 2010

    Singles

  • "Shinjuku no Onna"
  • "Onna no Blues"
  • "Keiko no Yume wa Yoru Hiraku"
  • "Inochi Azukemasu"
  • "Onna wa Koi ni Ikiteiku"
  • "Sai Hate no Onna"
  • "Koi Jingi"
  • "Michinoku Kouta"
  • "Ai no Junrei "
  • "Shiranai Machi de "
  • "Kyōto kara Hakata made"
  • "Wakare no Tabi"
  • "Hana wa Nagarete"
  • "Kanashimi no Machi"
  • "Ashita kara Watashi wa"
  • "Hana Kouta"
  • "Henreki "
  • "Koi no Yuki wa Risō "
  • "Kyoto Blues"
  • "Hi no kuni Kouta"
  • "Watashi wa Kyōto e Kaerimasu"
  • "Inochi Bi"
  • "Anata no Uwasa "
  • "Ikiteru dake no Onna"
  • "Sasurai"
  • "Hashigo zake"
  • "Onna dakara"
  • "Kiite Kudasai Watashi no Jinsei"
  • "Aishū Sakaba "
  • "Anata Hitosuji"
  • "Omokage Heiya"
  • "Ginza Nagare-uta"
  • "Yoi-yoi Sakaba"
  • "Kita no Minatomati"
  • "Kawaii Onna "
  • "Hotaru Bi"
  • "Aitsu ga Warui "
  • "Chōyo Hanayo to"
  • "Tokyo Meiro"
  • "Shinjuku Banka"
  • "Tabiji"
  • "Shinchi no Ame" feat. Katsurasanshi
  • "Sake ni You hodo"
  • "Tengoku"
  • "Tsumetai Tsuki – Nakanaide" with Cubic U
  • "Sennen no Kagaribi"
  • "Otoko to Onna"
  • "Oya Ko Bune"

    Select filmography

Movies

  • Eiga Sakariba Nagashi-uta Shinjuku no Onna
  • Zubekō Banchō Yume wa Yoru Hiraku
  • Namida no Nagashi-uta Inochi Azukemasu
  • Joshi Gakuen Yabai Sotsugyō
  • ''Fuji Keiko waga Uta no aru Kagiri''

    Television

  • Gozonji Kinsan Torimonochō "Shibai no Inochi Hi"
  • Furimuku na Tsurukichi "Kantsubaki"
  • Ikiteru dake no Kyōaku
  • Hyōteki
  • Shin-kaikyō Monogatari
  • ''Nichiyō Emi Gekijō "Sabushiro no The Hatarake Kōgyō"''

    Kōhaku Uta Gassen Appearances