Yoko Minamino
Yoko Minamino, also known as Nanno, is a Japanese actress and singer. She is best known for playing Saki Asamiya in the second season of the live action Sukeban Deka television series. Though currently independent, Minamino was previously under the S1 Company, Southern Field, Sweet Basil and K Dash Group talent agencies.
Early life and education
Minamino was scouted during high school when she went to see a public recording. Moving from Hyōgo to Tokyo when she was seventeen, Minamino attended Horikoshi High School with Minako Honda and Yukiko Okada, graduating in 1986.Career
Minamino made her debut television role in 1984 in Meimon Shiritsu Jōshi Kōkō. She began working for the talent agency S1 Company at this time. Despite being a mostly unknown face in Japanese entertainment, Minamino was given an unusually large number of photos in a seinen manga magazine.This led to her being cast in 1985 in the role of Saki Asamiya in the second season of Fuji TV's Sukeban Deka, a popular live action TV series about a juvenile delinquent being forced to go undercover for the police in a high school known for its rough gangs. This role made Minamino an instant star, and many phrases from this season became fashionable. She was also nominated at the 11th Annual Japan Academy Prize event as "Rookie of the Year" for her performance in the movie version released in 1987. Her "Saki Asamiya" character was used in a wide range of adverts.
She made her singing debut on her 18th birthday in 1985 with her song 2=恥ずかし過ぎて. Along with Shizuka Kudo, Miho Nakayama, and Yui Asaka, Minamino was considered one of the Four Divas of the time until she temporarily suspended her career in 1992. In 1988 she played two roles, including the starring role, in the Taiga drama Takeda Shingen. That same year, she reached the number one spot for sales of publicity photo shots sold, setting a new record. Minamino was also honored by the country of Grenada in 1988 when they issued postage stamps featuring two different head shots.
In 1989, Minamino switched talent agencies, moving from S1 Company to the private Southern Field agency. In the 1992 film Kantsubaki, she made her first nude appearance, closely followed by her second in Watashi o Daite, Soshite Kiss-shite that same year. Minamino was nominated for the 16th Annual Japan Academy Prize for "Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role" for her performances in both of these films.
Minamino has appeared in interviews and photo shoots in Shueisha's Weekly Playboy magazine since 1984. In the 1989-08-01 issue, she appeared on the cover.
Other ventures
In January 2023, Minamino was appointed as a goodwill ambassador to Cambodia. She had previously visited the country in 1989 to film a television program.Personal life
In November 2023, her husband was arrested on suspicion of embezzling million. One week later, Minamino filed for divorce.Discography
As of 2023, Minamino released 10 original albums, 15 compilation albums, 22 physical singles, 2 digital single and 13 home-video releases.Commercial tie-ins
Minamino has performed the theme songs for multiple television series and movies, and her music has been used in many commercials. Following is a list of some of them.| Song title | Japanese title | Description of use | Notes |
| Sayonara no Memai | さよならのめまい | Insert song for Sukeban Deka II: Shōjo Tekkamen Densetsu series | for Fuji TV |
| Approach | 接近 | Theme song for Toki o Kakeru Shōjo | for Fuji TV |
| Kanashimi Monument | 悲しみモニュメント | Theme song for Sukeban Deka II: Shōjo Tekkamen Densetsu series | for Fuji TV |
| Kaze no Madrigal | 風のマドリガル | Theme song for Sukeban Deka II: Shōjo Tekkamen Densetsu series | for Fuji TV |
| Rakuen no Door | 楽園のDoor | Theme song for the movie Sukeban Deka | |
| Yuki no Kahen | 雪の花片 | Commercial for the Onkyo "Radian" midi hi-fi system | |
| Hiruyasumi no Yūutsu | 昼休みの憂鬱 | Commercial for Fujitsu Personal Computers FM77AV40EX model | |
| Aki no Indication | 秋のIndication | Commercial for Cecil Chocolate from Glico | |
| Haikara-san ga Tōru | はいからさんが通る | Used multiple times:
| |
| Ame no Mukōgawa | 雨のむこうがわ | Commercial for the Onkyo "Radian" midi hi-fi system | |
| Toiki de Net | 吐息でネット | Commercial for "Fitnet Lipstick" and the "Spring Bazaar" from Kanebo | |
| Aki kara mo, Soba ni Ite | 秋からも、そばにいて | Commercial for "Almond Chocolate" and "Pocky" from Glico | |
| Carib ni Ikitai | カリブに行きたい | Commercial for the FM77AV40EX computer by Fujitsu Personal Computers | |
| Anata o Aishitai | あなたを愛したい | Used multiple times: | |
| Just Sweet Love | Commercial for "Cecil Chocolate" from Glico | ||
| Lift no Shita de Aimashō | リフトの下で逢いましょう | Commercial for "Ski Train JR Spur-gō" for JR West | |
| Namida wa Doko e Itta no | 涙はどこへいったの | Commercial for "WENS" service from JR West | |
| Hitomi no Naka no Mirai | 瞳のなかの未来 | Opening theme song for the NHK series Aoi Blink | |
| Summer Fragrance | サマー・フレグランス | Commercial for JR West | |
| Mimi o Sumashite Goran | 耳をすましてごらん | Theme song for Itsuka Mita Aoi Sora on Nippon Television | |
| Omoi no Mama ni | 思いのままに | Message song for the NTV Nippon Television 24-Hour "TV-Ai wa Chikyū o Sukū" campaign | |
| Kiss-shite Loneliness | KISSしてロンリネス | Commercial for "Cool, Nikki, Basshon" candy drops from Asadaame | |
| Lonely Blue | Commercial for the Nagoya Railroad "MediaCard" |
Video
Tokimeki, Kudasai First Concert Nanno Club Summer Concert From Summer Concert Colorful Ave. Etu du Cinema Yoko Minamino Summer Concert '88 Omoi no Mama ni: Yoko Minamino Summer Concert '89 Just Sweet Love Abend Toki no Nagare ni: The Last Day of Tour 1991 in Sunplaza Hall by Yoko Minamino Dear My Best- ''Nanno DVD Box''
Books
Photo
Yōko o Hitorijime... Sukeban Deka II Shashinshū Eiga Sukeban Deka Shashinshū: Ai no Sailor-fuku Senshi Ki no Mama Tenshi Fūrai My Dear Great- ''Flowers''
Other
- ''Tsukiyo no Kushami''