Hiroko Yakushimaru

Hiroko Yakushimaru
薬師丸 ひろ子
Born (1964-06-09) June 9, 1964 (age 60)[1]
Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1978–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1991; div. 1998)​
[2]
Hiroko Yakushimaru
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2021 -
Subscribers45.1k[3]
Total views21,002,491 million times[3]
Last updated: January 15, 2024

Hiroko Yakushimaru (薬師丸 ひろ子, Yakushimaru Hiroko, born June 9, 1964) is a Japanese actress and singer.

Biography

After passing the audition for the film produced by Haruki Kadokawa, she began her acting career. Along with teen idols Tomoyo Harada and Noriko Watanabe who debuted from Kadokawa Haruki Corporation, she was often dubbed as one of "Kadokawa Sannin-musume" in her early career.[4]

Yakushimaru made her acting debut in the 1978 movie Never Give Up.[1] In 1981, she came into prominence with Sailor Suit and Machine Gun, the film where she played the leading role.[5][1] She also recorded the same-titled theme song for the film, which hit No. 1 on Oricon in late 1981[when?] and stayed there until January 18, 1982.[6][1]

Since rising to fame, Yakushimaru has gained success as both an actress and a pop singer, mainly during the 1980s.[7] She had also worked as a prolific recording artist until her marriage with Kōji Tamaki, the leader of the band Anzen Chitai.[8] According to the Japanese Oricon chart, combined sales of her singles and albums have been estimated approximately 5.9 million copies to date.[9][10]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1978 Never Give Up 野性の証明 (Yasei no Shomei [jp]) Yoriko Nagai [1]
1979 G.I. Samurai (戦国自衛隊, Sengoku Jieitai) Young samurai
1980 Toward the Terra Jonah Matsuka (voice)
Tonda Couple (翔んだカップル) Kei Yamaba (leading role)
1981 Nerawareta Gakuen [jp] (ねらわれた学園) Yuka Mitamura (leading role)
Sailor Suit and Machine Gun (セーラー服と機関銃, Sailor-Fuku to Kikanju) Izumi Hoshi (leading role)
  • Japan Academy Prize for Popularity Award (Character)[13]
1982 Yosooi no Machi (装いの街) Kayoko Ōdate (leading role)
1983 Detective Story (探偵物語, Tantei Monogatari) Naomi Arai (leading role) [1]
Legend of the Eight Samurai (里見八犬伝, Satomi Hakkenden) Shizu-hime (leading role)
1984 Main Theme Shibuki Ogasawara (leading role) [1]
W's Tragedy (Wの悲劇, W no Higeki) Shizuka Mita (leading role) [1]
  • Blue Ribbon Award for Best Actress
  • Nominated – Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role[14]
  • Japan Academy Prize for Popularity Award (Character)[15]
1985 Yabanjin no Yo ni (野蛮人のように) Tamako Arisugawa (leading role)
1986 Cabaret waitress (cameo)
Shinshi Dōmei (紳士同盟) Etsuko Kirino (leading role)
1988 Downtown Heroes Fusako Nakahara (leading role)
1989 Ready! Lady Ryoko Takahashi (leading role)
1990 Byōin e Ikō (病院へ行こう) Midori Yoshikawa (leading role)
Tasmania Monogatari (タスマニア物語) Naoko Hirashima
  • Japan Academy Prize for Popularity Award (Character)[16]
1992 Kira Kira Hikaru (きらきらひかる) Shoko Kishida (leading role)
1993 Nurse Call Kozue Igarashi (leading role)
1997 Magnitude: Asu e no Kakehashi (マグニチュード 明日への架け橋) Yoko Hioki
2003 Kisarazu Cat's Eye: Nihon Series (木更津キャッツアイ 日本シリーズ) Mirei Asada
2004 Lakeside Murder Case Minako Namiki
2005 Princess Raccoon (オペレッタ狸御殿, Operetta Tanuki-Goten) O'Hagi no Tsubone
Tetsujin 28-Gō (鉄人28号) Yoko Kaneda
Always: Sunset on Third Street Tomoe Suzuki
2006 Aogeba Tōtoshi (あおげば尊し) Mari Minegishi
Kisarazu Cat's Eye: World Series (木更津キャッツアイ ワールドシリーズ) Mirei Asada
Arigatō (ありがとう) Yoshiko Iida
2007 Bubble Fiction: Boom or Bust Mariko Tanaka
Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 Tomoe Suzuki
  • Nominated – Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role[20]
Megane Morishita ("Megane"'s Friend)
2008 Utatama Yuko Senuma
2009 Heaven's Door Mariko Shiraishi
2010 A Good Husband (今度は愛妻家) Sakura Kitami
  • Nominated – Japan Academy Prize for Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role[21]
Hanamizuki Ryoko Hirasawa
2011 Wasao (わさお) Setsuko Kikutani (leading role)
2012 Always: Sunset on Third Street 3 Tomoe Suzuki
2015 Sinbad: A Flying Princess and a Secret Island Sinbad's Mother (voice)
2017 Destiny: The Tale of Kamakura Shizuka
The 8-Year Engagement Hatsumi Nakahara
2018 Cafe Funiculi Funicula Kayo Kōtake
2019 Black School Rules Virginia Woolf
2020 Mio's Cookbook Ohyaku [22]
2022 Riverside Mukolitta (voice) [23]
Tombi: Father and Son Taeko [24]
2024 Last Mile Natsuyo Misumi [25]
Blue Period Masako Saeki [26]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1978 Teki ka? Mikata ka? 3 tai 3 (敵か?味方か?3対3) Third daughter of the wife
1979 Yosooi no Machi (装いの街) Kayoko Ōdate (leading role) It was released in cinemas later.
1997 Mrs. Cinderella Mizuho Kayama (leading role)
2000 Ren’ai Chudoku (恋愛中毒, Love addiction) Miu Minazuki (leading role)
Africa Pole Pole Naoko
2002 Mama no Idenshi (ママの遺伝子, Mom's gene) Nanami Fujiki (leading role)
2002 Honkon Myōjō Mei (香港明星迷, Hong Kong star fans) Satomi Kudo (leading role)
2002 Kisarazu Cat's Eye Mirei Asada
2004 Black Jack ni Yoroshiku ~Namida no Gan Byōtō-hen (ブラックジャックによろしく 〜涙のがん病棟編〜, Say hello to Black Jack: The part of the tragic cancer ward) Yoshie Tsujimoto
Ningen da mono ~Mitsuo Aida Story~ (にんげんだもの〜相田みつを物語〜) Chie Aida (leading role)
2005 Tiger & Dragon Katsuko Shiraishi Guest of Episode 6
1 Litre no Namida (1リットルの涙, 1 Liter of Tears) Shioka Ikeuchi
Umeko Momoko Kawai
2007 Byakkotai Shige Sakai
1 Litre no Namida: Special Edition – Tsuioku Shioka Ikeuchi
Papa no Namida de Ko wa Sodatsu (パパの涙で子は育つ, The child grew up with tears of dad) Fumika Kawamura
2008 Aiba Monogatari (愛馬物語, Favorite horse story) Sachiko Nozoe
Homeless Chūgakusei (ホームレス中学生, Homeless junior high student) Keiko Tamura
Sen no Kaze ni natte Drama Special "Nadeshiko-tai ~Shōjo tachi dake ga Mita Tokkōtai – Fūinsareta 23 nichikan~" (千の風になって ドラマスペシャル「なでしこ隊〜少女達だけが見た特攻隊・封印された23日間〜) Tome Torihama
Aruga mama no Kimi de Ite (あるがままの君でいて) Yuka Enomoto
2009 Senjō no Melody (戦場のメロディ, Melody of battlefield) Hamako Watanabe (leading role)
2010 Unubore Deka (うぬぼれ刑事, Conceit detective) Nobuko Maehara Guest of Episode 5
Gekai Suma Hisayoshi (外科医 須磨久善, Surgeon Hisayoshi Suma) Chiyoko Suma
Q10 Kuriko Yanagi
2011 Zenkai Girl (全開ガール, Girl full throttle) Shoko Sakuragawa
2012 Tsuma ga Otto wo Okuru Toki (妻が夫をおくるとき, When a wife sees off her husband) Fukuko Ishii (leading role)
Kurumaisu de Boku wa Sora wo Tobu (車イスで僕は空を飛ぶ, I fly in the sky by my wheelchair) Haruko Hasebe
2013 Amachan Hiromi Suzuka Asadora
2016 Yuriko-san no Ehon (百合子さんの絵本, Yuriko's picture book) Yuriko Onodera
2018 Unnatural Natsuyo Misumi Special appearance[25]
2019 Idaten Marie Taiga drama
2020 Yell Mitsuko Sekiuchi Asadora[27][28]
2022 Lost Man Found (拾われた男) Yamamura [29]

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Year Album details Chart positions Label
JPN[30]
1982 Seishun no Memoire (青春のメモワール)
(featuring monologue by Hiroko Yakushimaru)
  • Collection of excerpts from the motion pictures that Yakushimaru starred in: Never Give Up (1978) and Nerawareta Gakuen (1981)
  • Released: April 21, 1982
 1 Nippon Columbia
1984 Kokinshū (古今集)
  • 1st studio album
  • Released: February 14, 1984
 1 Toshiba EMI/East World
1985 Yume Jūwa (夢十話)
  • 2nd studio album
  • Released: August 8, 1985
 2
1986 Hana Zukan (花図鑑)
  • 3rd studio album
  • Released: June 9, 1986
 2
1987 Hoshi Kikō (星紀行)
  • Live album
  • Released: July 7, 1987
 3
1988 Sincerely Yours
  • 5th studio album
  • Released: April 6, 1988
 8
1989 Lover's Concerto
  • 6th studio album
  • Released: February 15, 1989
 2
1990 Heart's Delivery
  • 7th studio album
  • Released: March 28, 1990
 3
1991 Primavera
  • 8th studio album
  • Released: March 13, 1991
 13
1998 Koibumi: Love Letter (恋文)
  • 9th studio album
  • Released: February 2, 1998
 — BMG Funhouse
2018 Etoile
  • 10th studio album
  • Released: May 9, 2018
 18 Victor Entertainment Japan
2024 Tree
  • 11th studio album
  • Released: January 24, 2024
 17
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilation albums

Year Album Chart positions
(JP)[30] 		Label
1986 Best Collection 7 Toshiba EMI/East World
1988 Sentence (Sentence～セ・ン・テ・ン・ス～, Se N Te N Su) 18
2000 Love Collection: 1981–2000 — BMG Funhouse
2011 Uta Monogatari (歌物語) 43
[31] 		EMI Music Japan
2021 Indian Summer 23 Victor Entertainment Japan
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or the information is unknown.

Cover albums

Year Album Chart positions
(JP)[30] 		Label
2013 Toki no Tobira (時の扉) 24 EMI Music Japan
2016 Cinema Songs 28 Victor Entertainment Japan

Live albums

Year Album Chart positions
(JP)[30] 		Label
1987 First Live: Hoshi Kikō (ファースト・ライヴ 星紀行) 94 Toshiba EMI/East World
2017 Best Songs 1981–2017: Live in Kasuga-taisha 34 Victor Entertainment Japan
2020 Yakushimaru Hiroko 2019 Concert 56
2023 Yakushimaru Hiroko 2022 Concert -
2024 Yakushimaru Hiroko 2023 Concert 26
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or the information is unknown.

Instrumental albums

Year Album Label
1986 Yakshimaru Hiroko Song Book Vol.1 (薬師丸ひろ子・ソング・ブック Vol.1) Toshiba EMI/East World
1987 Yakshimaru Hiroko Song Book Vol.2 (薬師丸ひろ子・ソング・ブック Vol.2)
  • Music arranged by Mitsuo Hagita
1988 Yakshimaru Hiroko Song Book Vol.3 (薬師丸ひろ子・ソング・ブック Vol.3)

Box sets

Year Album Label
2021 Yakushimaru Hiroko 40th Anniversary Box Victor Entertainment Japan

Singles

Year Album Chart positions
(JP)[32] 		Label
1981 "Sailor-fuku to Kikanjū" (セーラー服と機関銃)[1] 1 Kitty Records
1983 "Tantei Monogatari" (探偵物語)[1] 1 Toshiba EMI/East World
"Main Theme" (メイン・テーマ) (1983)[1] 2
1984 "Woman (W no Higeki Yori)" (Woman "Wの悲劇"より)[1] 1
1985 "Anata o Motto Shiritakute" (あなたを・もっと・知りたくて) 2
"Ten ni Hoshi, Chi ni Hana" (天に星.地に花.) (New remix long version) 12
"Suteki na Koi no Wasurekata" (ステキな恋の忘れ方) 4
1986 "Sasayaki no Step" (ささやきのステップ) 3
"Shinshi Dōmei" (紳士同盟) 2
1987 "Mune no Furiko" (胸の振子) 8
1988 "Shūgakushō" (終楽章) 10
"Jidai" (時代) 9
1989 "Kataritsugu Ai ni" (語りつぐ愛に) 6
"Windy Boy" 12
1990 "Te o Tsunaideite" (手をつないでいて) (1990) 35
1991 "Kaze ni Notte" (風に乗って) 35
1997 "Kōsaten (Sō, Sore ga Sō)" (交叉点 〜そう それがそう〜) 51 BMG Funhouse
"Koibumi (Aishū-hen)" (恋文 〜哀愁篇〜) —
1998 "Smile Smile Smile" (smile スマイル smile) —
2000 "Love Holic" —
2011 "Boku no Takaramono" (僕の宝物) 169 EMI Music Japan
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Digital single

Year Single Reference
2016 "Senshi no Kyuushi"
 [33]
2021 "Come Back To Me: Eien no Yokogao"
 [33]
2023 "Suteki wo Atsumete"
 [33]
"Toki no Michishirube"
 [33]
2024 "Kimi to Watashi no Uta"
 [33]

Video albums

Year Album Chart positions
(JP)[30] 		Format
1987 Hoshi Kikō: Futari no Kaeru Basho (星紀行 〜二人の帰る場所〜) - LD, VHS, DVD, BD, CDV
1988 Tea Party: Sotsugyo Kinen (Tea Party－卒業記念－) - VHS, LD
1990 Heart's Delivery - VHS, LD, DVD, BD
2014 Toki no Tobira: 35th Anniversary Concert (時の扉) - DVD, BD
2015 Premium Acoustic Night Toki no Tobira: Look For A Star (時の扉) - DVD, BD
2018 Yakushima Hiroko Concert 2018 (薬師丸ひろ子コンサート) - DVD, BD
2020 Yakushima Hiroko Concert 2019 (薬師丸ひろ子コンサート) - DVD, BD
2022 Live at GLORIA CHAPEL 2021 - DVD, BD
2023 Yakushima Hiroko Concert 2022 (薬師丸ひろ子コンサート) - DVD, BD
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "薬師丸ひろ子". oricon.co.jp. Oricon. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  2. ^ "出席者も呆然！ 玉置浩二と薬師丸ひろ子の「離婚披露宴」". Excite. July 27, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "About 薬師丸ひろ子". YouTube.
  4. ^ "Kadokawa films revives in music: compilation album to be released on January 26 (Page 2)". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun Co., Ltd. January 23, 2011. Archived from the original on January 26, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  5. ^ Cadorniga, Carlos (June 24, 2015). "'Rev. from DVL' Idol Kanna Hashimoto Headlines Sailor Suit and Machine Gun Remake". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  6. ^ Single Chart Book – Complete Edition (1968–2010) (in Japanese). Oricon Research. February 2012. pp. 904–905. ISBN 9784871310888.
  7. ^ Valiente, Tita Genova (July 18, 2019). "Romancing silences in two Japanese rom-coms". Business Mirror. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  8. ^ "Kōji Tamaki marries Noriko Aota". Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). The Asahi Shimbun Company. May 8, 2010. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  9. ^ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  10. ^ Oricon Single Chart Book: Complete Edition 1968–2010. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2011. ISBN 978-4-87131-088-8.
  11. ^ １９８０年日本映画個人賞 (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
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  14. ^ "ブルーリボン賞ヒストリー (Cinema Hochi – History of the Blue Ribbon Awards)" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 7, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  15. ^ 第8回優秀作品 (in Japanese). Retrieved May 3, 2011.
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  17. ^ 第29回優秀作品 (in Japanese). Retrieved May 3, 2011.
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  19. ^ "報知映画賞ヒストリー (Cinema Hochi – History of the Hochi Film Awards)" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  20. ^ 第31回優秀作品 (in Japanese). Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  21. ^ 第34回優秀作品 (in Japanese). Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  22. ^ "みをつくし料理帖". eiga.com. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  23. ^ "江口のりこ、柄本佑、田中美佐子、緒形直人、松山ケンイチ主演『川っぺりムコリッタ』出演". Real Sound. June 18, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  24. ^ "阿部寛×北村匠海『とんび』、薬師丸ひろ子、杏ら父子を見守る豪華キャスト発表". Crank-in!. October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  25. ^ a b "「ラストマイル」に石原さとみ・井浦新らドラマ「アンナチュラル」メンバー集結". Natalie. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
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