Marina Watanabe
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
actress, singer, and TV-personality. She was born in Ota, Tokyo
, Japan
, and is currently married to Jun Nagura of the comedy trio Neptune
. She is a former Japanese idol
singer who is now known in her country as a television commentator and author who speaks about fashion, travel, personal health, and contemporary issues.
area. It is said that her father named his daughter "Marina", a rather unusual name for Japanese
girls at the time, because he enjoyed yachting
.
In 1986, she was discovered by star agents, and subsequently passed her audition tests to become an idol in the same year. Soon after, she joined the all-girl idol group Onyanko Club
. It was during her time within the group that she made her debut. Her debut song "Shin Koukyuu Shite" (to breathe deep) became a number one song on Oricon charts, and later got her in the record books for setting the record for the youngest singer to have a number 1 Oricon hit (a record that stood for 15 years until it was broken by a member of the Morning Musume
group in 2001). She was 15-years and 11-months old at the time.
After her idol club was disbanded, Watanabe continued to participate in various variety shows as a singer. Initially she used mainstream
idol clothing in her performances. However, because she decided to purchase her own clothes and design
her performance style while abandoning traditional idol styles, she became more popular. Later, she was found to have talent as a comedian
, thus she decided to take on more diverse roles such as that of a variety show announcer
with a comedic yet sophisticated touch. It was from this period on that others started to notice that she was trying to hide or down-play the fact that she once was a member of an idol group.
Throughout the 1990s she continued to build broad networks within the subculture
genre of Japan as both an announcer and celebrity
, which eventually led to her rising popularity.
Currently, she is famous in Japan for her essays and books concerning her hobbies of fashion
, travel
, and personal health. She is also known widely as a "Taiwan-know-all".
After marriage to her husband in 2005, her official name was changed to Nagura Marina, as she adopted her husband's surname "Nagura". However, she continues to work with her old maiden name, Watanabe Marina. She gave birth to her first child, a son, in December 2008.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
actress, singer, and TV-personality. She was born in Ota, Tokyo
Ota, Tokyo
is one of the 23 Special wards of Tokyo, Japan.As of May 1, 2011, the ward has an estimated population of 676,458, with 348,492 households, and a population density of 11,376.69 persons per km²...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and is currently married to Jun Nagura of the comedy trio Neptune
Neptune (Owarai)
is a three-man Japanese conte group consisting of two boke, , and - usually referred to as , and one tsukkomi, . Their trio name comes from the Kinnikuman character, Neptuneman.-History:...
. She is a former Japanese idol
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
singer who is now known in her country as a television commentator and author who speaks about fashion, travel, personal health, and contemporary issues.
Biography
Marina Watanabe was born and raised within the TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
area. It is said that her father named his daughter "Marina", a rather unusual name for Japanese
Japanese name
in modern times usually consist of a family name , followed by a given name. "Middle names" are not generally used.Japanese names are usually written in kanji, which are characters of usually Chinese origin in Japanese pronunciation...
girls at the time, because he enjoyed yachting
Yachting
Yachting refers to recreational sailing or boating, the specific act of sailing or using other water vessels for sporting purposes.-Competitive sailing:...
.
In 1986, she was discovered by star agents, and subsequently passed her audition tests to become an idol in the same year. Soon after, she joined the all-girl idol group Onyanko Club
Onyanko Club
was a large all-girl Japanese pop idol group in the 1980s. The group gave a new approach to the idol formula with its 52 official members and three unofficial members...
. It was during her time within the group that she made her debut. Her debut song "Shin Koukyuu Shite" (to breathe deep) became a number one song on Oricon charts, and later got her in the record books for setting the record for the youngest singer to have a number 1 Oricon hit (a record that stood for 15 years until it was broken by a member of the Morning Musume
Morning Musume
, sometimes referred to as is a Japanese idol girl group, whose act generally revolves around singing and dancing to upbeat melodies. They are the lead group of Hello! Project, which is managed and produced by Tsunku, who composes nearly all the lyrics and melodies of their songs...
group in 2001). She was 15-years and 11-months old at the time.
After her idol club was disbanded, Watanabe continued to participate in various variety shows as a singer. Initially she used mainstream
Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct....
idol clothing in her performances. However, because she decided to purchase her own clothes and design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
her performance style while abandoning traditional idol styles, she became more popular. Later, she was found to have talent as a comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, thus she decided to take on more diverse roles such as that of a variety show announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
with a comedic yet sophisticated touch. It was from this period on that others started to notice that she was trying to hide or down-play the fact that she once was a member of an idol group.
Throughout the 1990s she continued to build broad networks within the subculture
Subculture
In sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, a subculture is a group of people with a culture which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong.- Definition :...
genre of Japan as both an announcer and celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
, which eventually led to her rising popularity.
Currently, she is famous in Japan for her essays and books concerning her hobbies of fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
, travel
Travel
Travel is the movement of people or objects between relatively distant geographical locations. 'Travel' can also include relatively short stays between successive movements.-Etymology:...
, and personal health. She is also known widely as a "Taiwan-know-all".
After marriage to her husband in 2005, her official name was changed to Nagura Marina, as she adopted her husband's surname "Nagura". However, she continues to work with her old maiden name, Watanabe Marina. She gave birth to her first child, a son, in December 2008.
Singles
- "Shin Koukyuu Shite" (1986)
- "Howaito Rabitto no Meseeji" (1987)
- "Marina no Natsu" (1987)
- "Natsuyasumi dake no Saidosheeto" (1987)
- "Chiisana Breakin' my heart" (1987)
- "Mitsumete agetai" (1988)
- "Natsu no Tanpen" (1988)
- "Mou Yume kara Samenaide" (1988)
- "KARENDA" (1989)
- "Niji no Shounen" (1989)
- "Mune ga Ippai" (1989)
- "Atarashii Kimochi" (1990)
- "Daisukina SHATSU" (1990)
- "Shiawase no Rinkaku" (1991)
- "BA-SUDEI BO-I" (1992)
- "Ureshii Yokan" (1995)
- "Taiyou to HANAUTA" (1997)
Albums
- MARINA (1987)
- EVERGREEN (1987)
- CHRISTMAS TALES (1987)
- DIARY (1988)
- SUNNY SIDE (1988)
- MISS (1989)
- TWO OF US (1989)
- a piece of cake! (1990)
- FUNNY FACE (1990)
- mood moonish (1991)
- Ring-a-Bell (1996)
- Watanabe Marina Best Collection (1997)
TV dramas
- Kangofu Akademi-, Fuji TVFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
1987 - Osana Tsuma! Mama ha Abunai 17sai!, Fuji TVFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
1987 - Tokimekizakari, Fuji TVFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
1988 - Shinkon Monogatari, NTV 1988
- Yonimo Kimyouna Monogatari , Fuji TVFuji Televisionis a Japanese television station based in Daiba, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, also known as or CX, based on the station's callsign "JOCX-DTV". It is the flagship station of the Fuji News Network and the ....
1990, 1991, 1992 - Waru, Yomiuri TV 1992
- O-cha no Ma, Yomiuri TV 1993
- Kachou-san no Kainen, TBS 1993
- Moshimo Negai ga Kanasu nara, TBS 1994
- KAMI-san no Waruguchi 2, TBS 1995
- Dear U-man, TBS 1996
- PIICHIna Kankei, NTV 1999
- Face ~ Mishiranu Koibito, NTV 2001
Variety shows
- Yuuyake Nyan Nyan, Fuji TV
- Tonneruzu no mina-san no Okage desu, Fuji TV
- Gakkou e Ikkou!"", TBS
- Zenigata Kintarou, TV Asahi
- Takeshi no Daredemo PIKASO, TV Tokyo
- Doubutsu Kisou Tengai, TBS
- Oshare KANKEI, NTV
- JANGURU TV ~ TAMORI no Kisoku ~, TBS
- PUROMOMANIA, Fuji TV
Radio appearances
- Watanabe Marina Kaze no Marina (FM Yokohama)
- Across The View (J-WAVE)
- TIPNESS presents Watanabe Marina BOO-STAR Rocket ~fit for life~ (TOKYO FM)
Books
- Marina no Tamashii
- Marina no Tabibukure - Tawawa Taiwan -
- Amatsuyu na Gohoubi
- PIRATISU Michi