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Akiko Echigo (Japanese: 越後 亜紀子, Hepburn: Echigo Akiko, 10 August 1953 – 30 March 2021), known by the stage names Junko Asahina (朝比奈 順子, Asahina Junko), Jun Kobayakawa (小早川 純, Kobayakawa Jun), and Yuki Kobayakawa (小早川 有希, Kobayakawa Yuki) was a Japanese actress and singer. Originally a musumeyaku at the Takarazuka Revue, she had a struggling career as a television actress and idol singer, and after spending a few years acting in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno pink films, became popular in supporting roles.

Biography

Akiko Echigo was born on 10 August 1953 in Shibuya. Her father and mother were natives of Akita Prefecture and Chiba Prefecture (respectively), and her grandfather was Russian. She was educated at Takarazuka Music School, entering the school in 1969.

In 1971, she joined the Takarazuka Revue; her stage name at Takarazuka was Yuki Kobayakawa and she was a musumeyaku. At the time she joined the Revue, she was ranked 52nd out of 55 members of the 57th class. In 1972, she made her debut in the Flower Troupe [ja] production "Hana wa Chiruchiru/Joy!". On 30 October 1972, she left the Takarazuka Revue at the age of 19, and made her debut as an actress the same year under the alias Jun Kobayakawa. Although her career started struggling afterwards, she appeared in television series like Mirrorman, Playgirl, Ultraman Ace, Akai Kutsu  [ja], and Tokubetsu Kidō Sōsatai  [ja]. Outside of acting, she spent time working at a lingerie store in Aoyama, Tokyo.

She also had a short-lived idol career where she released three singles under the name Junko Asahina, with her debut being "Ren'ai Gakkō" (1974), and made some appearances in Japanese music shows. Film critic Naofumi Higuchi [ja] said that the reason her career failed was because "pop music lively and there were tons of beautiful idols, so she didn't stand out at all". In 1986, she returned to music with another single from Polydor Records, "Futari no Ai/Hitorijime", performing with Takashi Shinjō and F.M.G.

From 1981 to 1984, she had a brief career in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno pink films, appearing in films like Female Teacher's Awakening, I Like It From Behind, Female New Employee: Five To Nine, and Pleasure In the Mirror, and having her own catchphrase "Porno Hatsudenjo" (ポルノ発電所, lt. "Porno Power Plant"); she also received praise for "her beauty and courage". She later returned to acting in television series, including Seibu Keisatsu, Tokusō Saizensen, Mito Kōmon, Edo o Kiru, Meibugyō: Tōyama no Kinsan  [ja], Kasuga no Tsubone  [ja], as well as in the films Kōshoku Ichidai Otoko  [ja] (1982), Natsufuku no Eve  [ja] (1984), and Nidaime no Christian  [ja] (1985). Sports Hochi described her as a "unique supporting actress", with Higuchi saying that "while she mostly played supporting roles that added a touch of glamour, it is easy to understand why they wanted to invite such a bright, beautiful and dignified actress to the set. However, in the 2000s, her career became less frequent due to ill health.

Asahina was a close friend of fellow Roman Porno actress Yuki Kazamatsuri [ja], remaining so until Asahina's death.

Asahina died of multiple organ failure at a hospital in Tokyo on 30 March 2021. She was 67 years old. She never married. Despite her relatively minor acting career, news about her death appeared on "a surprisingly large number of media outlets". Higuchi said in a 2021 retrospective that "looking back at her in later years, Asahina was a very beautiful girl and acted with bravery, but she left a rather plain impression", and that she "once had a vivid image of lively and sexy".

As of 2002, Asahina lived in Yotsuya, Shinjuku.

Discography

Singles

References

1. ^ 新訂現代日本人名錄 2002. Vol. 1. Nichigai Associates. 2002. p. 164.
2. "?". Weekly Sankei. 2 April 1981. p. 121.
3. ^ Higuchi, Naofumi (16 July 2021). "樋口尚文 銀幕の個性派たち(第72回)朝比奈順子、代表作よりかけがえなきもの". Pia (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 August 2024.
4. ^ "朝比奈順子さん死去、67歳 多臓器不全のため 元タカラジェンヌ、日活ロマンポルノでも活躍". Sankei Sports. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
5. ^ Kobayashi, Kōichi, ed. (1 April 2014). 塚歌劇100年史 虹の橋 渡り続けて（人物編）. Hankyu Communications. pp. 82–83. ISBN 9784484146010.
6. "俳優の朝比奈順子さん死去 元タカラジェンヌ 日活ロマンポルノなどで活躍". Sankei News. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
7. ^ ふたりの愛/ひとり占め (cover). Junko Asahina, Takashi Shinjō & F.M.G. Polydor Records. 1986. 7DX-1438.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. ^ "女優・朝比奈順子さん死去 享年67 多臓器不全…元宝塚で日活ロマンポルノでも活躍した個性派". Sports Hochi. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
9. 恋愛学校/雪どけ道 (cover). Junko Asahina. Toho Records. 1974. AT-1049.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
10. 旅の絵葉書/ときめく時期 (cover). Junko Asahina. Toho Records. 1974. AT-1073.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
11. 恋人の午後/春のひめごと (cover). Junko Asahina. Toho Records. 1975. AT-1099.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

• 1953 births
• 2021 deaths
• 20th-century Japanese actresses
• 21st-century Japanese actresses
• 20th-century Japanese singers
• 20th-century Japanese women singers
• Japanese film actresses
• Japanese television actresses
• Japanese women pop singers
• Japanese female idols
• Actresses from Tokyo
• Singers from Tokyo
• Musicians from Shibuya
• Musicians from Shinjuku
• Takarazuka Music School alumni
• Takarazuka Revue musumeyaku
• Japanese people of Russian descent