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Junko Ohashi大橋 純子
Background information
Born	(1950-04-26)April 26, 1950 Yūbari, Hokkaido, Japan
Died	November 9, 2023(2023-11-09) (aged 73) Tokyo, Japan
Genres	City pop kayōkyoku J-pop soul rhythm and blues
Occupation	Singer
Years active	1974–2023
Labels	Philips Records Epic Records Japan VAP
Website	www.junko-ohashi.com
Alma mater	Fuji Women's Junior College
Spouse	Ken Sato ​(m. 1979)​
Japanese name
Kanji	大橋 純子
Hiragana	おおはし じゅんこ
Katakana	オオハシ ジュンコ
Transcriptions Romanization Ōhashi Junko

Junko Ohashi (大橋 純子, Ōhashi Junko, April 26, 1950 – November 9, 2023) was a Japanese singer best known for her songs "Silhouette Romance" (1981) and "Tasogare My Love" (1978). She was known for her "overwhelming singing ability" and was mainly successful between late 1970s and early 1980s. Her discography consists of more than 20 albums. After a brief hiatus due to battling esophageal and breast cancers, she returned to music in 2019. On November 9, 2023, Ohashi died in Tokyo at the age of 73.

Early life and education

Ohashi was born in Yūbari, Hokkaido, Japan on April 26, 1950, the oldest of four children from a family that ran a restaurant. She graduated from Hokkaido Yubari High School, later attending and graduating from Fuji Women's Junior College. While at college, she joined a band.

Career

Ohashi made her debut as a singer with the album Feeling Now (1974). She had her breakout in 1978, with the hit "Tasogare My Love", the theme song of the TBS drama series Shishi no Gotoku. During her initial stages of her career, she was known to sing hard rock, but switched to soul after being inspired by artists Sérgio Mendes and Janis Joplin. She accompanied Kiyohiko Ozaki on a live tour, and later served as a supporting act.

In 1976, she released the song "Paper Moon", which became a hit. With the success of the album of the same name, she formed the band Junko Ohashi & Minoya Central Station. In 1978, she released the song "Tasogare My Love", which won her a Gold Award during the 20th Japan Record Awards. In 1981, she released the song "Silhouette Romance", which ranked at number 7 on the Oricon Singles Chart, was awarded best song at the 24th Japan Record Awards and sold over 500,000 copies. She also participated in several editions of the Kōhaku Uta Gassen competition, starting from 1979.

In 2018, Ohashi announced that she would be on hiatus after her esophageal cancer diagnosis, returning to recording and touring in March 2019.

Personal life

Ohashi met composer Ken Sato while he was working at Yamaha, marrying him in 1979.

Health problems and death

In 2018, Ohashi revealed that she was diagnosed with early-stage esophageal cancer, cancelling tour dates in order to focus on her treatment, but was able to resume touring afterwards. However, in March 2019, Ohashi revealed that she was also suffering from breast cancer.

On March 22, 2023, it was reported that Ohashi had relapsed and stopped touring again due to focusing on treating her esophageal cancer. Eight months later, on November 9, Ohashi died in a hospital in Tokyo at the age of 73. Her funeral was held at Zōjō-ji temple on November 15 after she was cremated.

Discography

Albums

Studio albums

Cover albums

Self-cover albums

Compilation albums

Singles

References

1. ^ "歌手・大橋純子（１）歌って育った夕張でコンサート". Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). July 14, 2014.
2. "大橋純子 初期の食道がん公表 ４月以降の仕事を治療のためキャンセルdate=March 15, 2018". Sports Nippon (in Japanese).
3. "Junko Ohashi : Tribute and retrospective – AFTER 5 – Blog". AFTER 5 - Blog. 2023-11-12. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
4. ^ "「シルエット・ロマンス」大橋純子さん急逝 73歳 3月に食道がん再発判明、闘病中の突然の悲報…". Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). 11 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
5. Katayama, Takeshi (October 15, 2020). "筒美京平さん、自ら弾いた「たそがれマイ・ラブ」". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese).
6. "大橋純子さん73歳死去「どこででもいいから歌いたい」…語っていた歌への熱い思い". Nikkan Gendai (in Japanese). November 11, 2023.
7. "大橋純子の迫力と 美乃家セントラル・ステイションの バンドらしいアンサンブルが 拮抗した名盤『RAINBOW』". OKMusic (in Japanese). November 2, 2022.
8. "歌手 大橋純子さん死去73歳 ヒット曲「シルエット・ロマンス」". NHKニュース (in Japanese). 11 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
9. "大橋純子が食道がんのため活動休止「気持ちは前向きです」". Natalie (in Japanese). March 16, 2018.
10. "大橋純子が食道がん克服し活動再開、5月にカバーアルバム発表". Natalie (in Japanese). March 8, 2019.
11. "大橋純子さん急逝 もんたさん死去で悲痛コメントから20日後…「天国でデュエットを」「言葉出ない」の声". Sports Nippon (in Japanese).
12. "大橋純子 早期の食道がんを公表「本当か、という気持ち」「私を応援していただければ」". Daily Sports (in Japanese). March 15, 2018.
13. ^ "大橋純子が食道がん再発を公表「とても残念」 過去に乳腺がんも". Daily Sports. March 23, 2023.
14. "Junko Ohashi, singer of 'Silhouette Romance,' dies at 73". Yomiuri Shimbun. November 11, 2023.
15. "大橋純子さん急逝 73歳 70年代後半～80年代に活躍したミュージシャンの訃報相次ぐ…". Sports Nippon (in Japanese). November 11, 2023.
16. "歌手の大橋純子さん死去 73歳、「シルエット・ロマンス". The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). November 11, 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Junko Ohashi at AllMusic
• Junko Ohashi discography at Discogs
• Junko Ohashi at IMDb 

• 1950 births
• 2023 deaths
• Singers from Hokkaido
• 20th-century Japanese women singers
• 21st-century Japanese women singers
• Japanese women pop singers
• Universal Music Japan artists
• Philips Records artists
• Epic Records artists
• Deaths from esophageal cancer in Japan