Akiko Ikuina

is a Japanese singer, actress, tarento, and politician. She joined the Japanese pop idol group Onyanko Club in 1986.

Early life and education She was born in Setagaya, Tokyo, but moved to Koganei when she was a little girl. She has an elder sister and an elder brother. After enrolling at , she took up volleyball.

Entertainment career In April 1984, she enrolled at , and at the urging of her elder brother, an enthusiastic idol fan, she applied for the , a nationwide idol audition, but was not accepted. This, however, led her to join an entertainment agency affiliated with Horipro, and she became active as a model. In 1986, it was decided that the popular manga Touch would be made into a movie, and she auditioned for the role of the heroine of the movie. In November 1986, Onyanko Club released a song called Koi wa Question, and she was selected as one of the lead vocalists for the first time. This song is considered one of Onyanko Club's most accomplished works. In December 1986, comedian got into trouble when he pressed his crotch against her face during Yūyake Nyan Nyan.

In February 1987, she took the entrance exams for Rikkyo University, Seikei University, and Otsuma Women's University, in addition to Waseda University where her elder brother was enrolled, but was not accepted, partly because her entertainment activities did not allow her enough time to study. In April 1987, she had no choice but to attend English literature department at Keisen Women's Junior College. However, She was selected, along with Shizuka Kudō and Makiko Saitō, to be a member of the sub-group Ushirogami Hikaretai , replacing Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi, which was disbanded after the graduation of Mamiko Takai. At the time of its formation, she was considered the main figure. In May 1987, their debut song, , was released. This song was the theme song for the anime High School! Kimengumi and ranked number one on the Oricon charts. Shortly thereafter, she made her solo debut with the song , the theme song of the anime Tsuide ni Tonchinkan. From 1999 to 2003, she played the role of a mother who used to be a yankee (the term "yankee" here means "delinquent girl") in a well-received drama series called . In 2022, she became an outside director of , a nationwide chain of beauty salons.

Political career In September 2016, she became an expert member of the , a consultative committee established by the government.

On April 4, 2022, Ikuina announced her bid for parliament under the Liberal Democratic Party. 2 days later she stated "I'd like to not dirty the Onyanko Club name and do my best." Her opposition to same-sex marriage on an NHK questionnaire attracted controversy, with 14 out of 26 questions left unanswered. It was later revealed that Ikuina's response on a question about Coronavirus policy was identical to LDP opponent Kentaro Asahi's, only changed to be grammatically feminine.

In July 2022, she was elected fifth in the six-member House of Councillors' Tokyo constituency.

On 15 August 2022, Kyodo News erroneously reported that Ikuina attended Yasukuni Shrine, which honours Japan's war dead, including convicted Class-A war criminals. This report led to criticism in South Korea, as the shrine is viewed by many as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism. The controversy was further amplified when it was announced that Ikuina would represent the government at a ceremony honouring Koreans who had died while being forced to labour at the Sado mines, prompting South Korea to protest her attendance.

Ikuina denied the Kyodo report regarding her visit to Yasukuni Shrine. On 25 November 2024, Kyodo News issued an apology for the erroneous report and acknowledged that the misinformation had adversely affected Japan–South Korea relations.

Personal life In 2003, she married , a producer for a commercial production company. They then opened a teppanyaki restaurant. In 2016, she released a book entitled "To my Right Breast: Thank You and Farewell" (右胸にありがとう そしてさようなら) documenting the four-year, eight-month long battle from her diagnosis to her fifth surgery.

Discography Singles Year Title Details Peak chartposition (Oricon) 1988 Release date: May 21, 1988 B-side: Release date: September 21, 1988 B-side: "Shadow of Palm Tree" 1989 Release date: January 25, 1989 B-side: "Japanese Girl" Release date: May 24, 1989 B-side: Release date: September 27, 1989 B-side: 1990 Release date: March 7, 1990 B-side: 1991 "Luna GREAT" Release date: February 21, 1991 Ending theme for the OVA B-side: 1995 Release date: June 10, 1995 Image song of the Shiroki F.C. Serena football team B-side: 2008 Release date: October 8, 2008 Duet with Takeo Chii B-side:

Special singles (1989)

Albums Studio albums (1988) (1989)

Compilation albums series (2002) (2008) (2010) (2007)

Films Gatsby Bokura wa Kono Natsu Necktie o Suru (1990) Okuman Chōja ni Natta Otoko (1994), Kazumi Kasai Te no Hira no Shiawase (2010), Ikuko Takebayashi Live (2014), Yōko Tamura

TV programs 1996-2003: Abarenbō Shōgun, as Obun, (6-12 and the special in 2003) 1999-2003: Kids War: Zaken na yo