Chisato Moritaka

(born 11 April 1969) is a Japanese pop singer who also is notable as a songwriter. She is affiliated with Up-Front Create, a subsidiary of the Up-Front Group.

Moritaka's singing career as the unrivaled "Dance Queen" began in May 1987 with the release of her debut album New Season. She differed from many other female idol singers in Japan in that she wrote her own lyrics for majority of her albums. More than 60 of her songs were composed by Hideo Saitō. Moritaka also played drums on many of the tracks, as well as piano, guitar, recorder, clarinet, and other instruments. Her musical style was influenced by Pink Lady, Janet Jackson, Roger Taylor, and The Beatles. From 1987 to 1999, Moritaka sold over 6.4 million singles and 5.2 million albums. Moritaka's advertising jingles were hits into the mid-1990s in television commercials for goods and services such as consumer electronics, chocolate, beer, gin, and travel packages. She has also made numerous appearances on Japanese game and talent shows and is still a household name. In twelve years after her debut, she released 13 studio albums and created a strong following of devoted fans. While studying at (now Kyūshū Lutheran College), Moritaka played drums in a band that mainly covered Rebecca songs.

On 25 June 1992, Moritaka released the single "Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo". Composed by Saitō, Moritaka wrote the lyrics when she was 20 after being told by male staff of her management that women reach their prime at age 19. The song peaked at No. 15, but has since become a popular hit among women, especially after actress Hikari Ishida announced it as during the 43rd Kōhaku Uta Gassen on NHK. Also in the band was actor and bassist Yōsuke Eguchi, whom Moritaka would eventually marry four years later. Moritaka resumed touring in April 1996 with the Do the Best tour, starting at the Yokohama Arena. In 2008, she made a guest appearance at Sharam Q's 20th anniversary concert at the Nippon Budokan, performing "Watarasebashi" and "Kibun Sōkai". A year later, Moritaka made her first TV appearance in over 10 years on Bokura no Ongaku. On 9 April 2011, Moritaka joined other members of the Up-Front Group roster in the charity event at Yamashita Park to support the victims of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

On 25 May 2012, Moritaka celebrated her 25th anniversary by renewing her official website and opening new accounts on YouTube, Facebook, and Google+. In 2013, Moritaka and DJ tofubeats collaborated on a single titled "Don't Stop the Music." She also recorded the song "Kumamonmon" to celebrate Kumamon's third birthday.

In 2018, Moritaka and dance choreographer Mikiko were inducted into the Fourth Women of Excellence Awards.

In 2020, Moritaka became the brand ambassador for DHC's Queen of Serum anti-aging skin cream. On 21 March, she performed "La La Sunshine" on Fuji TV's music special , which was broadcast to cheer up the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. On 4 May, Moritaka was among the 121 members of Up-Front Group to participate in a YouTube telework to support the frontline workers during the pandemic. On 25 July, Moritaka hosted an online concert, performing her 10 most popular songs as voted by her fans. In addition, Warner Music Japan announced the release of Moritaka's Kono Machi Tour 2019 Blu-ray and DVD on 26 August. The video covers her concert at Kumamoto Castle Hall on 20 December 2019, which was her first show in her hometown in over 26 years. On 15 October, she performed a special concert at Zepp Diver City in Tokyo, titled . The concert featured live performances of 20 of Moritaka's songs selected by music critic Nobuaki Onuki, plus her covers of Shonen Knife's "Banana Chips" and Negoto's "Sharp". On 8 December, Moritaka performed her third and final online concert of 2020 at Zepp Haneda in Tokyo, titled . The concert featured a personal selection of Moritaka's 16 songs, plus her cover of Capsule's "More More More".

In May 2021, Moritaka announced the release of the three-disc live video Chisato Moritaka Live 2020, which compiles her three online concerts from the past year.

On 11 March 2022, Moritaka participated in the Shuichi "Ponta" Murakami tribute concert "One Last Live", performing "Zaru de Mizu kumu Koigokoro" and "La La Sunshine". She also joined Mie in performing the Pink Lady hit single "UFO". In November, Moritaka became the brand ambassador for Yakult Honsha's Lactdew beauty product line.

In July 2023, Moritaka and Warner Music Japan announced the release of the live video Kono Machi Tour 2020–22 on 18 October.

Moritaka is scheduled to perform with Maki Watase of Lindberg at the Pink Lady 50th anniversary tribute concert on 25 August 2026.

Moritaka currently hosts Nippon Broadcasting System's All Night Nippon Music 10 every second Wednesday of the month. She also hosted the Fuji TV program Love Music until its final episode on 17 September 2023.

Personal life Moritaka married actor Yōsuke Eguchi on 3 June 1999 after discovering she was pregnant with their first child. She gave birth to a daughter in February 2000 and a son in May 2002.

In an interview with AndGirl magazine, Moritaka revealed that her secret to retaining her youthful looks and toned legs was regular skin moisturizing and exercise, including an hour of swimming. In an interview with Vogue Japan, she said she has also been doing hot yoga.

Legacy In 1993, guitar designer Bill Lawrence released the MB-68 Chisato Moritaka Signature Model electric guitar, which Moritaka used during her Lucky 7 tour that year. In 2007, a stele was erected in Ashikaga, Tochigi in honor of Moritaka's song "Watarasebashi". The stele features a speaker that plays a portion of the song. Singer-songwriter Takuro Yoshida praised Moritaka's songwriting style, commenting that she "destroyed the world view of lyrics that we musicians have built over decades until now." Moritaka's drumming skills also impressed veteran jazz drummer Shuichi Murakami. On 29 March 2019, Music Station hosted its "Heisei 30 Nenkan Music Station No.1 Award" ceremony to mark the end of the Heisei era. Moritaka was recognized in two categories: Best Costume (2nd Place: "Nozokanaide") and Most Performances (10th Place: 102).

Discography

New Season (1987) Mi-ha (1988) Mite (1988) Hijitsuryokuha Sengen (1989) Kokon Tozai (1990) Rock Alive (1992) Pepperland (1992) Lucky 7 (1993) Step by Step (1994) Taiyo (1996) Peachberry (1997) Kotoshi no Natsu wa More Better (1998) Sava Sava (1998)

Filmography Film (Toho, 30 May 1987) – Chisato Matsumae (debut) (Fuji TV, 30 August 1997) – Herself (cameo)

TV (Fuji TV, 19 April – 27 September 1987) – assistant (Fuji TV, 4 May 1987) – guest appearance (episode 5) – (NHK, 27 July 1987) – Mayumi Kōda (episode 6) – (Fuji TV, 21 September 1987) – Yūko Ichinose – (NHK, 1 December 1987) – (TV Tokyo, 28 March 1988)

Kōhaku Uta Gassen appearances