Kanako Wada

is a Japanese singer and songwriter. Originally studying classical piano, she studied sculpture and managed the rugby team at the Tokyo University of the Arts before being scouted at a concert she organized. Debuting in November 1985, she released seven original albums and eleven singles with Toshiba EMI before retiring in 1991. She was also a television personality who worked as Akira Inoue's assistant on NHK's , as well as a radio personality at networks such as Asahi Broadcasting Corporation and Nippon Cultural Broadcasting. Her music has received renewed attention amidst the city pop boom of the 2010s and 2020s. Biography Kanako Wada, a native of Toyonaka, was born on 28 October 1961. She later released ten more singles. and some of her songs were commercial songs, including "Dreamin' Lady" for House Foods's Soup Spaghetti, "Heart de Furimuite" for Menard,

Carlos/Giancarla Ross of THEM Anime Reviews described Wada's songs in Kimagure Orange Road: The Movie as "mournfully plaintive ballads simply perfect for the soundtrack, almost tear-jerking in its own right," and Christi, also of THEM Anime Reviews said that Wada's songs in Kimagure Orange Road "will definitely hit the heart". According to a 2024 Re:minder article by Eiji Makaino, jazz standards were an important part of Wada's music. Kana (1987) received a vinyl re-release in 2021, and Esquisse received a re-release as part of the City Pop Selections series in 2022. The couple have two sons, and she has three stepsons from Maki's previous marriages: actor Claude Maki and surfers Hayato Maki and Taito Maki.

1987 Released: 4 March 1987 Label: Toshiba EMI — — —

1987 Released: 25 December 1987 Label: Toshiba EMI — — —

1988 Released: 6 November 1988 Label: Toshiba EMI 29 — —

1989 Released: 13 December 1989 Label: Toshiba EMI — — —

1990 Released: 27 September 1990 Label: Toshiba EMI — — —

1990 Released: 28 November 1990 Label: Toshiba EMI — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Compilations Title Year Details Peak chart positions Sales JPN JPNHot Esquiss 1987 Released: 5 August 1987 Label: Toshiba EMI — — — Golden Best(ゴールデン☆ベスト) 2006 Released: 21 June 2006 Label: Toshiba EMI — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Singles Title Year Details Peak chart positions Sales JPN JPNHot "Passing Through"(パッシング・スルー) 1985 Released: 21 November 1985 Label: Toshiba EMI 49 — — "Boy" 1986 Released: 1986 Label: Toshiba EMI — — — "Creation My Heart" 1986 Released: 1986 Label: Toshiba EMI — — — "Natsu no Mirage"(夏のミラージュ) 1987 Released: 1 May 1987 Label: Toshiba EMI — — — "Kanashii Heart wa Moeteiru"(悲しいハートは燃えている) 1987 Released: 16 September 1987 Label: Toshiba EMI 30 — — "Tanjobi wa Minus 1"(誕生日はマイナス1) 1988 Released: 1988 Label: Toshiba EMI — — — "Lucky Love" 1988 Released: 25 May 1988 Label: Toshiba EMI 35 — — "Ano Sora o Dakishimete"(あの空を抱きしめて) 1988 Released: 5 October 1988 Label: Toshiba EMI — — — "Dreamin' Lady" 1989 Released: 4 October 1989 Label: Toshiba EMI 33 — — "Heart de Furimuite"(HEARTでふりむいて) 1990 Released: 4 June 1990 Label: Toshiba EMI — — — "Wake Up Dream" 1991 Released: 5 July 1991 Label: Toshiba EMI — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.