Yōko Nagayama

J-pop era Nagayama continued singing and performing through her junior high school years. Her plan was to become a professional enka singer after finishing junior high school. However, when she was sixteen, her handlers told her and her parents that she was too young to sing enka. Despite her father's wishes, she then decided to become a J-pop idol singer.

During this time, Nagayama also performed in various dramas, such as the jidaigeki Sanbiki ga Kiru!, Minipato yori Ai o Komete, and Yūwaku.

Enka era In 1993, she started a second career as an enka singer. She received three prizes for her first enka song Higurashi (蜩). Suterarete (捨てられて) also became famous.

She regularly presents enka programmes on Japanese TV. Nagayama has had at least one song appear on the NHK program Minna no Uta. In 1993, she made her first appearance on the NHK New Year's Eve spectacular Kōhaku Uta Gassen. Since 1995, she has performed at "Kōhaku" for 13 consecutive years, making a total of 14 appearances to date.

On April 6, 2009 she announced on her blog that she had married American entrepreneur Mark Smith. They have one daughter, born in 2010.

Yōko was featured at the 2025 Music Awards Japan where she sang a few songs including: Tsugaru Kaikyō Fuyugeshiki, originally performed by Ishikawa Sayuri, which she sang as part of a performance detailing the seasons of Japan, and her own song Jonkara Onnabushi, which she sang at the end of the show.

Discography Jpop Singles (春はSA・RA・SA・RA) April 1, 1984 Shabon (シャボン) August 1, 1984 Hisoyaka ni Tokimeite... (密やかにときめいて…) February 21, 1985 Shunkan 「Toki」wa Fantasy (瞬間「とき」はファンタジー) April 5, 1985 Golden Wind (ゴールドウィンド) August 5, 1985 Sugao no mama de (素顔のままで) December 5, 1985 Kumo ni Noritai (雲にのりたい) May 1, 1986 Venus (ヴィーナス) October 21, 1986 You Are My Love (ユア・マイ・ラヴ) March 5, 1987 Kanashiki Koibitotachi (悲しき恋人たち) June 3, 1987 Heart ni hi wo Tsukete (ハートに火をつけて) October 9, 1987 Hangyaku no Hero (反逆のヒーロー) January 12, 1988 Lonely Goodnight (ロンリーグッドナイト) May 25, 1988 KOIKO December 16, 1988 Hitomi no naka no Faraway (瞳の中のファーラウェイ) February 21, 1989 Katahaba no Mirai (肩幅の未来) July 5, 1989 If We Hold On Together August 21, 1990 Enka Singles Higurashi (蜩) January 21, 1993 Umi ni furu yuki (海に降る雪) June 2, 1993 Namida Sake (なみだ酒) September 22, 1993 Sougetsu (蒼月) March 9, 1994 Meoto Sake (めおと酒) October 5, 1994 Watashi ga Uarete Sodatta Tokoro (私が生まれて育ったところ) January 21, 1995 (捨てられて) March 24, 1995 Kose ni shite ne (倖せにしてね) February 21, 1996 Yokohama Silhouette (ヨコハマ・シルエット) June 21, 1996 Tategami (たてがみ) November 7, 1996 Tategami [Stage Version] (たてがみ「劇場版」) January 22, 1997 O Edo no Iroonna (お江戸の色女) April 23, 1997 Anoko ro no Namida ha (あの頃のなみだは) April 23, 1997 Moonlight Jealousy (ムーンライトジェラシー) November 6, 1997 Nani wa Yume Jouwa (浪花夢情話) November 6, 1997 Koi no Platform (恋のプラットホーム) January 13, 1998 Tōsan no Uta (父さんの詩) March 21, 1998 Okeya no Hot Sun (桶屋の八つぁん) May 2, 1998 Hanazono Shigure (花園しぐれ) November 13, 1998 Kasa (傘) March 4, 1999 Sadame Yuki (さだめ雪) August 4, 1999 Musuba retai no (むすばれたいの) January 1, 2000 Koi Sakaba (恋酒場) April 1, 2000 Akai Yuki (紅い雪) November 1, 2000 Touno Monogatari (遠野物語) May 17, 2001 Meguri Ai (めぐり逢い) March 21, 2002 Adesu gata onna hana Fubuki (艶姿女花吹雪) July 24, 2002 Ai Arigato (愛ありがとう) November 23, 2002 Rankyo (嵐峡) January 22, 2003 Jonkara Onnabushi (じょんから女節) June 25, 2003 Arinko to Himawari (ありんことひまわり) June 25, 2003 Onna tankou bushi (おんな炭坑節) May 26, 2004 Usoda to itte (嘘だといって) January 26, 2005 Yoko no… Umi (洋子の…海) June 16, 2005 Nagorino Tsuki (洋子の…名残月) October 19, 2005 Kizuna (絆) April 26, 2006 Matsue Funauta (松江舟唄) June 21, 2006 Yoko no… Shinjuku Oiwake (洋子の…新宿追分) February 21, 2007 Etsuraku no Sono (悦楽の園) August 22, 2007 Boukyou hitori naki (望郷ひとり泣き) August 27, 2008 Toi Machi (遠い街) January 21, 2009 Seto no Banka (瀬戸の晩夏) June 10, 2009 Okesa koi uta (おけさ恋唄) January 20, 2010 Hakata Yamakasa Onnabushi (博多山笠女節) February 23 2011 Kiso no Asunaro (木曽の翌檜) April 11, 2012 Hottoshite Kudasai (ほっとしてください) October 31, 2012 Moichido… Komori Uta (もう一度…子守唄) August 21, 2013 Koi no Tsugaru Jusanko (恋の津軽十三湖) May 28, 2014 Konpira Ichidan (金毘羅一段) April 8, 2015 Fureaibashi (ふれ逢い橋) May 18, 2016 Onna, Hitoritabi (おんな、ひとり旅) November 23, 2016 Wakarejouzu (別れ上手) July 19, 2017 Joppari Yosare / Koi - Shamisen (じょっぱり よされ / 恋・三味線) June 27, 2018 Yozakura Blues (夜桜ブルース) September 26, 2019 Anokoro mo Ima mo - Hana no 24 nengumi - (あの頃も 今も～花の24年組～) October 21, 2020 Shitamachi Ginza (下町銀座) September 22, 2021 Imasarane (今さらねぇ) September 2, 2022 Oishii Osake Nomeryaii (美味しいお酒 飲めりゃいい) June 21, 2023 Shirakami-Sanchi (白神山地) June 19, 2024 Shōwa no Onna (昭和の女) June 25, 2025 Ugo no Koiuta (羽後の恋唄) June 24, 2026 Albums Tokimeki...I Love You (ときめき…アイ・ラブ・ユー) March 21, 1985 Venus (ヴィーナス) February 1, 1987 Ondine (オンディーヌ) August 5, 1987 The New Yoko Times (ニューヨーコ・タイムス) December 1, 1987 Tokyo Menu (トーキョー・メニュー) March 9, 1988 F-1 September 21, 1988 CD FILE Yoko Nagayama VOL.1 (CD FILE 長山洋子 VOL.1) March 21, 1989 CD FILE Yoko Nagayama VOL.2 (CD FILE 長山洋子 VOL.2) March 21, 1989 Hitomi no naka no Faraway (瞳の中のファーラウェイ) June 7, 1989 CD FILE Yoko Nagayama VOL.3 (CD FILE 長山洋子 VOL.3) June 25, 1990 25th ANNIVERSARY YOKO NAGAYAMA IDOL COMPLETE BOX〜LEGEND of VENUS〜 December 2, 2009 Yoko Nagayama 40th anniversary Pops Best (長山洋子 40周年記念 ポップスベスト) February 21, 2024 Yoko Nagayama 40th anniversary Enka Best (長山洋子 40周年記念 演歌ベスト) February 21, 2024 Covers Yoko Nagayama has covered the following songs; Johnny Hates Jazz's song "I Don't Want to Be a Hero". Diana Ross's song: "If We Hold On Together" from the 1988 animated film, The Land Before Time. Madonna's song: "Papa Don't Preach". Shocking Blue's song: "Venus". Berlin's song: "Take My Breath Away"