Yoshie Kashiwabara

is a Japanese pop singer and actress currently signed under Freeload agency. In the early 1980s, she gained her popularity as a teen idol and made singing debut with single No.1.

She represented Japan at the 1986 ABU Popular Song Contest.

History Born in Osaka, Yoshie Kashiwabara first rose to fame as a participant and winner of the "Star Tanjo" contest in 1979, which led to her debut as a teen idol at 14 years old with the song "No. 1."

Yoshie's strong performance continued in 1982, with all four of her singles in that year making it into the top 10, and many were expecting her to be selected for the year-end NHK Red and White Song festival, but she was surprisingly dropped while Junko Mihara, who also debuted in 1980 along with Yoshie, was chosen, making it the headline news for that year's annual show.

Yoshie continued to work hard the next year (1983) not only by singing; she acted in a few dramas as well, and as expected, she was finally rewarded by being selected for that year's Red and White Song Festival. One of her biggest hits, "Haru na no ni", composed by Miyuki Nakajima, which was released in spring 1983, was a song about graduation, and is still one of the most popular graduation-themed songs, which is performed all over Japan during graduation period.

In 1985, Yoshie tried to leave her teen idol image behind by portraying a more mature, sexier image, and was well recognised. Her sexy posters for her hit song "Shinobi no Ai", which were hung on buildings and advertisement venues, were all stolen within days, and in this year it was found out that the then Crown Prince of Japan was a big fan of Yoshie, and instantly she was the talk of the town, pushing her to return to the stage of Kōhaku Uta Gassen (Red and White) for a second (and final) appearance.

From 1986 onwards, Yoshie began writing lyrics for her own songs, but in the ever-competitive Japanese music industry, her popularity began to decline precipitously.

In 2007, she released her first enka cover-album Encore under enka recording label Freeload.

In 2020, to commemorate her 40th singing debut, released new single Ku・zu:Watashi no Kare. As of now, Yoshie still sings and held her annual gala dinner show.

Personal life Yoshie is married to common-law husband, the name hasn't been revealed to the public.

Legacy In 2011, one of the most famous Japanese music programs, Music Station, held a special program where they counted down the Top 50 Idols of All-Time (the list spanning over four decades) based on their sales total; Yoshie Kashiwabara was in the 40th position, with total sales of 4,400,000 copies.

Other than producing 18 top-ten singles from 1981 to 1986 and performing twice (1983 and 1985) on the annual Kohaku, Yoshie's biggest achievement during her career was perhaps, despite being labelled as a pop idol, to be nominated for the best singing female artist for three consecutive years (1985–1987).

Discography

Singles

Studio albums + List of albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positionsJPNOricon How To LoveReleased: December 10, 1980 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 48 Lovely SongsReleased: August 13, 1981 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 25 Hello Good-byeReleased: December 15, 1981 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 22 Summer SensationReleased: June 8, 1982 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 15 SeventeenReleased: November 25, 1982 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 17 Haru Nano niReleased: February 10, 1983 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 4 NatsumoyouReleased: July 30, 1983 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 16 Tiny MemoryReleased: November 23, 1983 Label: Philips Records} Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 20 LusterReleased: April 25, 1984 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 22 SaiaiReleased: October 25, 1984 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 18 Machikutabirete YokohamaReleased: June 1, 1985 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 33 Shinobi AiReleased: October 5, 1985 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 17 Hatachi no SouvenirReleased: July 7, 1986 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 55 High heel wo Nugisuteta OnnaReleased: October 15, 1986 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 47 A・r・i・e・sReleased: July 6, 1987 Label: EASTWORLD Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming 37 AishuuReleased: December 5, 1987 Label: EASTWORLD Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming - Lover's SunsetReleased: July 6, 1988 Label: EASTWORLD Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming - YES, I LOVE YOU: Unmei wo KoeteReleased: May 10, 1989 Label: EASTWORLD Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming - YES, I LOVE YOU: Unmei wo KoeteReleased: June 22, 2005 Label: Freeboard Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming - "—" denotes items which did not chart.

Live albums + List of live albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positionsJPNOricon Dai 1 fureai: Kashiwabara Yoshie on stageReleased: May 5, 1981 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape 29 Yoshie no Love Love CarnivalReleased: May 1, 1982 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape 20 Kashiwabara Yoshie Recital: Onna no Hishō Released: November 25, 1986 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape - "—" denotes items which did not chart.

Cover albums + List of cover albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positionsJPNOricon EncoreReleased: January 11, 2007 Label: Freeboard Formats: CD - Encore IIReleased: May 6, 2010 Label: Freeboard Formats: CD - Encore IIIReleased: April 27, 2016 Label: Freeboard Formats: CD - "—" denotes items which did not chart.

Compilation albums + List of compilation albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positionsJPNOricon Kashiwabara Yoshie BestReleased: October 25, 1981 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape 32 GalleryReleased: December 16, 1983 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD LP, Cassette tape 29 MonumentReleased: December 16, 1984 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD LP, Cassette tape 27 Yoshie Complete 15Released: August 21, 1985 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD - Kashiwabara Yoshie The BestReleased: December 21, 1985 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape - Merci!Released: February 2, 1986 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape 33 Kashiwabara Yoshie Best CollectionReleased: December 21, 1986 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape - New Best Now Kashiwabara YoshieReleased: March 5, 1988 Label: EASTWORLD Formats: CD - TOMORROW: Kawashibara Yoshie BEST SELECTIONReleased: July 5, 1989 Label: EASTWORLD Formats: CD - The Best Kashiwabara YoshieReleased: August 15, 1989 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD, Cassette tape - FALL IN LOVE: Yoshie Kashiwabara BEST SELECTION IIReleased: August 23, 1989 Label: EASTWORLD Formats: CD - New Best Kashiwabara YoshieReleased: May 26, 1993 Label: Philips Records Formats: CD - Super Value Kashiwabara YoshieReleased: December 19, 2001 Label: Kitty Mme Formats: CD - GOLDEN☆BEST Kashiwabara YoshieReleased: November 26, 2003 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD 163 CD & DVD THE BEST YOSHIE Select BEST 20Released: June 29, 2005 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD - Premium Selection Kashiwabara YoshieReleased: January 18, 2006 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD - The Premium Best Kashiwabara YoshieReleased: March 18, 2009 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: CD - Golden Best Kashiwabara Yoshie EMI YEARSReleased: November 23, 2011 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: CD - Yoshie Uta shuuReleased: April 25, 2018 Label: Free Board Formats: CD - "—" denotes items which did not chart.

Box sets + List of box sets, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak positionsJPNOricon Kashiwabara Yoshie Premium BoxReleased: March 10, 2004 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: set of CDs - Kashiwabara Yoshie 25 Shuunen Kinen Box: 25TH ANNIVERSARY COMPLETE ALBUMReleased: June 29, 2005 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: set of CDs - 30th Anniversary Single CollectionReleased: March 24, 2010 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: set of CDs - Live & Rarities CD+DVD BOXReleased: July 21, 2010 Label: Universal Music Japan Formats: set of CDs - "—" denotes items which did not chart.