# Junko Ohashi

Junko Ohashi (大橋 純子, Ōhashi Junko, April 26, 1950 – November 9, 2023) was a Japanese singer best known for her songs "Silhouette Romance" (1981) and "Tasogare My Love" (1978). She was known for her "overwhelming singing ability" and was mainly successful between late 1970s and early 1980s. Her discography consists of more than 20 albums. After a brief hiatus due to battling esophageal and breast cancers, she returned to music in 2019. On November 9, 2023, Ohashi died in Tokyo at the age of 73.

## Early life and education

Ohashi was born in Yūbari, Hokkaido, Japan on April 26, 1950, the oldest of four children from a family that ran a restaurant. She graduated from Hokkaido Yubari High School, later attending and graduating from Fuji Women's Junior College. While at college, she joined a band.

## Career

Ohashi made her debut as a singer with the album Feeling Now (1974). She had her breakout in 1978, with the hit "Tasogare My Love", the theme song of the TBS drama series Shishi no Gotoku. During her initial stages of her career, she was known to sing hard rock, but switched to soul after being inspired by artists Sérgio Mendes and Janis Joplin. She accompanied Kiyohiko Ozaki on a live tour, and later served as a supporting act.
In 1976, she released the song "Paper Moon", which became a hit. With the success of the album of the same name, she formed the band Junko Ohashi & Minoya Central Station. In 1978, she released the song "Tasogare My Love", which won her a Gold Award during the 20th Japan Record Awards. In 1981, she released the song "Silhouette Romance", which ranked at number 7 on the Oricon Singles Chart, was awarded best song at the 24th Japan Record Awards and sold over 500,000 copies. She also participated in several editions of the Kōhaku Uta Gassen competition, starting from 1979.
In 2018, Ohashi announced that she would be on hiatus after her esophageal cancer diagnosis, returning to recording and touring in March 2019.

## Personal life

Ohashi met composer Ken Sato while he was working at Yamaha, marrying him in 1979.

## Health problems and death

In 2018, Ohashi revealed that she was diagnosed with early-stage esophageal cancer, cancelling tour dates in order to focus on her treatment, but was able to resume touring afterwards. However, in March 2019, Ohashi revealed that she was also suffering from breast cancer.
On March 22, 2023, it was reported that Ohashi had relapsed and stopped touring again due to focusing on treating her esophageal cancer. Eight months later, on November 9, Ohashi died in a hospital in Tokyo at the age of 73. Her funeral was held at Zōjō-ji temple on November 15 after she was cremated.

## Discography
### Albums
#### Studio albums

List of studio albums :
| Title | Album details |
| Feeling Now | Released: June 1974 Label: Philips Records Format: LP, CD |
| Paper Moon | Released: May 1976 Label: Philips Records Format: LP, CD |
| Rainbow | Released: April 1977 Label: Philips Records Format: LP, CD |
| Crystal City | Released: November 1977 Label: Philips Records Format: LP, CD |
| Sasanami Yume Shalom (沙浪夢SHALOM) | Released: June 1978 Label: Philips Records Format: LP, CD |
| Flush | Released: December 1, 1978 Label: Philips Records Format: LP, CD |
| Full House | Released: June 1, 1979 Label: Philips Records Format: LP, CD |
| Hot Life | Released: April 1980 Label: Philips Records Format: LP, CD, cassette |
| Tea For Tears | Released: May 1981 Label: Philips Records Format: LP, CD, cassette |
| Tasogare (黄昏) | Released: August 1982 Label: Philips Records Format: LP, CD, cassette |
| Point Zero | Released: September 21, 1983 Label: Philips Records Format: LP, CD, cassette |
| Def | Released: January 21, 1988 Label: Epic Records Japan Format: LP, CD, cassette |
| Question | Released: November 21, 1988 Label: Epic Records Japan Format: CD |
| Pagoda | Released: April 21, 1990 Label: Epic Records Japan Format: CD |
| Miscellaneous | Released: February 1, 1993 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| Blue Desert | Released: March 1, 1994 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| For Tomorrow | Released: October 1, 1995 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| Tokyo Daze (東京DAZE) | Released: September 1, 1996 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| Time Flies | Released: August 21, 1999 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| Quarter | Released: August 22, 2001 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| June | Released: June 4, 2003 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| Trinta | Released: April 21, 2004 Label: VAP Format: CD |

#### Cover albums

List of cover albums :
| Title | Album details |
| J'selection Vol.1 | Released: November 2, 1994 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| J'selection Vol.2 | Released: December 1, 1995 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| J'selection Vol.3 | Released: December 1, 1996 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| Terra | Released: July 19, 2007 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| Terra 2 | Released: June 10, 2009 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| Terra 3 – Uta wa toki wo koete (Terra3〜歌は時を越えて〜) | Released: May 22, 2019 Label: VAP Format: CD |

#### Self-cover albums

List of cover albums :
| Title | Album details |
| Neo History | Released: September 21, 1993 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| Live Life | Released: June 18, 2014 Label: VAP Format: CD |

#### Compilation albums

List of compilation albums :
| Title | Album details |
| Special Friend Album | Released: June 1978 Label: Philips Format: LP |
| Tasogare My Love | Released: November 1978 Label: Philips Format: LP |
| Motion & Emotions | Released: November 1978 Label: Philips Format: LP |
| Minds | Released: June 1982 Label: Philips Format: LP |
| Magical | Released: July 1984 Label: Philips Format: LP |
| Story (ストーリー) | Released: 25 January 1986 Label: Philips Format: CD |
| Ohashi Junko The Best (大橋純子/THE BEST) | Released: 15 August 1989 Label: Philips Format: CD |
| Ohashi Junko New Best (大橋純子/NEW BEST) | Released: 26 May 1993 Label: Philips Format: CD |
| Ohashi Junko Special 1800 (大橋純子 Special 1800) | Released: 21 November 1996 Label: Mercury Music Format: CD |
| The Best Songs of Junko Ohashi | Released: 5 December 1998 Label: VAP Format: CD |
| Treasure Collection Ohashi Junko (TREASURE COLLECTION 大橋純子) | Released: 30 June 1998 Label: Mercury Music Format: CD |
| Super Value Ohashi Junko (スーパー・バリュー/大橋純子) | Released: 19 December 2001 Label: Kitty Mme Format: CD |
| Golden Best Ohashi Junko Singles (ゴールデン☆ベスト 大橋純子 シングルス) | Released: 26 November 2003 Label: Universal Music Japan Format: CD |
| Premium Selection Ohashi Junko (プライム・セレクション 大橋純子) | Released: 18 January 2006 Label: Universal Music Japan Format: CD |
| Best Hit & Karaoke Ohashi Junko (ベストヒット&カラオケ 大橋純子) | Released: 30 August 2006 Label: Universal Music Japan Format: CD |
| Ohashi Junko Best 10 (大橋純子 ベスト10) | Released: 17 January 2007 Label: Universal Music Japan Format: CD |
| Ohashi Junko Essential Best (大橋純子 エッセンシャル・ベスト) | Released: 19 December 2007 Label: Universal Music Japan Format: CD |
| The Premium Best Ohashi Junko (ザ・プレミアムベスト 大橋純子) | Released: 18 March 2009 Label: Universal Music Japan Format: CD |
| Complete Single Best | Released: 10 June 2009 Label: Universal Music Japan Format: CD |
| Golden Best Ohashi Junko Sony Music Years (GOLDEN☆BEST 大橋純子 ソニーミュージック・イヤーズ) | Released: 10 June 2009 Label: Sony Music Direct Format: CD |
| Light Mellow Ohashi Junko (Light Mellow 大橋純子) | Released: 6 August 2014 Label: Universal Music Japan Format: CD |
| Essential Best 1200 Ohashi Junko (エッセンシャル・ベスト 1200 大橋純子) | Released: 21 March 2018 Label: Universal Music Japan Format: CD |

### Singles

| Single | Year | Album |
| "Kagi wa Kaeshite!" (鍵はかえして!) | 1974 | Feeling Now |
| "Paper Moon" (ペイパー・ムーン) | 1976 | Paper Moon (ペイパー・ムーン) |
| "Catchy no Uwasa" (キャシーの噂) | 1976 | Paper Moon (ペイパー・ムーン) |
| "Sakanoue no ie" (坂の上の家) | 1976 | Non-album single |
| "Simple Love" (シンプル・ラブ) | 1977 | Rainbow |
| "Mr. Smile" (ミスター・スマイル) | 1977 | Non-album single |
| "Crystal City" (クリスタル・シティー) | 1978 | Crystal City (クリスタル・シティー) |
| "Funky Little Queenie" (ファンキー・リトル・クイニー) | 1978 | Crystal City (クリスタル・シティー) |
| "Star-Light Train" (スターライト・トレイン) | 1978 | Non-album single |
| "Tasogare My Love" (たそがれマイ・ラブ) | 1978 | Non-album single |
| "Safari Night" (サファリ・ナイト) | 1978 | Flush |
| "Beautiful Me" (ビューティフル・ミー) | 1979 | Full House |
| "Anata ni wa Wakaranai" (あなたにはわからない) | 1979 | Full House |
| "Canadian Lullaby" (カナディアン・ララバイ) | 1980 | Hot Life |
| "Ooh Boy" | 1980 | Hot Life |
| "Moetsukite" (燃えつきて) | 1980 | Hot Life |
| "Fantasy Woman" (ファンタジック・ウーマン) | 1981 | Tea for Tears |
| "Silhouette Romance" (シルエット・ロマンス) | 1981 | Non-album single |
| "Samba Soleil" (サンバ・ソレイユ) | 1982 | Non-album single |
| "Tasogare" (黄昏) | 1982 | Tasogare – Postcard Fantasy (黄昏) |
| "Lost Love – Ai no Odoriba" (LOST LOVE -愛の踊り場-) | 1982 | Magical |
| "Nemurenai Diamond" (眠れないダイヤモンド) | 1988 | DEF |
| "Futa Toori no Kokuhaku" (ふたとおりの告白) | 1988 | DEF |
| "Anata ni Tsutsumarete" (あなたにつつまれて) | 1988 | Question |
| "Ai wa Toki o Koete" (愛は時を越えて) | 1992 | Non-album single |
| "Kekkon" (結婚) | 1993 | Non-album single |
| "Kekkon no Risō to Genjitsu" (結婚の理想と現実) | 1993 | Non-album single |
| "Rain" | 1994 | Blue Desert |
| "20-Sai no Koro" (20才の頃) | 1995 | For Tomorrow |
| "Kinjirareta Yume no Naka de" (禁じられた夢の中で) | 1996 | Tokyo Daze (東京DAZE) |
| "Melody" (メロディ) | 1999 | Non-album single |
| "Hohoemu Tame no Yuuki" (微笑むための勇気) | 2002 | Non-album single |
| "Zankyō" (残響) | 2005 | Non-album single |
| "Otona no Koi wo Shimasho" (大人の恋をしましょう) | 2010 | Non-album single |