# Meiko Nakahara

Meiko Nakahara (中原 めいこ, Nakahara Meiko), real name Meiko Obara (小原 明子, Obara Meiko) (born May 8, 1959 in Chiba Prefecture), is a former Japanese singer and composer.

## Early life and career

As early as grade school she was already composing her own music.
She debuted in 1982 with the single Kon'ya dake Dance Dance Dance (今夜だけDANCE DANCE DANCE) and the album Coconuts House (ココナッツ・ハウス). Her 1984 single Kimitachi Kiwi Papaya Mango dane (君たちキウイ・パパイア・マンゴーだね。) was the 50th best-selling single of the year in Japan, with 237,000 copies sold. She became instantly popular.
Her song Ru-Ru-Ru-Russian Roulette (ロ・ロ・ロ・ロシアンルーレット) was the opening theme and Uchū Ren'ai (Space Fantasy) (宇宙恋愛(スペースファンタジー)) was the ending theme for the 1985 anime television series Dirty Pair. Ru-Ru-Ru-Russian Roulette won the award for Best Song at the 8th Anime Grand Prix in 1986. For the 1987–1988 anime television series Kimagure Orange Road, Kagami no Naka no Actress (鏡の中のアクトレス) was the third opening theme song and Dance in the Memories (ダンス・イン・ザ・メモリーズ) was the third ending song.
The 1992 live tour was the last public performance from her and her singing career is considered to have ended around this time.

## Later career

Even after ceasing to continue as a singer, Nakahara has still worked as a composer for groups and singers like Checkicco and Vivian Hsu. A tribute band to her called Lotos was formed in 2010 and was still active as of 2019. As of 2024, there is nostalgia for Meiko Nakahara as an artist in the new music genre in the 1980s.

## Discography
### Albums

| Release date | Title |
| July 1, 1982 | Coconuts House (ココナッツ・ハウス) |
| December 21, 1982 | 2時までのシンデレラ-FRIDAY MAGIC- |
| September 1, 1983 | Mint (ミ・ン・ト) |
| July 21, 1984 | Lotos no Kajitsu (ロートスの果実-LOTOS) |
| May 22, 1985 | CHAKI CHAKI CLUB |
| March 20, 1986 | MOODS |
| March 4, 1987 | PUZZLE |
| February 25, 1988 | Kimagure Orange Road Sound Color 3 (きまぐれオレンジ・ロード Sound Color 3) |
| March 5, 1988 | Kagami no Naka no Actress (鏡の中のアクトレス) |
| March 21, 1990 | 303 EAST 60TH STREET |
| March 27, 1991 | HIGH ENERGY-Remixed in N.Y.- |
| October 30, 1991 | ON THE PLANET-地球でのできごと- |

#### Greatest hits albums

| Release date | Title |
| September 3, 1986 | MOGA-BEST COLLECTION- |
| August 26, 1987 | 中原めいこ ニュー・ベストナウ |
| May 25, 1988 | Meiko's BEST SELECTION 10+1 |
| June 5, 1988 | セレクション20/中原めいこバラッドI |
| April 26, 1989 | Happy birthday, Love for you |
| May 13, 1998 | 中原めいこ/ツイン・ベスト |
| June 21, 2000 | 2000 BEST 中原めいこ・ベスト |
| November 17, 2004 | Golden Best Nakahara Meiko (ゴールデン☆ベスト 中原めいこ) |
| August 24, 2005 | NEW BEST 1500 |

### Singles

| Release date | Title |
| April 21, 1982 | "Kon'ya dake Dance Dance Dance" (今夜だけDANCE DANCE DANCE) |
| September 21, 1982 | "Go Away" |
| March 21, 1983 | "Friday Magic" |
| July 21, 1983 | "Tsukiyo ni Ki wo Tsukete!" (月夜に気をつけて!) |
| November 21, 1983 | "Scorpion" (スコーピオン) |
| April 5, 1984 | Kimi-tachi Kiwi・Papaiya・Mango da ne (君たちキウイ・パパイア・マンゴーだね) [ja] |
| September 21, 1984 | "Emoushon" (エモーション) |
| May 1, 1985 | "Yakimochi-yaki Rhumba Boy" (やきもちやきルンバ・ボーイ) |
| July 21, 1985 | "Ru-Ru-Ru-Russian Roulette" (ロ・ロ・ロ・ロシアンルーレット) |
| February 1, 1986 | "Kowareta Piano" / "DESTINATION" (こわれたピアノ / DESTINATION) |
| February 4, 1987 | "UNBALANCE ZONE" |
| February 2, 1988 | "Special Party Versions" (スペシャル・パーティ・バージョン) |
| February 25, 1988 | "Kagami no Naka no Actress" (鏡の中のアクトレス) |
| February 21, 1990 | DAIYAMONDO Miwakenasai -Is it true love- (ダイヤモンド見分けなさい-Is it true love-) |
| September 27, 1991 | "Fortune -gin no tsukiyo no HANEMUUN-" (Fortune -銀の月夜のハネムーン-) |