# Minako Honda

Minako Kudo (Japanese: 工藤美奈子, Hepburn: Kudō Minako, July 31, 1967 – November 6, 2005), better known as Minako Honda (Japanese: 本田美奈子, Hepburn: Honda Minako), was a Japanese idol and musical singer. In 1985, she made her debut with the single "Satsui no Vacance".
She was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia on January 5, 2005. At 4:38 A.M. on November 6, 2005, Honda died at the Juntendo University Hospital in Bunkyō, Tokyo.

## Early life

Kudo was born in Japan on July 31, 1967, at Narimasu Maternity Hospital in Narimasu, Itabashi. Kudo's family initially lived in Shibamata, Katsushika. They moved to Asaka, Saitama, where Kudo enrolled iat Shirayuri Kindergarten.

## Beginnings

As a child Kudo was very involved with singing, largely influenced by her mother who dreamed of becoming a singer. In Kudo's graduation collection from Asaka's 6th Elementary School in Aska City, she wrote that, "It would be nice if I could become an actress or singer." While at Asaka Daiichi Junior High School at the age of 14, she would audition for Star Tanjō!, where in the TV qualifying round she would sing "Hello Goodbye" by Yoshie Kashiwabara which would win her that round and advance her to the battle tournament round, for that she would sing "Blue Angel" by her cousin, Seiko Matsuda, however none of the production companies expressed interest and Kudo would not win the competition.
While Kudo was enrolled at Tokyo Seitoku University Junior & Senior High School in 1983, she would visit Harajuku because the record label Bondo Kikaku was recruiting a new member for the group called Shojotai. Bondo Kikaku had also participated in the show Star Tanjō!. While still working with Bondo Kikaku in 1984, she heard a demo of Meiko Nakahara's song "Kimitachi Kiwi Papaya Mango da ne", which had just become a hit, this lead Kudo to believe Bondo Kikaku's President, Keiji Takasugi was taking the company in the wrong direction, and would make her decide to become a solo artist.
In 1984, Kudo performed at the Nagasaki Kayo Festival, which was a television contest to where teenagers and young adults competed to become new idols by winning what was called the grand prix. On the show, Honda was highly evaluated by judges who noted her powerful voice and overwhelming singing ability which led her to win the Grand Prix part of the competition.
Following her success in the Nagasaki Kayo Festival, Kudo would make her debut under the name Minako Honda with the song "Satsui no Vacane", this lead her to receive a Japan Record Award for the best new artist of that year.
Looking to follow up on the success of "Satsui no Vacane", Honda would release "1986 nen no Marilyn", in which a controversy would arise from her performances, in which Honda would shake her hips suggestively while wearing a navel costume, at the time this was not common for idols and was thought to be offensive.
In 1988, she made an attempt to revive her dwindling career by forming an all girl rock group called "Minako with Wild Cats", the group however would disband a year later due to lack of any hit songs.
In 1990 a turning point came for her career. Honda had auditioned for a part in the Tokyo production of Broadway play Miss Saigon, she won out over 15,000 other candidates for the part of Kim. While still starring in the role as Kim in Miss Saigon in the 1990s, Honda visited Vietnam. There she visited the famous Củ Chi tunnels just outside Ho Chi Minh City. She was found by Vietnamese authorities having photographs taken of her in the Củ Chi tunnels draped only in a Vietnamese flag. She was fined and expelled from Vietnam shortly after.
She would go on to perform in leading roles in Fiddler on the Roof, The King and I, and Les Miserables.

## Later career and illness

Towards the end of her life, she released several classical albums demonstrating her soprano singing voice, including religious works such as "Amazing Grace" and Ave Maria. She also sang theme songs for several anime programs.
She did not abandon pop music in her adult career; indeed, she became recognized for her vocal improvement in the adult pop genre. Her song "Tsubasa" is famous for the "long note" that she holds for 30 seconds.
In 2004, Honda would add a period to the end of her name; this was done because Honda believed there was judgment to her surname.
Honda became ill in late 2004, but still performed in December in spite of a fever and fatigue. When her cold-like symptoms failed to improve, she sought medical treatment and was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia on January 5, 2005.
Honda was able to celebrate her 38th birthday at home feeling relatively well, but had a relapse shortly afterwards. Chromosome aberration was discovered and she received a dose of anticancer medicine from the United States to treat it. She recovered again briefly, but then suffered another relapse.

## Death

Honda developed lung complications on October 21, 2005, and she lapsed into a coma on November 3. At 4:38 a.m. on November 6, 2005, Honda died at the Juntendo University Hospital in Bunkyō, Tokyo, officially from acute myelogenous leukemia. She was 38 at the time of her death.

## Discography

During her life, Honda released 14 original albums, 5 compilation albums, 25 physical singles, 1 digital single and 6 home-video releases.
* Note: All releases after 2005 are posthumous.

### Singles
#### As soloist

List of singles, with selected chart positions :
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Formats |
| Year | Single | JPN Oricon | Formats |
| 1985 | "Satsui No Vacance" （殺意のバカンス） | 21 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1985 | "Suki To Iinasai" （好きと言いなさい） | 21 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1985 | "Aoi Shumatsu" （青い週末） | 23 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1985 | "Temptation" | 10 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1986 | "1986 Nen No Marilyn" （1986年のマリリン） | 3 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1986 | "Sosotte" | 3 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1986 | "Help" | 2 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1986 | "The Cross: Ai No Jyujika" (愛の十字架) | 5 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1987 | "Oneway Generation" | 2 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1987 | "Crazy Nights/Golden Days" | 10 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1987 | "Heart break" | 3 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1987 | "Kodoku Na Hurricane" (孤独なハリケーン) | 2 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1987 | "Kanashimi Swing" (悲しみSWING) | 3 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1989 | "7th Bird: Ai Ni Koi (愛に恋) | 53 | CD, LP, digital download |
| 1990 | "Shangri-La" | 62 | CD, digital download |
| 1994 | "Tsubasa" (つばさ) | 62 | CD, digital download |
| 1995 | "Lullaby: Yasashiku Dakasete" (ら・ら・ば・い～優しく抱かせて) | 19 | CD, digital download |
| 1995 | "Boku No Heya De Kurasou" (僕の部屋で暮らそう) | 99 | CD, digital download |
| 1995 | "Fall in Love With You: Koi ni Ochite" (恋に落ちて) | – | CD, digital download |
| 1996 | "Shining Eyes" | – | CD, digital download |
| 1999 | "Kaze no Uta" (風のうた) | 300 | CD, digital download |
| 2000 | "Honey" | 289 | CD, digital download |
| 2001 | "Hoshizora" (星空) | – | CD, digital download |
| 2003 | "Nadja!!" (ナージャ!!) | 150 | CD, digital download |
| 2004 | "Shinsekai" (新世界) | 85 | CD, digital download |
| "—" denotes items which did not chart. ||||

#### As Minako With Wild Cats

List of singles, with selected chart positions :
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Formats |
| Year | Single | JPN Physical | Formats |
| 1988 | "Anata To Nettai" （あなたと、熱帯） | 10 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1988 | "Stand Up: Full Metal Armor" | 59 | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download |
| 1989 | "Katte Ni Sasete" （勝手にさせて） | 49 | CD, LP, digital download |
| "—" denotes items which did not chart. ||||

### Albums
#### As soloist

List of albums, with selected chart positions :
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
| Title | Album details | JPN Oricon |
| M'Syndrome | Released: November 21, 1985 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 2 |
| Lips | Released: June 4, 1986 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 3 |
| Cancel | Released: September 28, 1986 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 2 |
| Oversea | Released: June 22, 1987 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 4 |
| Midnight Swing | Released: June 22, 1988 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 23 |
| Junction | Released: September 24, 1994 Label: Mercury Records Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 75 |
| Hare Tokidoki Kumori (晴れ ときどき くもり) | Released: June 25, 1995 Label: Mercury Records Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 99 |
| Ave Maria | Released: May 21, 2003 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 22 |
| Toki (時) | Released: November 35, 2004 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 39 |
| Amazing Grace | Released: October 19, 2005 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download, streaming | 7 |
| Kokoro wo Komete (心を込めて) | Released: April 20, 2006 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 23 |
| Yasashii Sekai (優しい世界) | Released: November 6, 2006 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download, streaming | 46 |
| Eternal Harmony | Released: November 6, 2008 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download, streaming | 163 |
| Last Concert (ラスト・コンサート) | Released: December 10, 2008 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 128 |
| Again | Released: November 4, 2015 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 89 |
| "—" denotes items which did not chart. |||

#### As Minako With Wild Cats

List of albums, with selected chart positions :
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
| Title | Album details | JPN Oricon |
| Wild Cats | Released: August 5, 1988 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming | 32 |
| Hyōteki (豹的 -Target-) | Released: July 5, 1989 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: CD, LP, digital download, streaming | 86 |

### Compilation albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions :
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
| Title | Album details | JPN Oricon |
| The Minako Collection | Released: December 20, 1986 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: CD, LP, Cassette tape, digital download, streaming | 13 |
| Look over my shoulder | Released: October 26, 1988 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: CD, SHM-CD, digital download, streaming | 63 |
| Life Minako Honda: Premium Best | Released: May 21, 2005 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, CD+DVD, digital download, streaming | 23 |
| CD+DVD THE Best | Released: December 7, 2005 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD+DVD | 19 |
| I Love You | Released: March 29, 2006 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD, digital download, streaming | 113 |
| Angel Voice: Minako Honda Memorial Best | Released: April 18, 2007 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD+DVD, digital download, streaming | 66 |
| Classical Best: Ten ni Hibiku Uta | Released: April 20, 2007 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD+DVD, LP, digital download, streaming | 32 |
| Anthem of Life: Sweet Ballads Best | Released: April 20, 2007 Label: Nippon Columbia Formats: CD+DVD, digital download, streaming | 233 |
| "—" denotes items which did not chart. |||

### Home-video release

List of albums, with selected chart positions :
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
| Title | Album details | JPN Oricon |
| The Virgin Concert in Budokan | Released: February 20, 1986 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: VHS, LD, DVD | 208 |
| Dangerous Bond Street | Released: November 21, 1986 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: VHS, LD | – |
| Dramatic Flash | Released: June 21, 1987 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: VHS, LD, DVD | – |
| DISPA 1987 | Released: December 16, 1987 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: VHS, LD, DVD | – |
| Minako in L.A. | Released: January 10, 1989 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: VHS, LD | – |
| Katteni Sasete | Released: June 28, 1989 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: VHS, LD | – |
| Tropical Holiday in Hawai | Released: January 1991 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: VHS, LD | – |
| Tropical Holiday | Released: December 10, 1991 Label: EMI Music Japan Formats: VHS, LD | – |
| "—" denotes items which did not chart. |||

### Movie soundtracks

* Passenger (October 25, 1988)
* Hunter x Hunter (1999, Ending no. 1 – Kaze no Uta)

### Theatre

* Miss Saigon (1992–1993) – Kim
* Fiddler on the Roof (1994–1998) – Hodel
* The King and I (1996–2002) – Tuptim
* Les Misérables (1997–2001) – Éponine
* Himeyuri (2002–2004) – Kimi
* Twelfth Night (2003) – A Cat
* Claudia (2004) – Claudia
Note: Minako Honda was originally cast as Fantine in Les Misérables for the Japanese tour in 2005, but due to her death, another actor was given the part.