# Shoko Nakagawa

Shoko Nakagawa (中川 翔子, Nakagawa Shōko, born May 5, 1985) is a Japanese media personality, singer, actress, voice actress, illustrator, YouTuber, and cosplayer. Also known by her nickname Shokotan (しょこたん), she is best known as the presenter of Pokémon Sunday, and as the performer of the opening theme from the anime Gurren Lagann.

## Biography

Born and raised in Tokyo metropolitan area to her father, Katsuhiko Nakagawa, actor and musician, and her mother Keiko Nakagawa, a great-granddaughter of Kazutaka Ito, who is known for introducing and promoting the salmon and trout hatchery business. Her father died of leukemia on September 17, 1994 when she was 9. Nakagawa found escape from bullies by connecting with Pokémon when she was in 5th grade. "When I was a kid, I didn't have friends, but I did have Pokémon."
In the 2006 book Shokotan Manual (しょこ☆まにゅ, Shoko Manyu), she wrote that her legal name was Shiyōko (しようこ) rather than Shōko (しょうこ), which she had been using for most of her life. At the time of her birth, she and her mother had to remain in the hospital, and her maternal aunt was left with registering her in the koseki. Her mother's intended name of "Shōko" (薔子) was declined due to 薔 not being included in the list of jōyō kanji or jinmeiyō kanji that are approved for use in Japanese names. The aunt wrote Shōko (しょうこ) in hiragana instead, but because she wrote very quickly, the small yo appeared larger than intended and the name was recorded as Shiyōko (しようこ).
She made her entertainment debut in 2001, winning the Grand Prix award at the Popolo Girl Audition and representing Jackie Chan talent agency. Later, on the "Yume-Ga-Oka Residence" programme on SKY PerfecTV!, she was given Jackie Chan's photobook by Midorikawa Shobō, who were guests on the show. She commented "I thought he was an enemy of Bruce Lee's", apparently referring to Enter the Dragon.
In 2002, she was chosen as Miss Shōnen Magazine.
Her official blog, Shokotan * Blog, opened in 2004, and by April 2006 it had received a total of 100 million hits. On February 2, 2008, the daily Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun reported that her blog had been accessed 1 billion times.
In 2004, she made a guest appearance in the 38th episode of Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger, after having previously appeared as a child in Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman. She later appeared with Katsumura on Men B.
She appeared in a brief section of "Kangaeru Hito" ("People who think") on the Fuji TV network in 2004 as an illustrator, after which she appeared regularly on the later version of the programme which started with minor changes in early 2005, "Kangaeru Hitokoma" ("Thinking about one frame [of a cartoon strip]"). On the Fuji TV show Kangaeru Hitokoma, on which she is an occasional guest, she drew in the style of Kazuo Umezu.
For one year starting in May 2005, Nakagawa appeared as a regular on the TBS programme "Ōsama no Brunch". In July 2006, she released her debut single "Brilliant Dream". It entered the Oricon chart at number 29, with initial sales of 6313 copies. Nakagawa performed at Anime Expo 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Some of her work was shown on May 11, edition of Downtown Deluxe on Nippon TV network, Nakagawa was a member of the judging panel in the "Jump Damashii" section of the Shūeisha publication Weekly Shōnen Jump, starting from Jump number 13 of 2006.
On May 30, 2006, airing of Kasupe!, in the section entitled Fuji Ginkō Geinōjin Satei-Gakari (フジ銀行 芸能人査定係), "Fuji Bank Celebrity Evaluator", it was discovered that she liked the manga Kachō Shima Kōsaku, eliciting a comment from the host, Sayaka Aoki, that she had pretty "grown-up tastes".
In 2009, she opened a store called "mmts" with the theme of her hobby in Nakano Broadway.
In 2009–2010, she appeared in a series of commercials for Norton AntiVirus.
In March 2014, Nakagawa's book of autobiographical essays, Neko no Ashiato ("Cats' Pawprints"), was published by Magazine House.
In March 2015, the book was adapted as an anime series titled Omakase Mamitasu ("Leave It to Mamitasu") on NHK, which featured characters based on Nakagawa's cat and her late father and grandfather.
In 2018, Nakagawa returned to Anime Expo to perform as part of Anisong World Matsuri.
In 2019, Nakagawa performed the song "Kaze to Issho ni" (風といっしょに) with Sachiko Kobayashi, which was used as the theme song to the theatrical film Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution; it is a cover of a song originally performed by Kobayashi, which was used as the theme song to the 1998 film Pokémon: The First Movie.
In 2020 following the temporary loss of work due to COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point, and she started distributing videos on YouTube, separate from the channel that distributes music videos set up by the office. Since then, her blog has hardly been updated.
In 2021, she posted her swimsuit video on YouTube, and she became very popular with over 10 million views in two months.
On April 28, 2023, Nakagawa announced her marriage to a non-celebrity.
In October 2023, Nakagawa released the single "65535", the title song of which was used as the opening theme to the anime series 16bit Sensation: Another Layer. The following day, she announced that she legally changed her name to be the same as her stage name.

## Filmography
### TV

* AX MUSIC-TV 00 (2003–2004)
* Pokémon Sunday (ポケモン☆サンデー, Pokemon☆Sandē) (2006–2010)
* Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger (特捜戦隊デカレンジャー, Tokusō Sentai Dekarenjā) (2004) as Falupian Yaako (guest appearance) Episode 38
* Isshukan no Koi (一週間の恋) (2006)
* Hou no Niwa (法の庭) (2007)
* Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi (ほんとにあった怖い話) (2007)
* Shūmatsu no Cinderella Sekai! Dangan Traveler (週末のシンデレラ 世界!弾丸トラベラー, Shūmatsu-no-shinderera Sekai! DanganToraberā) (2007–2012)
* Waraiga Ichiban (笑いがいちばん, Waraiga Ichiban) (2007–2010)
* Anmitsu Hime (あんみつ姫) (2008)
* Anmitsu Hime 2 (あんみつ姫2) (2009)
* Pokémon Smash! (ポケモンスマッシュ！, Pokemon Sumasshu!) (2010–2013)
* Pokémon Get TV (ポケモンゲット☆TV, Pokemon Getto Terebi) (2013–2015)
* Gunshi Kanbei (軍師官兵衛) (2014) as Okita
* Mare (まれ) (2015)
* Meet Up at the Pokémon House? (ポケモンの家あつまる?, Pokémon no Uchi Atsumaru?) (2015–present)
* Yuusha Yoshihiko to Michibikareshi 7-nin (勇者ヨシヒコと導かれし七人) (2016)
* Anata no Koto wa sore hodo (あなたのことはそれほど) (2017)
* Tokyo Vampire Hotel (東京ヴァンパイアホテル) (2017)

### Films

* Kabuto-O Beetle (2005)
* Umezu Kazuo: Kyofu Gekijo – Zesshoku (2005)
* Koala Kacho / Executive Koala (2005)
* The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
* X-Cross (2007)
* Gothic Lolita Battle Bear (2013)

### Stageplays

* Maybe Happy Ending (2020)

### Anime

| Year | Title | Role | Note |
| 2005 | Eyeshield 21 | Suzuna Taki | |
| 2012 | Saint Seiya Omega | Saori Kido / Athena | |
| 2013 | Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods | Oracle Fish | Film |
| 2013 | Majocco Shimai no Yoyo to Nene | Bahiku | |
| 2015 | Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' | Oracle Fish | Film |
| 2015 | Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season II | Diana | ONA Black Moon arc |
| 2015 | Dragon Ball Super | Oracle Fish | |
| 2016 | Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season III | Diana | TV Anime Death Busters arc |
| 2017 | Akiba's Trip: The Animation | Risa Deiba | |
| 2021 | Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie | Diana | 2-Part film Season 4 of Sailor Moon Crystal (Dead Moon arc) |
| 2023 | Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre | Mayumi Santo | ONA |
| 2023 | Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie | Diana | 2-Part film Season 5 of Sailor Moon Crystal (Shadow Galactica arc) |

### Pokémon films

* Nakagawa also has voiced characters in every Pokémon movie since 2007 (except Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened and Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution):
| Year | Title | Role |
| 2007 | Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai | Maki |
| 2008 | Pokémon: Giratina & the Sky Warrior | Infy |
| 2009 | Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life | Notched-Ear Pichu |
| 2010 | Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions | Proof |
| 2011 | Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom | Aude |
| 2012 | Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice | Keldeo |
| 2014 | Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction | Millis Steele |
| 2015 | Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages | Mary |
| 2016 | Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel | Racel |
| 2017 | Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You! | Nurse Joy |
| 2018 | Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us | Riku |
| 2020 | Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle | Karen |

### Video games

* Dragon Quest Heroes (2015) – Alena
* Dragon Quest Heroes II (2016) – Alena
* Toukiden 2 (2016) – Gwen
* Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary (2017) – Alena
* Kingdom Hearts III (2019) – Rapunzel

### Japanese dub
#### Live-action

* Moon Geun-young
** Innocent Steps – Jang Chae-min
** My Little Bride – Bo-eun
* Silent Hill (2006) – Alessa Gillespie (voice-over for Jodelle Ferland)
* Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) – Tessa Yeager (voice-over for Nicola Peltz)
* Ra.One (2015) – Desi/Dawsal (voice-over for Priyanka Chopra)
* Venom (2018) – Anne Weying (voice-over for Michelle Williams)
* Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) – Anne Weying (voice-over for Michelle Williams)

#### Animation

* Tangled The Series (2017–2020) – Rapunzel
* Tangled (2010) – Rapunzel
* Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) – Rapunzel
* Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2023) – Goldilocks

## Discography

Shoko Nakagawa is signed to Sony Japan.

### Singles

| Title | Release date | First week sales | Total sales | Information |
| "Brilliant Dream" | July 5, 2006 | 6,313 | 10,459 | Opening theme for Yoshimune |
| "Strawberry Melody" (ストロベリmelody, Sutoroberi Merodi) | February 14, 2007 | 10,023 | 15,784 | Theme for TBS's program Pokémon Sunday theme song and Wanagona theme song. |
| "Sorairo Days" (空色デイズ, Sorairo Deizu, "Sky Blue Days") | June 27, 2007 | 30,517 | 67,453 | Opening theme for Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann |
| "Snow Tears" | January 30, 2008 | 26,068 | 43,450 | Ending theme for Hakaba Kitaro |
| "Shiny Gate" | August 6, 2008 | 13,564 | 20,316 | Theme song for Tokyo OnlyPic 2008 Archived January 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine |
| "Tsuzuku Sekai" (続く世界, "The World Continues") | September 10, 2008 | 32,906 | 49,368 | Ending Song of the anime film Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Guren-hen |
| "Kirei à la Mode" (綺麗ア・ラ・モード, Kirei A Ra Mōdo, "Beautiful à la Mode") | October 22, 2008 | 13,758 | 20,236 | Commercial song for Fujiya Look Royal Mode |
| "Namida no Tane, Egao no Hana" (涙の種、笑顔の花, "Seed of Tears, Flower of Smile") | April 29, 2009 | 23,383 | 38,932 | Ending Song of Gekijoban Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Lagann Hen |
| "Kokoro no Antenna" (心のアンテナ, Kokoro no Antena, "Antenna of the Heart") | July 15, 2009 | 13,533 | 21,954 | Ending Song of Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life. A special edition of the single features "Moe yo, Gizamimi Pichu!" (もえよ ギザみみピチュー!, Moeyo Gizamimi Pichū!, "Get Fired Up, Spiky-Eared Pichu!"), an ending song for Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl |
| "Arigatō no Egao" (「ありがとうの笑顔」, "Thank you Smile") | October 14, 2009 | 12,407 | 15,027 | Contains the Ending Song of the Japanese Version of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs ("Rainbow Forecast") and Shokotan's version of Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl second opening song ("Ame ni Kiss no Hanataba o"). |
| "RAY OF LIGHT" | April 28, 2010 | 12,977 | 22,637 | Fifth ending theme for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood |
| "Flying Humanoid" (フライングヒューマノイド, Furaingu Hyūmanoido) | August 18, 2010 | 13,217 | 17,729 | Opening theme for Occult Academy |
| "Sakurairo" (桜色, "Cherry Blossom Pink") | April 6, 2011 | 6,506 | 9,006 | Original song |
| "Tsuyogari" (つよがり, "Show of Courage") | June 8, 2011 | 12,729 | 15,212 | Second ending theme for Beelzebub |
| "Horoscope" (ホロスコープ, Horosukōpu) | January 11, 2012 | | 8,156 | Theme song for TV show Uchikuru!? |
| "Zoku Konton" (続混沌, "Continued Chaos") | June 5, 2013 | | – | Theme song for game Sennen Yusha: Tokiwatari no Tomoshibito |
| "Sakasama Sekai/Once Upon a Time (Kibō no Uta)" (さかさま世界/Once Upon a Time -キボウノウタ-, "Upsidedown World/Once Upon a Time (Song of Hope)") | December 11, 2013 | | – | "Sakasama Sekai" as theme song for game Puzzle & Dragons Z and "Once Upon a Time (Kibō no Uta)" as the opening for the Japanese broadcast of Once Upon a Time |
| "DoriDori" (ドリドリ, "Dream Dream") | February 18, 2015 | | 16,180 | Ending theme for Pokémon XY anime |
| "Blue Moon" | November 28, 2018 | 19,183 | | Second ending theme for Zoids Wild |
| "Furefure" | September 9, 2020 | 3,275 | | Second ending theme for Genie Family 2020 |
| "I like you just the way you are." (君のまんまがいいんだよ) | March 9, 2022 | | | Movie Shimajiro "Shimajiro and Kirakira Oukoku no Oujisama" theme song |

### Collaboration Singles

| Title | Release date | First week sales | Total sales | Information |
| "Love Letter From Canada" (カナダからの手紙, Kanada Kara no tegami) | March 10, 2013 | | | Theme song of Uchikuru!? Featured artist with Hideyuki Nakayama |
| "Nuigulumar Z" (ヌイグルマーZ, Nuigurumā Zetto) | January 22, 2014 | | – | For the movie Gothic Lolita Battle Bear Featured artist with Tokusatsu |
| "Kira-kira Go Around" (キラキラ-go-round) | July 23, 2014 | | – | For the movie Bodacious Space Pirates: Abyss of Hyperspace Featured artist with angela |
| "PUNCH LINE!" | April 29, 2015 | 15,838 | 22,754 | Collaboration with Dempagumi.inc. Opening theme for Punch Line |
| "Mugen Blanc/Noir" (無限∞ブランノワール, Mugen ∞ Buran Nowāru) | October 28, 2015 | | 11,958 | Collaboration with Sachiko Kobayashi. Theme song for game Mugen Knights |
| "Magical Circle" | November 17, 2017 | – | – | Collaboration with Technoboys Pulcraft Green-Fund. Second Ending Song for the third series of Magical Circle Guru Guru. |
| "Mister Darlin'" (ミスター・ダーリン) | November 7, 2018 | – | – | Featuring artist CHiCO with HoneyWorks |
| "Kaze to Issho ni" (風といっしょに) | July 10, 2019 | – | – | Collaboration with Sachiko Kobayashi. A theme song for the anime movie Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back EVOLUTION |

### Cover albums

| Title | Release date | First week sales | Total sales |
| Shokotan Cover: Anison ni Koi o Shite. (しょこたん☆かばー ～アニソンに恋をして。～, Shokotan Kabā ~Anison ni Koi o Shite.~, "In Love with Anime Songs.") | May 2, 2007 | 12,579 | 31,501 |
| Shokotan Cover Cover: Anison ni Ai o Komete!! (しょこたん☆かばー×2 ～アニソンに愛を込めて!!～, Shokotan Kabā Kabā ~Anison ni Ai o Komete~, "Full of Love for Anime Songs!!") | September 19, 2007 | 17,836 | 23,964 |
| Shokotan Cover 3: Anison wa Jinrui o Tsunagu (しょこたん☆かばー 3 ～アニソンは人類をつなぐ～, Shokotan Kabā 3 ~Anison wa Jinrui o Tsunagu~, "Anime Songs Connect Mankind") | March 10, 2010 | 15,343 | – |
| Shokotan Cover 4-1: Shoko Idol Hen (しょこたん☆かばー4-1 ～しょこ☆ドル篇～, Shokotan Kabā 4-1 ~Shoko Doru Hen~, "Shoko Idol Part") | October 12, 2011 | | |
| Shokotan Cover 4-2: Shoko Rock Hen (しょこたん☆かばー4-2 ～しょこ☆ロック篇～, Shokotan Kabā 4-2 ~Shoko Rokku Hen~, "Shoko Rock Part") | October 12, 2011 | | |
| "Tokyo Shoko Land 2014: RPG-teki Michi no Kioku" Shokotan Cover Bangaihen Produced by Kohei Tanaka (「TOKYO SHOKO☆LAND 2014 ～RPG的 未知の記憶～」しょこたん☆かばー番外編 Produced by Kohei Tanaka, "Tokyo Shoko Land 2014: RPG with Unknown Memories" Shokotan Cover Extra Version Produced by Kohei Tanaka) | September 24, 2014 | | |

### Mini albums

| Title | Release date | First week sales | Total sales |
| nsum: Shoko Nakagawa has Been Tried in Singing! (nsum～中川翔子がうたってみた！～, nsum ~Nakagawa Shoko ga Utatte Mita!~) | August 15, 2012 | | 7,775 |
| UCHI-SHIGOTO, SOTO-SHIGOTO!! | January 9, 2013 | | |

### Best albums

| Title | Release date | First week sales | Total sales |
| Shokotan Best ((しょこたん☆べすと——(°∀°) ——!!), Shokotan☆Besuto) | May 2, 2012 | | 14,203 |
| Super Shokotan Best(超！しょこたん☆べすと――(°∀°)――!!) | February 22, 2023 | | |

### Albums

| Title | Release date | First week sales | Total sales |
| Big Bang!!! | March 19, 2008 | 32,612 | 45,793 |
| Magic Time | January 1, 2009 | 26,197 | 40,015 |
| Cosmic Inflation | October 6, 2010 | 14,453 | 21,459 |
| 9lives | April 2, 2014 | – | – |
| RGB ~True Color~ | December 4, 2019 | – | – |

### Other songs

* "Moeyo Giza Mimi Pichū!" (Ending for Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl)
* "Dori Dori" (Ending for Pokémon the Series: XY)
* "Kaze to isshu ni" (Ending for Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution)
* "Taipu: Wairudo" (Ending for Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon)

## Printed media
### Photobooks

| Title | Issue date | Publisher | ISBN | Photobook information |
| Jewel Box | April 1, 2004 | Ascom | ISBN 978-4-7762-0147-2 | First photobook |
| In a mysterious daze (不思議に夢中, Fushigi ni Muchū) | July 25, 2005 | Wani Magazine | ISBN 978-4-89829-798-8 | Second photobook |
| Shoko et Mikanne (中川翔子x蜷川実花（しょこれみかんぬ）, Shokoremikanu) | April 15, 2007 | Wani Books | ISBN 978-4-8470-3000-0 | Third photobook |
| Shoko a la mode (しょこア・ラ・モード—, Shokoa ra mōdō) | November 25, 2008 | Shufu-to-Seikatsu-sha | ISBN 978-4-391-13707-1 | Guide on how to use cosmetics/dress up doll |
| Miracle Sketch – Nakagawa Shoko Illust Sakuhinshu (ミラクルスケッチ 中川翔子イラスト作品集, Miracle Sketch – Nakagawa Shoko Illust Sakuhinshu) | January 23, 2010 | Yosensha | ISBN 978-4862485137 | A collection of illustrations by Shoko Nakagawa |
| Nakagawa Shoko Monogatari – Sorairo Days (中川翔子物語~空色デイズ~) | July 16, 2010 | Kodansha | ISBN 978-4063642742 | A manga about the life of Shoko Nakagawa from her childhood. The limited edition contains an extra book with pictures and a pencil box. |
| Shoko Nakagawa x Mika Ninagawa Photobook "Shoko et Mikanne2 " (中川翔子×蜷川実花写真集 『 しょこれみかんぬ 2 』) | January 28, 2011 | Wani Books | ISBN 978-4847043390 | Second collaboration with Mika Ninagawa. |
| Saipan hatsu, Nakano keiyu Mirai iki-Nakagawa Shoko Giza 10- (サイパン発、中野経由、未来行き 中川翔子 ギザ10) | May 30, 2012 | Kodansha | ISBN 978-4-06-364889-8 | |
| Shoko-Pedia Nakagawa Shoko Ongakukatsudo Dai Ikki Kiroku Shu (中川翔子音楽活動第一期記録集10) | January 25, 2013 | Enterbrain | ISBN 978-4047287440 | Contains Interviews from the beginning of her career until 2013 and many pictures. |
| Nakagawa Shoko Pokemon ga Ikiru Imi o Oshietekureta Shogakkan Visual Mook (ポケモンが生きる意味を教えてくれた) | July 10, 2013 | Shogakukan | ISBN 978-4091032287 | |

### Blogs

| Title | Issue date | Publisher | ISBN | Notes |
| Shokotan Official Blog (しょこたんぶろぐ・中川翔子＊オフィシャル BLOG＊) | October 10, 2005 | Goma Books | ISBN 4-7771-0210-6 | Entries from November 2004 to August 2005 |
| Shokotan Official Blog 2 (しょこたんぶろぐ・中川翔子＊オフィシャル BLOG 2 ＊) | November 10, 2006 | Goma Books | ISBN 4-7771-0487-7 | Entries from September 2005 to August 2006 |
| Shokotan Blog Days of Desire (しょこたんぶろぐ貪欲デイズ) | January 25, 2008 | Kadokawa Group Publishing | ISBN 978-4-04-895012-1 | Entries from October 2006 to December 2007 |
| Shokotan Blog Cho Donyoku Days (しょこたんぶろぐ 超貪欲デイズ) | January 16, 2010 | Kadokawa Group Publishing | ISBN 978-4-04-895069-5 | Entries from March 2008 to October 2009 |