Onyanko Club
In 1985, she auditioned for Onyanko Club in their show Yūyake Nyan Nyan, and was chosen to be a part of the group. Nicknamed the , she immediately gained great popularity which led to her participation in various dramas such as Sukeban Deka. She made her solo debut the same year, with the single "Namida no Jasmine LOVE", making her the first Onyanko Club member to launch a solo career. Her first album followed a few months later. In 1986, she released "Aoi Stasion", which stayed at the No. 1 place on the Oricon charts for two consecutive weeks, making it Kawai's signature song. In April, she graduated from Onyanko Club at the Nippon Budōkan venue of their first concert tour and officially became a solo artist. She would later become one of the hosts of Yūyake Nyan Nyan's sister show, Yūshoku Nyan Nyan.