Naomi Chiaki

Probably one of the best singers ever in Japan, Naomi Chiaki was born in Itabashi, Tokyo on September 17 1947. She started to learn tap dancing at the age of 4, made a stage debut at 5, then sang at US Army Camps, jazz cafes and supporting then popular singers concert tours. In 1968 she won an audition to become a composer Jun Suzuki's pupil then the following year, she made a first record. In 1970, she had a big hit and became a very popular and successful. In 1972, she won prestigious 'The Best Record Award (Record Taisho)' in Japan. She then went on to make records in a variety of styles, such as jazz, chansons, fado (Portuguese) etc. She could sing anything. As she was focused on music, she appeared in only a few films and several TV dramas but when she acted, she outshone co-stars. She aged graciously and got just better and better. In 1989 and 1990, 'Lady Day', a musical that portrayed Billie Holiday's last days was so outstanding that people still talk about it! It was only her as Holiday and a pianist (great composer Nobuo Kurata) and she just became Billie Holiday. Unfortunately, since her late husband Eiji Go's death in 1992, she's stopped working completely. Despite her reclusiveness, her popularity is strong as ever. Recent released box set (6 CDs) was sold out all over the country and her songs have been used for films and TV commercials. Needless to say, her 'come-back' is a huge public demand.