RetroPanda
Sat, 06/09/2025 - 13:15
Ishikawa Hidemi, born: July 13, 1966, was a top idol popular mainly in the first half of 1980s.
In the summer of 1981, when she was in her third year of junior high school, she applied for the 2nd "Hideki's Younger Brother / Sister Audition", a new talent discovery contest sponsored by Gei-ei Productions in collaboration with Saijo Hideki, a big 1970s male idol who was still very big in 1980s. Back then, it wasn't rare to promote new artist using the label of the "younger sister" of some certain big name artists to endorse them. She was selected from a total of 55,460 applicants based on the strong recommendation of Saijo Hideki himself during the selection process. She made her singing debut on April 21, 1982 and became one of the A-list 1980s idols. One of her charms as an idol was said to be the way she sang with all her might.
Ishikawa Hidemi was known as one of the "Flower Class of '82", a bunch of big idols debuted in 1982, along with Nakamori Akina, Koizumi Kyoko (also known by her nickname: Kyon2), Hori Chiemi, Hayami Yuu, Matsumoto Iyo and Shibugakitai .
Ishikawa Hidemi and Saijo Hideki:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5JHB5TW4AApNZl?format=jpg&name=large
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5JHB5TW8AACkl5?format=jpg&name=large
* Hidemi was the second year winner, the first year winner was Kawai Naoko.
About this song
Released on March 21, 1983, this song reached #10 on Oricon chart and sold 151,010 copies. This is her highest selling song and her first song to break into Oricon chart top 10.
Her live performances;
^ on "Yoru no Hit Studio"
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1vW411q7Rq/
^ on "The Best Ten"
^ on "The Top Ten" (?)
^ on "Let's Go Young"
^ on "Let's Go Young" again
^ on "Yan Yan Uta Studio"
^ on "Hachiji da yo! Zen'in shūgō"
in 1987:
In her career, she has released a total of 30 singles and 12 original albums. Her total sales are 2,486,864 copies. She has performed once on Kohaku Uta Gassen in 1985. As for her acting career, she has starred in 11 dramas (1984-1990) and never starred in movie.
Ishikawa Hidemi in dramas:
"Shin Tonda Couple" (1984)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DnVGshjUAAESfYp?format=jpg&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DnVGuOIU4AAoZ37?format=jpg&name=small
^ playing female lead
"Wakai Hito" (1986)
http://blog.livedoor.jp/hassy1936-gorin/archives/87618083.html
^ lead role
"Sutekina Sankaku Kankei: Kabegiwa Zoku ni Hanatabe wo" (1987)
https://auctions.c.yimg.jp/images.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/image/dr000/auc03...
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D8DbVh2UwAE3qib.png
^ playing the lead role, co-starring with idol Nishimura Tomomi
"Bay City Cop" (1988)
"Omuko-san" (1990)
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FQ3popUaMAAT37a.jpg
^ lead role
Ishikawa Hidemi in commercials:
Miscellaneous videos:
Ishikawa Hidemi started dating with fellow class'82 idol Yakumaru Hirohide, also known as Ya-kun, member of Shibugakitai probably around 1986 or 1987. They got married on June 8, 1990 and she announced her temporary hiatus. But later, she never made a full comeback even after giving birth to her son, basically retired.
^ but she still occasionally appeared in commercials with her husband in the first half of 1990s.
...and decades have passed...
Ishikawa Hidemi appeared in Shiseido commercial, circa 2010
With fellow former 1980s idols:
^ Ishikawa Hidemi, Ito Tsukasa, Oginome Yoko, Kawai Sonoko
Hidemi appeared again in a commercial with her husband Yakumaru Hirohide in 2013:
Audio-only video as backup: