Ryoko Hirosue

Japanese pop singer and actress Ryoko Hirosue was first recruited at the age of 14 as a cosmetics model and, as with most Japanese "idols," was quickly rushed into a singing and acting career as well. Hirosue's 1997 debut single "Maji de Koi Suru 5-Byou Mae" and its follow-up, "Daisuki," were high-energy, summery pop tunes that saw the then 16-year-old catapulted into immediate stardom. The accompanying album, Arigatou, was also a hit, with its naive and unpretentious pop stylings forming a refreshing contrast to the synth-heavy, Eurobeat-influenced sound of Tetsuya Komuro that dominated the Japanese charts at that time. This, coupled with her award-winning role in the comedy-drama series Beach Boys, cemented Hirosue's position as one of the year's biggest success stories. 1998 saw the release of a new single, "Jeans," which suggested an attempt at a more mature image, and the album, Private, that followed in 1999 made it clear that Hirosue's handlers were more focussed on building up her public image for a move into more serious drama roles rather than capitalizing on the youthful energy that had driven her earlier pop success. 1999 saw a compilation of singles and B-sides released, followed by a new single, "Kajitsu," in 2000, but by this time Hirosue's acting career was well under way. Her international film debut in Luc Besson's Wasabi followed in 2001, which basically signaled the end of her singing career, with the exception of the remix album RH Remix, featuring, among others, the work of Tim Gane from Stereolab. A best-of album, Perfect Collection, followed in 2002. ~ Ian Martin, All Music Guide