Junko Yagami

Born in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Junko Yagami established herself in the late 1970s within the Japanese music scene, between new music, orchestral pop and what is now often classed as city pop. A pianist and singer, she emerged at a young age thanks to the Yamaha Popcon, where her compositions were noticed as early as 1974, before a proper record debut in 1978 with the album 思い出は美しすぎて, followed by 素顔の私 in 1979. Her songwriting blends pop melodies with soul nuances and Latin touches; her voice is broad and her delivery moves from lyricism to groove without breaking from the tradition of Japanese song. Tracks such as "Mizuiro no Ame", "Omoi de no Screen" and "Purple Town 〜You Oughta Know By Now〜" mark this early period, as does her work with lyricist Tokuko Miura. Throughout the 1980s Junko Yagami shifted toward a more urban, international pop sound—notably on I WANNA MAKE A HIT WIT-CHOO (1983)—and after marrying she settled in the United States while continuing to work in Japan intermittently. After a long spell of lower visibility, she returned to a steady presence on stage and in the studio in the early 2010s with VREATH 〜My Favorite Cocky Pop〜 (2012), Here I am 〜Head to Toe〜 (2013), There you are (2016) and TERRA -here we will stay (2021).