Minako Honda

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Minako Honda (?????, Honda Minako, born Minako Kud? (?????, Kud? Minako), July 31, 1967 - November 6, 2005) was a Japanese "idol" pop-star and musical singer. She became famous and popular because of her sexy fashion and live performances in the mid to late 1980s.

She was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia on January 5, 2005. At 4:38 A.M. on November 6, 2005, Honda died at the Juntendo University Hospital in Bunky?, Tokyo, officially from acute myelogenous leukemia.

Video Minako Honda

Early life

Minako Kudo was born in Itabashi, Tokyo, and was raised in Asaka, Saitama.

Maps Minako Honda

Beginnings

In 1989, at the age of 22, she made an attempt to revive her flagging career by forming an edgy girl group called "Minako with Wild Cats".

By 1992, however, she reinvented herself. She took formal acting and singing lessons, and became a notable theatrical singer and actress. In auditions for the Tokyo production of Miss Saigon, she won out over 12,000 other candidates for the part of Kim, earning the nickname "Tokyo's Miss Saigon".

Towards the end of her life, she released several classical albums demonstrating her soprano singing voice, including religious works such as Amazing Grace and Ave Maria. She also sang theme songs for several anime programs.

She did not abandon pop music in her adult career; indeed, she became recognized for her vocal improvement in the adult pop genre. Her song "Tsubasa" (Wings) is famous for the "long note" that she holds for 30 seconds.

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Death

Honda became ill in late 2004, but still performed in December in spite of a fever and fatigue. When her cold-like symptoms failed to improve, she sought medical treatment and was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia on January 5, 2005. Honda recovered after treatment and came home to Asaka.

Honda was able to celebrate her 38th birthday at home feeling relatively well, but had a relapse shortly afterwards. Chromosome aberration was discovered and she received a dose of anticancer medicine from the United States to treat it. She recovered again briefly, but then suffered another relapse.

Honda developed lung complications on October 21, and she lapsed into a coma on November 3. At 4:38 a.m. on November 6, 2005, Honda died at the Juntendo University Hospital in Bunky?, Tokyo, officially from acute myelogenous leukemia. She was 38 and unmarried at the time of her death.

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Discography

Singles

Satsui No Vacance (??????? Satsui No Bakansu, Vacation of the Urge To Kill) (April 21, 1985)
Suki To Iinasai (????????, Tell Me "I Love You") (July 20, 1985)
Aoi Shumatsu (????, Blue Weekend) (August 31, 1985)
Temptation (September 28, 1985)
1986 Nen No Marilyn (1986?????? Senkyuhyakuhachij?nen No Maririn, Marilyn in 1986) (February 5, 1986)
Sosotte (Seduce Me) (May 1, 1986)
Help (July 23, 1986)
The Cross -Ai No Jyujika- (?????, The Cross Of Love) (September 3, 1986)
Oneway Generation (February 4, 1987)
Crazy Nights (April 22, 1987)
Golden Days (May 11, 1987) released only in UK
Heartbreak (1987?6?22?)
Kodoku Na Hurricane (???????? Kodoku Na Harik?n, Lonely Hurricane) (September 9, 1987)
Kanashimi Swing (???SWING ) (November 25, 1987)
Anata To Nettai (???????, With You, Tropical) (July 6, 1988) as "Minako With Wildcats"
Stand Up~Full Metal Armor (November 30, 1988) as "Minako With Wildcats"
Katte Ni Sasete (??????, Let Me Have My Own Way) (May 31, 1989) as "Minako With Wildcats"
7th Bird "Ai Ni Koi" (??? Love And Love) (October 11, 1989)
Shangri-La (July 4, 1990)
Tsubasa (???, Wings) (May 25, 1994)
Rarabai~Yasashiku Dakasete~ (???????~???????, Lullaby~Let Me Hold You Kindly) (May 10, 1995) (2nd ending theme of Magic Knight Rayearth)
Boku No Heya De Kurasou (?????????, Let's Live in My Room) (July 26, 1995)
Fall in Love With You -Koi Ni Ochite- (?????, Fall in Love) (November 6, 1995)
Shining Eyes (July 21, 1996)
Kaze No Uta (????, Wind Song) (November 21, 1999) (ending theme song of Hunter × Hunter)
Honey (October 21, 2000)
Hoshizora (??, Starlit Sky) (January 24, 2001)
Nadja!! (????!! N?dja!!) (February 21, 2003) (theme song of Ashita no Nadja)
Shinsekai (???, New World) (May 14, 2004)

Albums

Studio albums

M'Syndrome (M'??????Emu'Shindor?mu) (November 21, 1985)
Lips (June 4, 1986)
Oversea (June 22, 1987)
Cancel (September 28, 1988)
Midnight Swing (December 15, 1988)
Hy?teki (??, Target) (July 5, 1989) as "Minako With Wildcats"
Wild Cats (August 4, 1989) as "Minako With Wildcats"
Junction (September 24, 1994)
Hare Tokidoki Kumori (?? ???? ???, Fine, Sometimes Cloudy) (June 25, 1995)
Ave Maria (May 21, 2003)
Toki (?, Time) (November 25, 2004)
Amazing Grace (??????????? Ameijingu Gureisu) (October 19, 2005)
Kokoro Wo Komete... (?????... Heartily) (April 20, 2006)
Yasashii Sekai (????? Gentle World) (December 6, 2006)
Eternal Harmony (November 6, 2008)
Last Concert (?????????) (December 10, 2008)

Live albums

The Virgin Concert (????????????? Za V?jin Cons?to) (February 20, 1986)
DISPA 1987 (January 24, 1989)

Compilations

The Minako Collection (December 20, 1986)
Golden Best- New Best Now (June 4, 1988)
Look Over My Shoulder (October 26, 1988)
Stand Up- Best Beat Collection (December 12, 1988)
Life -Minako Honda: Premium Best- (May 21, 2005)
I Love You (March 29, 2006)
Angel Voice ~Minako Honda. Memorial Best~ (April 18, 2007)
Classical Best ~Ten Ni Hibiku Uta~ (April 20, 2007)

Movie soundtracks

Passenger (October 25, 1988)

VHS/DVD

The Virgin Live in Budokan
Dangerous Bond Street
Dramatic Flash
DISPA 1987
Minako in L.A.
Katte Ni Sasete (??????, Let Me Have My Own Way)
Tropical Holiday
Tropical Holiday in Hawaii

Theatre

Miss Saigon (1992-1993) - Kim
The King and I (1996-2002) - Tuptim
Les Misérables (1997-2001) - Eponine
Fiddler on the Roof (2001) - Hodel
Claudia (2004) - Claudia

Note: Minako Honda was originally cast as Fantine in Les Misérables for the Japanese tour in 2005, but due to her death, another actor was given the part.

Minako Honda feat. Gary Moore - Cancel - YouTube