Chisato Moritaka

Chisato Moritaka (森高千里) (born 11 April 1969) is a Japanese pop singer who also is notable as a songwriter.

She is affiliated with Up-Front Create, a subsidiary of the Up-Front Group.

Moritaka's big break into show business came when she won the Grand Prix of the first Pocari Sweat Image Girl Contest in 1986.

She appeared in a series of Pocari Sweat commercials with Shigesato Itoi, who was one of the judges of the contest.

While pursuing her new career, Moritaka transferred to Horikoshi High School in Tokyo.

Moritaka's singing career as the unrivaled "Dance Queen" began in May 1987 with the release of her debut album New Season.

She differed from many other female Idol singers in Japan in that she wrote her own lyrics for majority of her albums.

More than 60 of her songs were composed by Hideo Saitō.

Moritaka also played drums on many of the tracks, as well as piano, guitar, recorder, clarinet, and other instruments.

Her musical style was influenced by Pink Lady, Janet Jackson, Roger Taylor, and The Beatles.

From 1987 to 1999, Moritaka sold over 6.4 million singles and 5.2 million albums.

In 1987, Moritaka starred in the Toho film Aitsu ni Koishite, which premiered on 30 May.

She also made her music debut with her first single "New Season" on 25 May.

Following her first concert at Shibuya Live Inn on 7 September, Moritaka focused on her music career.

In 1988, she wrote the lyrics for her first song, "The Mi-ha" which was composed by Hideo Saitō.

During a rehearsal in the middle of her first tour, Moritaka suffered abdominal pain and was hospitalized for a week.

Her experience at the hospital inspired her to write the lyrics for "The Stress".

On 25 May 1989, Moritaka released "17-sai", a cover of Saori Minami's 1971 song.

The single peaked at No. 8 on Oricon's singles chart, making it her first top-10 hit.

The song's catchy Eurobeat arrangement, combined with Moritaka's dance choreography and colorful costumes with flashy miniskirts that display her slender legs, defined her musical style and image throughout the first half of her career and made her a hit with male fans.

Moritaka's advertising jingles were hits into the mid-1990s in television commercials for goods and services such as consumer electronics, chocolate, beer, gin, and travel packages.

She has also made numerous appearances on Japanese game and talent shows and is still a household name.

In twelve years after her debut, she released 13 studio albums and created a strong following of devoted fans.

Born in Ibaraki, Osaka, Japan, Chisato Moritaka was raised in Kumamoto, Kyushu.

Her father,, was a member of a rockabilly band called.

Her mother,, is a former actress.

While studying at (now Kyūshū Lutheran College), Moritaka played drums in a band that mainly covered Rebecca songs.

Her fifth album Kokon Tozai in 1990 became her first and only album to hit No. 1 on Oricon's albums chart.

On 25 June 1992, Moritaka released the single "Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo".

Composed by Saitō, Moritaka wrote the lyrics when she was 20 after being told by male staff of her management that women reach their prime at age 19.

In 1993, Moritaka scored her first No. 1 hit with the single "Kaze ni Fukarete".

However, she was forced to cancel her national tour in 1994 after suffering a temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and she was unable to tour for two years.

While recovering, Moritaka played drums in Shigeru Izumiya's band at a fundraising concert at the Nippon Budokan to aid victims of the Great Hanshin earthquake.

Also in the band was actor and bassist Yōsuke Eguchi, whom Moritaka would eventually marry four years later.

Moritaka's 11th single "Ame" peaked at No. 2 on Oricon's singles chart and became her first single to be certified Gold by the RIAJ.

The song peaked at No. 15, but has since become a popular hit among women, especially after actress Hikari Ishida announced it as during the 43rd Kōhaku Uta Gassen on NHK.

Her Rock Alive tour featured female musicians as members of her band.

Starting with her album Pepperland, Moritaka started recording drums, guitar, bass, piano, and other instruments on most of her songs.

In addition, she began playing instruments on her concerts more frequently.

This also marked a change in her image from her vibrant outfits to a more contemporary look.