Heisei J-Pop Diva Mariko Nagai Talks New Album “Everyday I’m Having Fun”

“Last year, I revived the fan club for the first time in 20 years, making it a fulfilling year. Nowadays, digital fan clubs are mainstream, but I create a newsletter, and for birthday cards, I personally add handwritten signatures and a brief message for each individual. When I provide this ‘full of Showa era vibes’ service, people really appreciate it and are delighted (laughs).”

Mariko Nagai, 57, was a pioneer of the girl pop boom from the late 1980s to the 1990s. That radiant smile is back!

In addition to the revival of the fan club, the group has been energetically interacting with fans by holding events such as overnight fan tours and thanksgiving festivals. It was a full-fledged restart.

The short hair that was a trademark of hers when she debuted in 1987, along with the white shirt and jeans, is still in place.

“Moreover, I had my shirt tucked in (into jeans), you know (laughs). There wasn’t any particular intention behind it; that was just the real me. I used to wonder, ‘Is it okay to appear on TV dressed like this?’ But the staff would say, ‘It’s natural, and it’s good.’ However, I can’t watch the footage from those days because it’s embarrassing. Why was I jumping up so energetically, as if popcorn was popping? Youth is really something amazing.”

During her junior college days, she belonged to a light music circle. Wanting to continue living in the music world after graduation, Nagai brought a demo tape to a record company (Funhouse), and her debut was quickly and smoothly decided.

 

In 1989, she released “Miracle Girl,” and in the 1990s, she was blessed with hit songs such as “Zutto” and “Heart to Wash!”

“Many miracles happened. Every time I performed live, the venue got frighteningly larger. Initially, Miracle Girl was a candidate for the album, but at the suggestion of the staff, we released it as a single. It became the theme song for the anime ‘YAWARA!’ and, thanks to that, it turned into a song loved by everyone.”

In addition to popular music programs like ‘The Best Ten’ (TBS) and Night Hit Studio (Fuji TV), she also participated in the NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in 1991. In 1992, she was part of the main cast in the TBS drama Ano Hi no Boku wo Sagashite, starring Yuji Oda (56).

“I was invited to various shows, but the one that made me the happiest was being on ‘Night Hit,’ which I had watched since I was a child. When I first appeared, I was so nervous that I felt like I wasn’t grounded. When I watched the video later, my shoulders were so tense that it made me laugh.

When I appeared on the Kohaku, my grandmother in the countryside was thrilled, and she proudly displayed the trophy I received as a commemoration of the performance in the family’s alcove. ‘Ano Hi no Boku wo Sagashite’ was a trendy drama popular at that time. I wanted to challenge myself in things other than music, but playing someone else when I was struggling with my own self made me realize it was too much for me (laughs).”

She toured all over Japan for live performances, making numerous appearances on various media such as TV and radio. During the extremely packed schedule, there were times when she didn’t even know where she was.

“I was completely beyond my capacity, but at the same time, there was joy. Every morning, I would wake up and confirm, ‘Was what happened yesterday not a dream?’ I always thought, ‘If it’s a dream, may I never wake up.'”

Announcement of marriage during a live concert

In 1993, she got married, and in 1996, she gave birth to her first son.

“I announced my marriage during a live performance, but at that time, it was absolutely unthinkable for a female artist in her 20s to announce marriage. It not only shocked the industry but also led to a decrease in male members of the fan club (laughs). However, I received praise from various artists, and even the management agency didn’t oppose it. I consider myself fortunate.

The move to Australia was because I wanted to have various experiences, and while reflecting on the life I had walked so far, I wanted to think about what comes next. After graduating from junior college, I was fortunate to debut right away, and not having known anything beyond the world of music, I wanted to clear my mind and live as an ordinary woman, an ordinary mother, for once.”

She returned to Japan in 2013. In 2017, marking her 30th anniversary since debut, she gradually resumed her music activities, releasing a new song for the first time in 11 years.

“Even during my hiatus, the passion for music was always in my heart. However, I had lost sight of my position, and the strength to overcome the long hiatus didn’t come easily. So, I never considered a comeback. However, when I turned 50, coinciding with my 30th anniversary since debut, fans and music industry friends gave me the push I needed.

Messages like ‘I would love for you to sing again’ started arriving on my blog, which I only updated about twice a year, and it was a good kind of pressure. Although a significant amount of energy was required for a comeback, when I thought, ‘This might be the last jump in my life,’ a mysterious switch was flipped, and I decided to go for it.”

For about six months leading up to her comeback, she strengthened her vocal muscles through voice training. She sought advice from Kaori Kishitani (56), formerly of “Princess Princess,” through a mutual acquaintance in the music industry.

“At first, I couldn’t produce any sound at all. Since Kaori had also made a comeback after a long hiatus, I asked what kind of training she had done, and she introduced me to a voice training teacher. Without that support, the comeback might have taken even more time. She and the voice trainer are my benefactors.”

For the restart, Nagai decided to thoroughly pursue doing what she wanted to do.

“In my younger days, I was just focused on completing the given tasks. After the comeback, when I did a live performance for the first time in over a decade, both the audience and I were unsure where to take the excitement. There were times when we ended up just crying together (laughs). Nevertheless, the feeling is similar to when I debuted at the age of 20, very refreshing. After taking a break for more than 10 years, fully dedicating myself to raising children, accumulating various experiences as a person, this is where I am now. Every day is incredibly enjoyable.”

The catalyst for reviving the fan club was a fan tour titled “Adult School Trip” and “Adult Retreat.” This involved overnight stays, live performances, radio exercises, barbecues, and walks with the fans. However, Nagai chuckles, saying, “Since we communicated through SNS, I couldn’t handle the overwhelming number of applications that far exceeded my imagination.”

“It was a one-night, two-day event, and since we held it consecutively, I ended up getting heatstroke. I had to cool my head with ice halfway through (laughs). It was so much fun, though, so I want to do it again!”

With a lively smile, Nagai continued.

“I’ve released about three self-cover albums, rearranged nostalgic songs in live performances, and up to this point, there have been many ‘Youth Revisited’ projects. Of course, it’s wonderful when people enjoy the old songs, but if I rely on that too much, the meaning of the restart is lost. This year, I plan to release a new album, and I have new projects in mind. I hope to express the ‘New Mariko Nagai’!”

It is going to be a big jump.

From the January 26 , 2024 issue of FRIDAY