Nov. 6: Japanese singer and musical actress Minako Honda died on this date in 2005.

... she was 38 when she ications from
vmyelocytic leukemia.
Born Minako Kudo in Tokyo, it has been reported Minako changed her name to Honda when she became a professional singerecause she like the cars.  In 1985, when she was 18, Honda appeared on the music scene with her debut EP Satsui No Vacance.

( Links for viewing You Tube videos:)--"Tｓｕｂａｓａ"

-- "My Heart Will Go On"

-- "I'd Give My Life For You"

-- "Amazing Grace"

(Additional video at end of post)

She rose quickly and became known as "Japan's Madonna" because of her sexy fashion and live performances in the mid to late 1980s. Her career was boosted by singing in Japanese and English languages. In 1989, at the "advanced age" of 22, she made an attempt to revive her flagging career and attain "street cred" by forming the edgy all-female band "Minako with Wild Cats." This effort was unsuccessful, and it seemed that her career was doomed.

Instead, Minako 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." She appeared in many other theatrical performances.

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 the theme songs for several anime programs.
She did not abandon pop music, and regained some fame 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.

Since her death, many posthumous albums and videos have been released, including some previously-unreleased songs.

After she became ill in late 2004, she served as a celebrity spokesperson for the Live for Life Project, a campaign for the treatment of leukemia.

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