Chieko Kawabe (河邉 千恵子, Kawabe Chieko), born February 24, 1987, in Tokyo,[1] is a Japanese singer, model and actress. She played Sailor Mercury in the Sailor Moon musicals and was Naru Osaka in the live action adaptation of Sailor Moon.

Chieko Kawabe
河邉 千恵子
Birth nameChieko Kawabe (河辺千恵子)
Also known asChieko Ochi (越智千恵子)
Born (1987-02-24) February 24, 1987 (age 37)
Tokyo, Japan
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • model
  • actress
Years active1998–present
Websiteameblo.jp/chieko-0224/

Several of her songs have been used in anime series and other television shows, from a localization of Lizzie McGuire to Ouran High School Host Club. She was born to a Japanese father and Spanish Filipino mother.[2]

Biography

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Career

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Kawabe was involved in the Sailor Moon Musicals in 2000 when she was 12. She played Sailor Mercury and participated in five productions including the 10th anniversary special in 2002. She made guest appearances at Fan Kansha and released a DVD called Sera Myu. Afterwards, she handed her Sailor Mercury role to Wakayama Manami, but got involved in the live-action Sailor Moon drama as Naru Osaka in 2003.[2]

Kawabe released the single "Be Your Girl" on April 27, 2004.[2] This became the ending theme song to the anime Elfen Lied, and her other song, "Hoshi ni Negai wo" was the end theme song to Otogizoshi.[2] She released "Shining" in 2004, and "Kizunairo" in 2005. The song "I Can't Wait", from the "Kizunairo" single was used as the theme song to the Japanese version of the show Lizzie McGuire.[2] She released her first album, Brilliance in March 2005, and the single "Candy Baby" in July.[2] Kawabe's next major single was "Sakura Kiss" which was the theme song for the anime Ouran High School Host Club. The single charted in Oricon, peaking at 71.[2]

In addition to acting and singing, she has worked as a model, appearing in publications such as Tokuma Shoten's Love Berry magazine.[1] She hosted a weekly show in Harajuku.[2]

Since April 2016, she currently works as a certified Pilates instructor.[3][4]

Personal life

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Kawabe married producer Masato Ochi on August 8, 2008, and started using the name Chieko Ochi (越智 千恵子, Ochi Chieko) during that time they were married in both public and personal activities.[5] After 7 years of marriage, the couple amicably divorced in 2015.[6] They have one daughter, who is under Ochi's custody.

Shortly after divorcing, she went back to using her maiden last name, but with different characters.

In November 2020, she announced on her blog the registration of her second marriage to an orthopedic doctor 5 years older after meeting in one of Kawabe's Pilates lessons.[7][8] They celebrated their wedding in June 2021 at her husband's hometown in Hokkaido.[9]

On June 1, 2022, she gave birth to her second daughter.[10]

Discography

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Albums

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List of albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album information Oricon[11]
Peak
position
Brilliance
  • Released: March 16, 2005
  • Catalog No.: VPCC-80602[12]

Singles

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List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Album information Oricon[13] Album
Peak
position
"Be Your Girl"
  • Released: April 28, 2004
  • Catalog No.: VPCC-82176[14]
67 Brilliance
"Shining!"/"cry baby"
  • Released: November 24, 2004
  • Catalog No.: VPCC-82189[15]
157 Brilliance
"Kizunairo"
(絆色)
  • Released: January 26, 2005
  • Catalog No.: VPCC-82191 [16]
150 Brilliance
"Candy Baby" / "Mama Made"
(キャンディーベイベー/マーマメード)
  • Released: July 21, 2005
  • Catalog No.: VPCC-82199[17]
   
"Sakura Kiss"
(桜キッス)
  • Released: April 26, 2006
  • Catalog No.: VPCC-82601[18]
71

References

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  1. ^ a b "越智千恵子のプロフィール". ORICON STYLE. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Chieko Kawabe's Bio". jpopasia. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  3. ^ "お知らせです". Chieko Kawabeオフィシャルブログ Powered by Ameba. 2016-04-21. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
  4. ^ "麻布十番にBasiピラティスがオープン!". Chieko Kawabeオフィシャルブログ Powered by Ameba. 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-26.
  5. ^ "BREAKING NEWS: Chieko Kawabe Marries Producer". Moon Chase! A Sailor Moon News Blog. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
  6. ^ "Masato Ochi Divorces 21 Years Younger Wife". Sponichi Annex. 21 November 2015. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  7. ^ "結婚しました". Chieko Kawabeオフィシャルブログ. Ameba. 2020-12-31. Retrieved 2021-09-11.
  8. ^ "結婚一周年". Chieko Kawabeオフィシャルブログ. Ameba. 2021-11-02. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  9. ^ "水の教会". Chieko Kawabeオフィシャルブログ. Ameba. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  10. ^ "河辺千恵子 女児出産 12年ぶり妊娠「和室でのフリースタイル出産…安らかなお産」 名前も発表". スポニチ Sponichi Annex. スポーツニッポン新聞社. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  11. ^ 越智千恵子のアルバム売上ランキング [Chieko Ochi Album Sales Ranking]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  12. ^ "brilliance – 河辺千恵子" [brilliance – Chieko Ochi]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  13. ^ 越智千恵子のシングル売上ランキング [Chieko Ochi Single Sales Rankings]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  14. ^ "be your girl – 河辺千恵子" [Be your girl – Chieko Kawabe]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  15. ^ "Shining!/cry baby – 河辺千恵子" [Shining!/cry baby – Chieko Kawabe]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  16. ^ "絆色 – 河辺千恵子" [Kizunairo – Chieko Kawabe]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  17. ^ "キャンディベイベー/マーマメード – 河辺千恵子" [Candy Baby / Mama Made – Chieko Kawabe]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  18. ^ "桜キッス – 河辺千恵子" [Sakura Kiss – Chieko Kawabe]. Oricon (in Japanese). Retrieved July 7, 2015.
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