is a Japanese singer and actress. She is one of the most popular and best-selling artists in Japan. Akina achieved national recognition after winning the 1981 season of the talent show Star Tanjō!. Her debut single "Slow Motion" was released to moderate success, peaking at number thirty on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart. Nakamori's popularity increased with the release of her follow-up single, "Shōjo A", which peaked at number five on the Oricon charts and sold over 390,000 copies. Her second album Variation became her first number-one on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart, staying in that position for three weeks. She made her acting debut in 1985 with an appearance in the Japanese romance movie Ai, Tabidachi. After an extended hiatus from 2010 to 2014, Akina released two compilation albums, All Time Best: Original and All Time Best: Utahime Cover, both of which were commercially successful. As of 2011, Akina has sold over 25.3 million records and was named the third best-selling female Japanese idol singer of all time. Early life Nakamori was born on July 13, 1965, in Ōta, Tokyo, the fifth child and third daughter of six brothers and sisters. Her father Akio Nakamori owned a meat shop. Nakamori and her siblings were all named after their father, Akio, bearing the kanji 明 (aki) in their names. Her mother named her "Akina", which means "a bright nanohana flower". Her younger sister Akiho Nakamori was also an actress who died in 2019 at the age of 52. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Kiyose, Tokyo, where she grew up. Her mother, a fan of Hibari Misora, made her listen to Hibari's songs and taught her how to sing. Eventually, Nakamori began to dream of becoming a singer under the influence of her mother. Career 1982–1984 After Akina Nakamori won Star Tanjō! on her third attempt, she made her debut in 1982 with the single "Slow Motion." Recorded in Los Angeles, the single was released on 1 May 1982 and sold 174,000 copies, reaching No. 30 on the Oricon charts. The second single, "Shōjo A" was nearly banned for its risque lyrics. This single fared better and peaked at No. 5, selling 396,000 copies. Her next single, a ballad titled "Second Love" proved to be her best-selling single. It debuted at No. 2 but reached No. 1 the following week, staying at the top for nine weeks. It