Meiko Nakahara

• Name — Meiko Nakahara • Birth Name — Meiko Obara • Born — 8 May 1959 • Birthplace — Chiba Prefecture • Occupation — Singer, composer

Meiko Obara was born on May 8, 1959, in Chiba Prefecture. She began composing music while in Junior High School. She debuted in 1982 with the single Kon'ya dake Dance Dance Dance and the album Coconuts House. Her 1984 single Kimitachi Kiwi Papaya Mango dane was the 50th best-selling single of the year in Japan, with 237,000 copies sold. She became instantly popular. Her song Ru-Ru-Ru-Russian Roulette was the opening theme and Uchū Ren'ai (Space Fantasy) was the ending theme for the 1985 anime television series Dirty Pair. Ru-Ru-Ru-Russian Roulette won the award for Best Song at the 8th Anime Grand Prix in 1986. For the 1987–1988 anime television series Kimagure Orange Road, Kagami no Naka no Actress was the third opening theme song and Dance in the Memories was the third ending song. The 1992 live tour was the last public performance from her and her singing career is considered to have ended around this time.

After ceasing her singing career, Nakahara worked as a composer for groups and singers like Checkicco and Vivian Hsu. She has mostly faded out of public eye since 1992. A tribute band to her called Lotos was formed in 2010 and was still active as of 2019. In an article for Sankei Shimbun, Nakahara was recognized as a significant artist in the city pop genre.

• Release date — Title — Ref. • July 1, 1982 — Coconuts House • December 21, 1982 — 2時までのシンデレラ-FRIDAY MAGIC- • September 1, 1983 — Mint • July 21, 1984 — Lotos no Kajitsu • May 22, 1985 — CHAKI CHAKI CLUB • March 20, 1986 — MOODS • March 4, 1987 — PUZZLE • February 25, 1988 — Kimagure Orange Road Sound Color 3 • March 5, 1988 — Kagami no Naka no Actress • March 21, 1990 — 303 EAST 60TH STREET • March 27, 1991 — HIGH ENERGY-Remixed in N.Y.- • October 30, 1991 — ON THE PLANET-地球でのできごと-

• Release date — Title — Ref. • September 3, 1986 — MOGA-BEST COLLECTION- • August 26, 1987 — 中原めいこ ニュー・ベストナウ • May 25, 1988 — Meiko's BEST SELECTION 10+1 • June 5, 1988 — セレクション20/中原めいこバラッドI • April 26, 1989 — Happy birthday, Love for you • May 13, 1998 — 中原めいこ/ツイン・ベスト • June 21, 2000 — 2000 BEST 中原めいこ・ベスト • November 17, 2004 — Golden Best Nakahara Meiko • August 24, 2005 — NEW BEST 1500

• Release date — Title — Ref. • April 21, 1982 — "Kon'ya dake Dance Dance Dance" • September 21, 1982 — "Go Away" • March 21, 1983 — "Friday Magic" • July 21, 1983 — "Tsukiyo ni Ki wo Tsukete!" (月夜に気をつけて!) • November 21, 1983 — "Scorpion" • April 5, 1984 — Kimi-tachi Kiwi Papaya Mango da ne • September 21, 1984 — "Emoushon" (エモーション) • May 1, 1985 — "Yakimochi-yaki Rhumba Boy" • July 21, 1985 — "Ru-Ru-Ru-Russian Roulette" • February 1, 1986 — "Kowareta Piano" / "DESTINATION" (こわれたピアノ / DESTINATION) • February 4, 1987 — "UNBALANCE ZONE" • February 2, 1988 — "Special Party Versions" • February 25, 1988 — "Kagami no Naka no Actress" • February 21, 1990 — DAIYAMONDO Miwakenasai -Is it true love- • September 27, 1991 — "Fortune -gin no tsukiyo no HANEMUUN-" (Fortune -銀の月夜のハネムーン-)