Biography
Megumi Asaoka was born on October 11, 1955, in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan, as the second daughter of Kazuo and Masako Fujii. Her birth name was Kayoko Fujii. Her family managed a cosmetics distribution business. Shortly after her birth, they relocated to Osaka due to changes in her father's business. She has an older sister, Akemi, who is four years her senior. Akemi became a child actor at an acting studio and helped Megumi enter the entertainment industry through her connections. Beginning at the age of two, Megumi performed as a child actor and modeled in various commercials and photo shoots. When her sister became a student of a vocal teacher in Tokyo, Megumi and her mother moved there to support her. In Tokyo, she joined the Tokyo Talent Agency as a model under the alias Kayoko Tajima. She attended Fujimigaoka Middle School in Suginami Ward, Tokyo. Although her father suggested she take up table tennis for physical education, she preferred and switched to practicing kendo (Japanese sword fighting). While in ninth grade, she had the opportunity to visit Guam on a business trip. During the boat journey, several Japanese singers and actors were traveling with her. One evening, a singing contest took place, and she performed the song "Manatsu no Dekigoto." A manager present offered her a recording contract. On June 5, 1972, she debuted as a singer under the new stage name "Asaoka Megumi" with the song "Mebae." The name "Asaoka Megumi" was a collaboration between her and her record company, Nippon Victor Corporation. Her debut single sold 800,000 copies, making her an overnight singing sensation. That same year, she received the prestigious "Record Taisho Shinjin Sho," awarded to five of the best new singing talents annually. Since then, she has appeared on numerous stages, TV shows, and concerts. On June 27, 1977, she announced her engagement to Mitsuo Watanabe, a producer at Fuji Television, whom she met at Nippon Victor's recording studio. He proposed on their second date. They married on September 28, 1977, at St. Paul's Church in Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture. Their daughter, Hitomi, was born on November 16, 1979. The couple divorced on February 14, 1982, citing disagreements over her career. Megumi returned to acting and singing that year, commenting, "It's very hard to raise a child while working." Since 1998, she has also performed as a jazz singer. She currently lives in Tokyo with her mother and daughter.
