is a Japanese actress, a J-Pop singer, and an idol who came to fame in the 1980s.
Biography
Yui was born in Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan, and later attended Nakano High School. In 1984, she was the Grand Prix Winner for a Young Girls Comics Magazine. Yui was featured as the main character of the comic "Shooting Star". A year later, she debuted as a singer with the single Natsu Shoujo. Up until the end of 1986, Asaka enjoyed a moderately successful career as a singer and an idol.
Her fame grew when she starred in the third series of cult TV Show Sukeban Deka in 1987. In 1989, she starred as the heroine of popular manga Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl in its 1989 live movie adaptation. Capitalising on this exposure, Asaka started to write her own songs, starting with the single "Self Control", which was based on her waging a bet with her 3 friends as to who would cave in and masturbate first.
In 1993, problems arose when her management began limiting her rights concerning her stage name (Yui Asaka). Asaka decided to temporarily withdraw from the limelight and took a break from show business. Her former label Hummingbird was acquired by Warner Music Japan the following year. She returned to the music scene in 1997 as Yui (not to be confused with another Japanese singer called Yui). Soon after, Asaka reconciled with her agency and was allowed to perform under the name "Yui Asaka" once more. Asaka decided to focus on her acting career, frequently appearing in Japanese TV dramas and variety shows (see full discography below).
Discography
Albums
1986.02.21 : Crystal Eyes
1987.02.28 : Star Lights
1987.09.23 : Rainbow
1988.06.01 : Candid Girl
1988.12.01 : Herstory
1989.03.01 : Melody Fair
1989.11.21 : Pride
1990.02.28 : Nude Songs
1990.07.04 : Open your Eyes - Nude Songs vol.2
1990.12.05 : No Lookin' Back
1991.08.21 : Stay
1992.08.21 : Joker
1993.02.24 : Contrast
Best-of albums
1987.12.01 : Present
1989.05.18 : Yawara! Original Soundtrack
1991.02.27 : Thanks a lot
1992.11.25 : Single Collection
1993.05.01 : Anniversary2824
1993.07.21 : Asaka Yui Daizenshou (浅香唯大全集) 2005.06.22 : Kyoukyoku no Best! Asaka Yui (究極のベスト! 浅香唯) 2010.06.09 : Crystals - 25th Anniversary Best 2010.07.07 : Kami Jacket CD Box (Album+DVD)
Singles
1985.06.21 : 夏少女 (Natsu Shoujo) 1985.09.25 : ふたりのMoon River (Futari no Moon River) 1986.01.21 : ヤッパシ…H! (Yappashi...H!) 1986.05.21 : コンプレックスBanzai!! (Complex Banzai!!) 1986.09.21 : 10月のクリスマス (10gatsu no Christmas) #88 1987.01.21 : STAR #9 1987.05.27 : 瞳にStorm (Hitomi ni Storm) #4 1987.09.09 : 虹のDreamer (Niji no Dreamer) #1 1987.10.14 : Remember (with Onishi Yuka and Nakamura Yuma) #1 1988.01.27 : Believe Again #2 1988.04.20 : C-Girl #1 1988.08.18 : セシル (Cecile) #1 1988.11.02 : Melody #2 1989.01.25 : True Love #1 1989.03.22 : Neverland～Yawara!メインテーマ～ (Neverland ~ Yawara! Main Theme) #2 1989.07.05 : 恋のロックンロール・サーカス (Koi no Rock n' Roll Circus) #4 1989.09.17 : Dream Power #3 1990.02.07 : Chance! #7 1990.05.31 : 7days Girl 1990.06.06 : ボーイフレンドをつくろう (Boyfriend wo Tsukurou) #10 1990.10.31 : Self Control #13 1991.06.06 : 恋のUpside-Down (Koi no Upside-Down) #32 1992.01.29 : 愛しい人と眠りたい (Itoshii Hito to Nemuritai) #42 1993.02.24 : ひとり (Hitori) 1997.09.26 : Ring Ring Ring (YUI) 1998.08.26 : 不器用な天使 (Bukiyou na Tenshi) (YUI) 2000.12.26 : 白の扉 (Shiro no Tobira) 2005.12.26 : 笑顔の私 (Egao no Watashi) 2009.05.20 : マジ？マジ！マジカル☆ジュエル (Maji? Maji! Magical Jewel)
Filmography
Dramas
1985 : Ikkyuusan
1987 : Sukeban Deka III: Shoujo Ninpou Chou Denki
1988 : Kanou Juuban Shoubu! 1990 : AD Boogie 1991 : Yo ni mo Kimyou na Monogatari 1992 : Saimon Selection 1992 : Nani mo Ienakute 1999 : Yo ni mo Kimyou na Monogatari '99 Aki no Tokubetsuhen "Wafuku no Shoujo" 2000 : Tadaima Manshitsu 2000 : Quiz 2000 : Kyoto Gion Irimuko Keijijikenbo 6 2001 : Handoc!!! 2002 : Kamaitachi no Yoru 2003 : Satsujin Roke 2004 : Rikon Yoteibi 2005 : Mama! I Love You 2006 : Virus Panic 2006 Natsu -Machi wa Kansenshita- 2011 : Taira no Kiyomori
Films
1987: Sukeban Deka: The Movie
1988: Sukeban Deka: Kazama San Shimai no Gyakushū
1989: YAWARA! 2001: Dosaken Mahjong Jigoku 2010: Kurosawa Eiga