Chiemi Amako (尼子 智栄美, Amako Chiemi, née Hori (), born February 15, 1967, in Higashi-ku, Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Japan),[1] better known as Chiemi Hori (堀 ちえみ, Hori Chiemi), is a Japanese singer, actress, and entertainer represented by Shochiku Geino. Her stage name is a hiragana version (ちえみ) of her given name written in kanji (智栄美), also pronounced Chiemi.

Chiemi Hori
堀 ちえみ
Birth name堀智栄美 (Hori Chiemi)
Also known as尼子智栄美 (Amako Chiemi, married name)
Born (1967-02-15) February 15, 1967 (age 57)
Higashi-ku, Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
OccupationsSinger, actress, entertainer
Years active
  • 1982 – 1987
  • 1989 –
Labels
Spouse
Katsuki Amako
(m. 2011)

Career

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In 1981, Hori was the Grand Prix winner of the 6th Annual Horipro Scout Caravan.[2] She debuted the following year in 1982 with the single “Shiokaze no Shōjo” (潮風の少女; The Sea Breeze Girl). She steadily gained popularity and was tipped to be one of the most recognized idols after producing a string of Oricon top-5 hits and starring in a few well-received dramas.

In 1983, she starred in her breakout role as Chiaki Matsumoto, a prospective cabin attendant in the TBS drama “Stewardess Monogatari” (スチュワーデス物語; A Stewardess' Tale). Playing opposite Morio Kazama and Nagisa Katahira, Hori's performance drew high ratings. Her catchphrases in the series: “Instructor!”[3] and “I'm just a slow, clumsy turtle”[4] won the top prizes in the annual Japanese "buzzwords-of-the-year" contest for 1984.[5]

Also in 1984, Hori was selected to perform in the NHK Red and White Song Festival. In 1985, she released her highest selling single “Ri・Bo・N” (Ribbon), which peaked at number 2 on the Oricon chart.[6]

In 1987, at the age of only 20 years old, Hori announced that she was quitting show business. She claimed that she was burnt out, couldn't compete with younger artists, and claimed to have experienced everything that came with being an idol.[7][8] However, at the same time, the previous month's edition of Friday romantically linked Hori with musician Tsugutoshi Gotō (who was then married to former singer Midori Kinouchi).[9][10] She stated that she desired to return to her hometown of Osaka and was not considering a return to the industry.

However, in late 1989, Hori returned to the industry, this time under Shochiku Geino productions. The following year, she cut back her work to focus on her personal life. From mid-1990s onward, she began to appear in TV programs catered to housewives, and took on some minor acting roles. In 2001, she restarted her music career by releasing an LP single.

In 2005, Hori, along with Iyo Matsumoto and Yu Hayami (all of whom debuted in 1982), formed the unit Cutie☆Mommy. They released a para para version of the Mickey Mouse March, which had significant success (ranking 72nd on the Oricon charts).[11] The song was featured in the Just Dance Wii 2 game for the Wii, and was also used on segments on the Disney Channel in the US.[12] Hori left the unit in 2007, due to her relocating to the Kansai region.

Illness and recovery

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In February 2019, Hori announced that she has stage 4 tongue cancer and tumors on the lymph nodes on the left side of her neck. She underwent surgery to have the tumors and half of her tongue removed.[13] The surgery was successful after two surgeries throughout the month of March. However, she announced the following month that during one of her follow-up appointments, she was diagnosed with stage 1 esophageal cancer.[14][15] Following an additional round of surgery, her esophageal cancer was declared in remission (stage 0) by the end of the month.[16]

On October 21, 2019, Hori released a biography entitled "Stage For ~ Tongue Cancer: From Stage 4 to the Stage of Hope" (Stage For〜舌がん『ステージ4』から希望のステージへ) , documenting her battle with cancer.[17] The following month on November 3, she made her first public appearance post-surgery to promote the book. During this appearance, it was revealed that due to the extensive oral surgeries, her speech had become very heavily impeded (and she proceeded to apologize for her slurred speech)[18] but also announced that she plans to undergo extensive speech therapy and voice lessons with a goal to be well enough to perform for her 40th Anniversary in 2022.[19]

In January 2020, Hori made a full-scale return to the entertainment industry, making television appearances. Through her blog (and later via her Instagram account, which she opened in August 2022), she provided updates on her voice lessons and speech therapy.[20] However, she was not satisfied enough with her progress to hold her 40th Anniversary Concert in 2022 as hoped.

Nevertheless, she continued to upload videos of her singing her singles with her home karaoke machine on Instagram, documenting her improvement. These videos received positive feedback, thus encouraging her to change her decision and have a 41st Anniversary Live Tour instead ("40th plus 1 Anniversary", as titled) as a way of showing gratitude to the fans who encouraged her to keep singing.[21] The tour began in February 2023 and continued throughout the year, making various performances throughout Japan.[22][23]

On February 27, 2024, Hori announced on her blog and social media that her tongue cancer was declared to be in complete remission, ending the five-year battle.[24][25]

On April 16, 2024, Hori made a post on Instagram announcing her new single, the first new original release after the effects of her oral surgeries, entitled "Fuwari".[26][27] Announced with a release date of May 5, 2024, the single will also include re-recorded versions of two of her fan favorite songs: "Ri・Bo・N" (her best-selling single from 1985) and "Lai Lai Lai" (the B-side of her 1984 single "Shiroi Handkerchief"). [28]

Family

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Hori has been married three times. In 1989, she married her first husband (a physician based in Osaka), who fathered her three sons (born in 1990, 1992 and 1993 respectively). They divorced in 1999.

In May 2000, she married her second husband (a magazine company employee). He was the father of her fourth son (born 2000) and her eldest daughter (born 2002). That marriage also ended in divorce in June 2010.[29]

On December 11, 2011, she wedded Katsuki Amako (operating officer of SANKYO)[30][31] at a ceremony held at Meiji-Jingu Shrine.[32][33] This marriage was also noteworthy for the fact that in addition to the five biological children from her first two marriages, she also became the stepmother of the two children from her husband's previous marriage.[34]

Filmography

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TV series

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Regular appearances

Year Title Network Notes
Chi-chin Puipui MBS Thursday appearances
Shittoko! MBS Irregular guest appearances
Kiyoshi Nishikawa no go Endesu! THK Irregular guest appearances
1993 Tsūkai! Everyday KTV Friday appearances
2000 Kon'ya mo anata no Partner NHK E
2003 Oshare Kōbō NHK E
2008 Shūmatsu no Tanken-ka Yume Rashinban ABC Saturday appearances
2009 That's a Dramatic Change! Season II ABC
Omoikkiri Don! NTV
2010 Shiritagari! Fuji TV

Other appearances

Year Title Network Notes
2005 Quiz! Hexagon II Fuji TV Quasi-regular appearances
2008 Chiemi Hori 25-shūnen! Star to Gourmet de Dai Kansha-sai KTV
Variety Seikatsu Shouhyakka NHK G
2011 Downtown no Gaki no Tsukai ya Arahende!! NTV

Dramas

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Year Title Role Network Notes
1982 Mechanko Mickey Mizuki Hanamura (Mickey) TBS Lead role
1983 Stewarddess Monogatari Chiaki Matsumoto TBS Lead role
1984 Uchi no Ko ni Kagitte... TBS Episode 2; Special appearance
Abare Kyūan Oshino KTV Episode 8
1985 Star Tanjō Junko Kaga Fuji TV Lead role
1986 Kazoku Hakkei Fuji TV
Hanayome Ishō wa Dare ga Kiru Chiyo Yukimura Fuji TV Lead role
Mito Kōmon Ohana TBS Part 16, Episode 25
1997 Amakara Shan Saki Shimizu NHK
2001 Minami no Teiō
2003 Teru Teru Kazoku Setsuko Anzai NHK G
2010 Flunk Punk Rumble Sei Shinagawa TBS

Former TV appearances

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Year Title Network Notes
1982 Parinko Gakuen No.1 TBS
1985 Drift Bakushō Fuji TV
1986 Ken Shimura no Shitsurei Shi Masu! NTV

Films

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 The Sound of Waves
2009 Iro Soku ze ne Reishon
2010 Seikazoku Yamato-ji
2012 Eiga Yōkai Ningen Bemu Naoko Natsume

Books

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Year Title Publisher Notes
2019 Stage For ~ Zetsugan "Stage 4" kara Kibou no Stage e Fusosha Publishing Autobiography

References

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  1. ^ "堀 ちえみ" (in Japanese). Shochiku Geino. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
  2. ^ "写真集屋". www.shashinshu.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  3. ^ 教官!(Kyо̄kan!)
  4. ^ 私はドジでのろまな亀です (Watashi wa DOJI de noroma na kame desu!)
  5. ^ "1984|新語・流行語大賞". www.mapbinder.com. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  6. ^ "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」 -CD・ブルーレイ・DVD・書籍・コミック-". ranking.oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  7. ^ News, Ameba (2021-11-14). "堀ちえみ、20歳で引退を決意した当時を回想「アイドルに限界を感じていて」 | エンタメ総合 | ABEMA TIMES | アベマタイムズ". ABEMA TIMES (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-09-07. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ INC, SANKEI DIGITAL (2017-06-07). "「絶対に復帰ない」断言したのに…今もって"謎"の堀ちえみ「引退宣言」(1/2ページ)". zakzak:夕刊フジ公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  9. ^ "堀ちえみの苦難、"ブログ活動が中心"でついた「かまってちゃん」の烙印(2ページ目)". 週刊女性PRIME (in Japanese). 2024-09-03. Retrieved 2024-09-07.
  10. ^ 令和 (2024-05-21). 堀ちえみ 引退発表!. Retrieved 2024-09-07 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "キューティー★マミーの作品". ORICON NEWS. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  12. ^ 株式会社インプレス (2012-07-19). "任天堂、Wii「JUST DANCE Wii」の第2弾を発売 ノって踊れる新たな35曲を収録した「JUST DANCE Wii 2」". GAME Watch (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  13. ^ "TV personality Chiemi Hori announces advanced-stage cancer diagnosis and vows not to 'lose this battle'". The Japan Times. February 19, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  14. ^ "堀ちえみ、食道がんを公表 ステージ1、あす手術へ/デイリースポーツ online". デイリースポーツ online (in Japanese). 2023-08-10. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  15. ^ "堀ちえみ『病室にて』". 堀ちえみオフィシャルブログ「hori-day」Powered by Ameba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  16. ^ "堀ちえみ、食道がんはステージ0の初期癌「ホッとして思わず涙が溢れました」". スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). 2019-05-02. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  17. ^ "堀ちえみ『書籍出版のお知らせです』". 堀ちえみオフィシャルブログ「hori-day」Powered by Ameba (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  18. ^ "堀ちえみ 舌がん手術後初めての公の場「拍手に感無量」…挨拶は代読してもらう/デイリースポーツ online". デイリースポーツ online (in Japanese). 2023-08-10. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  19. ^ "堀ちえみ音域伸びた「口の中のいろんな部分使って」専門家ボイトレ月1実施 - 芸能 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  20. ^ "堀ちえみ (@horichiemiofficial) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  21. ^ "堀ちえみ、舌がん乗り越え社会復帰に涙「人生捨てたもんじゃない」 記者ももらい泣き". ORICON NEWS. 2022-10-27. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  22. ^ "堀ちえみデビュー40周年記念ライブ『Chiemi Hori 40thプラス1 Anniversary Live ~ちえみちゃん祭り2023~』の開催が決定。 |松竹芸能株式会社". 松竹芸能株式会社 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  23. ^ "堀ちえみデビュー40周年記念公演『Chiemi Hori 40th+1 Anniversary Live ~ちえみちゃん祭り2023~』名古屋公演、福井公演開催! |松竹芸能株式会社". 松竹芸能株式会社 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  24. ^ "堀ちえみ、舌がん完治「涙が止まりません」「この5年もの長い期間、心より御礼」と感謝つづる:中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ". 中日スポーツ・東京中日スポーツ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-02-27.
  25. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
  26. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  27. ^ "Home | CHIEMI HORI". 堀ちえみ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  28. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  29. ^ "堀ちえみ離婚「2回目もダメ情けない」" [Chiemi Hori's divorce: "The second time won't work either, it's pathetic"]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). 2010-06-13. Archived from the original on 2010-06-15. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  30. ^ "Notice concerning Personnel Changes" (PDF). Sankyo. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  31. ^ "無実を晴らして億単位の金を手にした堀ちえみの夫 昨年パチンコメーカーの取締役を解任".
  32. ^ "堀ちえみ"三度目の正直"婚!挙式、入籍を報告 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  33. ^ "堀ちえみ「銀座久兵衛」で息子の就職祝い 安倍元首相&オバマ元大統領が会談した名店/デイリースポーツ online". デイリースポーツ online (in Japanese). 2024-04-17. Retrieved 2024-04-16.
  34. ^ "再々婚発表の堀ちえみ 互いの連れ子2人ずつと6人暮らし" (in Japanese). News-Post Seven. October 21, 2011. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
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