As a singer, model, actor and TV MC, Shoko Nakagawa’s name is the most famous in Japan. During her career, she has won many prestigious awards and on social networks, she also has a lot of fans.
Who’s Shoko Nakagawa?
Born on May 5, 1985, Shoko Nakagawa (中川 翔子, Nakagawa Shōko) is a multi-talented Japanese media personality, actress, voice actress, illustrator, and singer. She is widely recognized by her nickname Shokotan (しょこたん) and is best known for presenting Pokémon Sunday as well as performing the opening theme for the anime series Gurren Lagann. With her diverse skills and talents, Shoko Nakagawa has made a significant impact in the Japanese entertainment industry.
As a fan of Pokemon, Shoko Nakagawa participated in many projects related to this brand, mainly anime movies from part 10 to part 20. Besides, she also performed the song. theme for popular anime like Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood or Beelzebub.
In addition to his love for Pokemon and the entertainment industry, Nakagawa Shoko is also known to have a very big dream that is to go to space. Recently, Nakagawa Shoko shared a screenshot with the content that her application for astronaut was received by JAXA – the Japan Aerospace Research and Development Agency.
Fast facts about actor Shoko Nakagawa
- Full Name: Shoko Nakagawa
- Birthday: May 5, 1985
- Birthplace: in Nakano, Japan
- Profession: singer, actress, seiyuu, animator and entertainer
- Facebook: Shoko Nakagawa
Shoko Nakagawa’s Life and Career
Shoko Nakagawa was born to Katsuhiko Nakagawa, a famous actor and musician in Japan during the 1980s. After her father passed away from leukemia in 1994, she was raised by her mother in Nakano. Due to bullying, Nakagawa found solace in Pokémon during her 5th grade.
In her book, Shokotan Manual (しょこ☆まにゅ), published in 2006, Nakagawa revealed that her legal name was Shiyōko (しようこ) instead of Shōko (しょうこ), which she had been using for most of her life. Her intended name of “Shōko” (薔子) was declined due to the kanji for “薔” not being approved for use in Japanese names. As a result, her maternal aunt wrote “Shiyōko” in haste, but the small “yo” appeared larger than intended, resulting in the name being recorded as such.
In 2001, Nakagawa won the Grand Prix award at the Popolo Girl Audition and represented the Jackie Chan talent agency. She made her entertainment debut on SKY PerfecTV’s “Yume-Ga-Oka Residence” program, where she received a Jackie Chan photobook from Midorikawa Shobō as a gift. Her comment about Chan being an enemy of Bruce Lee’s, seemingly referring to Enter the Dragon, caused a stir.
Shoko Nakagawa’s father, Katsuhiko Nakagawa, was a famous actor and musician in Japan during the 1980s. After his death from leukemia in 1994, she was raised by her mother in Nakano. In fifth grade, Nakagawa turned to Pokémon as a way to cope with bullying.
In her book, Shokotan Manual (しょこ☆まにゅ), published in 2006, Nakagawa revealed that her legal name was Shiyōko (しようこ) instead of Shōko (しょうこ), which she had been using for most of her life. Her mother’s intended name of “Shōko” (薔子) was not approved for use in Japanese names due to the kanji for “薔” not being on the approved list. As a result, her maternal aunt wrote “Shiyōko” in haste, but the small “yo” appeared larger than intended, resulting in the name being recorded as such.
Nakagawa won the Grand Prix award at the Popolo Girl Audition in 2001 and represented the Jackie Chan talent agency. She made her debut on SKY PerfecTV’s “Yume-Ga-Oka Residence” program, where she received a Jackie Chan photobook from Midorikawa Shobō as a gift. Her comment about Chan being an enemy of Bruce Lee’s in reference to Enter the Dragon caused controversy.
Shoko Nakagawa: Suddenly threatened when announcing marriage
Accordingly, on May 3, Shoko Nakagawa announced unexpectedly that she would be marrying a man unrelated to the entertainment industry. However, the next move surprised everyone when she lost a large number of subscribers to her official YouTube channel. A total of nearly 10,000 subscribers have unsubscribed so far.
Shoko Nakagawa said she received a number of death threats after announcing her marriage. This led to her being forced to handle according to the law. Typical messages are as follows: “You have 47 hours left before you face the biggest event of your life. I will make you disappear from this earth.”
She also said that she informed the police because this is not the first time Shoko has had to receive messages like this, things have gone too far. Many interested people have compared this story to the first episode of the Anime “Oshi no Ko” and hope that the law will soon punish the extremists.
In conclusion, Shoko Nakagawa is a multi-talented artist who has made a significant impact on Japanese popular culture. From her early beginnings as a regular on television programs to her successful music career and literary works, Nakagawa has continually impressed audiences with her creativity and versatility. Her passion for Pokémon and her advocacy for the franchise have earned her a dedicated fanbase both in Japan and abroad. As she continues to evolve as an artist, it is clear that Shoko Nakagawa will remain a beloved figure in the entertainment industry for years to come.
