# Takako Minekawa > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Takako_Minekawa > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Takako_Minekawa.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takako_Minekawa > Source revision: 1355515886 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Japanese musician and writer Takako Minekawa Minekawa in 2007 Background information Also known as Mamene Kirerie Born (1969-06-03) June 3, 1969 (age 57) Origin Japan Genres Shibuya-kei[1] electropop[2] Occupations Musician singer songwriter Instruments Synthesizer guitar Years active 1990–present Labels Umor Rex Thrill Jockey Plancha Polystar Emperor Norton March Musical artist **Takako Minekawa** (嶺川貴子, *Minekawa Takako*; born June 3, 1969) is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter, and writer. ## Career In her childhood, Minekawa acted in film and television.[3] Minekawa's first musical venture was playing in Lolita, a band she formed with several college friends.[3] She then performed under the alias Mamene Kirerie in the duo Fancy Face Groovy Name with [Kahimi Karie](/source/Kahimi_Karie), backed by [Flipper's Guitar](/source/Flipper's_Guitar).[3] Minekawa debuted as a solo performer in 1995 with the release of her first album *[Chat Chat](/source/Chat_Chat)* by the Japanese label Polystar, followed later in the year by the [EP](/source/Extended_play) *[(A Little Touch Of) Baroque in Winter](/source/(A_Little_Touch_Of)_Baroque_in_Winter)*.[3][4] With her second studio album, *[Roomic Cube](/source/Roomic_Cube)* (1996), Minekawa began pursuing a more refined musical style rooted in influences from [bossa nova](/source/Bossa_nova), [French pop music](/source/French_pop_music) and experimental [electronic music](/source/Electronic_music).[3] It increased her popularity in Japan, while also crossing over to listeners in North America,[4] where it received airplay on [college radio](/source/College_radio) stations.[5] She released her third studio album *[Cloudy Cloud Calculator](/source/Cloudy_Cloud_Calculator)* in 1997.[3] The EPs *Recubed* and *Ximer... C.C.C. Remix*, consisting of remixes of tracks from *Roomic Cube* and *Cloudy Cloud Calculator* respectively, were released in 1998.[3] 1999 saw the release of Minekawa's fourth studio album *[Fun 9](/source/Fun_9)*, which featured prominent contributions from her then-partner [Cornelius](/source/Cornelius_(musician)).[3][4] In 2000, Minekawa released the EP *[Maxi On](/source/Maxi_On)*, a collaboration with American [experimental pop](/source/Experimental_pop) band Dymaxion, after which she took an extended break from her musical career.[3] After a 13-year hiatus, Minekawa recorded a new album, *Toropical Circle*, with collaborator [Dustin Wong](/source/Dustin_Wong), which was released in 2013.[6] Minekawa and Wong released two subsequent collaborative albums, *Savage Imagination* (2014) and *Are Euphoria* (2017).[7] The duo also collaborated with American [experimental music](/source/Experimental_music) band Good Willsmith on the album *Exit Future Heart*, recorded in [Chicago](/source/Chicago) and released in 2018.[8] ## Musical style and influences This section has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages) This section's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. See Wikipedia's guide to writing better articles for suggestions. (August 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Takako Minekawa" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Minekawa's musical skills set her firmly outside of the [J-pop](/source/J-pop) "[idol](/source/Japanese_idol)" tradition: she writes and composes most of her own material, singing about subjects such as clouds, cats, and the [color white](/source/White) (her personal favorite). Her love of [electronic music](/source/Electronic_music) pioneers, such as [Kraftwerk](/source/Kraftwerk), as well as [French pop music](/source/French_pop_music)[9] can be seen in her unique experimental sound. She often makes use of vintage [Casio](/source/Casio) keyboards[9] and analog [Moog synthesizers](/source/Moog_synthesizer),[10] as well as [vocoders](/source/Vocoder) and other [electronic instruments](/source/Electronic_instruments). Minekawa's musical influences are varied. Some of her favorite French artists include [Françoise Hardy](/source/Fran%C3%A7oise_Hardy) and [Pierre Bachelet](/source/Pierre_Bachelet). The influence of the British band [Stereolab](/source/Stereolab) can also be heard in her music, and there are touches of humor in her lyrics and tone. She also enjoys [Krautrock](/source/Krautrock), particularly the earlier works of [Kraftwerk](/source/Kraftwerk), to whom she dedicated the song *Kraftpark!*[9] Minekawa explained her admiration for the band in an interview: "I decided to describe the landscape of Kraftpark with sound and narration. This song is not a parody of Kraftwerk. I did it because I love them!"[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Another influence is [Yellow Magic Orchestra](/source/Yellow_Magic_Orchestra) member [Haruomi Hosono](/source/Haruomi_Hosono), whom she paid tribute to with [cover versions](/source/Cover_version) of his song "[Kaze no Tani no Nausicaa](/source/Nausica%C3%A4_of_the_Valley_of_the_Wind_(film))" (1984) in 1995 and again in 2007 with [Ryuichi Sakamoto](/source/Ryuichi_Sakamoto).[11][12] ## Other ventures Minekawa has written professionally as a regular columnist for the Japanese edition of *[Keyboard](/source/Keyboard_(magazine))* magazine. She also contributed a serialized novel to the Japanese quarterly *[Bungei](/source/Bungeishunj%C5%AB)*.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## Personal life Minekawa married fellow musician Keigo Oyamada (a.k.a. [Cornelius](/source/Cornelius_(musician))) in 2000.[13] They divorced in 2012.[3] Together they have one son, Milo.[14] Minekawa and Cornelius have collaborated on several projects, including a remix of Minekawa's *Cloudy Cloud Calculator* track "Milk Rock", and several tracks on Minekawa's album *Fun 9*. ## Discography **Studio albums** - *[Chat Chat](/source/Chat_Chat)* (1995) - *[Roomic Cube](/source/Roomic_Cube)* (1996) - *[Cloudy Cloud Calculator](/source/Cloudy_Cloud_Calculator)* (1997) - *[Fun 9](/source/Fun_9)* (1999) - *Toropical Circle* (with [Dustin Wong](/source/Dustin_Wong)) (2013) - *Savage Imagination* (with Dustin Wong) (2014) - *Are Euphoria* (with Dustin Wong) (2017) - *Exit Future Heart* (with Dustin Wong and Good Willsmith) (2018) - *Traces of the ceiling* (2025) **Extended plays** - *(A Little Touch Of) Baroque in Winter* (1995) - *[Athletica](/source/Athletica)* (1997) - *Recubed* (1998) - *Ximer... C.C.C. Remix* (1998) - *[Maxi On](/source/Maxi_On)* (2000) - *Kannazuki* (with [Haco](/source/Haco), Dustin Wong and Tarnovski) (2019) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** St. Michel, Patrick (September 2, 2014). ["Dustin Wong and Takako Minekawa let their imaginations run wild on new album"](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/09/02/music/dustin-wong-takako-minekawa-let-imaginations-run-wild-new-album/). *[The Japan Times](/source/The_Japan_Times)*. Retrieved September 12, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Hudson, Alex (July 30, 2014). ["Dustin Wong and Takako Minekawa Team Up for Second Collaborative Album"](https://exclaim.ca/music/article/dustin_wong_takako_minekawa_team_up_for_new_collaborative_album). *[Exclaim!](/source/Exclaim!)*. Retrieved September 13, 2020. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-allmusic_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-allmusic_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-allmusic_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-allmusic_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-allmusic_3-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-allmusic_3-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-allmusic_3-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-allmusic_3-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-allmusic_3-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-allmusic_3-9) Phares, Heather. ["Takako Minekawa"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/takako-minekawa-mn0000790646/biography). [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic). Retrieved September 12, 2020. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-winters_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-winters_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-winters_4-2) Winters, Kelly (2005). "Takako Minekawa". In Pilchak, Angela M. (ed.). *Contemporary Musicians: Profiles of the People in Music*. Vol. 53. [Gale](/source/Gale_(publisher)). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0787680664](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0787680664). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Takako Minekawa"](https://web.archive.org/web/20030207160552/http://www.emperornorton.com/mod/artistpage.php3?artist=takako_minekawa). [Emperor Norton Records](/source/Emperor_Norton_Records). Archived from [the original](http://www.emperornorton.com/mod/artistpage.php3?artist=takako_minekawa) on February 7, 2003. Retrieved September 12, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Greene, Jayson](/source/Jayson_Greene) (June 18, 2013). ["Takako Minekawa / Dustin Wong: Toropical Circle"](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18005-takako-minekawa-dustin-wong-tropical-circle/). *[Pitchfork](/source/Pitchfork_(website))*. Retrieved June 18, 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Aoki, Ryotaro (April 18, 2017). ["Dustin Wong is open to opinion on his latest album with Takako Minekawa"](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2017/04/18/music/dustin-wong-open-opinion-latest-album-takako-minekawa/). *[The Japan Times](/source/The_Japan_Times)*. Retrieved September 13, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Joyce, Colin (May 7, 2018). ["Dustin Wong, Takako Minekawa, and Good Willsmith's New Album Is Pure Bliss"](https://www.vice.com/en/article/dustin-wong-takako-minekawa-good-willsmith-exit-future-heart-stream/). *[Vice](/source/Vice_(magazine))*. Retrieved September 13, 2020. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-hc_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-hc_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-hc_9-2) Eguchi, Weston (July 7, 2013). ["Takako Minekawa | Arts | The Harvard Crimson"](http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1999/2/19/takako-minekawa-pmusic-and-colors-are/). Thecrimson.com. Retrieved August 6, 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** [Considine, J. D.](/source/J._D._Considine) (December 24, 1998). ["Takako Minekawa: Cloudy Cloud Calculator (Emperor Norton 7010)"](https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1998-12-24-1998358101-story.html). *[The Baltimore Sun](/source/The_Baltimore_Sun)*. Retrieved April 21, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Takako Minekawa"](http://www.whosampled.com/cover/view/11259/Takako%20Minekawa-Kaze%20No%20Tani%20No%20Nausica%C3%A4_Narumi%20Yasuda-Kaze%20No%20Tani%20No%20Nausica%C3%A4/). [WhoSampled](/source/WhoSampled). Retrieved July 16, 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** *[Various – Haruomi Hosono Strange Songbook – Tribute To Haruomi Hosono](https://www.discogs.com/release/2562103)* at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Tuzeeo, Salatore Jr. (August 9, 2002). "Article: A cult figure, made in Japan". *[The Record](/source/The_Record_(Bergen_County))*. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** Robson, Daniel (October 19, 2006). ["Cornelius pops back with touching sounds"](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2006/10/19/music/cornelius-pops-back-with-touching-sounds/). *[The Japan Times](/source/The_Japan_Times)*. Retrieved September 12, 2020. ## External links - [Official website](https://web.archive.org/web/20021206220213/http://www.polystar.co.jp/takako/index2.html) v t e Takako Minekawa Studio albums Chat Chat (1995) Roomic Cube (1996) Cloudy Cloud Calculator (1997) Fun 9 (1999) traces of the Ceiling (2025) Extended plays (A Little Touch Of) Baroque in Winter (1995) Athletica (1997) Maxi On (2000) Authority control databases: Artists MusicBrainz --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Takako Minekawa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takako_Minekawa) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takako_Minekawa?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.