Blood type: A

Birth place: Oota, Tokyo, Japan

Akina Nakamori burst onto the scene in 1982 as a teen idol, but she quickly proved she was way more than that. Her real calling was as a serious vocalist—she's known for a deep, powerhouse voice and songs with real emotional maturity to them, which set her apart from typical idol fare.

Things took a dark turn in 1989 when she attempted suicide. She did eventually try to get back into music, but the comeback never quite recaptured the momentum she'd had during the 80s, which were undeniably her peak years. Through the 90s, she shifted focus toward acting with mixed results, though fans still remember her best for what she did as a singer.