Fans mourn Okada Yukiko’s death 33-years later at final fan meeting

It was the idol death that shocked the nation back in 1986.

Okada Yukiko (aka “Yukko”), a Japanese idol and winner of the talent show “Star Tanjo!” was on top!  A debut single titled “First Date” written by city pop artist, Takeuchi Mariya which earned her “Rookie of the Year” and was awarded Grand Prix Best New Artist for her third single “-Dreaming Girl-Koi, Hajimemashite” (at the 26th Nihon Record Taisho) also written by Takeuchi.

In 1985, she had the lead role for the TV drama “Kinjirareta Mariko” and in 1986, she reached #1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Charts with the songs “Kuchibiru Network” written by Matsuda Seiko and composed by Sakamoto Ryuichi.

But on April 8, 1986, Okada was found by a rescue team called in by the apartment manager with her wrists slashed and her Tokyo apartment filled with gas, crouching and crying in a closet.

Okada was taken to the hospital by her manager, she was treated and brought to the Sun Music Building.  As the manager, the apartment manager and staff discussed on how to avoid a media scandal, Okada ran to the seventh story building, opened the window, took off her shoes and jumped off, ending her life at the age of 18.

On August 25, 2019, a final “Okada Yukiko Fan Meeting” was held at a small banquet hall on the 15th floor of the Nakano Sun Plaza to celebrate the life but also mourn the death of Japan’s popular idol who’s life ended way too soon.

Fans shed tears as they heard Okada Yukiko’s voice playing.

About a hundred people gathered at the free event sponsored by Nagoya City doctor Yamaguchi Satoru who produced radio programs for Okada with his own money.  The majority of the people attending the event were in their 40s and 50s and about 30% were women.  Former managers and concert stage staff also participated.

On September 7th, Yamaguchi held a Okada Yukiko tribute radio program. The program featured a special appearance by Ikuta Tomoko, a close friend of Okada who worked with her on the drama “Kinjirareta Mariko” and revealed on the night before her suicide, she had spoken to Okada via phone, but Okada didn’t discuss what was talked about. (Ikuta blogged about the radio tribute program which she took part in)

Unveiled were practice shoes worn by Okada and for the first time, a concert rehearsal recording of Okada recorded at Sun Music before the 1985 summer tour.

Seven songs were played which led to many tears.  And everyone sung Okada’s “Believe in You” in unison, a song sung by Okada during her encore.

Yamaguchi said about the meeting, “This is the last event.  Because there is no more material to release.  And as for the criticism on the net, that we are profiting from the dead, I’m not making money on this.  I’m doing this with my own personal money but it’s also approaching a limit”.

As for playing unreleased recordings, Yamaguchi said, “Some of them were played at our previous meeting, but there are four concert sound sources and they are on cassette and last about six hours.  The rehearsal sound source is about two hours which we played this time”.

Unfortunately it can’t be released due to rights.  But it was played at a closed, non-commercial fan meeting, so it was allowed to be played.

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