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A wild cat she is not. Neither is she the voluptuous sex kitten who could play peek-a-boo with her frontal assets. So, when SPEED Members went their separate ways in March 2000, Hiroko Shimabukuro had to stand on her own feet when she decided to go solo.

Now, fending for oneself in the showbusiness is tough. Unlike in a group, where the responsibility and efforts are shared by all four members, a solo artiste has to fight her own battle - and againest her ex-SPEED Members too! And there was no denying it. Even though the four-girl group was once the most popular and biggest girl band in Japan during its reign from 1996 - 2000, the popularity of the individual group members suffered a nosedive when they kissed thousands of crying fans sayonara.

In a highly competitive showbiz industry like Japan, where a star is born every few minutes, it takes more than just luck to make it to the top.

Even her good friend, ex-SPEED Member Uehara Takako, had to resort to taking her clothes off - reveal some flesh and assets - in a photobook to save her sinking showbiz career.

So what if youth is on your side? There are plenty of up and coming Japanese stars who are young and pretty. And the fact is, more and more artistes are taking stab at fame at a young age these days. You are considered " too old " if you are a newcomer to showbusiness at age 25 (which explains why some artistes prefer to keep their ages a secret).

And so what if you show star potential in both stage presence and on the musical front? Even the established celebrities in Japan have to constantly come up with gimmicks to promote themselves, to attract and retain the hearts of their fans. So, how else should a 16 - year - old ex-SPEED Member stand out in a market dominated by mostly golden or green coloured hair, or blue and orange lips?

The answer lies in being different. (Read : staying sane and normal, that is).

In other words, return to innocence. Think : clean - cut and fresh - looking. Think : fresh Japanese sashimi.

That was exactly what Hiroko, who is affectionately known as Hiro for short, did. And fans are lapping it up. Banking on her young age (she is now 18), and her sweet, innocent schoolgirl charm, Hiro has managed to win more fans than she did when she was sharing the limelight with the other three ex-SPEED Members, namely Hitoe Arakaki, Uehara Takako and Imai Eriko. Her photobook, Hiroko Shimabukuro Days, has her posing in big innocent smiles - fully clothed. The collection also includes photographs taken as a child, and photographs taken by the star herself during her outdoor events and dance rehearsals.

Fans' reactions to her newly released single " Love You ", is evidence. Hiro, the youngest baby of SPEED, has once again proven that she is no flash in the pan. More importantly, she has proven that she is musically talented and that she will grow to be an amazing vocalist. Her vocal style has reached a new pinnacle of maturity beyond what we used to get from her during her SPEED days.

Training in Okinawa Actors' School, Naha City, Okinawa, Hiro's star potential was discovered and she was teamed up with the other three girls, who are also students of the school, to form SPEED. In 1996, they released their debut single " Body & Soul " as a commercial song. And their second single " Steady " was chosen as the theme of a television drama serial, which also became a big hit with the Japanese.

More singles and albums and a movie came in their way. The rest, like they sy, is really history. Ironically, SPEED is indeed history, ever since their decision to go separate ways in March 2000.

The real test for Hiro and all ex-SPEED Members in now : How would they fight on and shine as individuals? Would they ever surpass their achievements as solo artistes? Who, among the four girls. would make it to become Japan's biggest star of tomorrow? Only time can tell.

Above Article is extracted from : Singapore's Magazine " Teenage "

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[Another one more year and you'll reaching the age of 20....] --- Umm... Yes.

[After the age of 19 , to be known as an adult in Japan , you're only left with a year.] --- Yap, but feeling is kind of weird, Happy, Sad, Lonely.... etc.

[How's the feeling of weird?] --- Teenage years are the most Happy. When it comes to the age of 17, 18 there's lots of things that we are suppose to consider ; as for me, myself, I've enter the entertainment biz at the age of 14, at that moment, there are many things that bothers me. Things like " Can't skip any lessons " or " Sometimes people might treat me as an adult while sometimes likewise as a little kid ". So sometimes I'd have a feeling of being a Adult soon but this thinking stops when I've reached the age of 16.I've get to know more things and my days had been passing efficiently, thats why I'd hope that the time would stop at teenage years....

[Teenage years is the time where most people starts to grow and changes are seen. You must be very happy as you've experience this state of changes right?] ---That's true...While working, I've met lots of grown ups and everyone would says that this would influence me the most during the teenage state. So during this time, I'd like to recieve more suggestions from my seniors and gain more experience before reaching 20.

[" Everyday is passing so sufficently " , just base on this sentence, it is already quite good...] --- I think that everyone had passed their teenage years ina normal way. I've passed my 4 years in High School and had graduated this year and 1st job normally has a new beginning so from now on I'd like to be resposible to the things I do as well as to my job, I've been very lazy while working for the past years (tough smile). I'm the type that entered the biz by chance instead of the type of dreaming to be a star from start.

[Ah.... your character is indeed different...] --- Ya...(laughing). At first, I was only following the rules to do things, but after SPEED has disbanded, I've gotta fight the battle all alone and slowly getting some improvements, this makes me feels that I'm growing up as time passes by day by day. Till now, I've always been following people's ideas to do the things instead of following my own thinking. Although friends around me always offers me to go to them whenever I have any problems and they'd try their very best to help me but I never get to them. Till recently, I've start to think about my future path which suits my very own style. So from now on, I'd like to build up a brand new " Uehara Takako " by doing some music composing.

[Ah.. talking about Solo, with Ryuichi composing the music, others were looking out for how Uehara Takako would bring out his musics. As a performer, this must be a great thing right?] --- Mmm.. Thats right! I'm trying to bring out the real side of me which everyone knows, even if there's isn't any challenge to it, I'll do my very best. So every time is a new try but most important is my own composing.

["Kiss you Jyounetsu" is a new beginning, I was shocked the first time listening to it (laugh).] --- (Laugh) Even me, myself, was shocked. Before that, I've told the company staffs that I'd like to try singing some fast songs. Singing these songs may allows a person to feels comfortable. This time while singing the songs, I've managed to imagine the world with the lyrics meaning and so, everything goes on smoothly. Base on just listening to the song, it is hard to believe that it was sang by me.... this goes as well as the PV, at times, people might can't even guess who was dancing in the PV.

[Mmm... But the dance steps ain't really the hot type...] --- Ya..Ha ha ha! But the singing method is my first attempt to it.

[Mmm... The feeling given from your voice isn't bad.] --- Because of this reason, everyone would than have a big surprise. But, I think it's time for me to change my image.

[How do you feel for this single?] --- For the song and lyrics part, it's all incharge by the staffs.As for clothing, PV etc and TV appearances, I'm mostly involves in it.

[In detail, how was it?] --- I've given lots of ideas in the PV part, and the director hopes that I could bring out some concert style type to change the image of me the audiences had in the past. Of course, the sudden change of my image, many FANS couldn't do anything to it but I'd request to have the image changed totally. With a new image, I'd like to sing more active and fast tempo songs.

[Would you like to send out the message that "You've changed completely" but not "Change for the moment"?] --- Guess you could phrase it out this way. It's because I'd like to send this message out that's why this piece of work is produced. Although the theme this time is Cool, Stylish and Sexy Concert, this does shows that this would goes on for long, there will be more challenge for me to try out. Together with more dance, it would bring out more of different parts of Uehara Takako. Hope everyone would look forward for a "Brand New Uehara Takako" to appear.

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Above Article is extracted from : Hong Kong's Magazine " Young Kids"

Translated by : Eriko-Style