Watching the Norika Fujiwara/Tsuyoshi Kusanagi japanese drama STAR NO KOI reminded me of one of my early idol loves, the still-smashingly sexy ANZAI HIROKO[安西ひろこ]!
I knew a couple of guys who subscribed to the idol magazine BOMB (back then, it was just about the best place to get the heads up on our favorite Pony Canyon artists like CoCo, Ribbon and Hikaru Nishida!), and I remember the first time I saw Ms. Anzai gracing the cover of the latest issue, I was simply awestruck! It was more than just her great looks- I really felt she had that something “special” about her! I’ve only ever felt like that about one other BOMB idol model, and that was the scrumptious Fukada Kyoko, and we all know how popular SHE got!
Anyway, I was smitten by Anzai Hiroko and had to run out and get my own copy of that BOMB magazine, and what a great one it was, as Hiroko was the “featured” idol that issue! The pictures that accompanied the articles made me yearn for more, and when I found out she was going to release a Photobook soon, I made sure I was one of the first ones to order it!!!
Soon I received my Hiroko Anzai Photobook, the shashinshuu simply titled “Mystic”, and BOY I have to tell you, this was one of the SEXIEST photobooks I’d bought! (OK, mabye Harumi Inoue’s FOXY takes that title, demo sa…) I was SURE that after this, Hiroko was on her way to becoming as big a star as the aforementioned Fukada Kyoko!
In the meantime, there was this gravure video company that I ordered my Nanako Fujisaki (ah, ANOTHER early idol love!) videos from, and I checked to see if by ANY chance they had any “video Magazines” of my latest opbsession, and what do you know-there were TWO different Hiroko Anzai videos!!! I didn’t waste one second ordering the two tapes, called curiously enough, “Hi Roco and Roco” and “Kono Mune wo Anata Ni” (!)
You would have thought that the video with the title that roughly translated to “This Bust is for You” would have been my favorite of the two, but it was the former “Hi Roco and Roco” that won me over! In it, Hiroko is an enthusiastic reporter interviewing a mysterious beauty, ALSO played by Hiroko! (Hence, the title) The interviews were actually just devices to introduce the arty modeling clips, but it was just hilarious watching Hiroko acting against herself- "Sore De, Sore De?" asks the excited Interviewer Hiroko1, to which Hiroko2 disdainfully says, "Soredake Desu", resulting in a frustrated reaction from Hiroko1! TOO FUNNY!
Plus, the ending credits were cute: Hiroko riding in the back of a truck cruising around Maui, waving to people as the credits rolled, ultimately ending with Hiro-chan passed out!
Hiroko then made her way playing bit parts in shows like Kyukyu Hato Chiryoshitsu and finally in the Yuuka drama Hatachi No Kekkon (in which she was brilliantly peppy and hyper as the babelicious Megumi), but I was getting impatient waiting for someone to create a vehicle for Hiroko to star in herself.
But then she suddenly disappeared from dramas completely, or at least as far as I could see! What happened? I was SURE this girl was gonna be a HUGE success! But it seems like she really hasn't appeared in anything since!!
You can imagine how thrilled I was when I was watching Star No Koi and Hiroko appeared onscreen! My heart leapt up, and I exclaimed, “Hiro-chan is BACK!” But when I went online to read up on the show, I was crestfallen to find that this show aired in 2001! D’oh! I thought it was a new show! I guess I should have known, since even lead actress Norika Fujiwara hasn’t been in too many things lately. Shimatta.
Hiroko in Hatachi No Kekkon
In Star No Koi
Anyway, it was SO sweet to see Hiroko in this old drama, probably one of the last dramas she starred in, and I have to say, she still warmed my heart, so cute, adorable and genki (though really pushing that “kogal” orange-tan image), I MISSED HER!
We're still waiting for you to make your big comeback, Hiro-chan!