Yuko Oshima


Yuko Oshima is a Japanese actress and former member of Japanese idol girl group AKB48, of which she was the captain of Team K. She was also a member of the AKB48 subunit Not Yet. In addition to the singles that involved the rock-paper-scissors tournaments, she sang on the title tracks for all of AKB48's singles since "Aitakatta" in October 2006. She placed among the top two of the annual AKB48 general elections from 2009 to 2013. Oshima is currently represented with Ohta Production.

Biography

Oshima was born in Yokohama, and was raised in Mibu, Tochigi Prefecture. Her mother is from Hokkaido. Oshima is 3/4 Japanese and 1/4 American. In 1996, she signed as a child actor with Central Kodomo Gekidan. In 2005, she began working as a junior idol in a short-lived idol project Doll's Vox, which was produced by The Alfee vocalist Toshihiko Takamizawa. In 2006, at the AKB48's second audition to form Team K, she was selected out of a pool of 12,000 applicants to join the team. In April, she began working full-time with the group, which debuted with the single, "Aitakatta", in October 2006.
On August 24, 2012, AKB48 announced a reorganization of the teams, and appointed Oshima to be the captain of Team K.
On December 31, 2013, Oshima announced on Kohaku Uta Gassen that she would be leaving the group. On February 26, 2014, the last single for her as a member of AKB48 and as the center performer of that, ”Mae shika Mukanee" was released. She graduated from AKB48 on June 9, 2014, by the performance at the AKB48 theatre.

AKB48 general elections

Oshima has placed in the top two in the past five AKB48 general elections. In 2009 she placed second overall, losing only to Atsuko Maeda. In 2010, she received the most votes and became the center performer in the single "Heavy Rotation". In the 2011 general election, she placed second to Maeda once again. In the 2012 general election, she placed first with 108,837 votes and became the center performer in the single "Gingham Check". In the 2013 general election, she was voted second overall with 136,503 votes and lost to Rino Sashihara with 150,570 votes.

Discography

Singles with AKB48

YearNo.TitleRoleNotes
20061"Aitakatta"A-sideDebut with Team K.
20072"Seifuku ga Jama o Suru"A-side
20073"Keibetsu Shiteita Aijō"A-side
20074"Bingo!"A-side
20075"Boku no Taiyō"A-side
20076"Yūhi o Miteiru ka?"A-side
20087"Romance, Irane"A-side
20088"Sakura no Hanabiratachi 2008"A-side
20089"Baby! Baby! Baby!"A-side
200810"Ōgoe Diamond"A-side
200911"10nen Sakura"A-sideAlso sang on "Sakurairo no Sora no Shita de"
200912"Namida Surprise!"A-side
200913"Iiwake Maybe"A-sideRanked 2nd in 2009 General Election.
200914"River"A-side
201015"Sakura no Shiori"A-sideAlso sang on "Majisuka Rock 'n' Roll".
201016"Ponytail to Shushu"A-sideAlso sang on "Majijo Teppen Blues"
201017"Heavy Rotation"A-side, CenterRanked 1st in 2010 General Election. Also sang on "Yasai Sisters" and "Lucky Seven".
201018"Beginner"A-side
201019"Chance no Junban"B-sideDid not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament. Sang on "Yoyakushita Christmas"; and "Alive" with Team K.
201120"Sakura no Ki ni Narō"A-side
2011--"Dareka no Tame ni - What can I do for someone?"--charity single
201121"Everyday, Katyusha"A-sideAlso sang on "Korekara Wonderland" and "Yankee Soul".
201122"Flying Get"A-sideRanked 2nd in 2011 General Election. Also sang on "Seishun to Kizukanai Mama", "Ice no Kuchizuke", and "Yasai Uranai".
201123"Kaze wa Fuiteiru"A-side, Center
201124"Ue kara Mariko"A-sideDid not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament; She sang on "Noël no Yoru"; and on "Zero-sum Taiyō" as Team K.
201225"Give Me Five!"A-side, Selection 6Played bass in Baby Blossom; She also sang on "Sweet & Bitter" as Selection 6.
201226"Manatsu no Sounds Good!"A-side, AKB48 Stage FightersAlso sang on "Choudai, Darling!"; and "Kimi no Tame ni Boku wa..." as AKB48 Stage Fighters
201227"Gingham Check"A-side, CenterRanked 1st in 2012 General Election. Also sang on "Yume no Kawa".
201228"Uza"A-side, Center, New Team KAlso sang on "Scrap & Build" as New Team K.
201229"Eien Pressure"B-side, OKL48Did not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament. Sang on "Totteoki Christmas"; and "Eien Yori Tsuzuku Yō ni" as part of OKL48.
201330"So Long!"A-sideAlso sang on "Yuuhi Marie" as Team K.
201331"Sayonara Crawl"A-side, CenterAlso sang on "How come?" as Team K. One of four centers for the single.
201332"Koi Suru Fortune Cookie"A-sideRanked 2nd in 2013 General Election. Also sang on "Namida no Sei Janai" and "Saigo no Door".
201333"Heart Electric"A-sideGiven an English nickname Lucy. Also sang on "Sasameyuki Regret" as Team K.
201334"Suzukake no Ki no Michi de "Kimi no Hohoemi o Yume ni Miru" to Itte Shimattara Bokutachi no Kankei wa Dō Kawatte Shimau no ka, Bokunari ni Nan-nichi ka Kangaeta Ue de no Yaya Kihazukashii Ketsuron no Yō na Mono"B-sideDid not sing on title track; lineup was determined by rock-paper-scissors tournament. Sang on "Mosh & Dive" and "Party is over".
201435"Mae shika Mukanee"A-side, CenterLast Single in AKB48
201436"Labrador Retriever"B-sideDid not participate in title song. Participated in "Kyō made no Melody" which was also her graduation song.
201643"Kimi wa Melody"A-sideMarked as the 10th Anniversary Single. Participated as graduated member.

Singles with Not Yet

Singles with SKE48

Stage units

;Team K 1st Stage Party ga Hajimaru yo
;Team K 2nd Stage Seishun Girls
;Team K 3rd Stage Nōnai Paradise
;Himawarigumi 1st Stage Boku no Taiyō
;Himawarigumi 2nd Stage Yume o Shinaseru Wake ni Ikanai
;Team K 4th Stage Saishū Bell ga Naru
;Team K 5th Stage Sakaagari
;Team K 6th Stage Reset
;Team K Waiting Stage

Films

Dramas

Japanese dub

Variety shows

Photobooks