Kato Karen (加藤カレン), known by her nickname Karen (カレン) during her time in TNX, and known by her stage name Karen (歌恋) thereafter, is a former Japanese Enka singer. She was formerly signed with Victor Entertainment as a member of NICE GIRL Project! under the agency TNX before her graduation in 2010. As of 2013, she moved agencies to Sun Music, changing her name to Karen (歌恋). She resigned in 2015 to marry and gave birth to a baby girl in 2016. She resumed activities in 2017, and left the entertainment industry in 2018.
History[]
Early Career[]
In 2005, Karen applied for the Morning Musume Audition 2005 for Morning Musume's 7th generation, but was unsuccessful.
In 2006, Karen participated in the Morning Musume Happy 8ki Audition for Morning Musume's 8th generation, and made it to the second round, but failed to pass.
2007[]
On March 11, she was officially unveiled as a founding member of GTT Club during Tokito Ami with THE Possible Live '07 Haru ~Ami Kore Possi Kore~ at Shibuya-O East.
On December 10, she released her indies single, "Naku na Okamechan". By this time, she had also performed various roles for Tsunku Theatre productions.
2008[]
On May 3, she officially joined NICE GIRL Project!.
2009[]
On June 22, in order to make her major debut, she was tasked to complete a one-month challenge to lose an agreed amount of weight (about 50kg) and sell 1,000 copies of her debut indie single on the street. She was successful, and subsequently signed to Victor Entertainment.
On September 23, she released her major debut single, "Naku na Okamechan / Mirenzaka".
On December 9, she released her first album, "Karen no Enka ga Ippai".
2010[]
On July 21, she released her second major single, "Hotaru no Musume".
On September 4, at a NICE GIRL Project! live, it was announced that Karen had graduated from NICE GIRL Project!.
On October 20, she released her second album, "Karen no Enka ga Ippai 2".
2011[]
On April 20, she released her third single, "Osaka Koi Uta". Starting from the release day, she was tasked to complete a 100-day challenge to sell 5,000 copies of her third single in the Kansai region and become friends with 500 aunties in Osaka. While she befriended 584 aunties, she sold only 3,438 copies of her single in the Kansai region. The punishment for failing the challenge was to change her stage name, but after observing her hard work and the support she received from fans, staff decided to allow her to keep her stage name.
On November 23, she released her third album, "Karen no Enka ga Ippai 3".
2012[]
On February 22, she released her fourth single, "Junjou Hanafubuki". On the same day, she also released her first solo DVD, "Karen ga Ippai". These were her last releases under Victor Entertainment.
2013[]
On September 1, she moved agencies to Sun Music, changing her name to Karen (歌恋).
In 2014, she signed to Sun Music Group, releasing through the Nippon Crown record label, changing her name to Karen (歌恋). On December 30, 2015, an official announcement was made on her blog stating that she would take a break from her activities as a singer. Her planned single, set for release in January, was subsequently cancelled.
2014[]
On January 8, she released her fifth single, "Shiori". This marked her first single after switching labels to Crown Records.
On December 3, she released her sixth single, "Onna no Junjou".
2015[]
On December 30, 2015, an official announcement was made on her blog stating that she would take a break from her activities as a singer. Her planned single, set for release in January, was subsequently cancelled.
2016[]
In February, Karen announced it was a mutual agreement that she'd leave her agency as she had wished to marry.[1]
On September 14, 2016, Karen gave birth to a baby girl.[2]
2017[]
On June 10, Karen held a live event with her mother, called "Abe Maria & Karen Kayou Show♪ Yume no Oyako Kyouen".
On September 3, Karen held a Fan meeting.[3].
On September 23, Karen appeared and performed on NTV's "Ariyoshi Hanseikai".
On October 8, Karen appeared and performed on TV Asahi's "Ongaku Champ".
On December 3, Karen held a second live event with her mother, called "Abe Maria & Karen Kayou Show♪ Yume no Oyako Kyouen". [4].
2018[]
On Feburary 18, Karen held a Fan meeting.[5]
Profile[]
- Name: Kato Karen (加藤カレン)
- Stage Names: Karen (カレン), Karen (歌恋)
- Birthdate: July 3, 1993
- Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
- Blood Type: B
- Western Zodiac: Cancer
- Eastern Zodiac: Rooster
- Height: 161 cm (5 ft 3.3 in)?
- NICE GIRL Project! groups:
- GTT Club (2007-2008)
- NICE GIRL Project! Kenshuusei (2007-2008)
- Ganbarou Nippon Ai wa Katsu Singers (2011)
- Hobbies: Music appreciation, Having English conversations
- Special Skills: Traditional Japanese dancing (Nihon Buyo)
Discography[]
Albums[]
- [2009.12.09] Karen no Enka ga Ippai (カレンの演歌がいっぱい)
- [2010.10.20] Karen no Enka ga Ippai 2 (カレンの演歌がいっぱい2)
- [2011.11.23] Karen no Enka ga Ippai 3 (カレンの演歌がいっぱい3)
Singles[]
- Indie Singles
- [2007.12.10] Naku na Okamechan (泣くなオカメちゃん)
- Major Singles
- [2009.09.23] Naku na Okamechan / Mirenzaka (泣くなオカメちゃん / 未練坂)
- [2010.07.21] Hotaru no Musume (螢の娘)
- [2011.04.20] Osaka Koi Uta (大阪恋うた)
- [2012.02.22] Junjou Hanafubuki (純情花吹雪)
- [2014.01.08] Shiori (栞) (as 歌恋)
- [2014.12.03] Onna no Junjou (女の純情) (as 歌恋)
- [2016.01.06]
Ai ga Naiteru / Yuki ni Mayotte (愛が泣いてる/雪に迷って) (as 歌恋)Cancelled
- Other Singles
- [2013.07.03] Kyo Onna feat. Karen (京おんな feat.カレン)
DVDs[]
- [2012.02.22] Karen ga Ippai (カレンがいっぱい)
Trivia[]
- She loves western music, especially Hip-Hop and R&B.
- Her mother was also an Enka singer, known by the name Abe Maria.
- While her stage name was Karen (カレン) written in katakana for most of her career, after switching agencies to Sun Music in 2013, she changed her stage name to Karen (歌恋) written with the kanji for "song" and "love".
- On February 14, 2016, she announced that she had gotten married. On January 11, 2018, she revealed that she and her husband divorced last December.
Gallery[]
References[]
External Links[]
- Official Blog
- Victor Entertainment Profile
- Crown Records Profile (archived)
- Tsunku Produce Work Page
- Wikipedia: Japanese
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