Shoko Nakagawa

Shoko Nakagawa (中川 翔子, Nakagawa Shōko; born May 5, 1985) is a Japanese media personality, singer, actress, voice actress, illustrator, YouTuber, and cosplayer.^[1] Also known by her nickname Shokotan (しょこたん), she is best known as the presenter of Pokémon Sunday, and as the performer of the opening theme from the anime Gurren Lagann.

Shoko Nakagawa
中川 翔子
Nakagawa in 2021
Born	Shiyōko Nakagawa (1985-05-05) May 5, 1985 (age 40) Nakano, Tokyo, Japan
Other names	Shokotan (しょこたん)
Occupations	Media personality actress voice actress singer model cartoonist
Years active	1990–present
Agent	Watanabe Entertainment
Spouse	Unknown ​ (m. 2023)​
Father	Katsuhiko Nakagawa
Musical career
Genres	J-pop rock Anison
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Sony Records
Website	www.shokotan.jp

Biography

Born and raised in Tokyo metropolitan area to her father, Katsuhiko Nakagawa, actor and musician, and her mother Keiko Nakagawa, a great-granddaughter of Kazutaka Ito, who is known for introducing and promoting the salmon and trout hatchery business. Her father died of leukemia on September 17, 1994 when she was 9.^[2][3] Nakagawa found escape from bullies by connecting with Pokémon when she was in 5th grade. "When I was a kid, I didn't have friends, but I did have Pokémon."^[4]

In the 2006 book Shokotan Manual (しょこ☆まにゅ, Shoko Manyu), she wrote that her legal name was Shiyōko (しようこ) rather than Shōko (しょうこ), which she had been using for most of her life. At the time of her birth, she and her mother had to remain in the hospital, and her maternal aunt was left with registering her in the koseki. Her mother's intended name of "Shōko" (薔子) was declined due to 薔 not being included in the list of jōyō kanji or jinmeiyō kanji that are approved for use in Japanese names. The aunt wrote Shōko (しょうこ) in hiragana instead, but because she wrote very quickly, the small yo appeared larger than intended and the name was recorded as Shiyōko (しようこ).^[5]

Career

She made her entertainment debut in 2001, winning the Grand Prix award at the Popolo Girl Audition^[6] and representing Jackie Chan talent agency. Later, on the "Yume-Ga-Oka Residence" programme on SKY PerfecTV!, she was given Jackie Chan's photobook by Midorikawa Shobō, who were guests on the show. She commented "I thought he was an enemy of Bruce Lee's", apparently referring to Enter the Dragon.

In 2002, she was chosen as Miss Shōnen Magazine.^[6]

Her official blog, Shokotan * Blog, opened in 2004, and by April 2006 it had received a total of 100 million hits. On February 2, 2008, the daily Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun reported that her blog had been accessed 1 billion times.^[6]

In 2004, she made a guest appearance in the 38th episode of Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger, after having previously appeared as a child in Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman. She later appeared with Katsumura on Men B.

She appeared in a brief section of "Kangaeru Hito" ("People who think") on the Fuji TV network in 2004 as an illustrator, after which she appeared regularly on the later version of the programme which started with minor changes in early 2005, "Kangaeru Hitokoma" ("Thinking about one frame [of a cartoon strip]"). On the Fuji TV show Kangaeru Hitokoma, on which she is an occasional guest, she drew in the style of Kazuo Umezu.

For one year starting in May 2005, Nakagawa appeared as a regular on the TBS programme "Ōsama no Brunch".^[6] In July 2006, she released her debut single "Brilliant Dream". It entered the Oricon chart at number 29, with initial sales of 6313 copies. Nakagawa performed at Anime Expo 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.^[6] Some of her work was shown on May 11, edition of Downtown Deluxe on Nippon TV network, Nakagawa was a member of the judging panel in the "Jump Damashii" section of the Shūeisha publication Weekly Shōnen Jump, starting from Jump number 13 of 2006.

On May 30, 2006, airing of Kasupe!, in the section entitled Fuji Ginkō Geinōjin Satei-Gakari (フジ銀行 芸能人査定係), "Fuji Bank Celebrity Evaluator", it was discovered that she liked the manga Kachō Shima Kōsaku, eliciting a comment from the host, Sayaka Aoki, that she had pretty "grown-up tastes".

In 2009, she opened a store called "mmts" with the theme of her hobby in Nakano Broadway.

In 2009–2010, she appeared in a series of commercials for Norton AntiVirus.^[7][8]

Nakagawa performing at the 2014 Japan Expo

In March 2014, Nakagawa's book of autobiographical essays, Neko no Ashiato ("Cats' Pawprints"), was published by Magazine House.

In March 2015, the book was adapted as an anime series titled Omakase Mamitasu ("Leave It to Mamitasu") on NHK,^[9] which featured characters based on Nakagawa's cat and her late father and grandfather.^[10]

In 2018, Nakagawa returned to Anime Expo to perform as part of Anisong World Matsuri.^[11]

In 2019, Nakagawa performed the song "Kaze to Issho ni" (風といっしょに) with Sachiko Kobayashi, which was used as the theme song to the theatrical film Mewtwo Strikes Back: Evolution; it is a cover of a song originally performed by Kobayashi, which was used as the theme song to the 1998 film Pokémon: The First Movie.^[12]

In 2020 following the temporary loss of work due to COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point, and she started distributing videos on YouTube, separate from the channel that distributes music videos set up by the office.^[13] Since then, her blog has hardly been updated.

In 2021, she posted her swimsuit video on YouTube, and she became very popular with over 10 million views in two months.

In October 2023, Nakagawa released the single "65535", the title song of which was used as the opening theme to the anime series 16bit Sensation: Another Layer.^[14] The following day, she announced that she legally changed her name to be the same as her stage name.^[15]

Personal life

Nakagawa at the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Japan Premiere Red Carpet

On April 28, 2023, Nakagawa announced her marriage to a non-celebrity.^[16]

On May 5, 2025, on her 40th birthday, Nakagawa announced that she was pregnant with her first child. She also announced the establishment of her own agency, "miracle." She will have a business partnership with Watanabe Entertainment.^[17]

Filmography

TV

• AX MUSIC-TV 00 (2003–2004)
• Pokémon Sunday (ポケモン☆サンデー, Pokemon☆Sandē) (2006–2010)
• Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger (特捜戦隊デカレンジャー, Tokusō Sentai Dekarenjā) (2004) as Falupian Yaako (guest appearance) Episode 38
• Isshukan no Koi (一週間の恋) (2006)
• Hou no Niwa (法の庭) (2007)
• Honto ni Atta Kowai Hanashi (ほんとにあった怖い話) (2007)
• Shūmatsu no Cinderella Sekai! Dangan Traveler (週末のシンデレラ 世界!弾丸トラベラー, Shūmatsu-no-shinderera Sekai! DanganToraberā) (2007–2012)
• Waraiga Ichiban (笑いがいちばん, Waraiga Ichiban) (2007–2010)
• Anmitsu Hime (あんみつ姫) (2008)
• Anmitsu Hime 2 (あんみつ姫2) (2009)
• Pokémon Smash! (ポケモンスマッシュ！, Pokemon Sumasshu!) (2010–2013)
• Pokémon Get TV (ポケモンゲット☆TV, Pokemon Getto Terebi) (2013–2015)
• Gunshi Kanbei (軍師官兵衛) (2014) as Okita
• Mare (まれ) (2015)
• Meet Up at the Pokémon House? (ポケモンの家あつまる?, Pokémon no Uchi Atsumaru?) (2015–present)
• Yuusha Yoshihiko to Michibikareshi 7-nin (勇者ヨシヒコと導かれし七人) (2016)
• Anata no Koto wa sore hodo (あなたのことはそれほど) (2017)
• Tokyo Vampire Hotel (東京ヴァンパイアホテル) (2017)

Films

• Kabuto-O Beetle (2005)
• Umezu Kazuo: Kyofu Gekijo – Zesshoku (2005)
• Koala Kacho / Executive Koala (2005)
• The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
• X-Cross (2007)
• Gothic Lolita Battle Bear (2013)

Stageplays

• Maybe Happy Ending (2020)^[18]

Anime

Year	Title	Role	Note
2005	Eyeshield 21	Suzuna Taki
2012	Saint Seiya Omega	Saori Kido / Athena
2013	Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods	Oracle Fish	Film
	Majocco Shimai no Yoyo to Nene	Bahiku
2015	Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F'	Oracle Fish	Film
	Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season II	Diana	ONA Black Moon arc[19]
	Dragon Ball Super	Oracle Fish
2016	Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season III	Diana	TV Anime Death Busters arc[20]
2017	Akiba's Trip: The Animation	Risa Deiba
2021	Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Eternal The Movie	Diana	2-Part film Season 4 of Sailor Moon Crystal (Dead Moon arc)[21]
2023	Junji Ito Maniac: Japanese Tales of the Macabre	Mayumi Santo	ONA[22]
	Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Cosmos The Movie	Diana	2-Part film Season 5 of Sailor Moon Crystal (Shadow Galactica arc)

Pokémon films

• Nakagawa also has voiced characters in every Pokémon movie since 2007 (except Pokémon the Movie: Genesect and the Legend Awakened and Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution):

Year	Title	Role
2007	Pokémon: The Rise of Darkrai	Maki
2008	Pokémon: Giratina & the Sky Warrior	Infy
2009	Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life	Notched-Ear Pichu
2010	Pokémon: Zoroark: Master of Illusions	Proof
2011	Pokémon the Movie: Black—Victini and Reshiram and White—Victini and Zekrom	Aude
2012	Pokémon the Movie: Kyurem vs. the Sword of Justice	Keldeo
2014	Pokémon the Movie: Diancie and the Cocoon of Destruction	Millis Steele
2015	Pokémon the Movie: Hoopa and the Clash of Ages	Mary
2016	Pokémon the Movie: Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel	Racel
2017	Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You!	Nurse Joy
2018	Pokémon the Movie: The Power of Us	Riku
2020	Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle	Karen

Video games

• Dragon Quest Heroes (2015) – Alena^[23]
• Dragon Quest Heroes II (2016) – Alena^[23]
• Toukiden 2 (2016) – Gwen^[24]
• Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary (2017) – Alena^[25]
• Kingdom Hearts III (2019) – Rapunzel^[23]

Japanese dub

Live-action

• Moon Geun-young
  • Innocent Steps – Jang Chae-min
  • My Little Bride – Bo-eun
• Silent Hill (2006) – Alessa Gillespie (voice-over for Jodelle Ferland)^[26]
• Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014) – Tessa Yeager (voice-over for Nicola Peltz)^[27]
• Ra.One (2015) – Desi/Dawsal (voice-over for Priyanka Chopra)
• Venom (2018) – Anne Weying (voice-over for Michelle Williams)^[28]
• Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) – Anne Weying (voice-over for Michelle Williams)^[29]

Animation

• Tangled The Series (2017–2020) – Rapunzel
• Tangled (2010) – Rapunzel
• Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018) – Rapunzel^[30]
• Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2023) – Goldilocks^[31]

Discography

Shoko Nakagawa is signed to Sony Japan.

Singles

Title	Release date	First week sales	Total sales	Information
"Brilliant Dream"	July 5, 2006	6,313	10,459	Opening theme for Yoshimune
"Strawberry Melody" (ストロベリmelody, Sutoroberi Merodi)	February 14, 2007	10,023	15,784	Theme for TBS's program Pokémon Sunday theme song and Wanagona theme song.
"Sorairo Days" (空色デイズ, Sorairo Deizu; "Sky Blue Days")	June 27, 2007	30,517	67,453	Opening theme for Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann
"Snow Tears"	January 30, 2008	26,068	43,450	Ending theme for Hakaba Kitaro
"Shiny Gate"	August 6, 2008	13,564	20,316	Theme song for Tokyo OnlyPic 2008 Archived January 13, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
"Tsuzuku Sekai" (続く世界; "The World Continues")	September 10, 2008	32,906	49,368	Ending Song of the anime film Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Guren-hen
"Kirei à la Mode" (綺麗ア・ラ・モード, Kirei A Ra Mōdo; "Beautiful à la Mode")	October 22, 2008	13,758	20,236	Commercial song for Fujiya Look Royal Mode
"Namida no Tane, Egao no Hana" (涙の種、笑顔の花; "Seed of Tears, Flower of Smile")	April 29, 2009	23,383	38,932	Ending Song of Gekijoban Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann: Lagann Hen
"Kokoro no Antenna" (心のアンテナ, Kokoro no Antena; "Antenna of the Heart")	July 15, 2009	13,533	21,954	Ending Song of Pokémon: Arceus and the Jewel of Life. A special edition of the single features "Moe yo, Gizamimi Pichu!" (もえよ ギザみみピチュー!, Moeyo Gizamimi Pichū!; "Get Fired Up, Spiky-Eared Pichu!"), an ending song for Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl
"Arigatō no Egao" (「ありがとうの笑顔」; "Thank you Smile")	October 14, 2009	12,407	15,027	Contains the Ending Song of the Japanese Version of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs ("Rainbow Forecast") and Shokotan's version of Yawara! A Fashionable Judo Girl second opening song ("Ame ni Kiss no Hanataba o").
"RAY OF LIGHT"	April 28, 2010	12,977	22,637	Fifth ending theme for Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood
"Flying Humanoid" (フライングヒューマノイド, Furaingu Hyūmanoido)	August 18, 2010	13,217	17,729	Opening theme for Occult Academy
"Sakurairo" (桜色; "Cherry Blossom Pink")	April 6, 2011	6,506	9,006	Original song
"Tsuyogari" (つよがり; "Show of Courage")	June 8, 2011	12,729	15,212	Second ending theme for Beelzebub
"Horoscope" (ホロスコープ, Horosukōpu)	January 11, 2012		8,156	Theme song for TV show Uchikuru!?
"Zoku Konton" (続混沌; "Continued Chaos")	June 5, 2013		–	Theme song for game Sennen Yusha: Tokiwatari no Tomoshibito
"Sakasama Sekai/Once Upon a Time (Kibō no Uta)" (さかさま世界/Once Upon a Time -キボウノウタ-; "Upsidedown World/Once Upon a Time (Song of Hope)")	December 11, 2013		–	"Sakasama Sekai" as theme song for game Puzzle & Dragons Z and "Once Upon a Time (Kibō no Uta)" as the opening for the Japanese broadcast of Once Upon a Time
"DoriDori" (ドリドリ; "Dream Dream")	February 18, 2015		16,180	Ending theme for Pokémon XY anime
"Blue Moon"	November 28, 2018	19,183		Second ending theme for Zoids Wild
"Furefure"	September 9, 2020	3,275		Second ending theme for Genie Family 2020
"I like you just the way you are." (君のまんまがいいんだよ)	March 9, 2022			Movie Shimajiro "Shimajiro and Kirakira Oukoku no Oujisama" theme song

Collaboration Singles

Title	Release date	First week sales	Total sales	Information
"Love Letter From Canada" (カナダからの手紙, Kanada Kara no tegami)	March 10, 2013			Theme song of Uchikuru!? Featured artist with Hideyuki Nakayama
"Nuigulumar Z" (ヌイグルマーZ, Nuigurumā Zetto)	January 22, 2014		–	For the movie Gothic Lolita Battle Bear Featured artist with Tokusatsu
"Kira-kira Go Around" (キラキラ-go-round)	July 23, 2014		–	For the movie Bodacious Space Pirates: Abyss of Hyperspace Featured artist with angela
"PUNCH LINE!"	April 29, 2015	15,838	22,754	Collaboration with Dempagumi.inc. Opening theme for Punch Line[32]
"Mugen Blanc/Noir" (無限∞ブランノワール, Mugen ∞ Buran Nowāru)	October 28, 2015		11,958	Collaboration with Sachiko Kobayashi. Theme song for game Mugen Knights
"Magical Circle"	November 17, 2017	–	–	Collaboration with Technoboys Pulcraft Green-Fund. Second Ending Song for the third series of Magical Circle Guru Guru.
"Mister Darlin'" (ミスター・ダーリン)	November 7, 2018	–	–	Featuring artist CHiCO with HoneyWorks
"Kaze to Issho ni" (風といっしょに)	July 10, 2019	–	–	Collaboration with Sachiko Kobayashi. A theme song for the anime movie Pokémon the Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back EVOLUTION

Cover albums

Title	Release date	First week sales	Total sales
Shokotan Cover: Anison ni Koi o Shite. (しょこたん☆かばー ～アニソンに恋をして。～, Shokotan Kabā ~Anison ni Koi o Shite.~; "In Love with Anime Songs.")	May 2, 2007	12,579	31,501
Shokotan Cover Cover: Anison ni Ai o Komete!! (しょこたん☆かばー×2 ～アニソンに愛を込めて!!～, Shokotan Kabā Kabā ~Anison ni Ai o Komete~; "Full of Love for Anime Songs!!")	September 19, 2007	17,836	23,964
Shokotan Cover 3: Anison wa Jinrui o Tsunagu (しょこたん☆かばー 3 ～アニソンは人類をつなぐ～, Shokotan Kabā 3 ~Anison wa Jinrui o Tsunagu~; "Anime Songs Connect Mankind")	March 10, 2010	15,343	–
Shokotan Cover 4-1: Shoko Idol Hen (しょこたん☆かばー4-1 ～しょこ☆ドル篇～, Shokotan Kabā 4-1 ~Shoko Doru Hen~; "Shoko Idol Part")	October 12, 2011
Shokotan Cover 4-2: Shoko Rock Hen (しょこたん☆かばー4-2 ～しょこ☆ロック篇～, Shokotan Kabā 4-2 ~Shoko Rokku Hen~; "Shoko Rock Part")	October 12, 2011
"Tokyo Shoko Land 2014: RPG-teki Michi no Kioku" Shokotan Cover Bangaihen Produced by Kohei Tanaka (「TOKYO SHOKO☆LAND 2014 ～RPG的 未知の記憶～」しょこたん☆かばー番外編 Produced by Kohei Tanaka; "Tokyo Shoko Land 2014: RPG with Unknown Memories" Shokotan Cover Extra Version Produced by Kohei Tanaka)	September 24, 2014

Mini albums

Title	Release date	First week sales	Total sales
nsum: Shoko Nakagawa has Been Tried in Singing! (nsum～中川翔子がうたってみた！～, nsum ~Nakagawa Shoko ga Utatte Mita!~)	August 15, 2012		7,775
UCHI-SHIGOTO, SOTO-SHIGOTO!!	January 9, 2013

Best albums

Title	Release date	First week sales	Total sales
Shokotan Best ((しょこたん☆べすと——(°∀°) ——!!), Shokotan☆Besuto)	May 2, 2012		14,203
Super Shokotan Best(超！しょこたん☆べすと――(°∀°)――!!)	February 22, 2023

Albums

Title	Release date	First week sales	Total sales
Big Bang!!!	March 19, 2008	32,612	45,793
Magic Time	January 1, 2009	26,197	40,015
Cosmic Inflation	October 6, 2010	14,453	21,459
9lives	April 2, 2014	–	–
RGB ~True Color~	December 4, 2019	–	–

Other songs

• "Moeyo Giza Mimi Pichū!" (Ending for Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl)
• "Dori Dori" (Ending for Pokémon the Series: XY)
• "Kaze to isshu ni" (Ending for Pokémon: Mewtwo Strikes Back—Evolution)
• "Taipu: Wairudo" (Ending for Pokémon the Series: Sun & Moon)

Printed media

Photobooks

Title	Issue date	Publisher	ISBN	Photobook information
Jewel Box	April 1, 2004	Ascom	ISBN 978-4-7762-0147-2	First photobook
In a mysterious daze (不思議に夢中, Fushigi ni Muchū)	July 25, 2005	Wani Magazine	ISBN 978-4-89829-798-8	Second photobook
Shoko et Mikanne (中川翔子x蜷川実花（しょこれみかんぬ）, Shokoremikanu)	April 15, 2007	Wani Books	ISBN 978-4-8470-3000-0	Third photobook
Shoko a la mode (しょこア・ラ・モード—, Shokoa ra mōdō)	November 25, 2008	Shufu-to-Seikatsu-sha	ISBN 978-4-391-13707-1	Guide on how to use cosmetics/dress up doll
Miracle Sketch – Nakagawa Shoko Illust Sakuhinshu (ミラクルスケッチ 中川翔子イラスト作品集, Miracle Sketch – Nakagawa Shoko Illust Sakuhinshu)	January 23, 2010	Yosensha	ISBN 978-4862485137	A collection of illustrations by Shoko Nakagawa
Nakagawa Shoko Monogatari – Sorairo Days (中川翔子物語~空色デイズ~)	July 16, 2010	Kodansha	ISBN 978-4063642742	A manga about the life of Shoko Nakagawa from her childhood. The limited edition contains an extra book with pictures and a pencil box.
Shoko Nakagawa x Mika Ninagawa Photobook "Shoko et Mikanne2 " (中川翔子×蜷川実花写真集 『 しょこれみかんぬ 2 』)	January 28, 2011	Wani Books	ISBN 978-4847043390	Second collaboration with Mika Ninagawa.
Saipan hatsu, Nakano keiyu Mirai iki-Nakagawa Shoko Giza 10- (サイパン発、中野経由、未来行き 中川翔子 ギザ10)	May 30, 2012	Kodansha	ISBN 978-4-06-364889-8
Shoko-Pedia Nakagawa Shoko Ongakukatsudo Dai Ikki Kiroku Shu (中川翔子音楽活動第一期記録集10)	January 25, 2013	Enterbrain	ISBN 978-4047287440	Contains Interviews from the beginning of her career until 2013 and many pictures.
Nakagawa Shoko Pokemon ga Ikiru Imi o Oshietekureta Shogakkan Visual Mook (ポケモンが生きる意味を教えてくれた)	July 10, 2013	Shogakukan	ISBN 978-4091032287

Blogs

Title	Issue date	Publisher	ISBN	Notes
Shokotan Official Blog (しょこたんぶろぐ・中川翔子＊オフィシャル BLOG＊)	October 10, 2005	Goma Books	ISBN 4-7771-0210-6	Entries from November 2004 to August 2005
Shokotan Official Blog 2 (しょこたんぶろぐ・中川翔子＊オフィシャル BLOG 2 ＊)	November 10, 2006	Goma Books	ISBN 4-7771-0487-7	Entries from September 2005 to August 2006
Shokotan Blog Days of Desire (しょこたんぶろぐ貪欲デイズ)	January 25, 2008	Kadokawa Group Publishing	ISBN 978-4-04-895012-1	Entries from October 2006 to December 2007
Shokotan Blog Cho Donyoku Days (しょこたんぶろぐ 超貪欲デイズ)	January 16, 2010	Kadokawa Group Publishing	ISBN 978-4-04-895069-5	Entries from March 2008 to October 2009