In July 2006, she released her debut single, "Brilliant Dream". It entered the Oricon chart at number 29, with initial sales of 6,313 copies. Shokotan performed at Anime Expo 2008 at the Los Angeles Convention Center from July 3 till July 6. She is also known for loving cosplay, and buys up many clothes at auction, particularly costumes for Neon Genesis Evangelion, the Final Fantasy series and Sailor Moon. She is known for liking manga and anime, and also enjoys watching professional boxing.
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. As one might expect from her personality, there are very many otaku-style entries, and she updates it extremely regularly, as she admitted in an interview, because she uses it as a kind of notepad. In the month of April 2005, there were 600 updates, and on January 28, 2006 there were 70 updates, a record number for a single day. It is likely that she holds the record for the greatest number of blog updates by an idol. She has become known as the "New Queen of the Blog", after the original "Queen of the Blog", Kaori Manabe. Due to her blog's popularity, in September 2005, Koma Books released a compilation of her blog entries, also entitled Shokotan * Blog. She is so fond of cats that she once took home an abandoned cat she found while filming.
Her father Nakagawa Katsuhiko died of leukemia in 1994 when Shokotan was only nine years old, from then on she was raised by her mother alone. She won the Grand Prix award at the Popolo Girl Audition in 2001, thus making her debut in the entertainment world. At the time of her debut, she belonged to the Jackie Chan talent agency, on the "Yume-Ga-Oka Residence" programme on SKY PerfecTV!, she was given a Jackie Chan photo book by Midorikawa Shobo, who were guests on the show. She commented "I thought he was an enemy of Bruce Lee's", apparently referring to Enter the Dragon, but this is a curious statement, given that she belonged to the Jackie Chan talent agency and has also met Jackie Chan.
She was chosen as Miss Shonen Magazine in 2002. She appeared in a brief section of "Kangaeru Hito" (People who Think) on the Fuji TV Network, she showed her ability as an illustrator, which won her a regular place 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]). From May 2005, for just under a year, she appeared as a regular on the TBS Programme "Osama no Branch", which made her well known among the general public.
フルーツポンチ
中川翔子 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
並んで歩き口ずさんだ
貝殻は海のジュエル
拾って空に透かして見た
風 波 ざわめくから
はじまり 感じたのよ
はじめての恋だから
甘い果実のように
とろけて消えそうだわ
もう止められない恋
弾けるソーダの味だわ
指先を揺らしながら
重ねた両手かざしてみる
目の前に広がってる
未知の世界に 胸躍るわ
ねえ 今 なんて言ったの?
波間に かき消された
聴かせてほしいのは
ひとりじめ セレナーデ
耳もとでドキドキの
果実を味わってよ
抱き寄せられたら もう
波打つ鼓動 隠せない
Sunshine, Your Eyes, 煌めくのよ
未来へと 誘(いざな)ってよ
はじめての恋だから
フルーツポンチのように
優しい腕の中で
とろけて消えそうだわ
もう止められない恋
七色のときめき
甘いポンチの香り
弾けるソーダの味だわ
The lyrics of 中川翔子's song "フルーツポンチ" describe the light-hearted feeling of a first love, symbolized by the imagery of a carefree melody of gentle waves. The singer reminisces about walking side by side, humming a tune, and finding sea shells that shimmer like jewels under the sunlight. The experience of falling in love is likened to the sweetness of ripe fruits, as the singer feels themselves melting in the tender embrace of their lover, unable to resist the intoxicating pull of love. The sensation is compared to the effervescence of soda, creating a fizzy, exhilarating feeling that cannot be contained.
As the lyrics continue, the singer expresses the excitement of exploring new territories in this newfound love, with the imagery of hands trembling as they are intertwined and raised up towards the sky. The unfolding of an unknown world before them brings a sense of anticipation and joy, capturing the essence of a heartfelt moment. However, amidst the waves and whispers, there is a desire for a more intimate connection, a yearning for a serenade that is meant only for them, to savor the thrill of their lover's heartbeat near their ear, a sensation that cannot be hidden.
The chorus of the song introduces a shift towards a brighter, more optimistic tone, as the mention of "Sunshine" and the sparkle in their eyes symbolize a hopeful future beckoning them forward. The repetition of it being a first love is emphasized, drawing parallels to the refreshing and vibrant flavors of a fruit punch. Just like the colorful excitement of a seven-hued thrill and the sweet fragrance of the punch, the love they experience is described as irresistible and invigorating, akin to the taste of bubbling soda that brings a sense of joy and invincibility.
Overall, the lyrics of "フルーツポンチ" encapsulate the essence of a first love – its tenderness, excitement, and overwhelming nature. Through vivid imagery and sensory details, the song paints a picture of a blossoming romance that is as sweet and intoxicating as a fruity punch, leaving the singer unable to resist its alluring charm. The journey of discovering love, from the gentle embrace to the exhilarating moments of heart-fluttering sensations, unfolds like a vibrant and effervescent melody that captures the essence of youthful ardor and infatuation.
Line by Line Meaning
軽やかな波のメロディー
The melody of gentle waves
並んで歩き口ずさんだ
We walked side by side, humming
貝殻は海のジュエル
Seashells are jewels of the sea
拾って空に透かして見た
Picked them up and held them up to the sky to see through
風 波 ざわめくから
Because the wind and waves are rustling
はじまり 感じたのよ
I felt the beginning
はじめての恋だから
Because it's my first love
甘い果実のように
Like a sweet fruit
優しい腕の中で
In gentle arms
とろけて消えそうだわ
Seems to melt away
もう止められない恋
A love that can't be stopped anymore
弾けるソーダの味だわ
Tastes like fizzy soda bursting
指先を揺らしながら
While shaking your fingertips
重ねた両手かざしてみる
Try holding up both hands together
目の前に広がってる
Spread out in front of me
未知の世界に 胸躍るわ
My heart is excited for the unknown world
ねえ 今 なんて言ったの?
Hey, what did you just say?
波間に かき消された
Lost in between the waves
聴かせてほしいのは
What I want you to hear
ひとりじめ セレナーデ
A private serenade for you
耳もとでドキドキの
A thrilling sensation near my ear
果実を味わってよ
Taste the fruit
抱き寄せられたら もう
If you embrace me
波打つ鼓動 隠せない
The throbbing heartbeat can't be hidden
Sunshine, Your Eyes, 煌めくのよ
Sunshine, Your Eyes, sparkling
未来へと 誘(いざな)ってよ
Lead me towards the future
フルーツポンチのように
Like a fruit punch
七色のときめき
Rainbow-colored excitement
甘いポンチの香り
Sweet scent of punch
弾けるソーダの味だわ
Tastes like fizzy soda bursting
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 花れん
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind