One of the biggest J-pop idols of the ’80s and ’90s, actress-singer koizumi kyoko remains celebrated for her melodious yet edgy vocals. Classic songs like “Nantettatte Idol” and “Nagisa No Haikara Ningyo” ruled the charts in J-pop’s golden age and have since become staples of Japanese pop. But throughout her career, kyoko experimented boldly, both with her image—she once famously shaved her head in defiance of a manager—and her music. Techno-tinged ballads, hard-rocking collabs and style-blending global influences cement her legacy as much as her most memorable hits.