Judy Ongg | |
|---|---|
 Ongg at a fundraising event in Taipei after the 2014 Kaohsiung gas explosions | |
| Born | 24 January 1950 Taipei, Taiwan |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress, author |
| Years active | 1961–present |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Taipei, Taiwan |
| Genres | Japanese pop, Mandopop |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Labels | Columbia Records CBS Sony Toshiba EMI |
| Website | judyongg |
Judy Ongg (Chinese: 翁倩玉; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ong Chhiàⁿ-ge̍k; born 24 January 1950) is a Taiwanese-Japanese singer,[1] actress, author, and woodblock-print artist. Born in Taipei, she graduated from Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, and after which, she became a naturalized Japanese citizen. Her career has spanned more than four decades.
Ongg made her film debut in the 1961 Japan-U.S. production The Big Wave, based on the Pearl S. Buck novel. She enjoyed great popularity in Chinese-speaking countries, and won the Best Actress honor at the ninth Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival. She later won the Special Prize at the 19th Asia Film Festival. She has recorded for Columbia Records, CBS Sony and Toshiba EMI. Her 1979 hit Miserarete sold two million copies. Ongg has had at least one song appear on the NHK program Minna no Uta, and has appeared on the New Year's Eve spectacular Kōhaku Uta Gassen with songs "Miserarete" in 1979 and "Reika no Yume" in 1980. One of her most popular songs is "The Story of O-Shin", the Cantonese opening song for the hit drama, Oshin.
In television, Ongg took roles in contemporary dramas and jidaigeki, including Edo o Kiru. She has also appeared in several stage productions. Judy was offered the role of Mariko (Lady Toda Buntaro) in the television miniseries Shogun, but declined the part. It was eventually played by Yoko Shimada.
In 1999, Ongg organized and produced the "Heart Aid" charity concert at the Tokyo International Forum to raise money for survivors of the Chi-Chi earthquake in Taiwan. Her film credits run to nine titles; television dramas, 31; variety, 11; radio, 2; commercials, 7. Her music credits include over 40 singles and albums. Judy has written five books. Her prints have received numerous awards.
