I never knew of Akina’s record on that show. Sadly, I’m not that impressed by the performances on The Best Ten as I am with Yoru no Hit Studio so I’m not sure I’ll be buying this one anytime soon.

That handwriting is quite atrocious imo.

But I’m glad that there’s at least something “new” out there.

Still waiting for those COMPLETE Warner-era live concert shows though grrr…..

For those who do not understand Mandarin, here is my rough translation …

Akina contracted shingles last year and was left with no choice but to retire temporarily from showbiz. Though she made plans to resume her career last Summer, the degradation of her condition forced her to give up that hope.

Japanese gossip magazines (i.e. possibly less credible) reported that though Akina is still in pain, she has recently discovered a pain remedy. That involved growing herbs on her balcony, which she ends up brewing into tea, aiding in her mental calmness.

It is reported that though Akina had plans to resurrect her career last Summer, the spreading of the shingles to her face caused her to both suffer from pain and dejection, and the isolation at home caused her to slip slowly into further depression.

Her concerned friends encouraged her to start growing herbs on her balcony and she started by choosing basil and mint. Her interest extended to brewing basil and mint tea, initially out of fun, but soon realised that it had an added advantage of pain relief. Charmed by this progress, Akina developed a new interest in herb growing and slowly stepped out of her low mood.

Akina’s father relaxed much after recognising Akina’s shift in mood and it is reported that Akina’s elder sister calls her daily to check on her. It is everyone’s wish for her speedy recovery and for her prompt return to her love – music.

I don’t know how true this article is, but it may explain her “sudden turnaround” in the reports of her return in June. I’m wishing Akina a super duper speedy recovery for her 30th anniversary. Maybe she can appear in a CM for herbal tea …

中森明菜去年底患帶狀性皰疹，不得已暫退演藝圈，今夏病情惡化，復出也暫無希望。日本八卦媒體報導，雖然明菜仍受疼痛之苦，但最近她找到可以稍微解痛的方法，那就是在自家陽台種香草，然後泡茶飲用，對安定情緒有相當幫助。

報導說，中森明菜原本打算今夏復出，沒想到皰疹竟蔓延到臉上，她心灰意冷加疼痛，每天悶在家，意志消沉。朋友看她足不出戶，勸她在自家陽台種花草，結果明菜選羅勒和薄荷，長成後再拿去泡茶，原本以為只是好玩，喝了一陣子後，疼痛的程度減輕了，明菜很開心，每天去陽台照顧植物，也有移轉情緒的效果。

中森明菜的父親看到女兒比較開朗，也放鬆不少，據說明菜的姊姊每天都會打電話慰問明菜，大家希望她能早日康復，趕快重回她最喜歡的歌唱工作