Watanabe Minayo (September 28, 1969) first studied music and took lessons at the Japan Artist Office in Aiuchi Prefecture. She was scouted by CBS Records and was offer a contract with Burning Production. She then joined the idol group Onyanko Club on November 1985 when she passed the Idol wo Sagase! audition. While in the group she was nicknamed, with Watanabe Marina, Double Watanabe or Watanabes due to their sharing the same last name. She debuted as a solo singer on July 1987 with the single "Hitomi ni Yakusoku"