Agnes Lum


Agnes Nalani Lum is an American gravure idol, singer, actress, and bikini model popular in Japan in the late 1970s and early 1980s. At that time, she was nicknamed "Lum-chan" in Japan, though now that nickname can be confused with that of the fictional character Lum Invader from Urusei Yatsura. Lum was the inspiration for the name of this character as she was well-known at the time the manga was first released. In order to avoid confusion with Agnes Chan, another popular idol at the time, "Lum-chan" was used, though many fans called both "Agnes". Lum has appeared in numerous calendars, on posters, and magazine spreads, and these items regularly fetch high prices in the collectors market.

History

Lum was born to a Chinese father and a mother of Hawaiian ancestry. While attending Kailua High School, Lum worked as a model and became well known in Hawaii. She was named Miss Hawaii USA in 1974, but the title was taken away because she was too young to compete in the Miss USA contest. Lum became an overnight success in Japan after becoming the first Clarion Girl in 1975, hired to promote Clarion products in a television and print advertising campaign.
In 1976, she released her first single, titled Downtown After the Rain. That same year, she made her debut appearance on NHK's Kōhaku Uta Gassen variety show. In 1996, Lum appeared, along with her twin sons, in a television commercial for the Daihatsu Pyzar.
The 12.20.2011 "Super Lucky" edition of Weekly Playboy features Lum. She has appeared on the cover of the publication six times.

Discography

Singles

Listed chronologically, with newest at bottom.
Sources: