Irene

   In the spring of 1971, Irene set foot on Japan for the study of acting
and singing. She belonged to the agency "All Stuff" and signed a contract
with Warner Pioneer Corp for her record. Her debut song was "恋の夜来香 Koi
 no Ye Lai Xiang."  It was when about her 21 years old. But she didn't gain much popularity as she wished in Japan, in contrast to the popularity in Hong Kong. After that, she released another two singles, "花占い Hana  Uranai" and "薔薇の誓い Bara no Chikai," but those didn't make hits all the same. She also appeared on the TV drama "花は花嫁 Hana ha Hanayome" and so on, but left Japan in 1972, about when Agnes debuted in Japan. That was a short show-biz life in Japan of only two years. But her popularity in Hong Kong remained intact. She appeared on 11 dramas a day at the time of 1973.

    About in 1971, the Chan sisters including Irene were famous as sisters of beauty. It's well known that Hong Kong's journalism figuratively expressed Irene as "beauty," Helen as "reality" and Agnes as "pure."

[Chan sisters in Japan]

   Irene with sharp image would have well looked her best in silver screen, but didn't become so in Japan.

    In the same year Irene did a record debut in Japan, 歐陽菲菲 Au Yeung Fei Fei from Taiwan did a debut with "雨の御堂筋 Ame no Mido-suzi." The song with the Ventures' rhythmical melody and with her powerful and
dynamic singing, quickly climbed up to the top of the hit chart and made a big hit of almost 800 thousand copies. Fei Fei made a good match with Irene.

   The year 1971 is also a year when the singers such as 天地真理 Mari Amachi, 南沙織 Saori Minami, and 小柳ルミ子 Rumiko Koyanagi, who got a head
 on a "idol singer."Lowering trend in the supporting layer of Japanese pop
music began to occur and to the accompaniment of that, the change of the
expectations of them for talent also began to occur. They became to want
"cuteness" which was incomplete remaining childish and made them feel
affinity rather than "beauty" which was complete and made them feel adult.
　

   In retrospect, it would have to be said that Agnes excellently met such
their needs. And, with an eye to the same line, Asian singers such as 優雅
 You Ya, チェルシア・チャン Chelsea Chan, debuted in Japan one after another, But no one achieved a great success as same as Agnes. After all, it seems that Agnes had something extraordinary which they didn't.

   Irene's experience of activity in Japan, however, brought full benefits
to Agnes, who was going to debut in Japan later. Suitable advisor was
indispensable for a person like Agnes who had only limited experience in
the professional world, to get on well in Japan with different system. In
this regard, Irene was an ideal advisor for her. Irene had experienced both good and unpleasant. And this had became an important source for Agnes. Irene's activity in Japan was helpful to her sister.
　

   Irene decided to support Agnes while doing her own work. Her role as
Agnes' private manager had continued since then until Agnes suspended her
show-biz activities for going to Canada to study. However, there's no telling whether that was Irene's true intention or not.

    After that, Irene changed her job to a producer of TV program. When
Agnes went to Canada to study, she accompanied Agnes and decided to go back to school. She entered the media arts program at Sheridan College. It's been said the reason she chose the study at this college because the paper test was not required.

   Irene got married in 1978. At present time, she is in retirement from
show-biz and is a mother of a boy.