伊藤美奈子 (Minako Ito), born on September 17, 1962, in Morioka, Japan, is a Japanese singer and songwriter. She began playing the piano at age four and was inspired by singers Mayumi Itsuwa and Mariko Takahashi. Ito made her debut in 1982 with the album Tenderly, produced by Masataka Matsutōya. Her first single "グラスの中の青い海/水の中の太陽" was released simultaneously. In 1984, she released her second album 誘魚灯 and the singles "指切り/まどろみ", followed by "見つめてほしい" in 1985. Her third album, Portrait, was released in 1985. Ito's most recent album, 楽, was released in 2000.