[5][8][10] She was told in advance by the audition officials that you would be selected, nevertheless, she was subsequently rejected in the final round because of her affiliation with an entertainment agency.

[12] In November 1986, Onyanko Club released a song called Koi wa Question, and she was selected as one of the lead vocalists for the first time.

[5][18] However, She was selected, along with Shizuka Kudō and Makiko Saitō, to be a member of the sub-group Ushirogami Hikaretai , replacing Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi, which was disbanded after the graduation of Mamiko Takai.

[11] In addition, she became a DJ on a radio show called Onyanko no Abunai Yorudayo (おニャン子のアブない夜だよ), along with popular member Marina Watanabe.

[24] In 2010, she studied psychology at the Heartful Life Counselor Academy (ハートフルライフカウンセラー学院, Hārtofuru Raifukaunserā Gakuin) and became a certified cognitive behavioral therapist.

She was first diagnosed in April 2011 on her 43rd birthday, and had undergone five different surgical procedures in the time between her diagnosis and her announcement, the most recent of which had resulted in a total mastectomy of her right breast.

[28] In 2016, she released a book entitled "To my Right Breast: Thank You and Farewell" (右胸にありがとう そしてさようなら) documenting the four-year, eight-month long battle from her diagnosis to her fifth surgery.

[29] In September 2016, she became an expert member of the Council for the realization of work style reform (働き方改革実現会議), a consultative committee established by the government.

[31] It was later revealed that Ikuina's response on a question about Coronavirus policy was identical to LDP opponent Kentaro Asahi's, only changed to be grammatically feminine.

The controversy was further amplified when it was announced that Ikuina would represent the government at a ceremony honouring Koreans who had died while being forced to labour at the Sado mines, prompting South Korea to protest her attendance.

On 25 November 2024, Kyodo News issued an apology for the erroneous report and acknowledged that the misinformation had adversely affected Japan–South Korea relations.