Saburō Kitajima (北島三郎, Kitajima Saburō, born October 4, 1936) is a well kn… Read Full Bio ↴Saburō Kitajima (北島三郎, Kitajima Saburō, born October 4, 1936) is a well known Japanese enka singer, lyricist and composer.

He was born Minoru Ōno (大野穣), in a little town in Hokkaidō, to a fisherman. He was very poor because of the effects of World War II, and he was forced to work while he studied.

When he was about to graduate from high school, he decided to become a singer. His debut single was called "Bungacha-Bushi," which was released in 1962.

He has many famous songs, including "Namida Bune" (1962), "Kyōdai Jingi" (1965), "Yosaku" (1978) and "Kita no Ryōba" (1986). His 1965 song "Kaerokana" was written by lyricist Rokusuke Ei and composer Hachidai Nakamura. He is very popular in Japan partly due to his looks of a physical laborer, and he mostly sings the spirit of Japan's working class and rural laborer. He often appears on Kōhaku Uta Gassen, a TV program at the end of the year where many major Japanese singers gather to perform.

Kitajima released single "Fūfu Isshō" (夫婦一生, lit. "Couple in a Lifetime"?) on January 1, 2010 at the age of 73. It debuted at #10 on the Japanese Oricon weekly single charts. It became the first single to reach Top 10 by a solo artist in his 70s in Oricon charts history.

Although Enka is becoming less popular with the younger generation, he is still Japan's most famous singer. He does a lot of concerts overseas as well, and he is contributing a lot of work to the culture of Japanese music.

In addition to his singing career, Kitajima acted in the role of Tatsugorō on the television series Abarenbō Shōgun. During the quarter-century life of the series, he also sang its theme songs.

のぼり坂
北島三郎 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

いつかおふくろ言っていた
笑う門には福が来る
人には寄り添い馬には乗ってみよ
あっても苦労なくても苦労
そんなもんだよ人生は
いくつになってもなっても
のぼり坂

今もどこかで呼んでいる
声が聞こえる日暮れ橋
世渡り下手だと叱られながら
くじける心一度や二度は
それも我慢の人生さ
いくつになってもなっても
のぼり坂

なにがいいのか悪いのか
迷う世間のうらおもて
こんな男と情けのおまえ
夢でもいいさ夢みて生きる
ふたりあわせの人生は

いくつになってもなっても
のぼり坂

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "のぼり坂" by 北島三郎 touch upon the ups and downs of life, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and finding joy in the journey. The first verse reflects upon the wisdom passed down by one's mother, who believed that good fortune comes to those who smile and offer support to others. Whether facing struggles or not, life is a series of challenges. This sentiment suggests that regardless of age, life is always an uphill battle.

The second verse carries a sense of nostalgia and longing. The singer hears a voice calling out from somewhere, symbolized by the "日暮れ橋" (sunset bridge). Despite being criticized for being inexperienced in navigating the world, there are moments when their spirit falters or is broken. Yet, this is seen as a part of life that needs to be endured. The line "それも我慢の人生さ" (That's also the patience of life) implies that patience is required to overcome obstacles and continue moving forward, regardless of age.

The third verse expresses the confusion and uncertainty that one may encounter in society, where it can be challenging to discern what is good or bad. The singer addresses their companion, praising their kindness and understanding even towards a flawed man like themselves. The idea of living life through dreams, even if they may not be realized, is seen as valuable. Ultimately, the lyrics suggest that life is a constant journey of uphill battles, and one can find solace and purpose in persisting and dreaming.

In summary, "のぼり坂" conveys the message that life is full of challenges and that the key to navigating these challenges is perseverance and a positive mindset. It encourages listeners to find strength in offering support to others, enduring hardships, and maintaining dreams and aspirations throughout one's life journey.

Line by Line Meaning

いつかおふくろ言っていた
My mother used to say someday

笑う門には福が来る
Happiness comes to those who smile

人には寄り添い馬には乗ってみよ
Stand by others and try riding a horse

あっても苦労なくても苦労
Whether there is hardship or not, there is hardship

そんなもんだよ人生は
That's how life is

いくつになってもなっても
No matter how old we become

のぼり坂
It's an uphill road

今もどこかで呼んでいる
Even now, somewhere, it calls

声が聞こえる日暮れ橋
I hear the voice on the bridge at sunset

世渡り下手だと叱られながら
Even if I'm criticized for being bad at adapting to the world

くじける心一度や二度は
A discouraged heart, once or twice