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.
函館の女
北島三郎 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
さかまく波を のりこえて
あとは追うなと 云いながら
うしろ姿で 泣いてた君を
おもいだすたび 逢いたくて
とてもがまんが できなかったよ
函館山の 頂で
そんな気がして きてみたが
灯りさざめく 松風町は
君の噂も きえはてて
沖の潮風 こころにしみる
迎えにきたぜ 函館へ
見はてぬ夢と 知りながら
忘れられずに とんできた
ここは北国 しぶきもこおる
どこにいるのか この町の
一目だけでも 逢いたかったよ
The lyrics to 北島三郎's song 函館の女 tell the story of a man who has traveled a long way to reach the city of Hakodate. He remembers a woman who cried as she told him not to follow her and yet he cannot resist the urge to see her again. At the summit of Mount Hakodate, he feels as though he can see seven stars calling out to him. However, once he arrives in the bustling Matsukaze-cho district, he finds the town alive with activity and the rumors of the woman he seeks long gone. The salt breeze from the sea stirs his heart and he cannot help but long for a glimpse of her.
The song is a beautiful poetic narrative that captures the essence of longing and how memory can bring us back to places both real and imagined. The lyrics are haunting and resonate with listeners on multiple levels. Through the use of rich imagery and beautiful language, 北島三郎 creates an evocative soundscape that transports the listener to the town of Hakodate and into the heart of the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
はるばるきたぜ 函館へ
I came a long way to Hakodate
さかまく波を のりこえて
Riding over the rough waves
あとは追うなと 云いながら
While saying 'don't follow'
うしろ姿で 泣いてた君を
You who were crying behind me
おもいだすたび 逢いたくて
Whenever I think of you, I want to see you
とてもがまんが できなかったよ
I couldn't hold back my feelings
函館山の 頂で
At the top of Mt. Hakodate
七つの星も 呼んでいる
The seven stars are calling out
そんな気がして きてみたが
I had a feeling and came to see
灯りさざめく 松風町は
The town of Matsukaze, where lights flicker
君の噂も きえはてて
Even rumors of you have disappeared
沖の潮風 こころにしみる
The offshore sea breeze penetrates my heart
迎えにきたぜ 函館へ
I came to welcome you to Hakodate
見はてぬ夢と 知りながら
Knowing that it's an endless dream
忘れられずに とんできた
I came flying without forgetting
ここは北国 しぶきもこおる
This is the northern country, where the spray freezes
どこにいるのか この町の
Where are you in this town?
一目だけでも 逢いたかったよ
I just wanted to see you, even if only for a moment
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Tetsuro Hoshino, Nobuo Shimazu
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-fq7qm7km9n
函館朝市では 今でも
この歌が 流れています✌️
本当に 名曲です
@tamakichitamakichi
この歌唱力と迫力、明るいお人柄・・・
全てが人を引き付けますね、さすがとしか言いようがないです。
@hanachako
車で函館に入るときに大音量で聞きます。函館に来たなって感じでワクワクします。
@user-jb3hg3ql9i
全ての面で、つまり歌唱力、声量、メリハリ、迫力、演技力、立体感など全ての点で圧倒的です。非の打ち所のない北島さんの素晴らしい歌声です。有難う御座いました。 3:05
@user-gp1se5gy1r
😮
@user-sf9xu8pm8j
函館の女大好きさぶちゃん気持ちよさそうに歌っているね良いですね〜
@user-uw9vv3ww2n
いつ聞いても感動します。
さぶちやんは、やはり素晴らしい。さすが御大ですね。
いつまでも応援しています。
身体の続く限り歌ってください。
@nhattan2807
東京行きの新幹線で聞くと涙出ちゃったんです。やっぱ函館最高！
@user-sf9xu8pm8j
笑顔最高だね〜取ってもじょうずな歌声これだものヒットしたわけね〜日本一
@user-hb6sz8sk7y
昨年９月に初めて北海道を訪れ、函館に３泊しました！
夜の函館山の頂でこの歌を口ずさんでいたら、まさに７つの星も読んでいるような光景でした。