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.

北のわかれ雪
北島三郎 Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

寒いな雪の夜は
こころも凍れる
まして流れる身はなおさら辛い
いつになったら
この背中(せな)の荷は
どこに降ろせばいいのやら
あゝ北の春はまだ遠い

振り向きゃ昨日今日と
重ねる旅は
いつか形(なり)もやつれ
影さえ薄い
わざと傷心(いたみ)は
笑顔でかくし
そっとのぞいたなわのれん
あゝひとり酒はまたにがい

この坂上り下り
幸福(しあわせ)尋ねて
堪(こら)え堪(こら)えながらの
奴がゆく
我慢辛抱承知はしても

儘(まま)にならない世の習い
あゝ北の北のわかれ雪

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from 北島三郎's song 北のわかれ雪 depict the struggle of a person journeying through a cold and snowy night, both physically and emotionally. The opening line "寒いな雪の夜はこころも凍れる" ("It's so cold, the snowy night freezes my heart") sets the tone for the song. The use of the metaphor of the snowy night as a representation of the troubles and pain the person is going through is powerful. The fact that the person is also traveling, with a load on their back, makes their journey even more difficult. The line "いつになったらこのせなの荷はどこに降ろせばいいのやら" ("When will I be able to put down this load on my back and where can I do so") reflects the person's desperation and exhaustion, and the uncertainty of the future.

The song also talks about the person's past and how it has affected their present situation. The line "振り向きゃ昨日今日と重ねる旅はいつか形もやつれ影さえ薄い" ("Looking back, I see my journey has worn me out, and even my shadow has become faint") is a testament to the pain and loss the person has faced. They try to hide their heartache behind a smile, as seen in the line "わざと傷心は笑顔でかくしそっとのぞいたなわのれん" ("I purposely hide my wounded heart behind a smile and peek through the bead curtain"). The loneliness they feel is exacerbated by their drinking, as shown in the line "あゝひとり酒はまたにがい" ("Ah, drinking alone is bitter once again").

Overall, the lyrics of 北のわかれ雪 are full of raw emotion, exploring the pain and hardships of a person's journey in a harsh and unforgiving world.

Line by Line Meaning

寒いな雪の夜は
The night of snow is extremely cold

こころも凍れる
So cold that it freezes one's heart

まして流れる身はなおさら辛い
It's even harder for a wanderer like me

いつになったら
I wonder when

この背中(せな)の荷は
I can get rid of this burden on my back?

どこに降ろせばいいのやら
I don't know where to drop it?

あゝ北の春はまだ遠い
Ah, the spring in the north is still far away

振り向きゃ昨日今日と
Looking back on yesterday and today

重ねる旅は
This journey has been long

いつか形(なり)もやつれ
And has worn me down