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.
博多の女
北島三郎 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
おれはきたんだ 博多の町へ
逢わなきゃよかった 逢わないで
夢にでてくる 初恋の
君をしっかり だいていたかった
夜の那珂川(なかがわ) 肩よせて
ゆけばしくしく 泣くさざ波よ
わびる姿が いじらしく
おれはなんにも 言えなかったのさ
それじゃゆくぜと 背を向けて
夜の中洲へ 逃げてはみたが
まぶたをあわせりゃ 浮かぶのさ
俺はやっぱり あの頃の
君をさがして 明日に生きるのさ
These lyrics are from the song "Hakata no Onna" (translated as "Woman of Hakata") by Hokkaido Saburo. The song tells the story of a man who travels to the city of Hakata and unexpectedly encounters his first love, whom he had hoped to never see again. Despite not knowing her as anyone's wife, he regretfully recalls his dreams of wanting to hold onto her firmly during their first love.
The lyrics depict a melancholic scene by the Nakagawa River at night, where the man seeks solace, leaning against his lover's shoulder. He requests forgiveness, apologizing for his inability to say anything in that moment. Feeling remorseful, he turns away, attempting to escape to the Nakasu district amid the darkness. However, he soon realizes that every time he closes his eyes, memories of his first love resurface, causing him to realize that he is constantly in search of that person from his past and determining to live on for the future.
Overall, "Hakata no Onna" captures the bittersweet nostalgia of encountering a lost love unexpectedly and the internal conflict it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
ひとの妻とも 知らないで
Without knowing anyone's wife
おれはきたんだ 博多の町へ
I came to the town of Hakata
逢わなきゃよかった 逢わないで
I wish we hadn't met, I wish we hadn't
夢にでてくる 初恋の
In my dreams, my first love
君をしっかり だいていたかった
I wanted to firmly hold onto you
夜の那珂川(なかがわ) 肩よせて
Shouldering the Naka River at night
ゆけばしくしく 泣くさざ波よ
If I go, the sobbing ripples of the waves
ゆるして下さい ゆるしてと
Please forgive me, forgive me
わびる姿が いじらしく
Your apology is so endearing
おれはなんにも 言えなかったのさ
I couldn't say anything
それじゃゆくぜと 背を向けて
With that, I turned my back and left
夜の中洲へ 逃げてはみたが
I tried to escape to Nakasu at night
まぶたをあわせりゃ 浮かぶのさ
When I close my eyes, she floats in my mind
俺はやっぱり あの頃の
I still, after all, long for those days
君をさがして 明日に生きるのさ
I search for you and live for tomorrow
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 星野哲郎
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
寿々城世樹
“函館の女”の爆発的ヒットから、“尾道の女”を経て...“博多の女”へ...北島三郎さんの“女”旅は果てしなく続いていきますね...女心を熟々と情々と包み込んで北島節、流しで磨いた情け節でしょうか...沁みますね。配信ありがとうございました。
Yoshi Kakuno
Shiki Mori san bom dia ,
muito obrigado pelo vídeo com o cantor Kitajima Saburo san , boa noite !
クマショウゴ
こんにちは👋😃北島三郎さんの女シリーズの一つですね。さすが、北島三郎さんの伸びやかな拳のきいた歌声は最高です。いつもながらいい曲配信ありがとうございます。
大西徹
博多の女、心から思う女性を函館から博多まで、ところがひとの妻になっていたというドラマチックな話ですね。北島三郎さんの女シリーズでスローテンポのいい曲です。流石に歌の上手さが光ります。好きな歌です。
shiki moriさん、ありがとうございます。
さざんか
shiki,moriさん、こんにちわ🙇北島三郎さんの（博多の女）女シリーズの中では一番好きですね! せっかく訪ねて行った彼女が人の妻に成ってた・・・。男性の気持ちが痛いほど分かりますね! 心に染みる歌です。素晴らしい曲のupありがとうございます🙇
Marcelo eizo Otsubo
EXCELENTE INTERPRETAÇÃO MUSICAL DO CANTOR SABURO KITAJIMA. BOA NOITE.
弘
北島三郎のご当地ソング 「函館の女」から地元金沢の「加賀の女」もヒットしましたね🎵
他の都市から金沢に転勤したかたの、「転勤ソング」として親しまれました。カラオケの定番でした。
hiroshi houryou
🙋💙💚❤️💕💞🌺🌹🍁🥀🎵🎶こんばんは😃🌃北島三郎さんの素晴らしい最高の演歌の配信有り難う御座います感謝🎤😆🎵致します🙋💙上手いねぇ上手いですね最高です🙋💙💚演歌は気持ちが安らぎます心が癒やされます🙋愉しく聴いています🙋💙💚❤️💕💞🌺🌹🍁🥀🎵🎶次の新しい配信楽しみに待って居ます有り難う御座います感謝🎤😆🎵致します🙋💙💚❤️💕💞🌺🌹🍁🥀🎵🎶🍁🥀🎵🎶🍁🥀🎵🎶🍁🥀🎵🎶
恵介 河野
どこまで良い私の思い出の曲を持っているんですか
いつも感度させられてます
生子 鈴木
北島三郎さんの歌は、全部好きです。私は男みたいな気性なので北島三郎さんは大好き。神奈川水滸伝も好きです。