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.
川
北島三郎 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
澱みもあれば
渓流もある
義理の重さを 忘れたら
立つ瀬なくして 沈むだろ 黙って
おとこは川になる
風にこぼれた 花びらを
生きる辛さに 耐えながら
人は優しさ 恋しがる 忍んで
おとこは川になる
過去とうらみは 流れても
流しちゃならぬ 恩がある
他人の情けを かりながら
明日へ漕ぎだす
舟もある 揺られて
おとこは川になる
The first verse of the song 川 speaks of the similarities between the flow of a river and the world of humans. Both can experience stillness and turbulence. The lyrics are a reminder to never forget the weight of responsibility and duty. If one were to forget these values, they would be adrift and unable to stand, eventually sinking. The last line of the verse, "黙っておとこは川になる," is a metaphor for the role of men; they are expected to be like a river: strong, reliable, and steadfast.
The second verse describes the river as a vessel for emotions. The lyrics suggest that there is "情" (feeling or emotion) in the river, that it carries the ephemeral petals of flowers blown by the wind. Humans are also described as enduring the pain of living while cherishing tenderness and concealing it. The chorus repeats the idea that men are like rivers.
The final verse talks about how while the past and grudges may flow away with the river, one must not forget their debts of gratitude. The lyrics say that humans must work hard and row towards the future while borrowing compassion from others. The role of the river as a metaphor for men is emphasized in the last line again.
Line by Line Meaning
川の流れと 人の世は
The flow of the river and the world of men
澱みもあれば
Can be still or stagnant
渓流もある
Can also be a trickling stream
義理の重さを 忘れたら
If you forget the weight of duty
立つ瀬なくして 沈むだろ 黙って
You'll sink without a foothold, silently
おとこは川になる
A man becomes a river
風にこぼれた 花びらを
The petals that spilled in the wind
浮かべて川に 情がある
There is emotion that flows along the river
生きる辛さに 耐えながら
While enduring the hardships of life
人は優しさ 恋しがる 忍んで
People yearn for kindness, enduring it quietly
おとこは川になる
A man becomes a river
過去とうらみは 流れても
Even if the past and grudges flow away
流しちゃならぬ 恩がある
There is an obligation to not let them go
他人の情けを かりながら
While borrowing the kindness of others
明日へ漕ぎだす
Row towards tomorrow
舟もある 揺られて
Even though there may be a boat that rocks
おとこは川になる
A man becomes a river
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kouzou Nomura, Jou Ikeyama
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-sl4wd2du1o
サブちゃんの
ユウチュウブを
伯父が サブちゃんの 大
ファンでしたが
6年前に 74才で
亡くなりました😓
母の 弟で〰 母と
9才ちがいで
母より 先に
その 母も 居ません‼
父も 川を
聞くと 両親
又 叔父を 思い出します！
過去と いうに～
私も 70才になり
カラオケ🎤で
川を 歌います！
キーが 低いので
画面に 奥さんが 出られますね‼ サブちゃんも
50才位かな❓
綺麗な 奥さんが〰 広島です！
@user-xd9yj7ob1e
北島三郎さんの川のように嫌な事は、川のように流していくと人間は成長していくものですね。北島三郎の川は本当に素晴らしい歌声で聞き惚れています😮🎉😂😮
@user-xd9yj7ob1e
北島三郎さんの川は人生をたどった歌ですね、息の長い北島三郎さんの生き方歌唱力はこの歌からも見えて来ますね川は流れていきますが人生うなぎのぼりでありたいです
@user-lw4vu7ho8b
昔は、自分は高齢ですが、同年代の人は自分も含めてよく歌いました。忘れない曲ですね。やはり北島さんは凄い歌手ですね❤今迄応援歌ありがとうございます🙇
@user-mh8tm3jk7i
北島さん素晴らしい川歌ですね。きれいな流れの川も大好きです。
@user-xd9yj7ob1e
北島三郎さんの川のようにサラサラ流れるならば人生苦労なし岩有り濁流有の川あってこそ人は成長するという😮❤
@user-ec7jc1hf6v
自分が若い時に、サブチャンのナニを聞いても😊ナニも感じなかったけど🎵７０を過ぎた今は❤バンバン感じて、感激ばかりです😌💓
@user-te3kr3qd2o
このサブちゃんの歌はいつ聴いても最高ですよ！いつも、カラオケスナックで歌っています。
@user-pm5mp4kg3q
サブちゃんの歌はいつ聞いても最高ですよ
@user-xd9yj7ob1e
北島三郎さんの川のように澄んだ気持ちを持ち続けていたいです。川はサラサラと思いますが時には危ない川の流れになることもありますまでも人間は澄んだ気持ちでサラサラ流れる川のような気持ちにならなくてはなりません😮
@user-xd9yj7ob1e
北島三郎さんの人生をたどれば川のようにサラサラ流れる川が有り行き詰まる川の人生は長い１本道ですそれを乗り越えたら川の流れにたどりつきます😮🎉😂