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.
薩摩の女
北島三郎 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
別れてきたと 君は泣く
雨がふるふる 天文館通の
青いランプに 身をよせりゃ
ああ 悲恋の旅の ドラが鳴る
信じていたよ この胸に
いつかは帰る 女だった
ぐっと力を いれながら
ああ 仰げば燃える 桜島
いままで泣いた かなしみは
かならず俺が とりかえす
やがて出船の 合図はあるが
故郷で待てよと ささやけば
ああ 錦江湾に 陽がのぼる
The lyrics to 北島三郎's song 薩摩の女 describe a woman who has left her partner despite their strong connection. The partner is crying as she leaves him alone, turning her back on him. The rain is falling heavily, and the woman seeks shelter under a blue lamp on a street corner called "Astronomy Museum Avenue". The writer speaks of the woman's "journey of sad love", the sound of which follows the couple as they part. The writer had faith that the woman, who was once his companion and in whom he had invested his heart, would eventually return to him. The man holds the woman tightly as she leans on his shoulder, and as he does this, they are in the shadows of the erupting Sakurajima.
The lyrics of the song, 薩摩の女, have an important cultural significance since 薩摩 (Satsuma) is a region located in Kyushu, Japan, so this song represents that culture's musical legacy, expression of love, and the emotional depth of single trait culture. 薩摩財閥力 or Satsuma Financial Powers is an expression in Japan, and it means the financial power of Satsuma. However, the term Satsuma, in the context of the song, does not only symbolize a region but can also reference the era of political and social unrest in Japan.
Line by Line Meaning
義理あるひとに 背を向けて
Turning your back on someone you have a sense of duty towards
別れてきたと 君は泣く
Crying as you part ways
雨がふるふる 天文館通の
Heavy rainfall on Tenmonkan street
青いランプに 身をよせりゃ
Taking shelter under the blue lamp
ああ 悲恋の旅の ドラが鳴る
Oh, the sound of the drum on this sad journey
信じていたよ この胸に
I believed in my heart
いつかは帰る 女だった
That someday, the woman who left will return
肩へ廻した 男の腕に
The man's arm that you wrapped around your shoulder
ぐっと力を いれながら
Putting strength into it
ああ 仰げば燃える 桜島
Oh, Sakurajima that looks like it's on fire when you look up at it
いままで泣いた かなしみは
All the sadness I've cried about until now
かならず俺が とりかえす
I will definitely take it back
やがて出船の 合図はあるが
Soon, there will be a signal to depart
故郷で待てよと ささやけば
If we whisper, 'Wait for me at home'
ああ 錦江湾に 陽がのぼる
Oh, the sun rises over Nishikoi Bay
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 星野哲郎
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
後藤隆
歌詞も良いが伴奏の三味線の演奏が素晴らしい名曲です！
この曲は、北島三郎しか歌えないでしょうね！
岩立一誠
宴会でカラオケ🎤が始まったら、この唄を始める薩摩っぽが居ましたが、今でも元気で唄って居るか知らん?懐かしい素晴らしい唄を有り難うございます!
スカッとムカッといくぞう
若い頃よく歌いました 懐かしい曲です
iast
余りにも懐かしく未だに全く変わらぬ桜島の姿が目に浮かぶ、サブちゃんの声に励まされ、今日も生きている。
riki net surfing
同感です！同郷の者です。
遠藤征三郎
ほんとに、ほんとに素晴らしい演歌。聞き惚れます。サブちゃんありがとう😆💕✨
michiko yamamoto
主人の命日にサブちゃんの唄を聞いて大好きだったねと忍んでいます。
桜月海
天文館そして桜島懐かしい。錦江湾思い出します♪♪♪幼かったあの日を
茂 山澤
腹にしみる前奏は何とも言えないです。
近藤茂
加賀の人も、とても良い曲ですよ。