Tarō Shōji (東海林 太郎 Shōji Tarō, December 11, 1898 – October 4, 1972) was a J… Read Full Bio ↴Tarō Shōji (東海林 太郎 Shōji Tarō, December 11, 1898 – October 4, 1972) was a Japanese popular ryūkōka singer.
Shōji was born in Akita, Akita Prefecture. His father was an employee of the South Manchuria Railway, and his parents moved to Manchukuo, leaving him behind in Japan to be raised by his grandmother, who introduced him to the violin. He graduated from the Waseda University Department of Commerce, where he majored in Marxist economics. He married shortly before graduation from undergraduate studies, and was employed by the South Manchurian Railways Research Division on completion of his graduated degree in 1923. His main work at the South Manchurian Railways was on unionization; however, his highly leftist viewpoints alienated both his managers and the Imperial Japanese Army, and he found himself sidelined to a position in a library. After seven years in Manchukuo, he returned to Japan, where his brother was running a Chinese restaurant near Waseda University.
Music career
Shōji made his debut as a recording singer in 1933.[1] He attempted to become a Western classical baritone singer, but finally became a popular singer. His first major hit popular song Akagi no Komoriuta (赤城の子守唄 "Akagi Lulaby") written about Kunisada Chūji. The song was released in 1934 and sold 400,000 copies. This song became a model for many lesser known singers in the 1930s and early 1940s about tragic or semi-tragic Japanese anti-heroes.
From 1934 to 1936, the young actress Hideko Takamine and her mother lived with Shōji, although she refused his offer to formally adopt her.
After World War II, many of his songs were banned by the American occupation forces as too nationalistic. In the 1960s, his popularity revived, riding a wave of nostalgia for songs of the early Shōwa period. Shōji appeared four times on the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, starting with the first broadcast in 1951, followed by 1955, 1956 and 1965. He performed at the Asakusa International Theater in 1957 and in 1963 became honorary chairman of the Japan Vocalist Association in 1963. He was awarded the “special recognition” award at the Japan Record Awards in 1965 and the 4th class of the Order of the Rising Sun in 1969.
Shōji suffered from cancer. However, he recovered from the illness in 1964. He died from cerebral hemorrhage in 1972.
Shōji was born in Akita, Akita Prefecture. His father was an employee of the South Manchuria Railway, and his parents moved to Manchukuo, leaving him behind in Japan to be raised by his grandmother, who introduced him to the violin. He graduated from the Waseda University Department of Commerce, where he majored in Marxist economics. He married shortly before graduation from undergraduate studies, and was employed by the South Manchurian Railways Research Division on completion of his graduated degree in 1923. His main work at the South Manchurian Railways was on unionization; however, his highly leftist viewpoints alienated both his managers and the Imperial Japanese Army, and he found himself sidelined to a position in a library. After seven years in Manchukuo, he returned to Japan, where his brother was running a Chinese restaurant near Waseda University.
Music career
Shōji made his debut as a recording singer in 1933.[1] He attempted to become a Western classical baritone singer, but finally became a popular singer. His first major hit popular song Akagi no Komoriuta (赤城の子守唄 "Akagi Lulaby") written about Kunisada Chūji. The song was released in 1934 and sold 400,000 copies. This song became a model for many lesser known singers in the 1930s and early 1940s about tragic or semi-tragic Japanese anti-heroes.
From 1934 to 1936, the young actress Hideko Takamine and her mother lived with Shōji, although she refused his offer to formally adopt her.
After World War II, many of his songs were banned by the American occupation forces as too nationalistic. In the 1960s, his popularity revived, riding a wave of nostalgia for songs of the early Shōwa period. Shōji appeared four times on the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, starting with the first broadcast in 1951, followed by 1955, 1956 and 1965. He performed at the Asakusa International Theater in 1957 and in 1963 became honorary chairman of the Japan Vocalist Association in 1963. He was awarded the “special recognition” award at the Japan Record Awards in 1965 and the 4th class of the Order of the Rising Sun in 1969.
Shōji suffered from cancer. However, he recovered from the illness in 1964. He died from cerebral hemorrhage in 1972.
すみだ川
東海林太郎 Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'すみだ川' by these artists:
We have lyrics for these tracks by 東海林太郎:
むらさき小唄 流す涙が お芝居ならば 何の苦労も あるまいに 濡れて燕の 泣く声は あわれ浮名の 女形 好いちゃいけない 好かれち…
名月赤城山 男ごころに 男が惚れて 意気がとけ合う赤城山 澄んだ夜空のまんまる月に 浮世横笛 誰が吹く 意地の筋金 度胸のよさも …
国境の町 そりのスズさえ さびしくひびく 雪の広野よ 町の灯よ 一つ山越しゃ 他国の星が 凍りつくよな 国ざかい 故郷はなれて …
旅笠道中 夜が冷たい 心が寒い 渡り鳥かよ 俺らの旅は 風のまにまに 吹きさらし 風が変れば 俺らも変る 仁義双六 丁半かけて …
赤城の子守唄 泣くなよしよし ねんねしな 山の鴉が 啼(な)いたとて 泣いちゃいけない ねんねしな 泣けば鴉が またさわぐ 坊や男…
野崎小唄 野崎参りは 屋形船でまいろ どこを向いても 菜の花ざかり 粋な日傘にゃ 蝶々もとまる 呼んで見ようか 土手の人 野崎…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
@amagigoe34
This is sure the essence of the world of Japanese art, which sends shivers down my spine.
@MrBach1954
昭和歌謡のひとつの到達点のような、すばらしい歌唱ですね。なんど聴いても感動します。
@amagigoe34
Peerless, Unparalleled, One of a kind, Flawless, Unrivaled Shimakura.
@user-qe3vg2ox2g
国宝級です！
@user-tc7rt6zr1w
何て素敵な唄でしょう。
@user-qe3vg2ox2g
全盛期のお千代さんは本当におおきかった。
@manabuoka23
東海林太郎とのデュエットテレビで観た記憶あり。二人とも大好きな歌手なので嬉しく思います。余分なことですが二人の唄でカラオケに入ってない歌を自分でつくり(シンセサイザー)唄っています。それぐらいのファンです。
@yukiomurakami001
あの偉大な東海林太郎がお千代さんの傍では小さく見える。お千代さんの全盛期、本当に素晴らしい、今でも惚れ惚れします。
@user-xt2iw4ow9e
この頃の島倉さんは円熟期の最高の歌い手の頃ですね
@user-yh9qs6gz3s
言葉の選択が粋の極み。