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.
国境の町
東海林太郎 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 はるばる千里
なんで想いが とどこうぞ
遠きあの空 つくづくながめ
明日にのぞみが ないではない
頼み少ない ただ一人
赤い夕日も 身につまされて
泣くが無理かよ 渡り鳥
The lyrics to 東海林太郎's song "国境の町" describe the sadness and isolation of a town located near a border between two countries. The sound of the sled's bell echoes through the snowy fields while the lights of the town shine in the distance. The singer reflects on the other side of the mountain where stars from a foreign land are frozen in the coldness of border disputes.
The singer is far away from home, separated by thousands of miles. The overwhelming feelings of homesickness make the singer wonder why his thoughts cannot reach his homeland. He gazes into the distant sky with a profound longing for his home. At times, the singer cries alone at night like any other man.
The last stanza describes a sense of hopelessness despite the beauty of the sunset. The singer feels alone and insignificant. The difficulty of the journey faced by migratory birds across borders also underscores the struggle of people who are forced to leave their homes for various reasons.
Overall, the lyrics of "国境の町" convey a sobering message of the tragedy of war and the immense societal changes that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
そりのスズさえ さびしくひびく
The sound of metal on snow echoes through the lonely air.
雪の広野よ 町の灯よ
Amidst the vast snowy wilderness, the town lights glow faintly.
一つ山越しゃ 他国の星が
Over a single mountain, the stars of other nations shine.
凍りつくよな 国ざかい
It feels like the borders themselves are frozen solid.
故郷はなれて はるばる千里
Having left my hometown, I've traveled far over thousands of miles.
なんで想いが とどこうぞ
Why won't my thoughts reach back there?
遠きあの空 つくづくながめ
I gaze at that distant sky for a long while.
おとこ泣きする 宵もある
Even men cry on certain nights.
明日にのぞみが ないではない
It's not like there is no hope for tomorrow.
頼み少ない ただ一人
The sole person left, with little to rely on.
赤い夕日も 身につまされて
The sight of the red sunset moves me deeply.
泣くが無理かよ 渡り鳥
Is it impossible for even migratory birds to cry?
Writer(s): 阿部 武雄, 大木 惇夫, 阿部 武雄, 大木 惇夫
Contributed by Caden E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
樗沢仁
ソ満国境近くから各地を経て引き揚げてきました。作曲された当時の世相からすれば、中国とソ連との国境を念頭に置いてのものと理解しています。戦後何度も冬の中国・ロシア国境を訪ね、凍えるなか確かにこの雰囲気だと実感し小声で口ずさみました。温暖化以前の事でもっと寒かったろうと。やっぱり歌は世につれか。87才
清長 橋井
流石東海林先生、美声!
kaiser
子供のころはいつもこの歌を聴いていました。
畑野よしゆき
東海林先生は ステージに立つ3時間前に発声練習してベストの状態にしてステージ終了まで 何も口にしなかったそうです(水さえも❗️) 正にプロフェッショナルです❗️
柴距離
大正生まれのあるおじいさんの話を思い出しながら聞きました。
彼は、樺太の生まれ育ちでしたが、戦争でロシアに追われて家族で逃げたと。逃げる道中お兄さんが亡くなったのですが、遺体をそのまま運ぶ事も焼くことも出来ず、その辺りに埋めるしかなかったそう。なんとか北海道へ逃げる事ができて暮らしを立て直したそうです。その後彼は軍に志願して海軍兵となり出兵したとの事。故郷には死ぬまでついぞ帰れぬまま、お兄さんを迎えに行くことも叶わぬままでした。
润之
旋律非常好听
up house
元声楽やってました。
三才でこの歌聞いて声楽目指しました。
事実です。
オオイシヤスモリ
わたしの、父が
よく歌ていたよで
懐かしくなって
木下和男
この歌はオクターブが広くてカラオケで唄うのは難しい❗️
義正 土江
いいですね。昔の歌は❗️涙が出そうです