Naoko Ken (研ナオコ Ken Naoko) (born July 7, 1953 - ) is a Japanese singer and… Read Full Bio ↴Naoko Ken (研ナオコ Ken Naoko) (born July 7, 1953 - ) is a Japanese singer and actress. She is well-known for her comedy roles featuring idiosyncratic looks, and a string of successful torch songs that gained popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

In 1971, Ken debuted as an enka-oriented singer with a single "Daitokai no Yasagure On'na". In 1975, after the release of several charted singles, she gained the first outstanding commercial success with a song "Guzu", which was written by Ryudo Uzaki and his wife Yoko Aki. "Abayo", a song written by Miyuki Nakajima became the most successful single for Ken, selling more than 600,000 copies. In 1976, the prize-winning song reached number-one spot on the Oricon, Japan's most eminent chart.

In addition to the success as a musician, she also obtained popularity as a tarento in the mid 1970s, through her comical actings on the multiple TV shows including Kakkurakin Daihousou!!.

After the temporary hiatus of its career in 1977, she returned to the Japanese entertainment industry with a hit tune "Kamome wa Kamome". The melancholic ballad written by Nakajima became known as one of her signature songs, finally sold in excess of 300,000 units.

In 1982, she gained huge commercial success as a singer again with a cover version of the Southern All Stars' song "Natsu wo Akiramete", winning several Japanese music prizes. The song is her last top-ten hit solo single so far.

Through her long-term career as a comedic TV personality, she has released several novelty singles with other performers such as Ken Shimura. The song "Natsuzakari Ho no Ji Gumi" recorded with an idol singer Toshihiko Tahara is the last top-40 hit single for Ken on the Japanese record charts.

明日靴がかわいたら
研ナオコ Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

明日靴がかわいたら
長い坂をおりて
となり町のふもとまで
大切な買い物に
古い靴のひもは切れかかり
新しいのが要る
早くとなり町へ買い物に
急いで歩いてゆく

坂のこちらには店がない
となり町へ歩かなければ
この靴はとなりの町角で
もらったものだから
明日濡れた靴がかわいたら
となり町へ買い物に

長い坂をおりたなら
広い河を渡る

となり町へ入るには
河を越えるほかはない

Overall Meaning

The song "明日靴がかわいたら" by 研ナオコ tells the story of a person who needs to go to a neighboring town to buy something important. They are aware that their shoes are old and the laces are worn out, so they must hurry to buy new ones before embarking on their journey. The individual must navigate a long slope and cross a large river to reach the neighboring town. The lyrics suggest a sense of urgency and determination, as well as resilience in the face of possible obstacles.

The song can be interpreted as an allegory for life's challenges and journeys. The singer faces obstacles along the way, such as having to walk to the neighboring town or finding out that their shoes need replacing. However, they press on despite the difficulties and seem to be looking forward to the journey ahead. The song has a positive message about perseverance and the importance of moving forward, even when the path ahead is unclear.

Line by Line Meaning

明日靴がかわいたら
If my shoes are worn out tomorrow

長い坂をおりて
I'll go down a long hill

となり町のふもとまで
to the foot of the neighboring town

大切な買い物に
for an important errand

古い靴のひもは切れかかり
the laces of my old shoes are fraying

新しいのが要る
I need new ones

早くとなり町へ買い物に
I hurry to the neighboring town to buy some

急いで歩いてゆく
walking quickly

坂のこちらには店がない
there is no shop on this side of the hill

となり町へ歩かなければ
I have to walk to the neighboring town

この靴はとなりの町角で
These shoes were given to me at the corner of the neighboring town