… Read Full Bio ↴Kenichi Mikawa (美川 憲一, born 15 May 1946) is a Japanese enka singer.
Mikawa was born in Suwa, Nagano as Yoshikazu Momose (百瀬 由一, Momose Yoshikazu). He recorded a number of hit songs as a male enka singer in the 1960s and 1970s. The most well-known of his songs include "Sasoriza no Onna" and "Yanagase Blues". His career went into decline in the mid-1970s, but revived about 10 years later when he adopted his current style. He makes frequent appearances on TV talk and variety shows, and is also known as a regular performer on Kōhaku Uta Gassen, the popular New Year's Eve music show. One of the highlights of that show is his annual contest with enka singer Sachiko Kobayashi for the most elaborate costume.
新潟ブルース
美川憲一 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
今日も霧がふる 万代橋よ
別れの前に 抱きしめた
小さな肩よ
ああ 新潟は新潟は 面影の街
しあわせの夜を 二人過したね
ほのかに白い 指先で
涙をふいた
ああ 想い出の想い出の 新潟の女
忘られなくて ひとりさまよえば
青い灯がゆれる 新潟駅よ
愛したわけじゃ ないんだと
強がり云えば
ああ 新潟は新潟は 霧に更けゆく
The lyrics of 美川憲一's song 新潟ブルース describe a nostalgic and melancholic moment of farewell and remembrance. The first stanza depicts a foggy night filled with memories, as the singer embraces a small shoulder before parting ways. The city of Niigata, where the scene is set, is described as a place of lingering memories. The second stanza refers to a happy night spent with someone special, walking through the streets of Furumachi. Despite trying to act tough by saying that they didn't fall in love, the singer can't forget the woman of Niigata.
The song conveys a bittersweet feeling of fondly remembering a place and person that are no longer within reach. The fog and mist mentioned throughout the lyrics can be interpreted as a metaphor for the haziness of memory and nostalgia. The use of the word "blues" in the title of the song indicates a sense of longing and sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
思い出の夜は 霧が深かった
On that memorable night, the fog was thick.
今日も霧がふる 万代橋よ
Today, fog is falling on the Bandai Bridge.
別れの前に 抱きしめた
Before saying goodbye, I hugged you,
小さな肩よ
Your small shoulders.
ああ 新潟は新潟は 面影の街
Ah, Niigata, Niigata, the city of memories.
しあわせの夜を 二人過したね
We spent a happy night together,
いつかより添った 古町通り
On the old shopping street, closer than ever before,
ほのかに白い 指先で
With your faintly white fingertips,
涙をふいた
You wiped away my tears.
ああ 想い出の想い出の 新潟の女
Ah, the woman of Niigata, the most memorable of memories.
忘られなくて ひとりさまよえば
If I wander alone, unable to forget,
青い灯がゆれる 新潟駅よ
Niigata station, where the blue lights sway.
愛したわけじゃ ないんだと
I didn't love you, I say,
強がり云えば
Putting on a brave front.
ああ 新潟は新潟は 霧に更けゆく
Ah, Niigata, Niigata, is shrouded in the fog of night.
Writer(s): 山岸 一二三, 山岸 英樹, 山岸 一二三, 山岸 英樹
Contributed by Zoe N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.