In April of 1987, on the way to a performance in Fukuoka, she suddenly collapsed. Rushed to hospital, she was diagnosed with bilateral femoral necrosis brought on by chronic hepatitis. Until August she was confined to hospital and eventually showed signs of recovery. She commenced recording a new song Midaregami in October, and in 1988 performed at a concert called Fushichou konsaato (Phoenix Concert) at the Tokyo Dome. Against overwhelming pain in her legs, she performed a total of 39 songs while assuring her fans that she had completely recovered. However, on 24 May 1989, having been re-admitted to the Juntendou hospital in Tokyo, she died from interstitial pneumonitis at the age of 52.
In July 1989 after her death, she became the first female recipient of the National Prize of Honour (国民栄誉賞) for her longstanding contributions to the music industry.
In 1993, the Misora Hibari-kan opened in Arashiyama, Kyoto. Its popularity with fans and tourists has endured through to the present.
Her most famous song, "Kawa no nagare no yō ni," (1989) was voted #1 in a 1997 NHK poll of the best Japanese songs of all time.
お祭りマンボ
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
神田の生まれで チャキチャキ江戸っ子
お祭りさわぎが大好きで
ねじりはちまき そろいのゆかた
雨が降ろうが ヤリが降ろうが
朝から晩まで おみこしかついで
ワッショイワッショイ
ワッショイワッショイ
ワッショイワッショイ
ワッショイワッショイ
ソーレ ソレソレ お祭りだ
おじさんおじさん大変だ
どこかで半鐘が なっている
火事は近いよ スリバンだ
何をいっても ワッショイショイ
何をきいても ワッショイショイ
ワッショイワッショイ
ワッショイワッショイ
ソーレ ソレソレ お祭りだ
そのまた隣の おばさんは
浅草育ちで チョッピリ美人で
お祭りさわぎが 大好きで
意気な素足に しぼりのゆかた
雨が降ろうが ヤリが降ろうが
朝から晩まで おかぐら見物
ピーヒャラピーヒャラ
テンツクテンツク
おかめと鬼が
ハンニャとヒョットコが
ピーヒャラピーヒャラ
テンツクテンツク
ソーレ ソレソレ お祭りだ
おばさんおばさん 大変だ
おうちは留守だよ からっぽだ
こっそり空巣が ねらってる
何をいっても ピーヒャラヒャ
何をきいても テンツクツ
ピーヒャラピーヒャラ
テンツクテンツク
ソーレ ソレソレ お祭りだ
お祭りすんで 日が暮れて
つめたい風の 吹く夜は
家を焼かれた おじさんと
ヘソクリとられた おばさんの
ほんにせつない ためいきばかり
いくら泣いても かえらない
いくら泣いても あとの祭りよ
The lyrics to 美空ひばり's song お祭りマンボ depict a festive scene of a local festival and the enjoyment of the people who attend it. The first stanza describes an elderly man, who loves the festivals and wears a twisted headband and matching yukata. The second stanza introduces a lady, a beautiful woman from Asakusa who wears a shibori yukata and enjoys watching the festival. Both are dedicated to participating and enjoying the festival no matter the weather.
However, toward the end of the song, the lyrics take a melancholy turn. The last stanza describes a cold night after the festival, where the elderly man's house is burnt down and the lady is robbed. They both lament their loss and express deep sorrow, but it is clear that there is nothing they can do to change what has happened.
Line by Line Meaning
私のとなりのおじさんは
I have an old man neighbor next to me
神田の生まれで チャキチャキ江戸っ子
He was born in Kanda and he is a sharp, throaty Edo person
お祭りさわぎが大好きで
He loves lively festivals
ねじりはちまき そろいのゆかた
Wearing a twisted headband and matching yukata
雨が降ろうが ヤリが降ろうが
Regardless of rain or spear
朝から晩まで おみこしかついで
He visits shrines and temples from morning till night
ワッショイワッショイ
A shout of festival participants in unison while carrying a mikoshi.
景気をつけろ 塩まいておくれ
Revive your spirits! Spread the salt!
ソーレ ソレソレ お祭りだ
A shout of festival participants to show their celebration.
おじさんおじさん大変だ
Oh my, oh my, the old man is in trouble
どこかで半鐘が なっている
Somewhere, a bell is ringing
火事は近いよ スリバンだ
There's a fire nearby; hurry up!
何をいっても ワッショイショイ
No matter what you say, everyone is shouting 'Wasshoi, Shoi!'
ワッショイワッショイ
Same as above 'Wasshoi, Wasshoi'
ソーレ ソレソレ お祭りだ
Same as above 'Sore sore, o-matsuri da'
そのまた隣の おばさんは
Moreover, there is an old lady neighbor next to her
浅草育ちで チョッピリ美人で
She was raised in Asakusa, and she's a little beauty
お祭りさわぎが 大好きで
She loves lively festivals
意気な素足に しぼりのゆかた
Wearing a bold yukata with bare legs
朝から晩まで おかぐら見物
Watching the Okagura from morning till night
ピーヒャラピーヒャラ
The onomatopoeia sound when girls wearing geta, hitting the floor.
テンツクテンツク
The sound of the festival music, it's a bugle and drum.
おかめと鬼が
The mask of the old woman, and the mask of the devil
ハンニャとヒョットコが
The two characters of the faceless man, Hannya and Hyottoko, represent a couple performing a comic dance.
ソーレ ソレソレ お祭りだ
Same as above 'Sore sore, o-matsuri da'
おばさんおばさん 大変だ
Oh my, oh my, the old woman is in trouble
おうちは留守だよ からっぽだ
Their house is empty, no one's home
こっそり空巣が ねらってる
A burglar is secretly aiming for it
何をいっても ピーヒャラヒャ
No matter what you say, people hit the floor with Geta sandals, creating the sound of 'Pi hyara hya'.
何をきいても テンツクツ
No matter what you hear, festival music playing with a bugle and drum.
お祭りすんで 日が暮れて
The festival ended, and the sun set.
つめたい風の 吹く夜は
On a cold night when the wind blows
家を焼かれた おじさんと
The old man's house burnt down
ヘソクリとられた おばさんの
The old lady's purse was stolen
ほんにせつない ためいきばかり
I can only sigh deeply
いくら泣いても かえらない
No matter how much we cry, we can't go back
いくら泣いても あとの祭りよ
No matter how much we cry, it's all for nothing now.
Writer(s): 原 六朗, 原 六朗
Contributed by Luke K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.