Hibari Misora (美空ひばり Misora Hibari, May 29, 1937 - June 24, 1989) was a Ja… Read Full Bio ↴Hibari Misora (美空ひばり Misora Hibari, May 29, 1937 - June 24, 1989) was a Japanese singer and the predominant figure in postwar enka music. Born Kazue Kato (加藤和枝) in Yokohama, she was an accomplished singer by the age of seven, and appeared in film for the first time at age 12. Between 1949's Kanashiki kuchibue and 1971's Onna no Hanamichi, she appeared in over 60 movies.

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.

ひばりの花売娘
美空ひばり Lyrics

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花を召しませランララン
愛の紅ばら恋の花
もゆる心のささやきか
恋のそよ風ゆらゆらと
ゆれてはずかし赤いばら
花を召しませランララン
召しませ紅ばら恋の花

花を召しませランララン
白いミモザは夢の花
ぬれた心の愛の露
月の光かささやきか
丘のチャペルの鐘の音が
花を召しませランララン
召しませミモザは愛の花

花を召しませランララン
乙女やさしいチューリップ
赤白黄色ととりどりの
レビューまくぎれ千代紙や
なげたテープのうつくしさ
花を召しませランララン
召しませやさしいチューリップ

花を召しませランララン
花は散るものしぼむもの
咲いた思いのはなびらに
夢があるうちいまのうち
愛(いと)しお方に捧げなさい

花を召しませランララン
召しませなさけの花束を

Overall Meaning

In the song ひばりの花売娘 (Hibari no Hanamai Musume), 美空ひばり (Miyuki Kawanaka) sings the lyrics "花を召しませランララン" (Hana wo meshimase ranran), which can be interpreted as "Please buy my flowers, lalala". The lyrics then continue on to describe different flowers and their meanings in the language of love. The first verse mentions "赤いばら" (Akaibara), or "red roses", which are often associated with passionate love. The second verse mentions "白いミモザ" (Shiroi Mimosa), or "white mimosa", which symbolizes sensitivity and love in secret. The last verse talks about how flowers wither and fade, but while they last, they hold the dreams of the person who gave them.

The lyrics of this song vividly describe the life of a flower seller, or "Hanamai Musume", as she beckons customers to buy her flowers. The singer portrays the different flowers as messengers of love, whispering sweet nothings into the hearts of those who receive them. The song is an apt representation of the Japanese culture as flowers are integral to their traditions and are a symbol of beauty, love and respect.

Line by Line Meaning

花を召しませランララン
Please buy some flowers. La la la.

愛の紅ばら恋の花
Here is a red rose of love and a flower of romance.

もゆる心のささやきか
Can you hear the whispers of my tender heart?

恋のそよ風ゆらゆらと
The gentle breeze of love is swaying softly.

ゆれてはずかし赤いばら
The red rose is shyly trembling.

召しませ紅ばら恋の花
Please buy this red rose of love.

白いミモザは夢の花
The white mimosa is the flower of dreams.

ぬれた心の愛の露
The dew of love has wet my heart.

月の光かささやきか
Is it the moonlight or whispers I hear?

丘のチャペルの鐘の音が
The sound of the chapel bell on the hill is ringing.

召しませミモザは愛の花
Please buy this mimosa of love.