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.

むらさきの夜明け
美空ひばり Lyrics

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はるかな空の彼方から
夜明けが今日も訪れる
ながれる雲を追いながら
ほのかな愛を告げるよに
見上げてごらん!
かなしみの淵に
むらさきのむらさきの
夜明けがやってくる

希望をつれた太陽が
あなたのために昇るだろう

孤独をじっと抱きしめて
はてない道を一筋に
歩いてゆこう風の中
今日より明日を夢に見て
見上げてごらん!
かなしみの淵に
むらさきのむらさきの
夜明けがやってくる
しあわせ染めて燃えるよな

夜明けの空を仰ごうよ
夜明けの空を仰ごうよ

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Murasaki no Yoake" by 美空ひばり express the beauty and hopefulness of a new day dawning. The opening lines speak of the dawn arriving from far beyond the distant sky, as the singer follows the flowing clouds. It is as if the gentle breeze carries a message of love, symbolized by the faint purplish hue of the dawn. The singer encourages the listener to look up and witness the arrival of the dawn in the depths of their sadness or sorrow.

The second verse talks about embracing loneliness and walking a never-ending path, amidst the wind. The singer urges the listener to dream of tomorrow, looking up to the sky and waiting for the dawn to arrive. The lyrics emphasize the power of hope and the belief that the sun, carrying hope, will rise for the sake of the listener.

Overall, "Murasaki no Yoake" is a song that portrays the arrival of a new day as a symbol of hope, love, and the possibility of a brighter future. It encourages the listener to embrace their emotions, face the challenges of life head-on, and envision a tomorrow full of happiness and fulfillment.

Line by Line Meaning

はるかな空の彼方から
From a distant sky, far away

夜明けが今日も訪れる
The dawn arrives again today

ながれる雲を追いながら
Chasing after the flowing clouds

ほのかな愛を告げるよに
As if softly proclaiming love

見上げてごらん!
Look up and see!

かなしみの淵に
In the depths of sadness

むらさきのむらさきの
Purple, purple

夜明けがやってくる
The dawn is coming

希望をつれた太陽が
The sun brings hope

あなたのために昇るだろう
It will rise for you

孤独をじっと抱きしめて
Embrace loneliness tightly