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.
函館山から
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
吹き上げる雪の中
飛び交うかもめよ
若い男は 荒海を走る
優しさ拒む 背中にいつも
悲しむ女がいた
今はただ胸にしみる
ひとりの寒さよ
とどろく波よ
誰を待つのか 立待岬
頬を切る風の中 たたずむ乙女よ
紺のかすりに 想い出す笑顔
身勝手許す 背中にそっと
涙を隠していた
淋しさをわかちあえる
懐かしい女よ
凍て曇る冬の空にも
想いを投げよう
函館山から 立待岬
吹き上げる雪の中
飛び交うかもめよ
These lyrics are from the song "函館山から" by 美空ひばり. The song tells a story of longing and nostalgia, capturing the emotions of a woman standing atop Hakodate Mountain and gazing out at the turbulent sea below.
In the first paragraph, the singer describes the scene of Hakodate Mountain and its surroundings. The snow is blowing fiercely, and seagulls are flying overhead. It sets the stage for a tumultuous and wild setting. Amidst this backdrop, a young man fearlessly braves the rough sea, while a woman who always rejects kindness is left saddened behind him. The last line of this paragraph talks about the bittersweetness of the coldness that is felt deep in one's heart, signifying the hardships and challenges of life's journey.
Moving on to the second paragraph, the lyrics shift to focus on a young woman standing on the cliff of Cape Tachimachi, a place known for waiting and longing. She stands there in the biting wind, reminiscing about a past love and smiles that come to her mind through the navy blue haze. She understands that sometimes people act selfishly, but she quietly embraces their faults and carries their burdens on her back. The woman has been concealing her tears all along, and she longs for someone who can understand and share her loneliness. Even in the freezing winter sky, she decides to cast away her thoughts and emotions, hoping they may find solace.
The final paragraph brings us back to the scene of Hakodate Mountain and Cape Tachimachi, with the snow still blowing fiercely. The seagulls continue to fly around, creating a sense of movement and chaos. These images symbolize the ever-changing nature of life and the challenges one must face. The lyrics emphasize the longing and nostalgia felt by both the man and the woman, who are separated but connected through their shared experiences and emotional struggles.
Overall, the song "函館山から" portrays the emotions of longing, sadness, and nostalgia in the face of challenging circumstances. It highlights the resilience and hope that can be found even in the harshest of environments, reminding the listeners to confront their own hardships and find strength within themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
函館山から 立待岬
From Mount Hakodate to Cape Tatami,
吹き上げる雪の中
In the blowing snow,
飛び交うかもめよ
Seagulls fly around,
若い男は 荒海を走る
A young man runs through the rough sea,
優しさ拒む 背中にいつも
Always with a rejected tenderness on his back,
悲しむ女がいた
There was a sad woman,
今はただ胸にしみる
Now, it just resonates in my heart,
ひとりの寒さよ
The loneliness of being alone,
おまえはもう 若くはないと
You are no longer young,
とどろく波よ
The roaring waves,
誰を待つのか 立待岬
Who are you waiting for, Cape Tatami?
頬を切る風の中 たたずむ乙女よ
Standing in the wind that cuts her cheeks, a young maiden,
紺のかすりに 想い出す笑顔
Remembering a smiling face in the faint blue,
身勝手許す 背中にそっと
Softly forgiving the self-centeredness on his back,
涙を隠していた
Hiding her tears,
淋しさをわかちあえる
Sharing the loneliness,
懐かしい女よ
Oh, dear woman,
凍て曇る冬の空にも
Even in the frozen cloudy winter sky,
想いを投げよう
Let's throw my feelings,
函館山から 立待岬
From Mount Hakodate to Cape Tatami,
吹き上げる雪の中
In the blowing snow,
飛び交うかもめよ
Seagulls fly around,
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 佳 小椋
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind