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.
塩屋崎
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
そんな自分が 可愛くて
涙ぬぐった その指を
砂にまぶして 指輪をつくる
哀しい癖を おぼえていたら
私と遊ぼう 塩屋のかもめ
海があんまり 広いから
とてもあいつが 恋しいと
白い貝殻 並べて書くの
子供のように 素直になった
私と語ろう 塩屋の海よ
負けちゃだめよと ささやいた
ひとり自分に うなずいた
波をのりこえ 波がくる
海をみてると 勇気が出るの
逢えないつらさ こらえて生きる
私と歌おう 塩屋の灯り
These lyrics are from the song "Shioyazaki" sung by Misora Hibari. The song reflects on the singer's feelings and experiences in a place called Shioyazaki. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and longing for the sea and the love that once existed.
In the first verse, the singer whispers their desire to become stronger, but confesses that they find their own self endearing. They wipe away their tears and sprinkle the sand on their fingers to create a ring. This signifies the singer's effort to remember the sad habit they had, and invites the listener to play with them in the company of the seagulls of Shioyazaki.
The second verse talks about how the vastness of the sea prevents one from telling lies. The singer expresses their longing for someone in the form of arranging white seashells. They have become honest and childlike, yearning to have a sincere conversation with the sea of Shioyazaki.
In the last verse, the singer whispers to themselves that they must not lose and nods in agreement. They ride the waves and find courage by gazing at the sea. Despite the pain of not being able to meet their beloved, they endure and live on. They invite the listener to sing together under the light of Shioyazaki.
Overall, these lyrics capture the bittersweet nostalgia and longing for love and strength in the beautiful setting of Shioyazaki.
Line by Line Meaning
つよくなろうと つぶやいた
I whispered to myself that I would become stronger
そんな自分が 可愛くて
I find myself cute for thinking like that
涙ぬぐった その指を
Wiping away my tears, I touch my fingers
砂にまぶして 指輪をつくる
Covering them with sand, I make a ring
哀しい癖を おぼえていたら
If I learned to have this sad habit
私と遊ぼう 塩屋のかもめ
Let's play together, seagull of Shioyasaki
海があんまり 広いから
Because the sea is so vast
嘘がつけなく なるんだね
I can't tell lies anymore
とてもあいつが 恋しいと
I miss that person so much
白い貝殻 並べて書くの
I write with white seashells lined up
子供のように 素直になった
I became honest like a child
私と語ろう 塩屋の海よ
Let's converse together, sea of Shioyasaki
負けちゃだめよと ささやいた
I whispered to myself not to lose
ひとり自分に うなずいた
I nodded to myself alone
波をのりこえ 波がくる
Ride the waves, the waves come
海をみてると 勇気が出るの
When I look at the sea, I feel brave
逢えないつらさ こらえて生きる
Enduring the pain of not being able to meet, I live on
私と歌おう 塩屋の灯り
Let's sing together, the lights of Shioyasaki
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 星野哲郎
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
前原房子
群馬県桐生市から
ひとり旅で、
「塩谷岬」へ
旅した事
思い出しました！
演歌の女王
美空ひばりさん
日本🇯🇵人に
素敵な歌を
ありがとう！
「乱れ髪」の歌
ありがとう
ございました。
Piotr Pawelec
Dziękuję Ci Boże za Hibari Misora, za piękną muzykę i głos. Obyśmy mogli, jeśli pozwolisz, zaśpiewać Tobie za dar i piękno życia 😥
Isabel cristina Keity P da silva
Misora Hibari amo as músicas desta diva! Brasil 🇧🇷🇯🇵
Grade1961
復興の活力源であり福島県民の宝物です。聖地でひばりさんの歌唱が聴ければ感無量ですよね！
Bobo Ng
Her actual buried place was in Yokohama. She passed away in Toyko Hospital at age of 52. Caused was Premonia. Right place for her to rest in peace. She was borned there. Okinawa was a memorial ground for visitor and fan to visit. Maybe I am wrong, please correct me.
Thank you. Madam Misora Hibari
順子 副島
何回聴いても💧、こんなに人の心揺さぶる人いないですね(^.^)
hata keiko
今でも素晴らしい唄は沢山ありますが・・
年のせいか・胸を打つ唄・記憶にのこるに歌詞・一緒に歌いたい曲・
に出会えません・星野先生・船村先生・市川先生・古賀先生・三木先生・
遠藤先生・阿久先生・皆さんこぞってひばりさんに唄を提供されていましたね。
淋しい限りです。
典幸横田
いろんな意味で一度は訪ねてみたいです！
高野隆夫
揮毫者の作詞家・星野哲郎も今はなし 人生は無常の積重ね東日本大震災でも津波の被害を受けなかったことでも知られる歌碑である・・
Bobo Ng
Today is your 29th anniversary. Thank you.
Madam Misora Hibari.
We love you and your song forever.
前原房子
群馬県桐生市から
ひとり旅で、
「塩谷岬」へ
旅した事
思い出しました！
演歌の女王
美空ひばりさん
日本🇯🇵人に
素敵な歌を
ありがとう！
「乱れ髪」の歌
ありがとう
ございました。