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.
夫婦春秋
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
だまってあとから ついて来た
俺が二十で お前が十九
さげた手鍋の その中にゃ
明日のめしさえ
なかったなァ お前
ぐちも涙も こぼさずに
そんな強気の お前がいちど
やっと俺らに 陽がさした
あの日なみだを
こぼしたなァ お前
九尺二間が 振り出しで
胸つき八丁の 道ばかり
それが夫婦と 軽くは言うが
俺とお前で 苦労した
花は大事に
咲かそうなァ お前
In 美空ひばり's song 夫婦春秋 (meaning "The Four Seasons of a Married Couple"), the singer tells the story of their marriage with their spouse. The first verse describes how the singer and their spouse first got together, with the singer following their spouse silently as they walked ahead. The singer then mentions that they were 20 years old and their spouse was 19 when they started their life together, with the two of them having very little in terms of material possessions. The only thing that they had was a small pot, in which there wasn't even enough food for the next day.
The second verse speaks of the couple's ability to endure through hard times, with both the singer and their spouse laughing together, even in times of poverty. As time goes on, the singer notes that their spouse, who was once so strong and confident, has finally shed tears of relief at having made it this far in their journey together. Finally, the last verse describes the long and arduous journey that the couple has taken, with many obstacles in their path. Nevertheless, they have always worked together to overcome them, with the singer saying that they will continue to cherish the beauty of life itself.
Overall, 夫婦春秋 is a beautiful and heartfelt song that celebrates the enduring strength of love and the bond between a married couple.
Line by Line Meaning
ついて来いとは 言わぬのに
Although I didn't say 'follow me', you followed me in silence
だまってあとから ついて来た
Silently following me later
俺が二十で お前が十九
I was 20, and you were 19
さげた手鍋の その中にゃ
Inside that lowered pot
明日のめしさえ なかったなァ お前
You didn't even have tomorrow's meal
ぐちも涙も こぼさずに
Without complaining or crying
貧乏おはこと 笑ってた
Smiling despite our poor status
そんな強気の お前がいちど
That proud you, just once
やっと俺らに 陽がさした
Finally the sun shone on us
あの日なみだを こぼしたなァ お前
That day, you shed tears
九尺二間が 振り出しで
Starting from scratch
胸つき八丁の 道ばかり
A long road lies ahead
それが夫婦と 軽くは言うが
That's what they call marriage, though it's not easy
俺とお前で 苦労した
Together, we endured the hardship
花は大事に 咲かそうなァ お前
Take care of the flowers and make them bloom, my dear
Writer(s): Shinichi Sekizawa, Shosuke Ichikawa
Contributed by Elena R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.