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.
岸壁の母
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
この岸壁に 今日も来た
とどかぬ願いと 知りながら
もしやもしやに もしやもしやに
ひかされて
(セリフ)又 引揚船が帰って来たに
今度もあの子は帰らない。
わしの姿が見えんのか。
港の名前は舞鶴なのに
なぜ飛んで来てはくれぬのじゃ...
帰れないなら大きな声で...
お願い... せめて、せめて一言...
呼んで下さい おがみます
ああ おッ母さんよく来たと
海山千里と 言うけれど
なんで遠かろ なんで遠かろ
母と子に
(セリフ)あれから十年...
あの子はどうしているじゃろう。
雪と風のシベリアは寒いじゃろう
つらかったじゃろうと命の限り抱きしめて...
この肌で温めてやりたい...
その日の来るまで死にはせん。
いつまでも待っている...
悲願十年 この祈り
神様だけが 知っている
流れる雲より 風よりも
つらいさだめの つらいさだめの
杖ひとつ
(セリフ)ああ風よ、心あらば伝えてよ。
愛し子待ちて今日も又、
どとう砕くる岸壁に立つ母の姿を...
The title of the song is 岸壁の母 ("The Mother on the Dock"), and the lyrics depict the emotional story of a mother who has been waiting on the dock for her son's return from war for ten years. The opening lines, "Mother has come, she came today / She came to this dock again today," show her dedication to waiting and hoping for her son's return, despite knowing that her wish may not come true. The line "led astray by the vague hope" suggests that she may be deluding herself with false hope, as she continues to wait years after her son's disappearance.
The spoken section of the song mentions that the repatriation ship has returned empty-handed once again, reinforcing the heart-wrenching premise that the mother is still waiting for something that may never come. The mother asks, "Can't you see me waiting on this dock?," indicating that she hopes her son would know that she is waiting for him. The line "why does the distance feel so far between mother and child" highlights the sense of longing and sadness that the mother and son both feel as they are separated from each other.
Line by Line Meaning
母は来ました 今日も来た
Mother has arrived, today too she has come
この岸壁に 今日も来た
On this pier, today as well she has come
とどかぬ願いと 知りながら
Although knowing her wishes cannot reach
もしやもしやに もしやもしやに ひかされて
Perhaps, perhaps, is she being deceived?
(セリフ)又 引揚船が帰って来たに 今度もあの子は帰らない。 この岸壁で待っている わしの姿が見えんのか。 港の名前は舞鶴なのに なぜ飛んで来てはくれぬのじゃ... 帰れないなら大きな声で... お願い... せめて、せめて一言...
Once again, the returning ship brings no news of her child. Waiting on this pier, can her child not see her? This port is called Maizuru, then why does she not come flying back to it? If she cannot return, then plead loudly, just one word at least...
呼んで下さい おがみます
Please call me, as I will be waiting
ああ おッ母さんよく来たと
Ah, mother you have come, as usual
海山千里と 言うけれど
They say the ocean and mountains are a thousand miles apart, but
なんで遠かろ なんで遠かろ 母と子に
why does it feel so far apart for a mother and her child?
(セリフ)あれから十年... あの子はどうしているじゃろう。 雪と風のシベリアは寒いじゃろう つらかったじゃろうと命の限り抱きしめて... この肌で温めてやりたい... その日の来るまで死にはせん。 いつまでも待っている...
Ten years have passed...how is her child doing? The Siberia with its snow and wind must be so cold, and very painful. But she wants to hug her child until her last breath, to warm her child with her own skin...until that day comes, she shall not die. Forever waiting...
悲願十年 この祈り
For ten years, her wish has been this prayer
神様だけが 知っている
Only god knows
流れる雲より 風よりも
More than the flowing clouds, and even the wind
つらいさだめの つらいさだめの 杖ひとつ
The fate of suffering with a single crutch
(セリフ)ああ風よ、心あらば伝えてよ。 愛し子待ちて今日も又、 どとう砕くる岸壁に立つ母の姿を...
Oh wind, if you have a heart, please let her know. Waiting for her beloved child, once again standing on this pier that keeps breaking apart...
Writer(s): Namiryu Hirakawa, 藤田まさと
Contributed by Christopher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-mw3nd4sv2r
岸壁の母의 무대 舞鶴市(마이즈루 市)는 일본의 2차 세계대전 패전
후에 많은 병사가 귀환했던 항구도시로 1945~55년 시베리아와
중국으로부터 약 66만5천 명이 귀환하였음.
이 곡은 舞鶴市에서 돌아오지 않는 자식을 기다리는 (단야이세)라는
노부인의 애절한 마음을 노래한 것으로 그녀는 1950년 1월부터 귀국선이
입항할 때마다 6년간 안벽에서 그녀의 외아들 (신이)를 계속 기다리고
있었다고 함. 아들 (신이)가 소화 1945년 8월 15일 전사하였다는 통보를
1956년에 정부로부터 받았는데도 아들이 반드시 돌아온다는 신념으로
안벽에서 계속 기다리다가 1981년 7월 1일 향년 81세로 세상을 떠났다고 합니다.
@user-mw3nd4sv2r
岸壁の母의 무대 舞鶴市(마이즈루 市)는 일본의 2차 세계대전 패전
후에 많은 병사가 귀환했던 항구도시로 1945~55년 시베리아와
중국으로부터 약 66만5천 명이 귀환하였음.
이 곡은 舞鶴市에서 돌아오지 않는 자식을 기다리는 (단야이세)라는
노부인의 애절한 마음을 노래한 것으로 그녀는 1950년 1월부터 귀국선이
입항할 때마다 6년간 안벽에서 그녀의 외아들 (신이)를 계속 기다리고
있었다고 함. 아들 (신이)가 소화 1945년 8월 15일 전사하였다는 통보를
1956년에 정부로부터 받았는데도 아들이 반드시 돌아온다는 신념으로
안벽에서 계속 기다리다가 1981년 7월 1일 향년 81세로 세상을 떠났다고 합니다.
@user-tv6je9bl2j
あ~お母さん ❗
@joonhokim9093
가슴이 저리게 아픈 사연이군요....!!
저 세상에서 나마 두 모자가 상봉을 했으면 좋겠습니다.
@user-tp5ei7jv1j
정말자식생각하니슬퍼요
@user-tv6je9bl2j
어머니 생각에 가슴이 먹먹 합니다!
@user-tx3px9sz1k
국적을초월하여이세상의
어머니마음은다같은가봅니다
@user-mw3nd4sv2r
노래의 사연이 가습아픕니다
@user-yr4kp7wu1n
순돌 아빠님 오늘도 이렇게 좋은 명곡 엔카 너무 감사 합니다 힘든 세상 살맛납니다 최고입니다 !👍👍👍😍건강하세요 화이팅
@user-mw3nd4sv2r
옥향님 감사합니다.
.
@user-mw3nd4sv2r
옥향님 감사합니다.
.