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.

悲しき口笛
美空ひばり Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

丘のホテルの赤い灯も
胸のあかりも消えるころ
みなと小雨が降るように
ふしも悲しい口笛が
恋の街角露地の細道流れ行く

いつかまた逢う指切りで
笑いながらに別れたが

白い小指のいとしさが
忘れられないさびしさを
歌に歌って祈るこころのいじらしさ

夜のグラスの酒よりも
もゆる紅色色さえも
恋の花ゆえ口づけて

君に捧げた薔薇の花
ドラの響きにゆれて悲しや夢と散る

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to 美空ひばり's song 悲しき口笛 ("Kanashiki Kuchibue") describe the moment when a couple is about to say goodbye at the end of a night spent together, possibly in a hotel on a hill. The red light of the hotel and the light in their hearts will soon disappear, just like the small rain falling in the harbor. This moment is also accompanied by a sad whistle, perhaps from a train passing by or a ship leaving the port. As they walk on the narrow path under the falling rain, the singer describes the surroundings as the "corner of a love city," emphasizing the bittersweet atmosphere of the separation.

The second verse of the song talks about the promise of meeting again with just a simple sign of crossing their little fingers. They leave each other with a smile, but the sweet memory of holding their beloved's little finger cannot be forgotten. The lyrics in this part are particularly poignant, as they express the delicate and intimate feeling of the farewell scene. Finally, the song mentions the red rose that the singer offers to her lover as a symbol of their love. The rose will fade away in a dreamlike sadness, just like the echo of a drum.

Overall, the lyrics of 悲しき口笛 express a melancholic feeling of separation, but they also highlight the beauty of love's fleeting moments. The singer's voice and tone add a layer of nostalgia that complements the lyrics perfectly, making this song a classic of Japanese music.

Line by Line Meaning

丘のホテルの赤い灯も
As the red light of the hill hotel also goes out

胸のあかりも消えるころ
At the time when the light in my heart also fades away

みなと小雨が降るように
Just like the light rain that falls on the harbor

ふしも悲しい口笛が
An inevitably sad whistle

恋の街角露地の細道流れ行く
Flowing down the narrow streets of love on dewy ground

いつかまた逢う指切りで
We swore to meet again by linking our little fingers

笑いながらに別れたが
Though we parted with a smile

白い小指のいとしさが
The loveliness of your little finger that is white

忘れられないさびしさを
Leaves behind an unforgettable loneliness

歌に歌って祈るこころのいじらしさ
Singing a song with a tender heart that prays

夜のグラスの酒よりも
More than the drinks in a glass at night