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.
旅笠道中
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
渡り鳥かよ 俺らの旅は
風のまにまに 吹きさらし
風が変れば 俺らも変る
仁義双六 丁半かけて
渡るやくざの たよりなさ
とかくやくざは 苦労の種よ
恋も人情も 旅の空
情ないぞえ 道中時雨
どうせ降るなら あの娘の宿で
降っておくれよ しんみりと
The lyrics of 美空ひばり's song 旅笠道中 suggest the harshness and unpredictability of life for a group of people on a journey. The first verse describes the coldness of the night and loneliness of their hearts, comparing their journey to that of migrating birds. The second verse speaks of the unpredictability of the wind, which has the power to change their course and affect their journey. The use of the term "仁義双六" refers to the popular Japanese board game "sugoroku", which signifies the unpredictability and risks of their journey.
The third verse speaks of the difficulties and struggles of the life of a yakuza, and the reliance on the uncertainty of the journey. The next line refers to the tavern owners, who provide shelter and stability for the travelers. The lyrics continue to suggest that love and human emotions are just as uncertain and fleeting as the journey itself. The final lines express a desire for the rain to fall in the company of a beloved woman, as the road continues to be tumultuous.
Line by Line Meaning
夜が冷たい 心が寒い
The night is cold, my heart is lonely.
渡り鳥かよ 俺らの旅は
Our journey is like that of migrating birds.
風のまにまに 吹きさらし
We are at the mercy of the wind, exposed.
風が変れば 俺らも変る
Just as the wind changes, so do we.
仁義双六 丁半かけて
Playing games of chance, like backgammon or dice.
渡るやくざの たよりなさ
We rely on other yakuza crossing the same path.
亭主もつなら 堅気をおもち
If a man has a wife, he must be faithful and dependable.
とかくやくざは 苦労の種よ
Yakuza have many hardships to face.
恋も人情も 旅の空
Love and human emotions are left behind in the journey.
情ないぞえ 道中時雨
Coldly wrapped in our clothes, walking through a light rain.
どうせ降るなら あの娘の宿で
If it rains, let it rain at that girl's inn.
降っておくれよ しんみりと
Rain down heavily, giving us a quiet moment to reflect.
Writer(s): Masao Yoneyama
Contributed by Jasmine G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.