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.
港町十三番地
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
船が港に 泊る夜
海の苦労を グラスの酒に
みんな忘れる マドロス酒場
ああ港町 十三番地
銀杏並木の 敷石道を
君と歩くも 久し振り
波止場通りを 左にまがりゃ
ああ港町 十三番地
船が着く日に 咲かせた花を
船が出る夜 散らす風
涙こらえて 乾杯すれば
窓で泣いてる 三日月様よ
ああ港町 十三番地
The song 港町十三番地 by 美空ひばり (Miyuki Hoshizora) is a nostalgic tribute to a seaside town and the memories shared by its residents. The opening lines describe the end of a long journey, as a ship docks in the harbor after a voyage at sea. The seamen and locals alike gather in the Madros bar to raise a glass and forget the hardships of the sea over a drink of Madros sake. Through this, the song conveys a sense of camaraderie and unity that can be found in close-knit communities, especially in a place like a port town where sailors and townspeople share a symbiotic relationship.
The second verse describes a stroll through the town with a long-lost companion. The silver ginkgo-lined streets and neon lights set an idyllic stage, and the sights and sounds of the town provoke a rush of emotions and memories, capturing the charm of a nostalgia-fueled journey. As the song nears its end, the singer sadly remembers the fleeting nature of life and the moments they've spent in the town, especially during the departure of a ship. The final lines of the song, with its poignant depiction of the moon and its symbolism, are a powerful and evocative image that captures the emotions of the town's residents.
Line by Line Meaning
長い旅路の 航海終えて
After completing a long journey at sea
船が港に 泊る夜
The ship docks at the port for the night
海の苦労を グラスの酒に
Forget the troubles of the sea with a glass of alcohol
みんな忘れる マドロス酒場
Everyone forgets their worries at the Madros Bar
ああ港町 十三番地
Oh, it's 13th Street in the harbor town
銀杏並木の 敷石道を
Walking on a paved road with a ginkgo tree-lined street
君と歩くも 久し振り
It's been a long time since I walked with you
点るネオンに さそわれながら
While being tempted by the neon lights
波止場通りを 左にまがりゃ
Turning left onto the wharf street
ああ港町 十三番地
Oh, it's 13th Street in the harbor town
船が着く日に 咲かせた花を
The flowers that bloomed on the day the ship arrived
船が出る夜 散らす風
The wind scatters the flowers on the night the ship departs
涙こらえて 乾杯すれば
If you hold back your tears and have a toast
窓で泣いてる 三日月様よ
The crescent moon is weeping by the window
ああ港町 十三番地
Oh, it's 13th Street in the harbor town
Writer(s): Gento Uehara, Miyuki Ishimoto
Contributed by Christopher W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
keiko hata
とても新鮮でバックの演奏も港町を思い出す様な素敵なオーケストラで本当に
この曲、このレコードを聞いて港町13番地が大好きになりました。
아유미⇆하영
レコードで聴いていたい曲ですね。お祭りマンボーと川の流れが基本でよく耳にしていたけど、十三番地はちょいちょい耳にして、大好きなお婆ちゃんが亡くなる前ぐらいからずっと美空ひばりを聴くようになりました。
一緒に歌いたかった。
王小姐
很好聽演歌 美空🤗 訂閱👍👍👍
おだひさこ
日本歌謡の名曲
n orito
美空ひばりさんの「港町十三番地」も、よく聴きました。
素晴らしい歌手、女優さんでした。
松重光男
この頃の曲は真空管ラジオの前で聴きながら歌ってました。小学生の頃です✨🎶
hayami seo
昭和３２年と言えば、僕が小学校５年生のときでした。
折から世の中は「マドロスブーム」
マドロスが何を意味するのかも判っていませんでしたが
どうやらオランダ語で「水夫」を表す言葉だったようですね。
青木光一の「小島通いの郵便船」なんかも流行っていましたし、
三橋美智也の「あの娘が泣いてる波止場」もそうでした。
この歌はマドロス歌謡の中でも、鮮やかに僕の記憶に残っています。
同じ年に発生した「ひばり襲撃事件」はショックでしたよ。
三人の姉たちはこの大事件に大騒ぎしていました。
怒り狂って「許せない、犯人を死刑に！」と言い出す始末でした。
ということは、彼女は襲撃されるほど人気が高かったのでしょう。
須永。典子
ひばりさんもう少し自分大切にして欲しかった残念です