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.
玲
長い旅路の 航海終えて
船が港に 泊まる夜
海の苦労を グラスの酒に
みんな忘れる マドロス酒場
あゝ港町 十三番地
銀杏並木の 敷石道を
君と歩くも 久し振り
点るネオンに さそわれながら
波止場通りを 左にまがりゃ
あゝ港町 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 乾盃すれば
窓で泣いてる 三日月様よ
あゝ港町 十三番地
直毛軍曹
死んだはぁちゃんが好きだった曲を聴くと涙がホロリ🥲
優しかったなぁ……お婆ちゃん……
あっ、まだ生きてたわ(;´・ω・)
と改めてコメント見たら10ヶ月前にコメントしたてわw
まだまだばあちゃんは現在です笑
どーしてこうも昔の人って頑丈なんだろwww十分元は取ったろw
玲
長い旅路の 航海終えて
船が港に 泊まる夜
海の苦労を グラスの酒に
みんな忘れる マドロス酒場
あゝ港町 十三番地
銀杏並木の 敷石道を
君と歩くも 久し振り
点るネオンに さそわれながら
波止場通りを 左にまがりゃ
あゝ港町 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 乾盃すれば
窓で泣いてる 三日月様よ
あゝ港町 十三番地
林尚文
小時候聽不懂日文,但是聽到了這首歌總是讓我感到很快樂!
Mei Wang
好歌就是讚👍
yama mori
当時の歌声ですね、港町の場末の雰囲気がよく出ていて好きです。
松重光男
懐かしさで涙が溢れて来そうです,私が小学生の頃にラジオで聴いていた歌声です!!走馬灯の様に幼い頃が浮かびます。有りが当御座います。
直毛軍曹
じいちゃんやんけ!
これからも長生きして下さいね!!
雪平政宗
長生きしてね❤
tang remin
就是這個昭和時期的感覺,真感動。
Daniel Tam
機緣巧合,生而逢時,在那娛樂缺乏的年代,美空用獨一的歌藝,撫慰著戰後日本人戰敗挫節的情緒。
Mei Wang
我現在聽也很感動的。
有好多的歌曲每次聽著我常會感動😢😭