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.
矢切の渡し
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
「ついておいでよ
夕ぐれの雨が降る 矢切の渡し
親のこころに そむいてまでも
恋に生きたい 二人です
「見捨てないでね
北風が泣いて吹く 矢切の渡し
噂かなしい 柴又すてて
舟にまかせる さだめです
「どこへ行くのよ
「知らぬ土地だよ
揺れながら艪が咽ぶ 矢切の渡し
息を殺して 身を寄せながら
明日へ漕ぎだす 別れです
The lyrics to 美空ひばり's song 矢切の渡し (Yagiri no Watashi) depict a couple who are leaving home and taking a boat across the river, despite their parents' objections. The rain is falling on this dusk evening as they head towards their new life together. The couple's strong desire for love is causing them to rebel against their families' wishes, however, they request their parents not to abandon them as they traverse this journey together.
The lyrics often mention the strong winds of the North and the rumors of the town, representing the hardships that the couple will face as they leave their familiar surroundings. The crossing of the river using a boat symbolizes the couple's departure and the start of a new life. The lyrics also indicate a feeling of uncertainty that this new journey brings, as the couple questions where they're going, but steels themselves for the challenges ahead.
Overall, the song captures the bittersweet moment of leaving home and starting anew, with the lyrics painting the scene of the couple's departure across the river in a poignant and powerful way.
Line by Line Meaning
つれて逃げてよ
Come with me and let's escape together
ついておいでよ
Follow me and don't be left behind
夕ぐれの雨が降る 矢切の渡し
In the evening rain at the Yagiri Ferry crossing
親のこころに そむいてまでも
Even if it goes against our parents' wishes
恋に生きたい 二人です
We want to live for love, the two of us
「見捨てないでね
Please don't abandon me
「捨てはしないよ
I will never leave you
北風が泣いて吹く 矢切の渡し
The north wind is blowing and crying at the Yagiri Ferry crossing
噂かなしい 柴又すてて
Leaving behind the rumors of Shibamata
舟にまかせる さだめです
It's destiny, we leave it to the boat
「どこへ行くのよ
Where are we going?
「知らぬ土地だよ
It's a land we don't know
揺れながら艪が咽ぶ 矢切の渡し
Rowing and swaying at the Yagiri Ferry crossing
息を殺して 身を寄せながら
Inch closer to each other, holding our breath
明日へ漕ぎだす 別れです
We set out towards tomorrow, saying goodbye
Writer(s): Miyuki Ishimoto, Toru Funamura
Contributed by Riley O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chan Jane
Her voice is very unique. Amazing indeed!
ひtidori
ひばりさんの「矢切の渡し」は最高！です、
Katclaire Jewels
ひばりは何を歌ってもベスト。
Mei Wang
同意する
chikochiko
ひばりちやんの矢切の渡しは情景が浮ひ、最高にいいですね😊
くろだまどか
ひばりさんの歌唱は素敵です
Mei Wang
完全同意
yokkom
何を歌っても自分のものになっちゃう・・・ひばり節！
Mei Wang
ありがとうございます。ひばりさんはすごい、最高)👍
江憶文
非常好聽，真數不清她到底唱了多少歌曲，(*＾ー＾)