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.
花と龍
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
訊いてご覧よ 応えは一つ
男一代 若松港
晴れの舞台に 名を刻め
意地を捨てるか 情けを切るか
いざという時ゃ 心が決める
永く生きても 人間五十
俺の命は 女房にあずけ
親の心は 伜にたくす
冬の辛さを かみしめながら
やがて近づく 春を待つ
The lyrics of "花と龍" by 美空ひばり tell a story of a man who has faced challenges and struggles in his life. The dragon tangled in the flowers on his back symbolizes his past experiences and burdens. The man asks the dragon a question, seeking an answer that will guide him. The dragon replies with a single response, implying that there is only one correct path for him to take.
The man reflects on his life and the choices he has to make. He contemplates whether he should abandon his pride and stubbornness to show mercy and kindness, or if he should remain unyielding in tough situations. In times of crisis, he knows that it is ultimately his heart that will make the decision.
Despite the hardships he has encountered and the passage of time, the man acknowledges that he is still just a mortal with a limited lifespan. However, he firmly states that he will be the one to wipe away his own tears. This signifies his resilience and determination to face his own emotions and handle his own problems.
As the man entrusts his life to his wife and experiences the love and care of his parents, he also acknowledges the bitter coldness of winter. However, he finds solace in knowing that spring will eventually arrive, bringing a new beginning and hope. The lyrics capture the themes of self-reflection, choices, resilience, love, and the cyclical nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
花にからまる 背中の龍に
Like a dragon entwined with flowers on my back,
訊いてご覧よ 応えは一つ
Listen and see, the answer is one,
男一代 若松港
Living a lifetime, at Wakamatsu Port,
晴れの舞台に 名を刻め
Leave your name on the bright stage,
意地を捨てるか 情けを切るか
Will you abandon your pride or show compassion,
いざという時ゃ 心が決める
In times of urgency, it is your heart that decides,
永く生きても 人間五十
Even if one lives long, a human's life is but fifty,
俺の涙は 俺が拭く
I wipe away my own tears,
俺の命は 女房にあずけ
My life is entrusted to my wife,
親の心は 伜にたくす
A parent's heart is passed down to their child,
冬の辛さを かみしめながら
While enduring the hardships of winter,
やがて近づく 春を待つ
I await the approaching spring.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 藤田まさと
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind