Hibari Misora (美空ひばり Misora Hibari, May 29, 1937 - June 24, 1989) was a Ja… Read Full Bio ↴Hibari Misora (美空ひばり Misora Hibari, May 29, 1937 - June 24, 1989) was a Japanese singer and the predominant figure in postwar enka music. Born Kazue Kato (加藤和枝) in Yokohama, she was an accomplished singer by the age of seven, and appeared in film for the first time at age 12. Between 1949's Kanashiki kuchibue and 1971's Onna no Hanamichi, she appeared in over 60 movies.

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.

Hibari jingi
美空ひばり Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

お見かけ通りの渡り鳥......
私生国と発しまするは関東
関東と言っても
関東はいささか広うございます
海の玄関横浜で
生まれた時から船の汽笛を子守唄に
聞いて育った私です
ごめんなすって皆々さまへ

切った仁義に嘘はない
港浜ッ子ハマそだち
受けた情けはかならず返す
これがこれが私の人生さ

袖すり合うもなにかの縁
以後お見知り置き願います......

義理の深さにくらべてみれば
海は浅いよかもめ鳥
肌も鉄火なハマそだち
時と場合じゃ自分を捨てて
人を人をたすける楯となる
逢えば別れる人の常......
あばよと別れて行きましょう
未練はまっぴらごめんです......
丸い盃笑って乾して
酒に誓ったこころ意気
人情一輪ハマそだち

賭けた勝負にゃ死んでも勝つが
恋の恋の涙も知っている

Overall Meaning

These lyrics are from the song "Hibari Jingi" by Misora Hibari. The song begins by describing the singer as a migratory bird, born and raised in Yokohama, which is located in the Kantō region of Japan. The singer acknowledges that even though they are from Kantō, the region is quite vast. They reflect on their upbringing, mentioning how they heard the sound of ship horns as lullabies, apologizing for their way of life to everyone.

The lyrics also talk about the singer's deep sense of duty and loyalty, comparing it to the shallow depth of the sea. The singer declares themselves as a true child of Yokohama, always ready to return any kindness they receive. They believe that helping others and putting oneself in the line of fire is the right way to live their life. They accept the inevitability of meeting and parting ways with people, bid their farewells with no regrets, and toast to their strong spirit with a round cup.

Overall, the lyrics express the singer's pride in their roots, their commitment to honor and loyalty, and their understanding of the fleeting nature of human connections.

Line by Line Meaning

お見かけ通りの渡り鳥......
Just like a migratory bird you see on the surface...

私生国と発しまするは関東
I proudly declare that my birthplace is Kanto

関東と言っても
Though I say Kanto...

関東はいささか広うございます
Kanto is quite vast, I must say

海の玄関横浜で
In Yokohama, the gateway to the sea

生まれた時から船の汽笛を子守唄に
From the moment I was born, I heard the ship's whistle as a lullaby

聞いて育った私です
I was raised listening to it

ごめんなすって皆々さまへ
Apologies to everyone, but...

切った仁義に嘘はない
There are no lies in the code of honor I've severed

港浜ッ子ハマそだち
A child of the port, born and raised in the beachside town

受けた情けはかならず返す
I always repay the kindness I receive