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.

Kanashii Sake
美空ひばり Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

ひとり酒場で飲む酒は
別れ涙の味がする
飲んで棄てたい面影が
飲めばグラスにまた浮かぶ
ああ別れたあとの心残りよ
未練なのね
あの人の面影
淋しさを忘れるために

飲んでいるのに
酒は今夜も私を悲しくさせる
酒よどうしてどうして
あの人を
あきらめたらいいの
あきらめたらいいの

酒よこゝろがあるならば
胸の悩みを消してくれ
酔えば悲しくなる酒を
飲んで泣くのも恋のため

一人ぼっちが好きだよと
言った心の裏で泣く

好きで添えない人の世を
泣いて怨んで夜が更ける

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Misora Hibari's song 悲しい酒 (Kanashii Sake) describe the feelings of a person drinking alone at a bar after a breakup. The taste of the alcohol reminds the person of their tears shed during the farewell. The person wants to forget the memories that come to mind whenever they drink but when they do so, the image of their former love reappears in their glass. The lyrics convey the pain of heartbreak and the struggle to move on from a broken relationship. The singer drinks to forget but the alcohol only serves to deepen their sadness.

Despite the sorrowful lyrics, 悲しい酒 is a popular song that has struck a chord with many listeners over the years. It was first released in 1957 and is still being covered and sung today.

Line by Line Meaning

ひとり酒場で飲む酒は
The drink I drink alone at the bar

別れ涙の味がする
Tastes of the tears of separation

飲んで棄てたい面影が
The memories I want to drink away

飲めばグラスにまた浮かぶ
But they resurface when I take a drink

ああ別れたあとの心残りよ
Oh, the regret after the breakup

未練なのね
I guess I still have feelings

あの人の面影
The memory of that person

淋しさを忘れるために
I drink to forget the loneliness

飲んでいるのに
Yet

酒は今夜も私を悲しくさせる
The drink still makes me sad tonight

酒よどうしてどうして
Oh, why, why drink