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.

Katyusha No Uta
美空ひばり Lyrics

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生まれて今日まで耐えてきた
こんな涙を誰が知る
踏まれながらに生き抜いて
路ばたにはえる草のよな
強い強い女になりました

咲かずに散ってはいけないと
そんな自分にむちを打つ

辛いこの世を生き抜いて
路ばたにはえる草のよな
強い強い女になりました

私のこの体の中には
日本に生まれた
古い血が流れています
そんな人間の少なくなった今日でも
おてんと様だけは
私を照らしてくれました
辛いこの世を生き抜いて

路ばたにはえる草のよな
強い強い女になりました

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Zassoh No Uta" by 美空ひばり (Misora Hibari) convey a message of resilience and strength in the face of adversity. The opening lines describe the singer's journey from birth until the present moment, enduring hardships that go unnoticed by others. The mention of tears reflects the emotional weight carried by the singer throughout her life. Despite being trampled on, she has managed to survive and grow, likening herself to a strong and resilient grass growing on the roadside.

The next lines emphasize the importance of not withering away without blooming. The singer motivates herself by acknowledging the pain and challenges of this world, vowing to endure and overcome them. Once again, she compares herself to the grass growing on the roadside, drawing strength from its ability to thrive in difficult conditions.

The following lines shift the focus to the singer's heritage and identity. She mentions that within her body flows the blood of her ancestors, who were born in Japan. She reflects on the rarity of people who still hold onto their traditional roots in today's society. Despite this, the singer finds solace in the belief that a higher power, symbolically referred to as "おてんと様" (otento-sama), continues to guide and illuminate her path. This divine presence has given her strength and the ability to navigate the hardships of life, just like the grass growing on the roadside.

Overall, "Zassoh No Uta" carries a message of resilience, perseverance, and the strength that can be found in one's heritage and connection to something greater.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 加藤和枝

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