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.
Kaze
美空ひばり Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
酒のやさしさ 苦っぽさ
いやというほど 滲みた夜は
背(せな)でしくしく
古賀メロディが
泣くな泣くなと 泣いてたなあ
噫......
たたむ女の よこ顔に
別(き)れたあいつの 行方が何故か
ふっと気になる 夜更け頃
噫......
人のぬくもり 欲しさに
知らぬ同志が 肩ならべ
注いで注がれて 憂き世のうさを
もやい酒する 風酒場
The lyrics to "Kaze" by 美空ひばり (MISORA Hibari) depict a night filled with the bittersweetness and tenderness of alcohol. The song starts with the singer expressing the contradictory sensations of the gentle and bitter aspects of alcohol. They describe a night that is soaked with these sensations to the point of being overwhelming. The use of the word "背(せな)でしくしく" suggests a feeling of sadness or sorrow emanating from their very core.
The song then moves on to paint a picture of a somber scene, where a woman sits folding origami cranes on a dark tree stump. The lyrics mention that she had parted ways with someone, and for some reason, the singer finds themselves suddenly curious about the whereabouts of this person late in the night. This suggests a hint of longing or nostalgia as they contemplate the consequences of the separation.
The final stanza reflects on the desire for human warmth and the camaraderie one seeks in times of loneliness. The singer mentions the comfort found when unfamiliar companions come together, sharing drinks and pouring their sorrows into each other. The phrase "もやい酒する 風酒場" ("moyai zake suru kaze sakaba") can be interpreted as finding solace and release from the troubles of the world in a makeshift tavern carried by the wind.
Overall, "Kaze" explores the complex emotions one experiences while seeking solace, comfort, and connection through alcohol and the fleeting encounters that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
噫......
Sigh......
酒のやさしさ 苦っぽさ
The gentleness and bitterness of alcohol
いやというほど 滲みた夜は
The night that is soaked to the point of saying 'no'
背(せな)でしくしく
Silently sobbing in the back
古賀メロディが
The melodies of Koga
泣くな泣くなと 泣いてたなあ
Crying, saying 'don't cry, don't cry'
暗いとまり木 折り鶴を
Folded origami cranes on a dark perch
たたむ女の よこ顔に
A sideways glance from a folding woman
別(き)れたあいつの 行方が何故か
For some reason, the whereabouts of the one I separated from
ふっと気になる 夜更け頃
Suddenly, it concerns me late at night
人のぬくもり 欲しさに
Yearning for the warmth of people
知らぬ同志が 肩ならべ
Shoulder to shoulder with unfamiliar comrades
注いで注がれて 憂き世のうさを
Pouring and being poured with the bitterness of this sorrowful world
もやい酒する 風酒場
Drinking in a hazy tavern
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: yoshidaou
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tazuko Furuta
歌のジャンルにとらわれない「いい歌はいい」と感じる自由なお二人の感性が合致したのでしょうね。
ひばりさんは、ほんとに多くのさまざまな人々に影響を与えられたと思います。
偉大な方なのですね。
musica town
これはお宝映像ですねぇ。
国宝もの。
歌にも話にも涙が出そうになります。
upに感謝感謝です。
Pornhug
伝説的すぎて居合わせたらビビって逃げる組み合わせだわw
kii fujimaki
サイコー‼︎
柿絎子
全盛期に限界に挑戦した歌が無いのが惜しまれる。アレサ・フランクリンやマーヴィン・ゲイは山ほどあるのにね。
Q高木幾久代
ひばりの横でうなずいてる岡林信康のあどけないといってもよい顔ホント良い人だなぁ
Takuya mc
ひばりさんはいつも強く生きていかなければ・・・でも寂しい時もあるよねえ、
そんな時に 岡林さんに出会ったのですね、心を許せる人には中々出逢えません
本当によかったですね、
チャチャ
交友味のある素直な話しに〜凄くお二人の共通の気持ちが有り、着飾る事無く歌い自分自身そのものに正直に行きたい〜💕良いですね。自分らしく〜
ですね👍誰しも、そう有りたいですね。
くろだまどか
晩年のひばりさんが気にいっていた歌手のひとりですね
ひおかひでこ 日岡秀子
本当に、美空ひぼりさんと岡林信康さんと、実現してほしかった。そんな、映像を
みたかったファンとして、美空ひばりさんはどんな、笑顔をするでしよう?!
本当に、見たかった。残年です。!!?