Keiko Fuji was born in Iwate Prefecture, Japan where her father was a rōkyoku singer. Her mother was a blind shamisen player or goze. As a child, Fuji sometimes accompanied her parents and sang with them when they were on tour. Her song "Keiko no Yume wa Yoru Hiraku" (her version of "Yume wa Yoru Hiraku") won the "mass popularity award" at the Japan Record Award in 1970. With this song, she took part in the 21st Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
She married the enka singer Kiyoshi Maekawa and retired from singing in 1979, announcing her retirement during a TV show on 30 December of that year. The marriage ended in divorce, after which she emigrated to the U.S. She later resumed her career in 1981.
Her debut album, Shinjuku no Onna/Enka no Hoshi Fuji Keiko no Subete (新宿の女/「演歌の星」藤圭子のすべて Woman in Shinjuku/"Star of Enka" All of Keiko Fuji), released 5 March 1970, topped the Oricon album chart for 20 consecutive weeks, and her next album Onna no Blues (女のブルース Woman's Blues), released 5 July 1970, topped the chart for 17 consecutive weeks. In total, she topped the Oricon album chart for a 37 consecutive weeks, an incredible record in Japan's music history. Her debut album's number-one record of 20 consecutive weeks remains the longest consecutive number-one record in Oricon history.
She was married to Teruzane Utada, a record producer. Their only child, Utada Hikaru, was born in 1983. The couple married and divorced seven times.
On 3 March 2006, U.S. DEA officials confiscated more than $400,000 in U.S., Canadian, and Australian currencies from Junko Utada's carry-on luggage at JFK Airport, New York, as she waited to board a flight to Las Vegas. Utada denied any wrongdoing, and was not charged with any crime. However, the government initiated forfeiture proceedings, seeking to seize the money, which it alleged represented proceeds of drug sales or was intended to be used to buy drugs.
Utada disputed the government's claim. In August 2008, the matter remained pending in Federal District Court in New York. On 27 January 2009, the Federal District Court in New York ordered the confiscated money returned to her, citing lack of evidence.
Keiko Fuji died on 22 August 2013, by jumping from the thirteenth floor of a 28-floor condominium building in Shinjuku, Tokyo. No foul play was suspected. Her body was found in the grounds of her apartment building. Police said that her slippers were found at the end of her balcony, with no suicide note found. Her daughter stated that she had suffered from mental illness.
新宿の女
藤圭子 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
私は女を 捨てないわ
ネオンぐらしの 蝶々には
やさしい言葉が しみたのよ
バカだな バカだな
だまされちゃって
夜が冷たい 新宿の女
それでもすがった すがってた
まことつくせば いつの日か
わかってくれると 信じてた
バカだな バカだな
だまされちゃって
夜が冷たい 新宿の女
あなたの夢みて 目が濡れた
夜更けのさみしい カウンター
ポイとビールの 栓のよに
私を見捨てた 人なのに
バカだな バカだな
だまされちゃって
夜が冷たい 新宿の女
The lyrics of "新宿の女" by 藤圭子 (Keiko Fuji) showcase the tragic reality of a woman who is living in the neon-lit area of Shinjuku. The opening line "私が男になれたなら、私は女を捨てないわ" translates to "If I were a man, I wouldn't abandon being a woman." The theme of gender identity is prevalent throughout the song, as the persona in the song wishes to be a man, as life would be easier as a man, and they could avoid the struggles and hardships that women face in the Shinjuku entertainment district.
The persona in the song has been hurt and betrayed by the person they love, and despite being repeatedly hurt, they still cling onto the hope that one day their love will be returned. The line "何度もあなたに泣かされた、それでもすがった、すがってた" translates to "You made me cry many times, and yet I still clung onto you." The persona understands that they're being foolish and naive but can't seem to help themselves.
Throughout the song, the persona uses the term "バカだな" (how foolish of me), portraying their self-awareness, which is evident throughout the song. The lyrics showcase the harsh reality of the Shinjuku nightlife and how it can take a toll on a person's mental state.
Line by Line Meaning
私が男に なれたなら
If I were to become a man,
私は女を 捨てないわ
I wouldn't abandon my role as a woman.
ネオンぐらしの 蝶々には
The butterflies of the neon city
やさしい言葉が しみたのよ
Were touched by kind words.
バカだな バカだな
How foolish, how foolish
だまされちゃって
To have been fooled
夜が冷たい 新宿の女
The women of Shinjuku suffer the cold of the night.
何度もあなたに 泣かされた
I've cried because of you so many times,
それでもすがった すがってた
Yet I still cling on, I still cling on.
まことつくせば いつの日か
If I persist in my honesty, some day
わかってくれると 信じてた
I believed that you would understand me.
あなたの夢みて 目が濡れた
I wept upon seeing your dreams
夜更けのさみしい カウンター
At the lonely counter late at night
ポイとビールの 栓のよに
Like a cap being removed from a bottle of beer,
私を見捨てた 人なのに
You abandoned me, even though I was the one for you.
バカだな バカだな
How foolish, how foolish
だまされちゃって
To have been fooled
夜が冷たい 新宿の女
The women of Shinjuku suffer the cold of the night.
Writer(s): 石坂 まさを, みずの 稔, 石坂 まさを, みずの 稔
Contributed by Carson N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-tx1gc3wg8n
昭和23年生まれ団塊世代です
昭和43年、田舎から上京
大学紛争、盛ん成りし頃
47年に卒業しました
あの頃、巷に
名曲❤️＊新宿の女＊が
流れていました!!!!
❤️藤圭子さん独得の
❤️凄味と艷やかな
❤️ハスキーボイス
哀愁、悲愁、悲恋、
など誘う
素晴らしい歌声!!!
心と魂を揺さぶる
❤️全身全霊の
素晴らしい歌唱力!!!
想わず胸が
熱く
刹那く
虚しく
哀しく成ります!!!
数あるヒット曲の中でも
デビュー当時頃の
❤️＊新宿の女＊が
❤️大好きです!!!
視聴していると
❤️昭和のあの頃に
❤️タイムスリップした
気分に成ります!!!!
在りし日の
❤️藤圭子さんを
偲んでいます!!!。
@_____y
なんで昔の歌手ってこんなにオーラが凄くて歌うまくて美人なの…生歌でこれだよ…
@user-fz7tz4ix7f
子供の頃はわからなかったが、今になってこの歌の良さと、藤圭子さんの美しさがよくわかる。
@subarurureo
亡くなったばあちゃんが母に昔よく言ってたらしい、｢藤圭子は歌が上手いだけでなく、何一つ文句のつけようのない美人｣って。たしかに納得。
@user-fi9vu2nw1r
藤圭子さんに合掌、
@showlive036
演歌の世界ではその〝美人〟が得てして足を引っ張る事有るよね、小林幸子さんもそう。
歌唱力は一級品なのに軽く見られがち。
@user-rj2ij5xt6g
藤圭子は美貌も日本の歌手ではトップだしさらにはこの歌唱だもの無敵ですね！
@a.m238
母が「宇多田ヒカルのお母さんは日本人形みたいな人だった」と言っていたので見てみたら本当にその通りでビックリ
@hardmadonna4535
あまり口を開けて歌っていないのに、ものすごい声量でビックリ・・・。
@user-gd4pe3kg1x
やっぱり藤圭子さんの大ファンでしたまたまたきいてしまいました
@intysmack0358
藤圭子さんの歌はカッコいい。ドスが聞いてるのに品がある。