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. Her death was widely mourned throughout Japan.
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. It was popular with fans and tourists for a number of years, but due to declining turnout it closed on November 30, 2006.
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.
kanashiki kuchibue
Misora Hibari Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
胸のあかりも 消えるころ
みなと小雨が 降るように
ふしも悲しい 口笛が
恋の街角 露路の細道
ながれ行く
いつかまた逢う 指切りで
白い小指の いとしさが
忘れられない さびしさを
歌に歌って 祈るこころの
いじらしさ
夜のグラスの 酒よりも
もゆる紅色 色さえた
恋の花ゆえ 口づけて
君に捧げた 薔薇の花
ドラのひびきに ゆれて悲しや
夢と散る
The song "Kanashiki Kuchibue" or "Sad Whistle" by Misora Hibari talks about a rekindled love found in an old hotel near the mountains, with red lights that go out as if marking the end of their happy moments. The singer walks on the narrow street of the Dew Road, a corner of love in the city, where she hears a sorrowful whistle lamenting as if echoing her sadness. Despite exchanging a heartwarming vow to see each other again someday, parting brings a tinge of sadness. And even the cherished memory of intertwining pinkies lingers with loneliness that cannot be forgotten. With a glass of red wine, she kisses the bouquet of roses, symbolizing the love that fades just like a dream.
The song conveys a longing for something that seems impossible to hold onto forever despite our best efforts, just like how love can shine brilliantly and fade away into a distant memory. The melancholic whistle serves as a symbol of that fleeting love that soon disappears, leaving behind a deep, unshakable sadness. The singer's voice sings this song with a hint of longing, while the music perfectly captures the fleeting essence of love, the beauty, and its inevitable demise. The song's bittersweet melody and lyrics speak about the complex emotions of lost love and its lasting impact on the human heart.
Line by Line Meaning
丘のホテルの 赤い灯も
Even the red lights of the hillside hotel
胸のあかりも 消えるころ
And my own heart's light, will be extinguished
みなと小雨が 降るように
As the drizzling rain falls on the port
ふしも悲しい 口笛が
I can't help but feel sad, hearing a forlorn whistle
恋の街角 露路の細道
Along the narrow path in Dew Alley, the town of love
ながれ行く
I walk and I walk
いつかまた逢う 指切りで
We promised to meet again, pinky swear
笑いながらに 別れたが
We parted with a laugh
白い小指の いとしさが
But I can't forget the dearness of your little white finger
忘れられない さびしさを
The unforgettable loneliness
歌に歌って 祈るこころの
So I sing about it in a song, with a heart full of prayers
いじらしさ
Such loveliness
夜のグラスの 酒よりも
More than the drink in my glass at night
もゆる紅色 色さえた
The tender, red color of love
恋の花ゆえ 口づけて
I dedicate a rose to you with a kiss
君に捧げた 薔薇の花
The rose I offered to you
ドラのひびきに ゆれて悲しや
Trembling with the sound of the guitar, I can't help feeling sad
夢と散る
As it scatters like a dream
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: 藤浦洸
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CookieBear
My teacher recommended the class to listen to this song, and honestly her voice is so joyful and ecstatic. Sad to that she passed away but the Japanese would never forget her.. R.I.P Hibari 🌸🦋
이영숙 이
12살 어린애가 이런 매력적인 목소리를 가졌다는 게 경이로울 뿐입니다. 히바리, 너무 아까운 가수... 저 세상에서는 평안하시길...
Phuong Nguyen
Okano hoteruno akai hi mo
Muneno akariga kieru koro
Minato kosamega furuyouni
Fushimo kanashii kuchibuega
Koino machikado, rojino hosomichi nagareyuku
Itsukamata au yubikiride
Warainagarani wakaretaga
Shiroi koyubino itoshisaga
Wasurerarenai sabishisawo
Utani utatte
Inorukokorono ijirashisa
Yoruno gurasuno sakeyorimo
Moyuru beniiro irosaeta
Koino hanayue kuchizukete
Kimini sasageta baranohana
Dorano hibikini yurete kanashiya yumeto chiru
Fran Gonzalez Martin
Vengo del manga de suehiro maruo paraíso, muy bonita
Sally Gura
Japan's Whitney Houston... Reading about this lady today, thought I would hear what her songs were like. :) Nice lady.
松重光男
1948年生まれの僕にはとても貴重な歌声が令和の今聴けたのはとても懐かしいです、多分小学2年生の頃に学校で唄っていたみたいです、通信簿の連絡欄に書いてあったみたいです。
Yasmim Nicole
あなたおけ決して忘れません😢💐
くろだまどか
もう一度見たい、ひばりさん!
ellen yss
daisuki kono merodi .Hibari no fa desu.