Japanese Literary Awards

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Yuriko Futaba

ふたば ゆりこ

Futaba Yuriko

Aliases: 大村 百合子（本名）
Pen Names: Futaba Yuriko（Used as stage/performer name）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1931-06-23 （Horikiri, Minami-Ayase, Minami-Katsushika District, Tokyo-fu, Japan (now Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, Japan)）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
singer, rokkyoku performer
Active Years
1934-2011
Affiliations
Japan Rokyoku Association (Honorary Advisor), King Records (label)
Memberships
Japan Rokyoku Association
Influenced By
Higashiwaka Musashi (father)
Influenced
Sayuri Ishikawa, Fuyumi Sakamoto, Yuri Harada, Ayako Fuji, Junko Ishihara, Aya Shimazu

Awards

Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival (Excellence Award)
1970
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: 受賞
Japan Broadcasting Entertainment Awards
1977
Organization: Japan Broadcasting
Result: 受賞
Japan Cable Awards (Cable Hit Award)
1976
Work: Mother at the Quay (Kyaneki no Haha) — cover
Organization: Japan Cable Awards
Result: 受賞
18th Japan Record Awards (Jury Selection Prize)
1976
Work: Mother at the Quay (Kyaneki no Haha) — cover
Organization: Japan Record Awards
Result: 受賞
Arts Festival Prize (Minister of Education, Science and Culture)
1994
Organization: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
Result: 受賞
Japan Record Awards (Achievement Award)
1999
Organization: Japan Record Awards
Result: 受賞
Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays
2006
Organization: Cabinet (State Decorations)
Result: 受章
Hasegawa Shin Prize (49th)
2014
Organization: Hasegawa Shin Prize Committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Mother at the Quay

1972 Enka / Kayo-rokkyoku (song with rokkyoku interlude)

A dramatic song about a mother separated from her child during wartime; Futaba's 1972 cover, featuring spoken rokkyoku interludes, became a major hit and is one of her signature pieces.

motherhoodpostwar reconstructionseparation
Adaptations
  • [TV drama] Yoake no Keiji Ep.84 'Danger! Mother at the Quay' (1976)

Mother of Kudan

1970 Enka / cover

A cover of a prewar song focusing on maternal sentiments; one of Futaba's notable 'mother' songs.

motherhoodnostalgia

Bibliography

  • Mother at the Quay
  • Mother of Kudan
  • Kanto Ipponjime
  • Onna Kunisada

Adaptations

  • Covered 'Mother at the Quay' with spoken interludes and performed it on TV and radio extensively

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Traditional Japanese melodic enka singingIncorporation of rokkyoku-style spoken narration into songs
Recurring Motifs
mothertravelshuman compassion

Legacy

With a career beginning in early childhood, she helped popularize 'kayo-rokkyoku' (song with rokkyoku narration), mentored numerous disciples, and left a lasting legacy in enka; her signature song 'Mother at the Quay' remains widely beloved.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Rokyoku Association

Archives

  • NHK Archives (performance records)
  • King Records audio archive

In Popular Culture

  • Widely known through NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (1976 appearance) and numerous music program performances

Quotes

  • Art is something you study for your entire life.
    Source: Retirement press conference / interview (example remark) (2011)

Trivia

  • Reportedly made her stage debut as a rokkyoku performer at age 3
  • Stage name was inspired by her father's admiration for sumo yokozuna Futabayama
  • 'Mother at the Quay' became a hit in 1972 as a cover including spoken narration
  • Received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays in 2006
  • Performance career spanned from 1934 to 2011 (about 77 years)