Japanese Literary Awards

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Yoshiko Ishii

いしい よしこ

Ishii Yoshiko

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1922-08-04 （Tokyo, Japan）
Died
2010-07-17 （Tokyo, Japan） age 87
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese, French
Residence History
Tokyo, Japan → Paris, France

Career

Occupations
Chanson singer, Essayist, Businesswoman, Talent promoter
Active Years
1952-2010
Influenced By
Josephine Baker, Louis Armstrong
Influenced
Tokiko Kato, Yoko Kishi

Education

Tokyo Metropolitan Mita High School
Country: Japan
Graduated from the predecessor of the modern high school
Tokyo Music School (old system)
Vocal studies
Year of Graduation: 1945
Country: Japan
Studied primarily German art songs

Awards

Japan Essayist Club Prize
1963
Work: Under the Paris Sky the Scent of Omelettes Drifts
Organization: Japan Essayist Club
Result: 受賞
Medal with Purple Ribbon
1987
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 授与
Tokyo Metropolitan Cultural Award
1990
Organization: Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Result: 受賞
Japan Record Awards (Special Award)
1990
Organization: Japan Record Awards
Result: 受賞（特別賞）
Japan Record Awards (Lifetime Achievement)
2008
Organization: Japan Record Awards
Result: 受賞（功労賞）
Japan Record Awards (Special Merit Award)
2010
Organization: Japan Record Awards
Result: 受賞（特別功労賞）
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Officier)
1971
Organization: French Ministry of Culture
Result: 授与（オフィシエ）
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Commandeur)
1992
Organization: French Ministry of Culture
Result: 授与（コマンドール）
Order of the Sacred Treasure, Fourth Class
1994
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 授与

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Under the Paris Sky the Scent of Omelettes Drifts

1963 Essay

An essay collection recounting experiences in Paris, its food culture and music. It became a bestseller in Japan and is one of the author's representative works.

life in Parisfood culturemusic

I Broke the Clarinet

1959 Song (Japanese lyrics)

A song for which Ishii wrote Japanese lyrics to a French original; recorded in a project with The Darts (Dark Ducks) and became widely known.

adapted lyricspopular music

Bibliography

  • A Woman Alone Living in Paris
  • Under the Paris Sky the Scent of Omelettes Drifts
  • Memories with Songs
  • Requiem Tears
  • Costume Songs — My Song, My Costume
  • Under the Tokyo Sky the Scent of Omelettes Drifts
  • I Always Dreamed
  • Putting Everything Into Song — Chanson and Me
  • Endless Feelings in Song — My Personal History
  • I Am Me
  • Goodbye My Twentieth Century
  • I Won't Say Goodbye
  • Yoshiko Ishii's European Home Cooking

Style & Themes

Literary Style
witty, essayistic styleapproachable and plain-speaking tone
Recurring Motifs
food cultureParis/Francesong and the stage

Health

  • Liver failure
    2010年
    Died due to liver failure

Legacy

A pioneer of chanson in Japan who shaped the scene for over half a century. She promoted and nurtured chanson performers and introduced French life and food culture to Japanese readers as an essayist.

Academic Societies

  • Japan Chanson Association (founder & first president)

Archives

  • Aoyama Cemetery (gravesite)

In Popular Culture

  • Frequent guest judge on the TV show 'Iron Chef' (Japanese edition)
  • Referred to as a central figure in popularizing chanson in Japan

Quotes

  • Because I thought it was more fun to sing in French when riding the rhythm.
    Source: Interview / commentary (1959)

Trivia

  • Hobbyist swimmer — won the 50m breaststroke at the 1987 Masters Swimming Taiwan meet with a meet record.
  • Godmother to actor Takeo Nakahara.
  • Known for a strong urge to cook after drinking; many anecdotes relate to her love of food.