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Harumi Miyako

みやこ はるみ

Miyako Harumi

Aliases: ミヤコ
Pen Names: Harumi Miyako（Used as stage name）

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1948-02-22 （Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
former enka singer, former music producer
Active Years
1964-2016
Affiliations
Columbia Music Entertainment (Japan Columbia-related), Sun Music Production, Produce House Miyako (personal office)
Influenced By
Hibari Misora, Chiyoko Shimakura
Influenced
Junko Ishihara, Yuki Kadokura

Education

Rakuyo Girls' High School
Period: 在学中に中退
Country: Japan
Dropped out while in high school after winning a national contest and moving to Tokyo

Awards

Japan Record Awards — Newcomer Award
1964
Work: Anko Tsubaki wa Koi no Hana
Organization: Japan Record Awards Committee
Result: 受賞
Japan Record Awards — Grand Prix
1976
Work: Kita no Yado Kara
Organization: Japan Record Awards Committee
Result: 受賞
Japan Record Awards — Best Singing Award
1980
Work: Osaka Shigure
Organization: Japan Record Awards Committee
Result: 受賞
Art Encouragement Prize — Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award (Merit)
2005
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs / MEXT
Result: 受賞
Purple Ribbon Medal (Shiju-hosho)
2010
Organization: Government of Japan
Result: 受章

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Anko Tsubaki wa Koi no Hana

1964 Enka

A signature early-career hit single and a million-seller that established Miyako's powerful enka singing style.

loveport townnostalgia

Kita no Yado Kara

1975 Enka

One of Miyako's emblematic songs; a major hit that won the Japan Record Awards Grand Prix and made her a NHK Kouhaku closing performer.

partingnostalgiaregret
Adaptations
  • [Film] Kita no Yado Kara (film) (1976)

Osaka Shigure

1980 Enka

A song set in Osaka that earned Miyako the Japan Record Awards Best Singing Award; she became one of the first artists to have won newcomer, best singing and grand prix awards.

hometownlifeemotion

Bibliography

  • Numerous singles and albums (1964 onward)
  • Key works: Anko Tsubaki wa Koi no Hana, Namida no Renrakusen, Kita no Yado Kara, Osaka Shigure, etc.

Adaptations

  • 'Kita no Yado Kara' and other songs used in films / film adaptations

Style & Themes

Literary Style
powerful kobushi (vocal embellishment) known as "Harumi-bushi"relatively wide vibrato
Recurring Motifs
port townspartinghomelandlife's joys and sorrows

Legacy

One of the leading female enka singers of late Showa era, known for her distinctive powerful singing style ("Harumi-bushi") and numerous hits. She was also active as a producer and received official recognitions such as cultural awards and the Purple Ribbon Medal.

Quotes

  • "Sometimes I feel this song might be enough for me. If I meet good lyrics I might sing again, but I haven't encountered them easily."
    Source: TBS Radio interview on 'Osawa Yuuri no Yuuyuu Wide' (2016) (2016)

Trivia

  • Birth name recorded as Lee Harumi (born to a Korean father and Japanese mother).
  • Originally planned stage name was 'Kyo Harumi' but changed to 'Miyako Harumi' because the former was already in use.
  • Six singles are officially reported as million-sellers.
  • One of the early artists to achieve the 'three-crown' of the Japan Record Awards: Newcomer, Best Singing Award and Grand Prix.