Aki Yashiro
Encyclopedia
, real name Akiko Masuda (増田明子 Masuda Akiko) (born as Akiko Hashimoto (橋本明子 Hashimoto Akiko)) on August 29, 1950 in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture
, Japan
), is a Japanese enka
singer and painter
. Her stage name "Yashiro" is adopted from her hometown, "Yatsushiro" (八代).
Yashiro originally sang jazz standard
s in hostess clubs, but made her debut as an enka singer in 1971, with the single "Ai wa Shindemo (愛は死んでも)", under the label of Teichiku Records
. Seeing the single's unsuccess, she appeared on the YTV
's Zen Nihon Kayō Senshuken (全日本歌謡選手権) audition, winning it for 10 consecutive weeks. In 1973, her single and album "Namida Koi" (なみだ恋) sold up up to 1.20 million copies, which was a great hit. Since then, her songs like "Shinobigoi" (しのび恋), "Ai Hitosuji" (愛ひとすじ), "Onna no Yume" (おんなの夢), "Mō Ichidō Aitai" (もう一度逢いたい), "Onna Minatomachi" (おんな港町), and "Ai no Shūchakueki" (愛の終着駅) also became great hits at the time, in which the songs portrayed a woman's emotion. In 1979, her single "Funauta" (舟唄) also made a great hit, followed by "Ame no Bojō (雨の慕情)" in 1980. "Ame no Bojō" won the 22nd Japan Record Award
of the year. She continued collaborating with Teichiku until 1981, before turning to Century Records, where she released some of her top 80s singles like "Umineko" (海猫), "Nihonkai" (日本海), and "Koisegawa" (恋瀬川), until 1986. Currently, she is recording under the Columbia Records
label (since 1986).
Since she entered her heyday period, enka singers have become rare. She become the only female enka singer to have seven Top 10 singles on the Oricon
charts, as well as being listed as the fourth enka singer behind male singers Kiyoshi Hikawa
, Hiroshi Itsuki
and Shinichi Mori
. She also achieved Top 10 on the Oricon album charts for three consecutive years (1974–1976), while Hikawa achieved it for seven consecutive years, and Itsuki for four years.
. She performed consecutively for 15 years (1973–1987), with a total of 38 shows and made her debut performance at the 24th Kōhaku (1973). She lost the qualification in 1988, but then was qualified again in 1989. Then, she performed for the next consecutive 5 years (until 1993). She lost the qualification again in 1994, and won again in 1999. She last performed in 2001, before she lost in 2002. She also refused to perform in 2005 with the popularity poll "Sukiuta" (スキウタ).
She has 3 singles which have been sung more than once, which are "Namida Koi" (2 times (in 1973 & 2000)), "Mō Ichidō Aitai" (2 times (1976 & 1993)), and "Funauta" (3 times (1979, 1991, and 1999)).
Kumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
), is a Japanese enka
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
singer and painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
. Her stage name "Yashiro" is adopted from her hometown, "Yatsushiro" (八代).
Yashiro originally sang jazz standard
Jazz standard
Jazz standards are musical compositions which are an important part of the musical repertoire of jazz musicians, in that they are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz musicians, and widely known by listeners. There is no definitive list of jazz standards, and the list of songs deemed to be...
s in hostess clubs, but made her debut as an enka singer in 1971, with the single "Ai wa Shindemo (愛は死んでも)", under the label of Teichiku Records
Teichiku Records
Teichiku Records is a Japanese record label, run by the Teichiku Entertainment company, that specialises in enka, kayōkyoku, and similar music. Teichiku is an abbreviation for , the former name of the company...
. Seeing the single's unsuccess, she appeared on the YTV
Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation
is a TV station joining Nippon News Network and Nippon Television Network System in Osaka Business Park, Osaka, Japan founded as "" on February 13, 1958...
's Zen Nihon Kayō Senshuken (全日本歌謡選手権) audition, winning it for 10 consecutive weeks. In 1973, her single and album "Namida Koi" (なみだ恋) sold up up to 1.20 million copies, which was a great hit. Since then, her songs like "Shinobigoi" (しのび恋), "Ai Hitosuji" (愛ひとすじ), "Onna no Yume" (おんなの夢), "Mō Ichidō Aitai" (もう一度逢いたい), "Onna Minatomachi" (おんな港町), and "Ai no Shūchakueki" (愛の終着駅) also became great hits at the time, in which the songs portrayed a woman's emotion. In 1979, her single "Funauta" (舟唄) also made a great hit, followed by "Ame no Bojō (雨の慕情)" in 1980. "Ame no Bojō" won the 22nd Japan Record Award
Japan Record Award
for outstanding achievements in the Japan Composer's Association, is major music awards show held annually in Japan.- Categories :The Japan Record Award are four awards which are not restricted by genre....
of the year. She continued collaborating with Teichiku until 1981, before turning to Century Records, where she released some of her top 80s singles like "Umineko" (海猫), "Nihonkai" (日本海), and "Koisegawa" (恋瀬川), until 1986. Currently, she is recording under the Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
label (since 1986).
Since she entered her heyday period, enka singers have become rare. She become the only female enka singer to have seven Top 10 singles on the Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
charts, as well as being listed as the fourth enka singer behind male singers Kiyoshi Hikawa
Kiyoshi Hikawa
is a Japanese enka singer who was born on September 6, 1977 in Minami-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. His real name is and he is known as "The Prince of Enka" due to his young age and popularity...
, Hiroshi Itsuki
Hiroshi Itsuki
is a Japanese male singer and composer. He sold 20 million records of singles and 4 million copies of LP albums by 1987.Itsuki is usually regarded as an enka singer, but he even covered Southern All Stars' J-pop song "Tsunami"....
and Shinichi Mori
Shinichi Mori
is a Japanese male enka singer and composer, who also sings folk and pop music. Nishinippon Shimbun claims that his total sales of gramophone records and CDs has been over 90 million copies....
. She also achieved Top 10 on the Oricon album charts for three consecutive years (1974–1976), while Hikawa achieved it for seven consecutive years, and Itsuki for four years.
Appearances at Kōhaku Uta Gassen
Aki has performed 23 times in Kōhaku Uta GassenKohaku Uta Gassen
, more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual music show on New Year's Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both television and radio, nationally and internationally by NHK's networks and some overseas broadcasters which bought the program...
. She performed consecutively for 15 years (1973–1987), with a total of 38 shows and made her debut performance at the 24th Kōhaku (1973). She lost the qualification in 1988, but then was qualified again in 1989. Then, she performed for the next consecutive 5 years (until 1993). She lost the qualification again in 1994, and won again in 1999. She last performed in 2001, before she lost in 2002. She also refused to perform in 2005 with the popularity poll "Sukiuta" (スキウタ).
She has 3 singles which have been sung more than once, which are "Namida Koi" (2 times (in 1973 & 2000)), "Mō Ichidō Aitai" (2 times (1976 & 1993)), and "Funauta" (3 times (1979, 1991, and 1999)).
External links
- Official website
- Wikipedia Japan Article