is a Japanese
folk
Folk or Folks may refer to:
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Arts, entertainment, and media
* Fo ...
duo formed in 1974 by and . The artists were previously part of the
Kansai
The or the lies in the southern-central region of Japan's main island Honshū. The region includes the prefectures of Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyōgo and Shiga, often also Mie, sometimes Fukui, Tokushima and Tottori. The metropoli ...
folk group Akaitori (赤い鳥), which was known for its unique sound blending light rock with choral harmonies.
Their style is characterized by interpretations of traditional songs with arrangements using contemporary sounds and rhythms. Kamifūsen is active in the Kansai region of
Japan
Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...
and have recorded internationally in
Santa Monica
Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...
,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
, and
Toronto
Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...
.
History
Kamifūsen's music was inspired by
Peter, Paul & Mary
Peter, Paul and Mary were an American folk group formed in New York City in 1961 during the American folk music revival. The trio consisted of Peter Yarrow (guitar, tenor vocals), Paul Stookey (guitar, baritone vocals), and Mary Travers (contr ...
, who had a strong influence on the 1970s Japanese folk movement.
Gotō and Hirayama first formed a duo in 1967, when they were both in the second year of university.
As they added more members, they formed Akaitori, which means "red bird", in 1969.
Akaitori
Akaitori was discovered by producer Kunihiko Murai (村井邦彦) after winning the 1969 Yamaha Light Music Contest Grand Prix Award for "Takeda's Lullaby."
Making their formal debut in 1970,
the folk group became best known for the hit single "
Tsubasa wo Kudasai", which became the official song of the
Japan Football Association
The Japan Football Association (JFA, ) is the Sport governing body, governing body responsible for the administration of Association football, football, futsal, beach soccer and Esports, efootball in Japan. It is responsible for the Japan national ...
when Japan made its first appearance at the
World Cup
A world cup is a global sporting competition in which the participant entities – usually international teams or individuals representing their countries – compete for the title of world champion. The event most associated with the name is ...
in France.
After disbanding in August 1974, former members formed Kamifūsen,
, and Humming Bird.
Kamifūsen (1974 to 1991)
In September 1974, Gotō and Hirayama started Kamifūsen, continuing to perform "Tsubasa wo Kudasai", which became part of the standard choral repertoire in elementary schools.
In 1977, Kamifūsen had their first major hit "
Before Winter Comes
''Before Winter Comes'' is a 1969 British comedy-drama war film directed by J. Lee Thompson from a screenplay by Andrew Sinclair.
Plot
''Before Winter Comes'' takes place in the immediate aftermath of World War II. British Major Giles Burnsid ...
", which became a signature song for the group. The song reached number 4 on the
Oricon Singles Chart
The Oricon Singles Chart is the Japanese music industry-standard Single (music), singles popularity chart issued daily, weekly, monthly and yearly by Oricon. Chart rankings are based on physical singles' sales. Until 2017, Oricon did not track down ...
, with lyrics written by Gotō, and music composed by .
Kamifūsen released nine albums between 1974 and 1986; seven of them were recorded in Japan, while ''Here With Me'' was recorded in Santa Monica, California, and ''Echo Of Love'' in Toronto, Canada.
''Here With Me'' (1984) was produced by
, featuring the original song "Cherry Blossom" written by
Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow (May 31, 1938 – January 7, 2025) was an American singer and songwriter who found fame as a member of the 1960s folk music, folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary along with Paul Stookey and Mary Travers. Yarrow co-wrote (with Lenny Lipton ...
and a Japanese cover version of "The Outside In," a
Carmine Coppola
Carmine Valentino Coppola (; June 11, 1910 – April 26, 1991) was an American composer, flautist, pianist, and songwriter who contributed original music to the films ''The Godfather'', ''The Godfather Part II'', ''Apocalypse Now'', ''The Outsid ...
theme from
''The Outsiders'' soundtrack. ''Echo Of Love'' (1986) featured musicians from The
Anne Murray
Morna Anne Murray (born June 20, 1945) is a retired Canadian country, pop and adult contemporary music singer who has sold over 55 million album copies worldwide during her over 40-year career. Murray has won four Grammys including the Grammy ...
Band.
TSU-BA-SA
In 1991, Gotō and Hirayama participated as members of TSU-BA-SA, formed by and . After releasing the albums ''Angel On The Roof'' (1990) and ''TIME'' (1991), they returned to work as Kamifūsen.
Kamifūsen (1993 to present)
Kamifūsen released seven albums from 1993 to present. Live performances included recitals at Osaka Central Public Hall, Osaka Theater Drama City, Osaka Sankei Hall Breeze, and
Hyogo Performing Arts Center. In 2019, Kamifūsen held their "45th Anniversary Concert - 50th Anniversary Recital from Red Bird" at Yomiuri Ōtemachi Hall in
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
.
Personal
Gotō and Hirayama were classmates at Amagasaki Kita High School in
Hyōgo Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Hyōgo Prefecture has a population of 5,469,762 () and a geographic area of . Hyōgo Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the east, Osaka Prefecture to th ...
. They were reunited after starting university, when they were both interested in traditional songs, and developed a connection.
The couple were married at the age of 20 while part of Akaitori.
Hirayama has appeared as a radio show host for several decades.
In 2005, Gotō appeared as a lecturer on
NHK Educational TV
, abbreviated on-screen as NHK E, is the second television service of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). It is a sister service of NHK General TV, showing programs of a more educational, documentaries, cultural, children's or intellectual n ...
's ''Shumi Yūyū'' (趣味悠々).
Discography
Albums
* 1974: ''We Became Two Again (またふたりになったね)''
* 1976: ''Love and Freedom (愛と自由を)''
* 1978: ''Reunion -A New Journey- (再会 -新たなる旅立ち-)''
* 1979: ''Friends (フレンズ)''
* 1982: ''Tomodachi ~ Poetry of the World of Chihiro Iwasaki ~ (ともだち 〜いわさきちひろの世界を詩う〜)''
* 1983: ''Someday Together (いつか二人で)''
* 1984: ''HERE WITH ME''
* 1986: ''ECHO OF LOVE''
* 2000: ''Saintjeum''
* 2001: ''Blue Sky and Sea (青空と海)''
With TSU-BA-SA
* 1991: Angel On The Roof
* 1992: TIME
Singles
* 1974: "Ikatsuri Uta (いかつり唄 )"
* 1974: "Something Good is Going to Happen (何かいいことありそうな)"
* 1975: "Sasabune (ささぶね)"
* 1975: "White Construction Paper (白い画用紙)"
* 1975: "Farewell Bell (別れの鐘)"
* 1976: "Love and Freedom (愛と自由を)"
* 1976: "Boy's Day (少年の日)"
* 1977: "Before Winter Comes (冬が来る前に)"
* 1978: "Even If it Gets Wet with Fog (霧にぬれても)"
* 1978: "Who Should I Tell... (誰に告げようか…)"
* 1979: "A Loving Farewell (愛ある別れ)"
* 1979: "I Was Born (僕は生まれた)"
* 1980: "Maruyama River Funauta (円山川舟唄)"
* 1980: "Showa Modori Bridge (昭和戻り橋)"
* 1982: "Friend (ともだち)"
* 1983: "Kitayama Longing (北山慕情)"
* 1983: "Spread Your Wings (翼ひろげて)"
* 1984: "One man band"
* 1986: "Stare at (みつめて)"
* 1986: "ECHO OF LOVE"
* 2003: "I Want to Be Like You (あなたの風になりたい)"
Tie-ups
Songs used in NHK "Songs of Ours"
References
External links
*
* {{Discogs artist, artist=4965857, name=Kamifusen
Kamifusenat
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics
Statistics (from German language, German: ', "description of a State (polity), state, a country") is the discipline that ...
Japanese pop music groups
Japanese folk musicians
Japanese musical duos
Musical groups established in 1974