Kamifūsen (Paper Balloon)
紙ふうせん
OriginKansai, Japan
Genres
Years active1974 - present
Labels
Members
  • Etsujiroh Gotoh
  • Yasuyo Hirayama
Websiteorange.zero.jp/kamifusen/top.html

Kamifūsen (紙ふうせん, Paper Balloon) is a Japanese folk duo formed in 1974 by Etsujirō Gotō (後藤悦治郎, b. April 29, 1946) and Yasuyo Hirayama (平山泰代, b. March 28, 1947). The artists were previously part of the Kansai folk group Akaitori (赤い鳥), which was known for its unique sound blending light rock with choral harmonies.[1] 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 and have recorded internationally in Santa Monica, California, and Toronto, Canada.

History

Kamifūsen's music was inspired by Peter, Paul & Mary, who had a strong influence on the 1970s Japanese folk movement.[1] Gotō and Hirayama first formed a duo in 1967, when they were both in the second year of university.[2] As they added more members, they formed Akaitori, which means "red bird", in 1969.[3]

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."[1] Making their formal debut in 1970,[2] the folk group became best known for the hit single "Tsubasa wo Kudasai", which became the official song of the Japan Football Association when Japan made its first appearance at the World Cup in France.[4] After disbanding in August 1974, former members formed Kamifūsen,[2] Hi-Fi Set, 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.[1][4] In 1977, Kamifūsen had their first major hit "Before Winter Comes", which became a signature song for the group.[5] The song reached number 4 on the Oricon Singles Chart, with lyrics written by Gotō, and music composed by Tadashi Urano (浦野直).[6][7][8][9]

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.[10] Here With Me (1984) was produced by Henry Lewy, featuring the original song "Cherry Blossom" written by Peter Yarrow and a Japanese cover version of a Carmine Coppola theme from The Outsiders soundtrack. Echo Of Love (1986) featured musicians from The Anne Murray Band.[10]

TSU-BA-SA

In 1991, Gotō and Hirayama participated as members of TSU-BA-SA, formed by Yoshiyuki Nishiguchi (西口善之) and Tomomi Aoyama (青山智美).[11] 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.[12][13] In 2019, Kamifūsen held their "45th Anniversary Concert - 50th Anniversary Recital from Red Bird" at Yomiuri Ōtemachi Hall in Tokyo.[14][15]

Personal

Gotō and Hirayama were classmates at Amagasaki Kita High School in Hyōgo Prefecture. They were reunited after starting university, when they were both interested in traditional songs, and developed a connection.[3][2] The couple were married at the age of 20 while part of Akaitori.[16]

Hirayama has appeared as a radio show host for several decades.[17][18][19][20] In 2005, Gotō appeared as a lecturer on NHK Educational TV 's Shumi Yūyū (趣味悠々).[21]

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)"

[10][22]

Tie-ups

Music Tie-up Recorded work
White Construction Paper (白い画用紙) SHUFUNOTOMO Publishing "Watashi no Baby" 3rd Anniversary Lyric Recruitment Selected Works Single "White Construction Paper (白い画用紙)"
On The Wings Of The Wind (風の翼に) NHK Ginga Television Novel Furusato Series "Happiness Station Area & Ueno Station Area" Theme Song Single "Who Should I Tell... (誰に告げようか…)"
I Was Born (僕は生まれた) Ending theme for Fuji TV's Nissei Family Special Feature Animation "Tondemo Nezumi Daikaku" Single "I Was Born (僕は生まれた)"
Spread Your Wings (翼ひろげて) Theme song for TBS Television (Japan) drama Love Theater "Wagakoyo III" Single "Spread Your Wings (翼ひろげて)"
ECHO OF LOVE Mainichi Broadcasting System series drama (nationwide network) "Affair Family" theme song Single "ECHO OF LOVE"
Times Change (時代は変わる) TV Asahi "JO Kigen" theme song from the morning Album TIME
Wedding Anniversary Day Nippon Sheet Glass CM song
Give Me Wings (翼をください) Japan Football Association official support song Collaboration single "Give Me Wings (翼をください)"
Rainbow (虹) TV Tokyo "TV Champion" ending theme Album Blue Sky and Sea (青空と海)
I Want to Be Like You (あなたの風になりたい) Mainichi Broadcasting System TV drama special "Cynthia ~The story of the birth of a service dog~" ending theme Single "I Want to Be Like You (あなたの風になりたい)"

[23][24][25]

Songs used in NHK "Songs of Ours"

Song title Lyricist Composer Producer Period of use
Rape Blossoms (菜の花ばたけ) Yoji Unno Etsujiroh Gotoh Katsuhisa Hattori April-May, 1975
My Paper Balloon (わたしの紙風船) Akira Shimaoka Nobuyoshi Koshibe April-May, 1983
Ho Hi Ho (ホーハイホー) Etsujiroh Gotoh Tetsuya Imade June-July, 1999

[26][27][28]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "【芸能】紙ふうせん 夫婦デュオ、74年に結成し今も燃えるフォーク魂…結成45周年 /デイリースポーツ online". デイリースポーツ online (in Japanese). November 18, 2019. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "30 Years of Friendship Fork Kamifusen [Osaka]". Asashi Shimbun evening paper entertainment No.00008 (in Japanese). 4 November 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 "大切にしてきた一曲一曲を熱い心で歌う／紙ふうせんインタビュー". Web音遊人（みゅーじん） (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  4. 1 2 "Kamifusen "Tsubasa wo Kudasai" becomes Japan Football Association's cheering song [Osaka]". Asashi Shimbun evening paper No.00005 ＹＵ３ (in Japanese). 9 April 1998. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Yamada, Kana (6 January 2009). "Reconstruction, Gradual Masterpiece Children's "Lyrics", Composed by Kamifusen Goto [Osaka]". Asashi Shimbun evening paper 2 Society No.00006 (in Japanese). Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  6. ↑ "西宮・芦屋 地域情報紙 ～な～る Online!～ 地域情報と連携して、身近な「人・モノ・お店」を紹介". www.narweb.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  7. ↑ "第11回放送 特集：男と女の二重唱｜歌謡曲リミテッド - KAYOKYOKU LTD". kayo-limited.info. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  8. ↑ "【1978年１月】冬が来る前に／紙ふうせん ストーブを掃除していたらできたヒット曲 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex 芸能". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  9. ↑ writer. "紙ふうせん / ｢冬が来る前に｣ ～ ｢歌の力とすばらしさを伝える｣― 紙ふうせんの歩みは続きます". だいじょうぶ ドットコム (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  10. 1 2 3 "Kamifusen Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  11. ↑ "昔のyosy". www6.big.or.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  12. ↑ "紙ふうせん 兵庫・芸文センターでリサイタル アフターコロナの未来を歌う". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  13. ↑ "紙ふうせんプロフィール". orange.zero.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  14. ↑ "紙ふうせん | 45th Anniversary Concert in Tokyo". orange.zero.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  15. ↑ "４５周年・紙ふうせん「希望の歌を共に」 芸文センターで記念リサイタル". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  16. ↑ "徹子の部屋｜テレビ朝日". www.tv-asahi.co.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  17. ↑ "「冬が来る前に」紙ふうせん 大学で教鞭をとっていた｜あの人は今こうしている". 日刊ゲンダイDIGITAL. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  18. ↑ "毎日放送ラジオ MBS1179.com". www.mbs1179.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  19. ↑ "12/18(金)サンテレビ「2時コレ !しっとぉ !?」でヨグマタが紹介されます". ヨグマタ相川圭子公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  20. ↑ "fmosaka.net～FM OSAKA(FM大阪)のホームページ::WEEKEND PROGRAM". fmosaka.net. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  21. ↑ "紙ふうせんのTV出演情報". ORICON NEWS. November 2019. Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  22. ↑ "紙ふうせん | Discography". orange.zero.jp. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  23. ↑ "トンデモネズミ大活躍 - アニメ詳細データ - ◇テレビドラマデータベース◇". テレビドラマデータベース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  24. ↑ "わが子よIII - ドラマ詳細データ - ◇テレビドラマデータベース◇". テレビドラマデータベース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  25. ↑ "シンシア～介助犬誕生ものがたり - ドラマ詳細データ - ◇テレビドラマデータベース◇". テレビドラマデータベース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  26. ↑ 日本放送協会. "菜の花ばたけ". NHK みんなのうた (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  27. ↑ 日本放送協会. "わたしの紙風船（1983年版）". NHK みんなのうた (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-01.
  28. ↑ 日本放送協会. "ホーハイホー". NHK みんなのうた (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-11-01.
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