I can't say that I'm an expert on NHK's morning drama serials. However, and not surprisingly, when the 15-minute show is based on several decades ranging from prewar to postwar Japan, World War II acts as the crucible for the characters. Currently, I'm watching "Anpan"（あんぱん）and the episodes are now on the cusp of entering the war years so it'll be interesting to see who survives into the 1950s and beyond.
That did get me to thinking about what were the kayo kyoku that made their presence known in 1945 going forwards. I couldn't find anything that year that didn't have anything to do with the war effort. However, I saw that Ichiro Fujiyama（藤山一郎）was back in his crooning ways in 1946 as if nothing had changed during those previous fateful years. He released "Ginza Serenade" as a love song for those couples traipsing through the famous neighbourhood Ginza in Tokyo.
The legendary Ryoichi Hattori（服部良一）came up with the Habanera tango melody while a fellow named Masao Murasame（村雨まさを）was behind the lyrics. Well, it was actually Hattori here, too, under a pseudonym. Not sure what inspired the songsmith to come up with a castanet-happy arrangement but it sure added a new level of oomph so I can only imagine what Ginza was already looking like in the first full year without the war. Also what caught my ear was how Fujiyama was pronouncing most of those English words.
When my family I lived in Tokyo my wife worked in Yūrakuchō about a 10 to 15 minute swift walk from Yūrakuchō JR station. I have visited area numerous times and Ginza indeed is a happy place. I recalled that on Sundays some streets were closed to cars, too. Whenever I vist Yūrakuchō or Ginza I will now forever have Ginza Serenade playing in mind.
ReplyDeleteI kinda wonder whether the Ginza hokoten was already in place in 1946. It was nice walking up and down the boulevard on those Sundays. Good to have a seat at one of the tables, too.
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