Mayumi Kuroki -- Koibito to Yobarete （恋人と呼ばれて）

I was doing a bit of random searching around YouTube when I came across this lovely summery song by Mayumi Kuroki（黒木真由美）. "Koibito to Yobarete" (Called a Lover) is a track from Kuroki's sole album, "12 no Rakugaki"（１２のらくがき...12 Graffiti） from November 1975, and the song has that sort of laidback melody which evokes memories of driving in the countryside in any nation. There's a feeling in there that reminds me of Yumi Arai（荒井由実）and early Tatsuro Yamashita（山下達郎）. And sure enough, Yamashita was the one who created the song while Makoto Kitajo（喜多篠忠） took care of the lyrics.

Kuroki hails from Fukuoka Prefecture and was discovered in 1974 at the age of 15 when she auditioned on the talent show "Star Tanjo"（スター誕生...A Star is Born） when it was making the rounds in Kokura City in her home prefecture. She debuted in March 1975 with the single "Kokishin"（好奇心...Curiosity） and in her brief career as a singer, she released five songs with the final one being in summer 1976. However, she has continued on as an actress and TV personality, and her eldest daughter, Marina, is currently a tarento as well.