Considering that with the many times that I've come to make announcements on this blog, they've been about deaths in the music industry, it's always welcome news when I actually have something happy to write about. In this case, I heard on NHK this evening (which is now November 3rd or Culture Day in Japan) that singer/actor Akira Terao（寺尾聰）is going to be given some level of the Kyokujitsu-shō（旭日章）or the Order of the Rising Sun. Mind you, he was awarded the Purple Ribbon about a decade ago, but it was still nice to hear the announcement for this Order on television today.
So in tribute to Terao, my last article for the day will be his "Nagisa no Campari Soda" (Campari Soda on the Beach) from his 1981 album "Reflections". Written by Takashi Matsumoto（松本隆）and composed by Terao himself, taking into account the title of the song and what "Reflections" is about, I had assumed that this would be either a City Pop or an AOR track.
But I was wrong. It's actually more of a pleasant little rock n' roll number about a fellow inviting his girlfriend for some fun in the sun while drinking down those titular drinks. Just seeing a young clean-shaven Terao in those dark sunglasses while crooning "Nagisa no Campari Soda" brings back memories of the summer of 1981.
Doing some cross-referencing between the Wiki and J-Wiki articles for the Order, I think Terao is getting the 4th Class, Gold Rays with Rosette. Apparently, Charles Aznavour (2018), George Takei (2004) and The Ventures (2010) were given the exact honour.
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