Cheuni/Masato Sugimoto -- Tokyo ni Yuki ga Furu（Tokyoに雪が降る）

Good heavens! It's been almost 6 years since I wrote up an article on South Korean singer Cheuni（チェウニ）and her blend of Mood Kayo and City Pop in her September 1999 debut single "Tokyo Twilight" （トーキョー・トワイライト）. It was quite fascinating hearing this kayo that seemed to combine the sounds and arrangement of two styles of Japanese music that reflected the city from two different eras. 

As I mentioned for "Tokyo Twilight", this began a series of Tokyo-based songs which leads to her sophomore outing from December 2000, "Tokyo ni Yuki ga Furu" (Snow Falls in Tokyo). However, despite the release date, I don't think that this sad ballad has anything to do with Xmas or the weather in the megalopolis so much.

Written by kayo singer Katsuhiko Miki（美樹克彦）and composed by Masato Sugimoto（杉本眞人）, who had also come up with "Tokyo Twilight", the precipitation here has as much to do with the snow in one woman's heart. You see, Miki's lyrics relate the melancholy tale in which the lass simply can't open up herself to the one that she loves (and vice versa) because she can't stand the thought of ending up rejected once again. Damned if you do, damned if you don't...that sort of thing.

Unlike that debut single though, I think "Tokyo ni Yuki ga Furu" is more along the usual Mood Kayo line although it comes out quite dramatically. It could even make for an ideal ending theme for one of those mystery dramas that is broadcast weekly on Japanese TV. 

Up to now, composer Sugimoto has had his works for other singers shown here on "Kayo Kyoku Plus", but on J-Wiki, he is known as a singer-songwriter. Therefore, I'm happy to also present his own cover of "Tokyo ni Yuki ga Furu" which was recorded on his October 2014 album "Nijuu Seiki ni Kanpai!"（20世紀に乾杯！...Here's to the 20th Century!）. It's no less dramatic.