Well, that was quite the lineup for "Uta Con"（うたコン）tonight. As soon as I saw the names of Junko Yagami（八神純子）, Ms. OOJA, and Miki Asakura（麻倉未稀）, I kinda figured that we were going to be in for a splendid City Pop segment. It didn't quite work out that way; actually, the theme for about two-thirds of the episode was on kayo that also made it big outside of Japan...not that I'm complaining at all.
Not surprisingly, Kyu Sakamoto（坂本九）was given first attention because of his 1961 classic "Ue wo Muite Arukou" (上を向いて歩こう) , but then in the following few seconds, the camera went straight over to Yagami to perform her own trademark song, "Mizuiro no Ame" (みずいろの雨）. I have to say that the Nagoya-born singer-songwriter was the main person that I was looking forward to seeing, especially remembering that Junko Ohashi（大橋純子）showed up on "Uta Con" earlier this year. Additionally, I was happy to see her come back for a second number which was indeed the City Pop favourite "Tasogare no Bay City"（黄昏のBAY CITY）. You can take a listen to both of them (again) through my own list of favourite Yagami songs that I concocted back on Canada Day.
Moreover, during the introduction, "Uta Con" noted that Yagami was recently inducted into America's Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in its second year, being its first Japanese inductee. Many congratulations to her.
In honour of the occasion, I'd like to introduce the B-side to Yagami's 5th single "Mizuiro no Ame" (1978), "Mezameta Toki ni" (When I Opened My Eyes). Written and composed by Yagami and arranged by Masaaki Omura（大村雅朗）, it's a dreamy City Pop tune featuring the singer's floaty vocals, a romantic saxophone and a light bossa nova rhythm. It's all about a woman savoring the moment waking up in the morning next to the one she loves. The strings and the background chorus add to that dream-come-true sensation. The only thing missing is the boyfriend waking up to bring breakfast-in-bed to the lucky lady.
Tonight's episode was about as close to getting a City Pop segment in the Kohaku Utagassen as one could get. Hope beyond hope, maybe this was a test run. But in any case, it was great seeing Yagami on "Uta Con" tonight.
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