Isao Hayashi & Utako Matsushima -- Ginza Yakyoku（銀座夜曲）

 

I've wondered what one of the world's most expensive neighbourhoods, Ginza in Tokyo, must have been like in the immediate postwar period. Perhaps it hadn't been quite as rich, bright and neon-populated before Japan began its gradual economic rise from the ashes but maybe even back then, it was a bustling area.

Singer-songwriter Isao Hayashi（林伊佐緒）and singer Utako Matsushima（松島詩子）released a single in 1949 called "Ginza Yakyoku" (Ginza Nocturne) which turned out to be quite the happy trot of a kayo kyoku, so maybe it's safe to assume that things were doing all right on the street. Written by Ryo Yano（矢野亮）and composed by Hayashi himself, it's an upbeat tune which makes for a refreshing change since I've often thought of Ginza being melodically memorialized through the bluesier Mood Kayo.

This is Matsushima's first entry in "Kayo Kyoku Plus", so a little attempt at a biography will be given here. Born Shima Utsumi（内海シマ）in 1905, she hailed from Yamaguchi Prefecture and as a young woman in her twenties, she was teaching at elementary school and high school in her home province. However, in 1932, Utsumi was bitten by the singing bug and made her debut behind the mike. After a few name changes, she settled on Utako Matsushima in 1935 in which she earned her first hit, "Yuube Honoka ni"（夕べ仄かに...Last Night, Faintly）.

Methinks that the above isn't the version that was put out in 1950 with just Hayashi singing "Ginza Yakyoku" as a single. However, I do like this cover for its tropical lounge arrangement. I wonder if cocktail shakers were used as part of the percussion. 

Now the reason that I chose this kayo is that "Ginza Yakyoku" as performed by Hayashi was one of the songs that got onto the very first Kohaku Utagassen（紅白歌合戦）on January 3rd 1951 via NHK Radio. Interestingly enough, Matsushima was also invited onto that 1st edition, but to perform her own contribution. Both singers became quick veterans on the annual special with Hayashi appearing 11 times while Matsushima performed 10 times. Matsushima would release singles well into the 1980s; she passed away in 1996 at the age of 91.