Credits

I would like to give credit where credit is due. Videos are from YouTube and other sources such as NicoNico while Oricon rankings and other information are translated from the Japanese Wikipedia unless noted.

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Reiko Mizumachi -- Bokura no Sekai(ぼくらの世界)

 

Actress Reiko Mizumachi(水町レイコ)was born Reiko Ono(大野領子)in Tokyo as one of five siblings. I had never heard of her and perhaps you hadn't either but if you're like me and have an interest in the wide spectrum of Japanese popular music, you will know her father: enka legend Saburo Kitajima(北島三郎).

Her J-Wiki file has her also listed as a singer although I only see one music-related output there which is "Bokura no Sekai" (Our World). It was used as a special one-off ending theme for the May 23rd 2008 episode of the long-running "Ojarumaru"(おじゃる丸)anime. A couple of months ago, I'd written about a much more recent ending theme for the series, "Ito wo Kashi"(いとをかし)by Ringo Shiina(椎名林檎), and like that one, "Bokura no Sekai" also has that waltz feeling, albeit in a slower circus-type arrangement. Mizumachi's song is so child-friendly that the single probably came with a safety cap. Interestingly enough, her father was responsible for singing both opening themes for "Ojarumaru".

"Bokura no Sekai" was written and composed by MAKOTO゜ who was Mizumachi's brother (and Kitajima's son). Makoto Ono(大野誠)was the vocalist for the rock band 1st Blood who also created songs for his father under the pen name of Toko Daichi(大地土子)including those opening themes for the show. Sadly, he passed away in March 2018.

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