Rumiko Tanaka -- Furui Miyako no Onna no You ni（古い都の女のように）

 

When it comes to anyone named Rumiko on "Kayo Kyoku Plus", we have a few of them but usually my mind goes straight to singer/actress Rumiko Koyanagi（小柳ルミ子）.

But then some months ago, I discovered this song by singer-songwriter Rumiko Tanaka（田中ルミ子）and I just went "Why have I not ever heard of this lady before?!". She's got one of those ethereal clear-as-a-bell beauty voices and the song here has one of my favourite instrumental combinations of strings and piano. "Furui Miyako no Onna no You ni" (Like a Woman from the Old City) is a track on her 1979 album "Up and Fly" and it's got a wonderfully lush intro that leads into a song that makes one want to stop and smell the flowers. Plus, it's got a brief electric guitar solo that reminds me why I got into Japanese pop music in the first place. The melody was provided by her while the lyrics were written by Masatoshi Hayashi（林まさとし）. 

I was able to find some information on Tanaka on her website. She was born in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture and first showed her musical prowess publicly by providing a song for a 1977 NHK  documentary. Her official debut came in 1979 so I assume that "Up and Fly" was her first album. Since then, she has been teaching vocals and composition at a music school.