The Works of Fumiko Okada（岡田富美子）

 

I never expected to see her name up on television but recently I saw that veteran lyricist Fumiko Okada had received some sort of award for her decades of work via an NHK report. From that, I thought that it would be time to post a Creator article regarding her.

But first a bit of background from her J-Wiki file, Okada hails from Hiroshima Prefecture. When she gradated from university, her parents pressed her to get a job at television broadcaster TBS working as a timekeeper for music programs. However, knowing herself as someone who never really enjoyed the rigors of an average job or career, she was pretty miserable. Also, she developed insomnia but one night, she gained the urge to write poetry and found out that the words flowed out of her surprisingly easily. Then one day, after amassing her poems into a collection and having some faint interest in becoming a songwriter, she was noticed by the manager of a famous arranger at work. Noting how unenthused young Okada looked, he asked her what she really wanted to do for which she replied "I want to become a lyricist". A mere few days later, that manager suggested Okada to a record company as a rookie lyricist. At least, one song with her lyrics got into a music festival and that apparently was all she needed to write...literally. She started getting requests for her words, something that has been continuing for her for close to 55 years.

(1972) Young 101 -- Kaiju no Ballad（怪獣のバラード）

In a desert where the blood-red sun set

A great big monster lived there in peace

One morning when he woke up, he heard a bell from a caravan off in the distance

He suddenly screamed out

I wanna see the ocean! I wanna love people! Monsters have hearts, too, you know!

Let's leave the desert behind and head to where love and the ocean reside

Although I didn't note this in the original KKP article for "Kaiju no Ballad", this was apparently Okada's first work as a professional lyricist. 

(1981) Ruiko Kurahashi -- Glass no Yesterday （ガラスのYesterday)

Yesterday

I danced all night with you

Yesterday, although we can never meet again

We said "See you later" and parted

You're the one who embraced me while saying

I can't love you on mere kindness

Whenever Okada's name is mentioned, I will always first remember Fashion Music specialist Ruiko Kurahashi's（倉橋ルイ子）songs since the lyricist provided a number of her works to her. 

(1986) Shibugakitai -- Sushi Kui ne! （スシ食いねェ！）

This is the No. 1 sushi restaurant in Japan

Gotta eat sushi! Gotta eat sushi! Gotta eat sushi!

Green tea! Green tea! Green tea! Pickled ginger! Picked ginger! Pickled ginger!

In contrast with the elegance of Kurahashi's signature song, the raucous "Sushi kui ne!" comes under the catchphrase of "Okada wrote this one?!". She must love her sushi.

(1987) Kiyomi Suzuki with Rats & Star -- Lonely Chaplin (ロンリー・チャプリン）

Lonely Chaplin

Time passes...and even if you fade away

I will always wait for you

Smile like the little boy you are

You want to come home

Into my arms, don't you?

As long as your dreams are unfulfilled

Oh, do what you wanna do again

Oh, do what you wanna do again

Man, didn't know that Chaplin was that lucky a guy!

(1979) Asami Kado -- Fascination (ファッシネイション）

I love you. Stop it because you make me feel so helpless

Stop it if you're only going to kiss me once

I love you. I got myself all psyched up

I hate you stalling for time

Nothing like pouty coquettishness to spice up a relationship!

Oh, Those Camellia Diamonds CM Songs（カメリアダイアモンド）

 

Back in the 2010s, I noted through a couple of articles that there was that series of Parliament Cigarette commercials that popped up late at night. Those were famous for showing off some classy scenes of the high life, a lot of it based in Manhattan where the beautiful people were having the time of their lives at some swanky soiree. Meanwhile, the songs used in the ads were of the Quiet Storm variety: soulful love ballads featuring folks such as Bobby Caldwell and Carl Anderson, both of whom have sadly left this mortal coil. They didn't get me to take up smoking (thankfully), but I still appreciated the commercials for their dreams of the good life.

Well, there has been another series of cool and classy commercials for Camellia Diamonds in Japan over the years, and the thing about these ads is that they have pointedly featured supermodels and female celebrities varying from Lea Thompson to Sharon Stone. The above one is showing off Canada's own Linda Evangelista to the stirring voice of Kahoku Kohiruimaki（小比類巻かほる）. And speaking of that singer, unlike Parliament's use of American singers, Camellia was more than happy to employ Japanese singers and bands with their high-energy goods. You can take a look at the long history of those ads below, thanks to YouTuber pstexe.

So, I've opted to start off this KKP business week with some of my own choices of Camellia Diamonds commercial tunes that I've enjoyed. I hope you do, too.

(1990) Kahoru Kohiruimaki -- Moving Action

(1989) Masayuki Suzuki -- Wakare no Machi (別れの街）

(1993) Keizo Nakanishi -- You And I

(1984) Mariko Takahashi -- Momo Iro Toiki （桃色吐息）

(1987) Kiyomi Suzuki with Rats & Star -- Lonely Chaplin (ロンリー・チャプリン）

I've also put up another Camellia Diamonds song in its own article. Check out Ryoko Moriyama's（森山良子） "Navigation".

Just for Fun...The J-C AI Gallery -- Kiyomi, Ruiko & Mieko

 

Kiyomi Suzuki with Rats & Star -- Lonely Chaplin (ロンリー・チャプリン）

Ruiko Kurahashi -- Last Scene ni Ai wo Komete （ラストシーンに愛をこめて）

Mieko Nishijima -- Gin Lime （ジンライム）

Kiyomi Suzuki -- Wait and See (Love Song)

 

Soulful singer Kiyomi Suzuki（鈴木聖美）has been known to me as someone who has been involved in that classic urban contemporary duet with her brother Masayuki Suzuki（鈴木雅之）, "Taxi". Plus, I discovered that she had her own dip into Japanese pop culture franchises such as "City Hunter" with her ballad "Give Me Your Love Tonight".

However, even before those two songs, Suzuki had been involved with another such franchise, that being the cops and robbers series "Abunai Deka"（あぶない刑事）. The show has always had its share of R&B-inflected tunes and Suzuki provided "Wait and See (Love Song)" as her contribution to the show's soundtrack from November 1986. Linda Hennrick wrote the English lyrics for Suzuki while Takashi Shoji（小路隆）composed the melody that Hiroshi Shinkawa（新川博）arranged. Especially with that saxophone in there, I couldn't help but feel that there was some kinship between "Wait and See" and the love theme from "St. Elmo's Fire" by David Foster.

The producers really must have loved the song since there are two more versions on the soundtrack: the strings version and the instrumental version.

Uta Con: October 1st 2024 ~ Sunakku Songs（スナックソング）

 

During my years at the University of Toronto as I was majoring in Japanese Studies, through my digestion of a lot of books on Japanese culture, I read that the society had something called a "bar culture". Not only can the usual drinking and light noshing be done in drinking establishments, but business negotiations, airing of work grievances and testing out of vocal cords can also be accomplished (mind you, I think the same things happen in my country, too).

I know that drinking establishments in Japan can come in a variety of sizes and forms. Of course, there are the Western-style bars up in the hotels with the tuxedo-garbed bartender shaking up cocktails. Then there are the more financially accessible chains of izakaya with plenty of space, libations and dishes. For an English conversation teacher like me on a budget, the izakaya was by far the watering hole that I frequented the most in the country, although I was never much of a drinker. 

On the other hand, the Japanese snack bar, or sunakku（スナック）as they say it over there, is a place that I very barely entered although there were those significantly rare times that I managed to squeeze into one due to friends taking me there. A sunakku is indeed a very cozy place with limited seating and it's usually run by a woman known as the Mama or Mama-san. There is the usual supply of alcohol to wet one's whistle and some light snacks only. One big reason that I rarely went into a sunakku is that it's basically the neighbourhood meeting place for the regulars...kinda like a mini-Cheers, if you remember that American 80s sitcom. Probably depending on the night, which can go really long depending on the energy levels of all those involved, there are dedicated regulars coming in and mixing throughout the week singing karaoke and knocking them back. Maybe there is even that one nightly barfly who gets "NORM!" yelled at him in greeting.

Anyways, a couple of days ago, NHK's "Uta Con"（うたコン）was televising its usual episode but this time around, the theme of the episode was something that I hadn't heard before: favourite sunakku karaoke songs. According to what I heard, apparently the current demographic frequenting the little bars may mostly be in their 40s. I'm not sure if I even heard any enka (have a look at a past article on what folks in their 60s have enjoyed singing). Regardless, here are three from the "Uta Con" list.

Kiyomi Suzuki with Rats & Star -- Lonely Chaplin (ロンリー・チャプリン）

Sharam Q -- Single Bed（シングルベッド）

Yasushi Nakanishi -- Saigo no Ame （最後の雨）

J-Canuck's Taxi Songs

 

It's a good Good Friday Friday! I'm gonna be beginning with something more whimsical today, starting with an old and popular American sitcom that was broadcast on ABC from the late 1970s into the early 1980s. "Taxi" was a show that I dipped into now and then, although I never became a dedicated fan. Being one of the classic ensemble TV comedies, I marvel at the cast since almost all of them have gone onto even bigger and perhaps better projects including sci-fi phenomena such as "Star Trek", "Babylon 5" and "Independence Day".

However, one of the things associated with "Taxi" that has stuck with me all these years is that theme song "Angela" by jazz keyboardist and record producer Bob James (according to Wikipedia, a lot of the material on his first several albums were sampled, leading to the formation of hip hop). I mean, my impression was that a theme for a New York-based show called "Taxi" would be all brassy and/or funky and in-your-face, but instead the producers opted for this much slower and calming fusion tune featuring sax, Fender Rhodes and what sounds like an innocent ocarina. I gather that it was this juxtaposition that has enabled me to remember and cherish the sitcom a lot better.

Well, I've decided then that I would come up with this article on the various taxi-based Japanese pop songs that I had already written about over the decade of "Kayo Kyoku Plus", just as a summary and a reflection of how there are probably plenty of other cab kayo out there (including ones that I've completely forgotten about but exist on the blog).

Yuiko Tsubokura -- Taxi Driver (1990)

(Night Tempo remix)

Getting this one up onto the blog a few nights ago was the impetus for this particular article. As I mentioned in that one, Tsubokura's cover of the Aran original is a fair bit mellower, although of course, Night Tempo's version jazzes it up some more. Good for that night time drive home.

Tomoko Aran -- Taxi Driver (1985)

I thought having the original just below Tsubokura's cover would make it easier for comparative listening. Good for that night time drive into town.

Miho Nakayama -- Midnight Taxi (1990)

When I was thinking about putting up this list, I knew that I had to get Miporin's "Midnight Taxi" up here because of its overall sophisti-pop feeling. This is the night taxi ride with class.

Kiyomi Suzuki with Rats & Star -- TAXI (1987)

Along with Nakayama's "Midnight Taxi", Kiyomi Suzuki's "TAXI" with her brother's group also has its class but it comes with some additional soulful goodness.

Yurie Kokubu -- Tobashite Taxi Man（とばしてTaxi Man）(1983)

As with Aran's "Taxi Driver", "Tobashite Taxi Man" has more of that feeling of heading giddily into Party Central rather than sleepily heading home in the metal chariot.

Yumi Arai -- Chuo Freeway（中央フリーウェイ）(1976)

I would consider Arai's classic "Chuo Freeway" more of an honourary member of the taxi list since according to her lyrics, it's pretty obvious that the ride home is a personal one with a couple of lovers in the front of the car. But the whole idea for "Chuo Freeway" came from Yuming's feeling of freedom and quiet satisfaction of being driven home when work got a little too late...something that I can relate to as well. Perhaps it was a staffer driving her back or even that cab.

Because when compared to the usual more inexpensive subway or train fare, I didn't take the taxi all that frequently during my time in the Tokyo area. It was only when I missed that last train home that I would brave the lineup to catch a cab. I never had a particularly thrilling or terrifying taxi ride home but that was due to the fact that taxi service was extremely professional with the uniformed drivers providing the same reassuring ride anywhere in town. Maybe that's why the songs that I've mentioned on the taxi list here have that seemingly extra-thick layer of romanticism and anticipation swaddling listeners/riders. However with the relatively recent rise in the love for Japanese City Pop around the planet, I can imagine that tourists may come with that layer as they ride from Haneda or Narita into Tokyo, although the price might turn them off if they arrive at the latter airport. Meanwhile, the drivers might end up wondering why their fares are so excited over a simple taxi ride.😁

J-Canuck's "Discovered at Karaoke"

 

Strangely enough, the inspiration for this Author's Pick came from that Sanma Akashiya（明石家さんま）special that I referred to in Masayuki Suzuki's（鈴木雅之）"Tokubetsu na Ichi Nichi ~ a special day"（特別な一日）back on Xmas Eve. Unfortunately but not surprisingly, the video for the entire show got taken down in the last couple of days (although I was able to replace it with Milet's talk with the comedian) but it did show not only Martin's chat with Sanma but also a karaoke performance of the cool singer's famous 80s "Lonely Chaplin" with R&B chanteuse AI. Apparently, AI was so nervous performing with Suzuki that her microphone was about to slip from her hands due to sweat.

But on seeing that performance, a light bulb sparked off over my head. All these years, I've been telling readers that my sources on finding about all this kayo and J-Pop have included CD shop browsing, the old "Sounds of Japan" radio broadcasts on CHIN-FM, and watching anime. But I have neglected to mention that I've also discovered songs through my old karaoke visits to Kuri in Yorkville and then those karaoke sessions in Japan, notably Gunma Prefecture. So I have decided to put down a short list of songs that I first found out about from those visits since after all, I've already talked about my favourite karaoke tunes and the ones that I utterly failed at. As well, Noelle Tham has given her karaoke experiences here, too.

By chance, if any of you commenters have any songs that you discovered through a trip to your friendly neighbourhood karaoke joint, please feel free to share. It's the Holidays, after all.🎉

Kiyomi Suzuki with Rats & Star -- Lonely Chaplin (ロンリー・チャプリン）

Ruiko Kurahashi -- Last Scene ni Ai wo Komete （ラストシーンに愛をこめて）

Anri -- Snowflake no Machikado （スノーフレイクの街角）

Tsuyoshi Nagabuchi -- Kanpai （乾杯）

Anzen Chitai & Yosui Inoue -- Natsu no Owari no Harmony (夏の終わりのハーモニー）

Ikuzo Yoshi -- Yukiguni （雪国）

Kiyomi Suzuki -- Yoake no Starlight（夜明けのスタライト）

I had been hoping that it would happen, but alas it didn't. I'm talking about the just-announced lineup for NHK's 70th Kohaku Utagassen at the end of next month, and unfortunately the White team doesn't have Masayuki Suzuki（鈴木雅之）with Rikka Ihara（伊原六花）and their "Love Dramatic"（ラブ・ドラマティック）. Maybe NHK never considered them or Martin may have politely declined NHK's invitation but we won't be having some of that cool soul from him this year, unfortunately. C'est la vie.

Therefore, just to soften the blow a bit, I'm putting up this soulful ballad by Suzuki's elder sister, Kiyomi Suzuki（鈴木聖美）, "Yoake no Starlight" (Sunrise Starlight) which was her 3rd single from September 1988. I'm not sure whether it had originally been recorded as a solo by Kiyomi but I do love the duet between the Suzuki siblings above. The Deities of Love Songs, indeed...

Written by Fumiko Okada（岡田冨美子）and composed by Harutoshi Noda（野田晴稔）, I wouldn't mind seeing more collaborations between Kiyomi and Masayuki. It's just the thing to cool down with on a Tuesday evening. I can only imagine that New Year's Day get-togethers with the Suzuki family must be something else.

Kiyomi Suzuki -- Give Me Your Love Tonight

Just love that "City Hunter" soundtrack from the 1980s. I was listening to it once again today while I was working...it's nice to hear that City Pop can apply to the anime world as well. Of course, there is that wonderful "Ai yo Kienai de"（愛よ消えないで）by Kahoru Kohiruimaki（小比類巻かほる）as the first opening theme song for the show which just invites you for a drive into the bright lights of Tokyo.

But then after that drive in the sports car through Roppongi and Shinjuku, you and your date would probably just love to hit one of those rooftop skyscraper bars in that latter neighbourhood of Tokyo. And once you two arrive there in the elevator, that's when this particular song comes in. I only knew chanteuse Kiyomi Suzuki（鈴木聖美）for the fine and karaoke-friendly "Lonely Chaplin" and "Taxi", but I've got another great song of hers in my memory now, and it's "Give Me Your Love Tonight" from that same soundtrack. I would have just loved to have taken in that panoramic view of downtown Tokyo from 50 floors up while listening to this one. However, I think listening to this in the car stereo would also have sufficed as the couple drove on the highway in The Big Sushi.

http://music.163.com/#/song?id=29751522

In any case, there is a hint of ol' Motown in the languid melody by Ryoichi Kuniyoshi（国吉良一）...some nice evening soul in there. And Linda Hennrick provided the English lyrics. I'm not sure when that first "City Hunter" soundtrack came out, but I will take a guess at the year 1988. Feel free to correct me if I'm obviously wrong. 

Lastly I wondered about the male singer who comes in at the end. One fellow online thought he sounded like Barry White. Well, I think that might be none other than Kiyomi's kid brother, cool crooner Masayuki Suzuki（鈴木雅之）.

Kiyomi Suzuki with Rats & Star -- TAXI

Along with "Lonely Chaplin" , Kiyomi Suzuki（鈴木聖美） released another single from her album, "WOMAN" in November 1987 as her 3rd single. "TAXI" is this bluesy ballad that I often heard at karaoke, and I can imagine if there had been a music video done of this song, it would've taken place appropriately in a Tokyo cab as it wound its way around Shinjuku or Roppongi in the wee hours.

Unlike "Lonely Chaplin", Kiyomi Suzuki has more of a lead role here than in her duet with her brother, Masayuki. Rats & Star this time are more in the backup role. But Kiyomi can more than hold her own in her solo. The song went no higher than 75 on Oricon, but I think for those fans of the more adult contemporary side of Japanese music, this fits the bill quite nicely on a Saturday night. Fumiko Okada and Daisuke Inoue（岡田ふみ子・井上大輔）were behind the creation of the song.

Kiyomi Suzuki with Rats & Star -- Lonely Chaplin (ロンリー・チャプリン）

Another karaoke duet favourite, "Lonely Chaplin" first struck my ears being sung by a couple of colleagues at a karaoke bar in Numata City, Gunma Prefecture. Interesting this place. It serves as a venue for customers to sing their lungs out for 1-hour intervals but then at the end of the hour, dry ice smoke comes billowing out of the vents and the place become a disco for about 20 minutes, before switching back to karaoke mode again. I was thinking about that bar a lot when I went to bed that night.

Interesting this song. The lyrics talk of parted lovers which cover the first word in the title. But I've got no idea how Charlie Chaplin fits into it. Aside from the refrain, there's no other hint of one of the most iconic characters in cinematic history. And again, despite the fact that soul singer and lead vocal for Rats & Star Masayuki 'Martin' Suzuki（鈴木雅之）created the song with lyricist Fumiko Okada（岡田ふみ子） in 1987, the beginning of the song sure sounds similar to Whitney's and Jermaine's "Take Good Care of my Heart", which means that "Lonely Chaplin" and "Eien no Morning Moon" （永遠のモーニング・ムーン）by Etsuko Sai and Toshinobu Kubota （彩恵津子・久保田利伸）could be kissing cousins.

Homage aside, the song still sounds cool....cool enough for me to track it down as being part of Kiyomi Suzuki's（鈴木聖美） debut album, "WOMAN", released in May of that year. It peaked at No. 10 on the Oricon weeklies and became the 37th-ranked album of 1987. The single itself was released on July 1 1987 and went as high as No. 18 after a slow start. The name Suzuki is as common a name in Japan as Smith is over here in Canada or the States, but Kiyomi Suzuki is indeed a relative of Martin....his older sister. He encouraged her to join the singing world and she became a backup singer for The Rats & Star before coming out with her own album. She definitely has the chops as a soul singer like her kid brother.