Eigo Kawashima

Eigo Kawashima (河島英五, Kawashima Eigo, 23 April 1952 – 16 April 2001) was a Japanese singer-songwriter and actor.[1]

Kawashima Eigo
河島英五
Born(1952-04-23)23 April 1952
Higashiōsaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
Died16 April 2001(2001-04-16) (aged 48)
Higashiōsaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan
GenresKayōkyoku, folk
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1971–2001

Career

In 1969, Kawashima began singing folk songs as a student at Osaka Prefectural Hanazono High School in Higashiōsaka, Osaka Prefecture.[1] After graduating, Kawashima was active in a group called Homo Sapiens and then debuted with the Kyoto indie record label Kyoto Record.[1] His looks and vocal style led some to call him the second coming of Takuro Yoshida.[2]

In 1973, Kawashima began his solo career and released his debut solo album Jinrui in 1975 .[1]

Also in 1976, Kawashima released his first hit single "Sake to Namida to Otoko to Onna" ("Drinks, Tears, a Man and a Woman").[3] Kawashima wrote "Sake to Namida to Otoko to Onna" at the age of 19, inspired by the figure of his uncle. The song became known nationwide after it was used in a TV commercial for Kizakura, a Kyoto brewery, and is considered one of his greatest hits.

In 1984, Kawashima released the hit single "Nofuuzo", a cover of a 1980 song composed by Hiroyuki Yamamoto.[4] The song title "Nofuuzo" is a word from the Chūgoku dialect of Japanese roughly meaning "rebellious" or "cheeky".[5]

In 1986, Kawashima released another hit single "Jidai Okure" ("Old-fashioned"), a song which saw numerous covers and remains a popular karaoke choice to this day among older men.[6]

On 16 April 2001, Kawashima died of a liver disease at a hospital in Higashiōsaka, a week before his 49th birthday.[7] Kawashima was buried at a Shingon Buddhist temple in Nara.

Discography

Original albums
  • Jinrui – 1975
  • Unmei – 1976 (Up until this point, albums were sold under "Eigo Kawashima and Homo Sapiens".)
  • Shinbō – 1977
  • Jinsei – 1978
  • Collected Works of Eigo Kawashima – 1979
  • Homo Sapiens Mongai Fu Shutsu – 1979
  • Bunmei I – 1980
  • Bunmei II – 1980
  • Bunmei III – 1980
  • Hakkan – 1985
  • Jidai Okure – 1986
  • Romantist – 1987
  • Kisetsu – 1988
  • Ikutsu Ka No Bamen – 1991

Live albums
  • Live Tenbin Bakari – 1975
  • Eigo Kawashima Last Live ~ Kyou wa Hontou ni Arigato – 1975

Collaborations

References
  1. 田家秀樹・大越正実・藤井徹貫・前田祥丈・下村誠共著『日本のベストアルバム』シンコー・ミュージック、1992年、91頁。
  2. 『一九七〇音楽人百科』 学習研究社、1994年、157頁。
  3. 河島英五　酒と泪と男と女 (Video file). 26 June 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2020 – via YouTube.
  4. 野風増 　河島英五 (Video file). 8 December 2019. Retrieved 9 April 2020 – via YouTube.
  5. "野風増". Weblio. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  6. 河島英五：時代おくれ (Video file). 26 June 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2020 – via YouTube.
  7. "Obituary: Eigo Kawashima". The Japan Times. 17 April 2001. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
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