Tomoko Kuwae - Watashi no Heart wa Stop Motion (1979)

Artist: Tomoko Kuwae / 桑江知子
Title: Watashi no Heart wa Stop Motion /
私のハートはストップモーション
Released: January 25, 1979
Oricon Peak Rank: 12
B-Side: たずねびと

(download)

Sometimes critical success doesn't guarantee lasting presence in the limelight, as is the case for Tomoko Kuwae whose fame rests on her debut single "Watashi no Heart wa Stop Motion", placing her amongst other equally ephemeral acts in the stage of one-hit-wonders. Even though Kuwae may not have made a lasting mark in the music world, she was of one the more prominent singers that came about the late 70s New Music revival that saw many acts come in from outside of the usual pop music sphere. The song itself is a pleasant one, with bright and light instrumentation coupled and contrasting with Kuwae's somewhat husky voice. A very nice touch in the song happens during the chorus where after she sings each half of the title, a flute flourish seemingly imitates the beating of a heart, giving the lyrics a moment of word painting. The song entered the Top 20 during the spring of 1979 and eventually by the end of the year she would also win the "Best New Artist" in that year's Japan Record Awards.

私のハートはストップモーション
(Watashi no Heart wa Stop Motion)

Music: Shunichi Tokura / 都倉俊一
Lyrics: Machiko Ryu / 竜真知子

ああ 私のハートはストップ・モーション
あなたに出逢ったまぶしさに
ああ 私のハートはストップ・モーション　　
通りすぎるなんて できないわ
ノックもなしに飛びこんできた恋
私あなたをはなさいわ

マンションのエレベーター降りたとたん
出逢いがしら はじけた熱い視線
春先によくある アクシデントなのに
感じたときめき ああ せつなすぎる

ああ 私のハートはストップ・モーション
あなたに出逢った ときめきに
ああ 私のハートはストップ・モーション
こんな熱いショックはじめてよ
春と一緒に舞こんできた恋　
私あなたをはなさないわ

あなたのその燃える胸に飛び込むまで　　
冬のコート着ていた私の心
暖かな陽ざしにブラインド降ろして
恋するやさしさ ああ 忘れていた

ああ 私のハートはストップ・モーション
あなたに出逢ったまぶしさに
ああ 私のハートはストップ・モーション　　
通りすぎるなんてできないわ
ノックもなしに飛びこんできた恋
私あなたをはなさいわ

Hiromi Ohta - Amadare (1974)

Artist: Hiromi Ohta / 太田裕美
Title: Amadare / 雨だれ
Released: November 1, 1974
Oricon Peak Rank: 14
B-Side: 白い季節

(download)


Fusion acts weren't uncommon during the 1970s as changing styles can often blend into one another. Hiromi Ohta is one such example of that fusion, between the worlds of pop music and that of the singer-songwriters that dominated the New Music scene. Having already launched her showbusiness career as a member of the singing and dancing youth troupe in the variety show Stage 101, she eventually became the most successful of the former members during her solo career. Though she didn't write her debut single "Amadare" (Raindrops), her input was noted by Kyohei Tsutsumi, who devoted a significant role in the song to the piano, her primary instrument. The motif of rain is present in the lyrics and in the music, from the small flourishes of the piano to the descending strings in the chorus. The minor key of the song gives it an air of somberness, her voice: gentle, a little frail, yet clear and persistent, deepens the effect of the lyric's description of separation and longing (seemingly a common trope in Japanese lyrics). Though released late in 1974, it eventually garnered enough attention the following year, earning her a respectable Top 20 hit in the charts as well a nomination for "Best New Artist" in the Japan Records Awards in 1975.


(17th Japan Record Awards [第17回日本レコード大賞])

雨だれ
(Amadare)

Music: Kyohei Tsutsumi / 筒美京平
Lyrics: Takashi Matsumoto / 松本隆

ひとり　雨だれは淋しすぎて　
あなた　呼びだしたりしてみたの　
ふたりに傘がひとつ　
冬の街をはしゃぐ風のように　
寒くはないかと気づかうあなたの　
さりげない仕草に気持がときめく　
淋しがりやどうし　肩よせあって　
つたえあうのよ　弾む恋の芽ばえ

何故か　あなたに甘えたくなって　
そっと　腕を組んだ街角よ　
ふたりの影はひとつ　
いつか愛に優しく包まれて　
見つめる瞳にふれあい探すの　
心がほのかに高まってゆくのよ　
淋しがりやどうし　そっと寄りそい　
感じあうのよ　熱い恋の芽ばえ

Toshihiko Tahara - Aishu Date (1980)

Artist: Toshihiko Tahara / 田原俊彦
Title: Aishu Date / 哀愁でいと
Released: June 21, 1980
Oricon Peak Rank: 2
B-Side: 君に贈る言葉 (アフター・スクール)

(download)

If Seiko Matsuda ushered in the new era of female idols in the 1980s, her counterpart for male popstars would be Toshihiko Tahara. A product of the perennial Johnny & Associates talent group who are responsible for churning out boy bands and teen idols for the girls to fawn over, Toshihiko made a strong entrance with his debut single "Aishu Date", an adaptation of "New York City Nights", itself the B-Side to Leif Garret's 1979 single "Feel the Need". The Japanese cover is a cleaner production compared to its American original, removing some of the heavier disco elements for a brighter instrumentation that makes it sound a bit more up to date. Despite its major success, peaking at No. 2 in the Oricon charts and granting him a spot on that year's Kohaku Uta Gassen, it is pretty clear Tahara is still working on his voice. It won't be until his second single does he start to sing more clearly and convincingly.

哀愁でいと (Aishu Date)

Music/Lyrics: Andrew Joesph di Taranto & Guy Hemric
Japanese Adaptation: Kazuko Kobayashi / 小林和子

赤い薔薇投げ捨て それで終わりにしようぜ
はしゃぎ過ぎたあと しらけちまう
火遊びみたいに 抱き合って
死ねるならいいね その日だけの恋ならば
やさしさも 無い方がマシさ

I say Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと あざやかな
Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと 笑顔みせてよ
Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと 醒めすぎた罪な奴

誰かに誘われ 君が乗り込む Yellow GT
“愛してる”なんて 疲れちまう
左であばよとドアに描き 思いきり殴る
その日だけの センセーション
心まで奪われたのさ

I say Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと あざやかに
Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと 恋を演じる
Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと 醒めすぎた罪な奴

Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと 駆け抜けた
Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと 赤い稲妻
Bye-Bye 哀愁でいと もう二度と…
Ah ha ha ha . . .

Hiromi Iwasaki - Nijuushou (Duet) (1975)

Artist: Hiromi Iwasaki / 岩崎宏美
Title: Nijuushou (Duet) /
二重唱 (デュエット)
Released: April 25, 1975
Oricon Peak Rank: 19
B-Side: 月見草

(download)

While we're looking at debut singles, let's go to Hiromi Iwasaki's beginnings as a singer. She entered the Star Tanjou! talent competition in 1974 with her rendition of the hit ballad "Anata" (originally by Akiko Kosaka). Her performance there garnered interest from scouts from eight different record labels, but she eventually went with Victor Records and underwent preparations for her official entrance as a professional. "Duet" was your generic pop tune, a safe and catchy song to test the waters for the sixteen year-old. It wasn't entirely ordinary, however. The song displayed Hiromi's vocal range that would eventually be one of her leading qualities, and despite her youth, her voice already has the mature edge to its tone that would improve as she develops her style. The arrangement by Mitsuo Hagita was also well integrated and one of the best-sounding in its time. It's showing on Oricon hit the Top 20, which isn't bad for a first song. However, compared to her entire output, it is probably the song that is the least like her style (another distinction shared with "Slow Motion" by Akina Nakamori).

二重唱 (デュエット) (Niijuushou [Duet])

Music: Kyohei Tsutsumi / 筒美京平
Lyrics: Yuu Aku / 阿久悠

あなたがいて 私がいて
ほかに 何もない
ただ秘密の匂い たちこめるだけ
あなたが好き ほんとに好き
二人それだけを
ただ小鳥のように くり返すだけ

くちづけするのなら
素早く盗んで
返事などさせないで 泣いてしまう
誰かに少しねたまれそうな
あなたと 私の恋の時

あなたの手が 私の手を
強くにぎりしめ
もうはなさないよと ささやいている
あなたのため 心をみな
見せてあげたいと
今せつないほどに 私は思う

ふるえているけれど
おびえていないわ
しあわせがかけめぐり とまらないの
何かをいうと 涙になるの
あなたと 私の恋の時

あなたがいて 私がいて
ほかに 何もない
ただ秘密の匂い たちこめるだけ
あなたが好き ほんとに好き
二人それだけを
ただ小鳥のように くり返すだけ

Hiroshi Itsuki - Yokohama Tasogare (1971)

Artist: Hiroshi Itsuki / 五木ひろし
Title: Yokohama Tasogare /
よこはま・たそがれ
Released: March 1, 1971
Oricon Peak Rank: 1 (1 week)
B-Side: 男が泣くとき

(download)

While this was the debut single for Hiroshi Itsuki, it certainly wasn't the first time the man entered the music world. He sang under his birthname Kazuo Matsuyama during the mid-1960s with middling results, which led him to change production companies twice (from Columbia to Polydor to Minoruphone), and don two stage names in the process (Yoshikazu Ichijo [一条英一] and Ken Mitani [三谷謙] respectively) in an effort to remake his image. He performed his final overhaul in 1970, settling on his current stage name, and things thereafter went far better than he would imagine.

The lyrics for "Yokohama Tasogare" (Yokohama Twilight) describe disjointed scenes of fleeting romance, giving the port town an aura of dark mystery. Hiroshi's strongly masculine vocal clarity lends to that imagery, where it may find itself comfortable in smoky bars and clubs. While it saw a spring release, the song took its time to gain traction in the charts, and finally experienced its brief reign at the top during summer of 1971. It also earned a nomination for "Best Song" in the 13th Japan Record Awards and granted him a spot in the Red-White Song Competition. Even though he would later, like Mori Masako in the previous entry, become a fixture in Enka, his early career was more hybrid in nature, singing Enka-quality songs with more pop styled arrangements. This gradual shift towards orthodox Enka is not unusual and rather common, and we'll see this effect as we both delve later in their careers and discuss other artists who've gone through that same path.

よこはま・たそがれ (Yokohama Tasogare)

Music: Maasaki Hirao / 平尾昌晃
Lyrics: Yoko Yamaguchi / 山口洋子

よこはま たそがれ
ホテルの小部屋
くちづけ 残り香 煙草の煙り
ブルース 口笛 女の涙
あの人は 行って行ってしまった
あの人は 行って行ってしまった
もう帰らない

裏町 スナック
酔えないお酒
ゆきずり 嘘つき 気まぐれ男
あてない 恋唄 流しのギター
あの人は 行って行ってしまった
あの人は 行って行ってしまった
もうよその人

木枯らし 想い出
グレーのコート
あきらめ 水色 つめたい夜明け
海鳴り 燈台 一羽のかもめ
あの人は 行って行ってしまった
あの人は 行って行ってしまった
もうおしまいね

Masako Mori - Sensei (1972)

Artist: Masako Mori / 森昌子
Title: Sensei / せんせい
Released: July 1, 1972
Oricon Peak Rank: 3
B-Side: 太陽の恋人

(download)


Momoe Yamaguchi was not alone when she made her debut into the music world. As mentioned earlier, she was one of three who graduated at the same time from the Star Tanjou! talent competition. Masako Mori was one of the other two and was the first to officially debut with her single "Sensei". During the competition, many in the industry found her voice the most appealing of the three and predicted great success in her future. Peaking at #3 on the Oricon charts and garnering recognition in the Japan Record Awards later that year, the song's strong start showed good signs for Masako. Her singing style is steady and clear, and high in register yet without shrillness. These qualities were well suited for her entrance as an Enka singer, which was rare to bestow on someone as young as she. "Sensei" has the qualities of melancholy and more traditional melodic structure found in Enka, yet its arrangement is rather light and friendly to popular music tastes. The broad appeal of the song combined with her personal appeal would see her become a big favorite in the Enka world, and, for the time being, find a place in the dynamic and competitive world of the teen idol.

せんせい (Sensei)

Music: Minoru Endo / 遠藤実
Lyrics: Yuu Aku / 阿久悠

淡い初恋　消えた日は
雨がしとしと　降っていた
傘にかくれて　桟橋で
ひとり見つめて　泣いていた
おさない私が　胸こがし
慕いつづけた　ひとの名は
せんせい　せんせい　それはせんせい

声を限りに　叫んでも
遠くはなれる　連絡船
白い灯台　絵のように
雨にうたれて　浮んでた
誰にも言えない　悲しみに
胸をいためた　ひとの名は
せんせい　せんせい　それはせんせい

恋する心の　しあわせを
そっと教えた　ひとの名は
せんせい　せんせい　それはせんせい

Kazuko Matsumura - Kaette Koi yo (1980)

Artist: Kazuko Matsumura / 松村和子
Title: Kaette Koi yo / 帰ってこいよ
Released: April 21, 1980
Oricon Peak Rank: 5
B-Side: やん衆哀歌

(download)


Kazuko Matsumura was somewhat of a flash-in-the-pan when she came into the music world plucking merrily on her shamisen in her debut song "Kaette Koi yo" (Come Back, My Love); a veritable youngster at the age of eighteen for a singer of an Enka tune. The song slowly grew on the Japanese populace through the end of 1980 and well into 1981. Although one may consider this to be a more pop-friendly kind of Enka song, the slightly melancholy aspect of the lyrics washed over in its rollicking melody, and the shamisen twanging away not in yearning, but just as accents. Regardless, the song proved popular enough to grant her a coveted spot in the New Year's Eve Red-White Song Competition in 1981, and that was the capstone for her musical career. Although she would continue recording into the decade, she is best known for this song, one of Japan's most treasured one-hit wonders.

帰ってこいよ (Kaette Koi yo)

Music: Noboru Ichidai / 一代のぼる
Lyrics: Tadao Hirayama / 平山忠夫

きっと帰って　くるんだと
お岩木山で　手を振れば
あの娘は小さく　うなずいた
茜の空で　誓った恋を
東京ぐらしで　忘れたか
帰ってこいよ　帰ってこいよ　帰ってこいよ

白いリンゴの　花かげで
遊んだ頃が　なつかしい
気立てのやさしい　娘だったよ
お前の嫁に　欲しかったねと
おふくろ今夜も　ひとりごと
帰ってこいよ　帰ってこいよ　帰ってこいよ

可愛いあの娘の　帰る日を
お岩木山で　今日もまた
津軽の風と　待っている
忘れはしまい　あの約束の
こんなにきれいな　茜空
帰ってこいよ　帰ってこいよ　帰ってこいよ

Hiromi Go - Otokonoko Onnanoko (1972)

Artist: Hiromi Go / 郷ひろみ
Title: Otokonoko Onnanoko /
男の子女の子
Released: August 1, 1972
Oricon Peak Rank: 8
B-Side: 夢をおいかけて

(download)

Hiromi Go possesses one of the most enduring careers in Japanese music, and has so far today not shown signs of slowing down just yet. Even so, it is still worth looking at how he once started, during the formative years of Japanese idols. He was the most junior (in terms of career) of the "The New Big Three" [新御三家], a trio of male singers in the 1970s, that comprised of him, Goro Noguchi, and Hideki Saijo, though none of them were ever truly alike in singing styles, Goro was primarily a ballad singer, Hideki was the slightly edgier rock-ish one, while Hiromi captured the pop world's attention. Yet, he was the first of the three to score the major hit. His debut single "Otokonoko Onnanoko" (Boy and Girl) certainly evokes that teen pop attitude, with its catchy refrain and light arrangement. Here, his voice had that quality common in young male Japanese singers: high, slightly nasal, and without significant depth. It would take some time for his voice to mature to that of a high, slightly nasal man. However, the song's appeal was strong enough in itself to garner Hiromi Go a Newcomer's Prize in the 14th Japan Record Awards, as well granting him his first of many appearances in the Red-White Song Competition.

男の子女の子 (Otokonoko Onnanoko)

Music: Kyohei Tsutsumi / 筒美京平
Lyrics: Tokiko Iwatani / 岩谷時子

君たち女の子　僕たち男の子
ヘイヘイヘイ　ヘイヘイヘイ　おいで遊ぼう
僕らの世界へ　走って行こう

幸福さがすのは　まかせてほしいのさ
ヘイヘイヘイ　ヘイヘイヘイ　夢があふれる
一度の人生　だいじな時間

アアアア　青空に
アアアア　陽が光る
明るい風の中　髪をなびかせて
GO GO GO GO

ほほえむ女の子　みつめる男の子
ヘイヘイヘイ　ヘイヘイヘイ　愛の雨降る
一度の人生　だいじな時間

泣いてる女の子　ふりむく男の子
ヘイヘイヘイ　ヘイヘイヘイ　胸がふるえる
一度の人生　だいじな時間

アアアア　あの瞳
アアアア　好きなんだ
花火があがるんだ　ふたりで手をとり
GO GO GO GO

男と女の子　心がふれあえば
ヘイヘイヘイ　ヘイヘイヘイ　おいでいそごう
僕らの世界へ　はだしで行こう

Mako Ishino - Ookami Nanka Kowakunai (1978)

Artist: Mako Ishino / 石野真子
Title: Ookami Nanka Kowakunai /
狼なんか怖くない
Released: March 25, 1978
Oricon Peak Rank: 17
B-Side: ひとり娘

(download)

The Nippon Television Network talent show Star Tanjou! [スター誕生!] (A Star is Born!) has produced a significant number of highly successful singers that graced the Japanese charts during the 70s and 80s, two of them have been featured here in this blog: Hiromi Iwasaki , Akina Nakamori and Momoe Yamaguchi. We'll be looking at another one of the show's successful alumni: Mako Ishino.

Despite her homely appearance and slightly crooked teeth (Asian dentistry wasn't so great at the time), her cute image and decent singing (of a Japanese cover of a Danièle Vidal tune) won the judges over, among them the lyricist Yuu Aku, who would later pen the words to several of Mako's earlier songs. She signed onto the Victor Entertainment label and released her debut single "Ookami Nanka Kowakunai" ("I Ain't Afraid of Wolves"). The song is a breezy number playing up the metaphor of men as wolves in the game of love. As per habit for Japanese singing, the song had its own trademark moves, in this case Mako pursing her right hand to imitate a wolf's head when singing the chorus. Her singing character straddles between the voice of the typical pop teen voice and that of a feminine and mature woman, giving her the potential for versatility in song material that is not very common for most singers. Needless to say, her producers took advantage of that, the results we'll see when we get back around to her again later on.


(Hit Studio Night [夜のヒットスタジオ])

狼なんか怖くない (Ookami Nanka Kowakunai)

Music: Takuro Yoshida / 吉田拓郎
Lyrics: Yuu Aku / 阿久悠

あなたも狼に変わりますか
はじめてのルージュの色は
紅過ぎてはいけない
大人の匂いがするだけでいい
唇をすぼめたままで
くちづけは出来ない
鏡に向かってあれこれ思う
鼻が邪魔だと誰かがいってたわ
古いと映画の台詞(セリフ)だったかしら

あなたも狼に変わりますか
あなたが狼なら怖くない
あなたも狼に変わりますか
あなたが狼なら怖くない

ハイヒール両手に下げて
逃げたりしちゃいけない
片目をつぶって 見るだけでいい
あのひとはいいひとだから
傷つけたり出来ない
その日を思ってあれこれ悩む
熱が出るわと誰かがいってたわ
ヒットソングの言葉だったかしら

あなたも狼に変わりますか
あなたが狼なら怖くない
あなたも狼に変わりますか
あなたが狼なら怖くない

Saori Minami - Jyunana Sai (1971)

Artist: Saori Minami / 南沙織
Title: Jyunana Sai / 17才
Released: June 1, 1971
Oricon Peak Rank: 2
B-Side: 島の伝説

(download)


Saori Minami was at the forefront of a shift in the early 1970s towards giving attention and exposure to artists at younger ages, usually around 14 to 16 years old. Prior to that, in the 1960s and before, it is expected for singers to start around that age, but only reach their stride by the time they were in their late teens or early twenties through a few years of climbing up the ranks. However, with the growing trends of youth culture getting a stronger influence in Japan, their new stars now had to hit the ground running, thus giving rise to the first generation of "idols".

Saori's debut single "Jyunana Sai" (Seventeen Years Old) is appropriately titled, as she was to turn 17 the month after the single's release date. On first listen, it is clear that composer Kyohei Tsutsumi was heavily influenced by "Rose Garden" by country singer Lynn Anderson from the year before. The story goes that with Tsutsumi in charge of writing the music to Saori's songs (as was also soon becoming a trend for songwriters and lyricists to be tasked to write songs almost exclusively for a suite of artists), he asked her what she liked to sing, and "Rose Garden" was her answer, thus he gave her his own way of writing a "Rose Garden"-esque song. Paired with Mieko Arima's coastal-themed lyrics, the song rose to 2nd on the Oricon charts winning a couple prizes from the Japan Record Awards and Kayo Grand Prix for that year. The song soon became one of her standards, as well as a standard in the Japanese songbook, inspiring many other songwriters in the coming years to use 17 as a special age in their songs, reinforcing the prevalence of teenagerhood that was sweeping the nation. Saori Minami's strong start in her singing career set a high bar for future singers who wish to make their mark in music.


(22nd NHK Red White Song Competition [第22回NHK紅白歌合戦])

17才 (Jyunana Sai)

Music: Kyohei Tsutsumi / 筒美京平
Lyrics: Mieko Arima / 有馬三恵子

誰もいない海
二人の愛を　確かめたくて
あなたの腕を　すりぬけてみたの
走る水辺のまぶしさ
息も出来ないくらい
早く　強く　つかまえに来て
好きなんだもの
私は今　生きている

青い空の下
二人の愛を抱きしめたくて
光の中へ　溶けこんでみたの
ふたり　鴎になるのよ
風は大きいけれど
動かないで　おねがいだから
好きなんだもの
私は今　生きている

あつい生命にまかせて
そっとキスしていい
空も海も　みつめる中で
好きなんだもの
私は今　生きている
私は今　生きている . . .

Seiko Matsuda - Hadashi no Kisetsu (1980)

Artist: Seiko Matsuda / 松田聖子
Title: Hadashi no Kisetsu / 裸足の季節
Released: April 1, 1980
Oricon Peak Rank: 12
B-Side: RAINBOW～六月生まれ

(download)


The origin of Seiko Mastuda's debut single was one of serendipity. During a cover shoot and filming of a commercial for the Shiseido cosmetic line, Seiko was supposed to be one of the models, but was later rejected due to her dimples. However, they instead had her sing the theme song for the commercial (good talent doesn't go to waste). Despite her nerveousness during the recording, the song proved to be a good debut hit. Even though it never cracked the top 10 in the Oricon charts, she received much positive publicity in the weeks and months ahead. This song was the beginning for her long and highly successful career as an idol and paved new paths for a new generation of singers that would later shape and define the music scene of 1980s Japan.


(Hit Studio Night [夜のヒットスタジオ])

裸足の季節 (Hadashi no Kisetsu)

Music: Yuichiro Oda / 小田裕一郎
Lyrics: Yoshiko Miura / 三浦徳子

白いヨットの影　渚をすべり
入江に近づくの　手を振るあなた
夢の中のこととわかっていても
思い切りこたえる私です

エクボの秘密あげたいわ
もぎたての青い風
頬をそめて今走り出す私
二人ひとつのシルエット

誘われた映画はまぶしすぎたの
背のびする季節と言われたけれど
ハラハラし通しのエピローグには
思わずうつむいた私です

エクボの秘密あげたいわ
もぎたての青い空
愛をめがけ今走り出す私
二人ひとつのシルエット

エクボの秘密あげたいわ
もぎたての青い風
頬をそめて今走り出す私
二人ひとつのシルエット

Takashi Hosokawa - Kokoro Nokori (1975)

Artist: Takashi Hosokawa / 細川たかし
Title: Kokoro Nokori / 心のこり
Released: April 1, 1975
Oricon Peak Rank: 1 (4 weeks)
B-Side: 泣きぐせ

(download)

Takashi Hosokawa is one most successful Enka singers in Japan, despite coming into the genre at a time when new talent in Enka was on the start of a downturn. His wildly popular debut single "Kokoro Nokori" (Heart Pieces) stayed at the top of the Oricon charts for 4 weeks and ranks 8th overall for 1975. It is a strident song about abandoned love and regret, carried along in its doo-wop styled music. By the year's end, he has won many awards with his song including "Most Excellent Newcomer" in the 17th Japan Record Awards (日本レコード大賞) and the 3rd FNS Song Festival (FNS歌謡祭), "Broadcast Music New Member Prize" in the 6th Japan Song Grand Prix (日本歌謡大賞), and a "New Member Prize" in the Japanese Television Music Festival (日本テレビ音楽祭). Both Hosokawa and his debut song have become established standards in the Japanese music world.

心のこり (Kokoro Nokori)

Music: Yasushi Nakamura / 中村泰士
Lyrics: Rei Nakanishi / なかにし礼

私バカよね おバカさんよね
うしろ指 うしろ指 さされても
あなた一人に 命をかけて
耐えてきたのよ 今日まで
秋風が吹く 港の町を
船が出てゆくように
私も旅に出るわ 明日の朝早く

私バカよね おバカさんよね
大切な 大切な 純情を
わるい人だと 知っていながら
上げてしまった あなたに
秋風の中 枯葉がひとつ
枝をはなれるように
私も旅に出るわ あてもないままに

私バカよね おバカさんよね
あきらめが あきらめが 悪いのね
一度はなれた 心は二度と
もどらないのよ もとには
秋風が吹く つめたい空に
鳥が飛び立つように
私も旅に出るわ 一人泣きながら