My Showa Kayou 17 Forever with you
Japanese Title "Kimi to Itsumademo"
As long as you're here,
all I need is the sea and a guitar.
I'm so happy. Forever
"The 'Wakadaisho Series' has begun.
Anyway, the Showa era was the age of movies. I loved monster films too, but what made 'Wakadaisho' so popular even among elementary school kids was the insert songs that 'everyone could sing along to.'
I’ve written about 'singing together' before. For kids in the Showa era, the joy of popular songs was being able to sing them with friends. When someone would start humming, others would join in one by one, layering their voices. After finishing a song, it somehow felt like we had become closer.
Now, as for the 'Wakadaisho' storyline, it didn’t really interest me much. Probably because I felt it was too predictable. I found it easier to accept the traditional 'good vs. evil' samurai dramas with their heroes. That’s why the only 'Wakadaisho' movie I might have gone to see at the theater was 'Electrified Wakadaisho.'
My classmate, Wada-kun, had an incredible talent—he could memorize and sing a song after hearing it just once on a music show. When Wada-kun performed in class, everyone would say, 'Wow, Wada, you're amazing!' and clap, while I secretly took notes.
The lyrics were by Tokiko Iwatani, and the music was by the hit duo of Yuzo Kayama and Kosaku Dan.
I was really impressed by how stylish it was for someone to have a pseudonym as a composer, separate from his work as an actor.
Every summer, I spend time listening to Kayama-san’s songs: 'Star in the Night Sky,' 'Blue Stardust,' and incidentally, it was through this song that I, as a grade-schooler, learned the word '蒼い' (the kanji for 'blue'). Showa-era Japanese language education came through popular songs!
'Oyome ni Oide,' 'Tabibito yo,' 'Kimi no Tame ni,' 'Yuuhi wa Akaku'—and by the way, as a kid, I used to write '夕日' (sunset) instead of '夕陽,' so my range of kanji expanded.
'The Sea Just for Two,' 'The Sea of My Heart,' and then 'Beyond Time.'
Yuzo Kayama's Sinatra-like voice is his charm. The other voices I love from the same era are Hitoshi Ueki and Akira Fuse, so I’m sure the vocal cords of the three must be similar. Their voices resonate well, and they can sing through songs without much effort.
In 'Kimi to Itsu Made mo,' the line 🎵 In the twilightーー 🎵 extends up to an octave higher.
Then from 🎵Yourーー eyes areーー🎵 it goes even higher, and 🎵 burningーー 🎵 reaches the climax. Can anyone else hit those notes?
'Beyond Time' is the same. 🎵 Never againーー will I returnーー 🎵 rises an octave and a third. It feels amazing.
These two songs, alongside 'My Way,' are songs about a man's life in Japanese.
Kayama-san has faced tough challenges: the death of his beloved mother, 2 billion yen in debt, and the burning of his beloved boat, Koshinmaru.
Recently, he’s been recovering from a stroke and a cerebellar hemorrhage caused by aspiration. He’s rehabilitating from speech and walking difficulties. He’s now 85 years old and still has a happy marriage, haha.
His way of living encourages me as a 67-year-old.
This year, Kayama and his wife moved into a luxury care home together.
This has made me think about my own 'final residence.'
Showa's 'eternal Wakadaisho' is living a life of 100 years!"
Let me know if you'd like any adjustments!
I cannot read or write in English.
This text has been translated by ChatGPT.
I haven't edited it, so there may be some strange parts.
【Reference Video】
【Japanese Version of the Article】
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