The 6 year old singer impressed listeners and this became the beginning of her singing career. At the navy send off party, Hibari sang “Kudan no Haha” (九段の母), a song of a mother who prays at Yasukuni shinto shrine for her son who died in the war. (2) Hibari’s father, KATO Masukichi (加藤増吉), was a fishmonger who enjoyed singing while selling fish.(3) In 1943, Masukichi was forcibly drafted to Yokosuka naval forces. It was Kimie who brought up the idea that Hibari would look great in men’s clothing. Her first performance acting as a boy was in the movie “Tokyo Kid” (東京キッド) in 1950 when she was 13 years old.(1) She repeatedly performed in men’s attire throughout her career though this form of expression was not the bulk of her performances.īorn on May 29th, 1937 in the port city Yokohama, Kanagawa, Hibari had a deep, strong bond with her mother KATO Kimie (加藤喜美枝). During her career spanning over 40 years, she recorded 1500 songs including 517 original songs.
MISORA Hibari (美空ひばり) was a singer and actress who symbolized the post-war era of Japan.
