Kiyoshi Hikawa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kiyoshi Hikawa (Japanese: 氷川 きよし Hikawa Kiyoshi), real name Kiyoshi Yamada (山田 清志 Yamada Kiyoshi), born on September 6, 1977 in Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, is a Japanese enka singer. He is known as "The Prince of Enka". He is also known as KIYOSHI when he is not marking enka music.
His record company is Columbia Music Entertainment, and his agency is Nagara Productions. He was given his stage name by Takeshi Kitano, who initially supported his career. Today, Hikawa makes frequest appearances on NHK Kayō Concert (ＮＨＫ歌謡コンサート), as well as NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (紅白歌合戦).
Contents |
[edit] History
As a high school student, Hikawa was a member of the school's geinō club, and was trained to be a singer. It is unusual for a young person in his 20s to take up the style of enka professionally, as most enka fans prefer their performers to be much older. Hikawa decided to become an enka singer when he found that his singing of traditional songs had an effect on the residents of the nursing homes he visited. After graduation from high school in 1995, Hikawa travelled to Tokyo, where he became an apprentice under the supervision of Hideo Mizumori. He served under Mizumori for three years.
In 2000, Hikawa made his professional debut with his single "Hakonehachiri no Hanjirō".
[edit] Characteristics
Hikawa is popular with young and old people alike. Although enka is in a downward trend in Japan, Hikawa is doing his part in keeping enka alive within the 20s demographic, who tradtionally do not listen to enka. Regularly in his public appearances, Hikawa dresses in trendy clothes you would normally see worn by male Japanese pop stars. In certain segments where he sings traditional-styled enka, he appears in the more traditional kimono normally worn by enka singers.
When asked what he enjoys the most out of entertaining live on-stage, Hikawa says he likes it when his fans keep yelling his name "Kiyoshi!"
[edit] World-wide exposure
Hikawa has traveled around the world, including to the United States. In 2003, he was the guest of honor at Hawaii's week-long Aloha Festival, where he participated in a parade with various Japan-based hula halau, and ended the week with a concert.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- 箱根八里の半次郎 [Hakone hachiri no hanjiro] (02 February 2000) #11
- 大井追っかけ音次郎～青春編～ [Ooi okkake otojirou] (21 February 2001) #8
- きよしこの夜 [Kiyoshi kono yoru] (21 November 2001) #14
- きよしのズンドコ節 [Kiyoshi no zundoko bushi] (06 February 2002) #5
- 星空の秋子 [Hoshizora no akiko] (21 August 2002) #3
- 白雲の城 [Hakkun no shiro] (19 February 2003) #3
- きよしのドドンパ [Kiyoshi no dodonpa] (21 January 2004) #4
- 番場の忠太郎 [Banba no chuutaro] (07 July 2004) #2
- 初恋列車 [Hatsukoi ressha] (9 February 2005) #1
- 面影の都 [Omokage no miyako] (6 July 2005) #2
- 一剣 [Ikken] (3 March 2006) #2
[edit] Albums
[edit] Mini Albums
- 股旅演歌名曲選 (21 June 2000)
- 股旅演歌名曲選ＩＩ／箱根八里の半次郎 (21 October 2000) #68
- 大井追っかけ音次郎 (21 November 2001) #30
[edit] Full Albums
- 氷川きよし・演歌名曲コレクション 大井追っかけ音次郎～青春編～ (21 June 2001) #6
- 氷川きよし・演歌名曲コレクション２～きよしのズンドコ節～ (22 May 2002) #8
- 銀河～星空の秋子～ (22 November 2002) #6
- 氷川きよし 演歌名曲コレクション3～白雲の城～ (21 May 2003) #4
- 男 気 (19 November 2003) #7
- 氷川きよし 演歌名曲コレクション４ 番場の忠太郎 (01 September 2004) #5
- 氷川きよし 演歌名曲コレクション５ 初恋列車 (18 May 2005) #2
- 演歌十二番勝負！～面影の都～ (23 November 2005) #5
- 演歌名曲コレクション６～一剣～ (28 June 2006) #5
[edit] External links
 |
This article about a Japanese singer is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
