| Akiko Futaba | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Yoshie Kato |
| Born | February 2, 1915 Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | August 16, 2011 (aged 96) Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan |
| Genres | Ryūkōka |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Years active | 1936–2003 |
| Labels | Columbia Music Entertainment |
Akiko Futaba (二葉 あき子 Futaba Akiko, born Yoshie Kato (加藤 芳江); February 2, 1915 – August 16, 2011) was a Japanese popular music (ryūkōka) singer. As of the end of the World War II, she was one of the most popular female singers in Japan, competing with Hamako Watanabe and Noriko Awaya.[1] In addition, she had taken part in the Kōhaku Uta Gassen (Japan's one of most famous year-end shows) 10 times.[2]
She was born in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture and raised in Miyoshi, Hiroshima Prefecture.[3] She graduated from the Tokyo Music School. Impressed by Takeo Masunaga (also known as Ichiro Fujiyama) at a performance held by the music school, she debuted in 1936. Her famous song "Furuki Hanazono" (古き花園 lit. "Old Flower Garden") was released in 1939. On August 6, 1945, she narrowly avoided the atomic bombing of Hiroshima because she was riding a train traveling through a tunnel at the time of the explosion.[1]
She ceased activity as a singer in 2003, and retired in Hiroshima Prefecture.