| Masao Koga | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 18, 1904 |
| Origin | Ōkawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | July 25, 1978 (aged 73) |
| Genres | Ryūkōka, Enka |
| Occupations | Composer |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1931–1978 |
Masao Koga (古賀 政男 Koga Masao, November 18, 1904 – July 25, 1978) was a Japanese composer and guitarist known for creating melodies, and a pioneer of Japanese popular music. He was regarded as a notable figure for establishing the genre enka, though Koga considered that he was a ryūkōka composer.[1] He wrote numerous songs for Ichiro Fujiyama and Hibari Misora, and his work has been featured in various films, including Come See the Paradise, and Memoirs of a Geisha. He was the head of the "Japanese Society of Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers" from 1964 to 1978. A museum was built in Shibuya to honor his achievements, and visitors to the Koga Masao Museum of Music (古賀政男音楽博物館 Koga Masao Ongaku Hakubutsukan) are able to view exhibits, and memorabilia featuring his work.[2]