Katsutaro Kouta
| Katsutaro Kouta | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Katsu Shinno |
| Born |
November 6, 1904 Nigata prefecture, Japan |
| Died | June 21, 1974 (aged 69) |
| Genres | Ryūkōka, Min'yō |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1930–1974 |
Katsutaro Kouta (小唄 勝太郎 Kouta Katsutarō, November 6, 1904 – June 21, 1974) was a Japanese female geisha and ryūkōka singer. The genre like her songs was called "New-Minyo".[1] The era when she had a high popularity with another popular geisha singer Ichimaru was called the "Katsu-Ichi Era".[2]
Career
Katsutaro was originally a geisha. She debuted as a recording artist with the song "Sado Kouta" (佐渡小唄) in 1930. She released song "Shima no Musume" (島の娘 lit. Island Girl) in 1932. The song became a big hit in 1933, selling 600,000 copies.[3] However, the song also angered members of the Home Ministry because the song described illicit sexual relations.[4]
In 1933, Katsutaro and Issei Mishima released duet song "Tokyo Ondo", composed by Shinpei Nakayama. It sold 1.2 million copies and became the highest selling single in Japan at that time.[5]
She took part in the Kohaku Uta Gassen three times. On September 25, 2005, a monument to Kouta was established in her birthplace, Niigata.[6]
Discography
- Shima no Musume (島の娘 Island Girl) : 1932
- Tokyo Ondo (東京音頭) : 1933
- Manshu Gurashi (満州ぐらし Life in Manchu) : 1936
- Kenkoku Sakura (建国さくら National Foundation Sakura) : 1940
References
- ↑ "Yokohama's New-Minyo" (in Japanese). Yokohama Archives of History. 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ↑ "The day that singer Ichimaru died" (in Japanese). Nippon Television. 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-03-02.
- ↑ 新潟市議会請願第2号文書表 (in Japanese). Niigata City. 2003. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ↑ ビクターの新鋭作曲家・佐々木俊一 (in Japanese). JANJAN. 2006-05-04. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ↑ 踊り踊って東京音頭 昭和８年 (in Japanese). NHK. Retrieved 2009-01-21.
- ↑ "Katsutaro Kouta" (in Japanese). Niigata City. 2005-10-02. Retrieved 2009-01-21.