was a Japanese singer. Her nickname was .
Hirota was born in Ikejiri, Setagaya, Tokyo. She grew up listening to pop and jazz in places like Tachikawa, which was frequented by occupation troops. She made her debut in 1961 at age 14. In 1965, she became the first Japanese singer to sing the song "Sunny" on an album and the first to appear at the Newport Jazz Festival.
Hirota appeared on the NHK New Year's Eve Kōhaku Uta Gassen eight times. Her first performance was in 1962, when she sang the Connie Francis tune "Vacation". NHK tapped her for the next four years in succession, and again in 1969, 1970, and 1971. She sang the theme song, "Leo no Uta", for the animated television series Kimba the White Lion.
Hirota's commercial career included endorsements for Nescafé, Nippon Oil, Daikin Industries, Fujiya, Renown, and Sapporo Beer.
Hirota collapsed at her home in Chiba Prefecture on July 20, 2020, and was taken to a nearby hospital. She died from heart failure on July 21, 2020, at the age of 73. She posthumously became one of eight recipients of the Special Lifetime Achievement Award at the 62nd Japan Record Awards.
Kōhaku Uta Gassen appearances NumberYearSongAppearance orderOpponentRemarks1319623/25Hisahiko IidaKōhaku debut, youngest record in Red team (15 years)1419631/25Yasuo TanabeGrand Top Batter15196416/25Hitoshi Ueki16196514/25Johnnys18196717/23Satake BarbReturned after 2 years20196913/23Yukio HashiReturned after 2 years, second half top batter2119708/24Kenichi Mikawa22197122/25Akira Fuse
Sources This article incorporates material from 弘田三枝子 (Hirota Mieko) in the Japanese Wikipedia, retrieved on February 10, 2008.
External links TEZUKA OSAMU @ WORLD : ANIME STATION ジャングル大帝 site Official blog