was a Japanese female soprano chanteuse and popular music (ryūkōka) singer. She was dubbed the in Japan.
Life and career Awaya was born as in Aomori, Aomori Prefecture, Japan. She was the oldest daughter of a wealthy merchant, whose business went bankrupt while his daughter was in her teenage years. In 1910, her family's home was destroyed in the Aomori City fire. In 1923 she, along with her mother and younger sister, went to Tokyo. There, she was admitted to the piano department of a music school. Later, her disposition towards singing was discovered and she was admitted to the vocal department. With the aim of becoming an opera singer, she made an extensive study of classical music. However, due to her family's poverty, she was forced to leave school for a year and worked as a nude model. Eventually, she returned to the music academy, and graduated top of her class in 1929.
She became a classical singer. However, she soon began to sing popular songs because the salary of a classical music performer was very low. Her 1937 song became a hit. In 1938, she also released . In Taiwan, the song was later given the alternative title "Han Yu Qu" (寒雨曲). In 1939, she recorded the song as an insert song of the movie Tokyo no Josei, in which Setsuko Hara played the main role. However, the song was banned by Japanese authorities.
Awaya had a daughter outside marriage. In her old age, she criticized enka. She also criticized Hideki Saijo and Seiko Matsuda because Saijo enjoyed dancing and Matsuda sang songs without feeling. She said that songs without pain, distress and effort were frauds. Kenichi Mikawa respected her. In 1996, Awaya gave Mikawa her song "Rainy Blues" at her final live performance. She was elected an honorary citizen by her hometown Aomori City in 1998 and died in 1999.
In 2007, Hideaki Tokunaga covered Awaya's song "Farewell Blues" at a concert.
The use of the term 'blues' in some song titles is misleading, as the songs bear no resemblance to western blues. Instead, they referred to slow melancholic songs, known commonly in Japan as kayōkyoku.
Discography Singles : 1929 Love Parade : 1930 Veny Ven : 1934 Dona Marriquita : 1935 Poema : 1935 Barcelona : 1935 Teresina : 1935 Dardanella : 1936 Morucha : 1936 : 1936 : 1937 Madiana : 1937 Amapola : 1937 : 1938 Rumba Tambah : 1938 La Cumparsita : 1939 La Seine : 1952 My Shawl : 1952 Romance : 1953 Maria la O : 1959 Adieu : 1959 : 1960 : 1982 : 1993
Albums : 1971 Noriko Awaya 50th Anniversary : 1978 album including song "Charmaine" Last Song : 1982 : 1988 : 1993 : 2000 – Triple-CD greatest-hits album set just after her death : 2003 compilation : 2004 compilation : 2005 compilation : 2007 compilation Golden Best Noriko Awaya: Chanson Album : 2009 compilation : 2010 compilation
Kōhaku Uta Gassen appearances Year#SongNo.VSRemarks1953 (Showa 28)/4th1Addu (アデュー)17/17Ichirō FujiyamaFinale1954 (Showa 29)/5th2Kareha (枯葉)12/15Itou Hisao1956 (Showa 31)/7th3Muruha Tamuba (ムルハ・タムバ)8/24Dick Mine1957 (Showa 32)/8th4Ame No Tokyo (雨の東京)6/25Itou Hisao (2)1958 (Showa 33)/9th5Barairo No Jinsei (ばら色の人生)21/25Dick Mine (2)1959 (Showa 34)/10th6Ame No Blues (雨のブルース)19/25Katsuhiko Haida1960 (Showa 35)/11th7Wakarerarenai Blues (忘れられないブルース)17/25Isao Hayashi1961 (Showa 36)/12th8Maria Rao (マリア・ラオ)19/25Itou Hisao (3)1964 (Showa 39)/15th9Wakare No Blues (別れのブルース)19/25Itou Hisao (4)
References