Michiyakko
| Michiyakko | |
|---|---|
 美ち奴（1940年代）.jpg | |
| Native name | 美ち奴 |
| Born | 8 June 1917 Hamatonbetsu, Hokkaido, Japan |
| 💀Died | 29 May 1996 (aged 78) Tokyo, Japan29 May 1996 (aged 78) |
| Other names | Someko Kubo |
| 💼 Occupation | geisha, singer, actress |
Michiyakko (8 June 1917 – 29 May 1996), whose real name was Someko Kubo. She was a geisha and singer who was active during the Showa era. Her brother was the comedian Senzaburo Fukami.[1][2]
Life
Michiyakko was born in Hamatonbetsu, Hokkaido, as the eldest of four siblings. Her father's real name was Yurita Kubo, and he went by the stage name Tamajiro Nakamura. He was from Tokushima Prefecture and led a traveling kabuki troupe from the late Meiji period to the early Taisho period. He eventually ended up in Hamatonbetsu and settled down with the daughter of a local woodworker. The reason he came to Hamatonbetsu was because Yurita's sister ran a kimono shop there. Influenced by her traveling actor father, she developed an interest in performing arts from a young age and aspired to make a living playing the shamisen.[3]
Career
In 1931 (Showa 6), she came to Tokyo to train in the shamisen, initially relying on a relative who ran a okiya called "Michinoya" in Asakusa. The following year, her relative's business ran into financial difficulties, and 15-year-old Someko became a geisha under the name "Michiyakko". Before long, Michiyakko became a popular geisha in Asakusa.[3] In 1933, Michiyakko participated in the filming of the talkie portion of the Shochiku film "Tokyo Ondo" as one of the geishas from Asakusa. Her high-pitched singing voice became popular, she was scouted by Nitto Records (now King Records), which was looking for a popular singer who was formerly a geisha. In 1934, she made her debut as a record singer with "Sakura Okesa". During her time with Nitto Records, she sang many songs by the then-unknown composer, Ryoichi Hattori. Teichiku Records (now Teichiku Entertainment), a newly established record company that had produced hits with Masao Koga, singled out Michiyakko as a rival to Ichimaru, Kouta Katsutaro and Kiyosaburo Shinbashi.The company extended an invitation to her and eventually signed a transfer contract with her.She appeared in many films, gaining popularity before and during the war with works such as "Yajikita Dochuuki," "Shimizu Port," "Utau Tanuki Goten," and "Hebihime Dochu." She also maintained her peak as a singer with hits like "Kira no Nikichi," "Kaido Ishimatsu Bushi," "Jirocho Bushi," and "Shanran Bushi."[3][4]
Death
After the war, she led a turbulent life, losing her parents, whom she had brought to live with her, in the Tokyo air raids, and experiencing romantic entanglements. In her later years, she entered a nursing home with Hiroko Nakano, a female sword-fighting performer with whom she had shared hardships in the same troupe after the war. She passed away from colon cancer in 1996, and on the night of the 49th-day memorial service, her comrade Hiroko Nakano also passed away shortly afterward. She was 78 years old.[5]
References
- ↑ "美ち奴（みちやっこ）って歌手、ご存じですか". Ameblo. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "ああそれなのに". Asahi. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "天性の美声…歌手・美ち奴さん". Matsuyomi. Retrieved 7 May 2026.
- ↑ "昭和の歌手シリーズ『美ち奴』". Ameblo. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ↑ "昭和の歌手シリーズ『美ち奴』". Ameblo. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
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