Pathetic Facts

Japanese musicians born in 1937

Here are 13 famous musicians from Japan were born in 1937:

Kenji Utsumi

Kenji Utsumi (August 26, 1937 Kitakyushu-June 13, 2013 Shinjuku) also known as Utsumi Kenji, Takaji Uchimi or 内海賢二 was a Japanese actor, voice actor and narrator. He had one child, Kentaro Utsumi.

Utsumi began his career in acting in the 1960s and became well-known in Japan for his roles in both television dramas and films. However, he was most recognized for his work as a voice actor in anime and video games. He provided the voice for several iconic characters, including Raoh in "Fist of the North Star," Nibori in "Nintama Rantaro," and Senbei Norimaki in "Dr. Slump." Utsumi was also known for his deep, commanding voice and frequently narrated documentaries and commercials. In 2013, he passed away from cancer at the age of 75, leaving behind a legacy as one of Japan's most beloved actors and voice actors.

Throughout his career, Utsumi received numerous accolades for his contributions to the Japanese entertainment industry. In 2002, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tokyo International Anime Fair, and in 2011 he was recognized with the Merit Award at the 5th Seiyu Awards. Utsumi had a commanding presence on screen and on stage, and was known for his ability to fully immerse himself in his characters. He was also a mentor to younger actors and voice actors, passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of performers. Utsumi's legacy lives on through his extensive body of work and his impact on the industry as a whole.

Read more about Kenji Utsumi on Wikipedia »

Keiko Abe

Keiko Abe (April 18, 1937 Tokyo-) also known as 安倍圭子, Abe Keiko, あべけいこ, 安倍圭子, あべけいこ or Abe, Keiko is a Japanese composer and percussionist.

Her albums: Marimba Fantasy and Solo Marimba Selections.

Read more about Keiko Abe on Wikipedia »

Yūzō Kayama

Yūzō Kayama (April 11, 1937 Kanagawa Prefecture-) also known as Yuzo Kayama, Kayama Yuzo, Naoaki Ikehata, Ikehata Naoaki, Kosaku Dan, Dan Kosaku, Kayama Yūzō, Yûzô Kayama, Kayama Yûzô, Dan Kohsaku, Kayama, Yuuzou or 池端直亮 is a Japanese actor, singer-songwriter, artist, musician and music artist. He has four children, Nobuhiro Ikehata, Tetsuo Yamashita, Mayuko Azusa and Emi Ikehata.

Related albums: 恋は紅いバラ, The Greatest Hits of KAYAMA YUZO and LOVE AGAIN.

Read more about Yūzō Kayama on Wikipedia »

Asahi Kurizuka

Asahi Kurizuka (May 9, 1937 Sapporo-) is a Japanese actor.

He has appeared in numerous films, television dramas, and stage productions throughout his career. Kurizuka began acting in the 1950s and has since become a well-known figure in Japanese entertainment. He is most recognized for his roles in the films "Lonely Heart" (1964), "Chieko-sho" (1974) and "The Yellow Handkerchief" (1977). Kurizuka has won several awards for his acting, including the Best Supporting Actor award at the 14th Japan Academy Prize for his role in the film "Kita no hotaru" (1984). In addition to his acting career, Kurizuka is also a proficient writer and has published several books. He is considered a respected figure in the Japanese film industry and continues to work in entertainment to this day.

Kurizuka was born in Sapporo, Japan, and grew up in a family of actors. His parents were both actors, and his father, Tatsuo Saito, was a prominent stage actor in Japan. Kurizuka initially studied economics at university but soon turned to acting, following in his parents' footsteps. He made his debut in the film "Sun in the Last Days of the Shogunate" in 1957.

Throughout his career, Kurizuka has worked with some of the most renowned Japanese directors, including Yasujirō Ozu, Akira Kurosawa, and Kaneto Shindo. He is known for his versatile acting skills, with roles ranging from dramatic to comedic. In addition to films, Kurizuka has also appeared in several popular television dramas, such as "Kumo no Jūtan" and "Miyamoto Musashi."

Aside from his acting career, Kurizuka is also an accomplished writer. He has written several books on acting, including "The Method of Asahi Kurizuka," which has been widely read by Japanese actors. In 2003, he was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon for his contributions to the arts in Japan.

At the age of 84, Kurizuka is still active in the entertainment industry, recently appearing in the drama series "The Naked Director" in 2019. His legacy as a respected actor and writer continues to inspire future generations of Japanese performers.

Read more about Asahi Kurizuka on Wikipedia »

Hidekatsu Shibata

Hidekatsu Shibata (March 25, 1937 Asakusa, Tokyo-) also known as Shibata Hidekatsu is a Japanese voice actor, actor, entrepreneur and narrator.

He began his career as an actor, but transitioned to voice acting in the 1960s. Shibata has provided voices for a wide range of characters in anime, video games, and Japanese dubs of foreign films and TV shows. Some of his most well-known roles include Father Alexander Anderson in "Hellsing," Captain Hook in the Japanese dub of "Peter Pan," and Dr. Eggman in the Japanese version of the "Sonic the Hedgehog" video games. In addition to his voice acting work, Shibata has also appeared in numerous live-action films and TV dramas. He is the founder and CEO of his own talent agency, Aoni Production, which has represented many famous voice actors and actresses in Japan. Shibata has received several awards for his contributions to the voice acting industry, including the Seiyu Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2019.

Shibata began his acting career in the late 1950s and appeared in several popular TV dramas and films, including "The Human Vapor" and "Kwaidan." In the 1960s, he made the transition to voice acting and quickly established himself as a prominent figure in the industry. He worked on some of the most popular anime series of the time, such as "Gatchaman" and "Ace wo Nerae!" In the 1980s, he provided the voice for a number of iconic characters, including Char Aznable in "Mobile Suit Gundam" and Gol D. Roger in "One Piece."

In addition to his voice acting and acting work, Shibata is also a successful entrepreneur. He founded Aoni Production in 1980, which has since become one of the leading talent agencies in Japan. The agency represents many famous voice actors and actresses, including Megumi Hayashibara and Rie Kugimiya.

Shibata has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions to the voice acting industry, including the Merit Award at the 2nd Seiyu Awards in 2008 and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 13th Seiyu Awards in 2019. He remains active in the industry to this day, providing the voice for a range of characters in ongoing anime series and video games.

Read more about Hidekatsu Shibata on Wikipedia »

Hōzan Yamamoto

Hōzan Yamamoto (October 6, 1937 Otsu-February 10, 2014 Tokyo) was a Japanese musician and film score composer.

His albums: Ginkai, 銀界, Shakuhachi and World-Music-Meeting.

Read more about Hōzan Yamamoto on Wikipedia »

Tadao Sawai

Tadao Sawai (December 16, 1937 Aichi Prefecture-April 1, 1997) a.k.a. Sawai Tadao or Sawai, Tadao was a Japanese , . He had one child, Hikaru Sawai.

His albums: and .

Read more about Tadao Sawai on Wikipedia »

Koichi Ose

Koichi Ose (October 27, 1937 Yokohama-) is a Japanese actor.

He is best known for his roles in popular Japanese films and TV dramas, such as "The Human Condition" and "Tokyo Tower". Ose began his acting career in the 1960s and worked on the stage before transitioning to film and television. He has won several awards for his performances, including the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Japan Academy Prize ceremony in 1998. In addition to his acting career, Ose has also worked as a voice actor, lending his voice to various anime and video game characters. Outside of acting, he is known for his love of jazz music and has even performed as a jazz singer in some of his acting roles.

Ose was born in Yokohama, Japan and graduated from Aoyama Gakuin University with a degree in literature. He began his acting career in the 1960s, starting out in theater before transitioning to film and television roles. One of his earliest roles was in the 1961 film "The Human Condition," directed by Masaki Kobayashi, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest Japanese films ever made.

Over the course of his career, Ose appeared in a number of popular Japanese films and TV dramas, such as "The Demon," "Tokyo Tower," and "Kita no Kuni Kara." He is also known for his voice acting work, having lent his voice to characters in popular anime and video games like "Mobile Suit Gundam" and "Sonic the Hedgehog."

In 1998, Ose won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film "Manhattan Twilight." He has also been recognized with other awards and nominations for his acting work.

Aside from acting, Ose is a jazz enthusiast and has performed as a jazz singer in some of his acting roles. He has also released a few albums of jazz music.

Read more about Koichi Ose on Wikipedia »

Chiemi Eri

Chiemi Eri (January 11, 1937 Taitō-February 13, 1982 Tokyo) also known as Chiemi Kubo, Eri Chiemi or Kubo Chiemi was a Japanese actor and singer.

Genres: Jazz, Pop music, Enka and Kayōkyoku.

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Yoshihisa Taira

Yoshihisa Taira (June 3, 1937 Tokyo-March 13, 2005) also known as Taira, Yoshihisa was a Japanese , .

composer of contemporary classical music. He studied composition under Akio Yashiro and Tomojiro Ikenouchi at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, and later went on to teach there. Taira is known for his unique sound world, often using traditional Japanese instruments and techniques in his compositions alongside Western instruments. He was awarded numerous prizes during his career, including the Japan Arts Festival Prize and the Otaka Prize. Taira's works have been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world and continue to be studied and admired by contemporary composers today.

One of Taira's most well-known pieces is his "Shakuhachi Concerto," which features the traditional Japanese bamboo flute. He also composed several other pieces featuring the shakuhachi, including "Suirou no Ie" and "Dancing in the Earth." Taira was particularly interested in exploring the concept of "ma," a term used in Japanese aesthetics to describe the space between objects. He often incorporated this idea into his music, creating unique rhythmic and temporal structures.

Taira was also a dedicated teacher and served as a professor at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music from 1984 until his retirement in 2000. Many of his students have gone on to become accomplished composers in their own right. In addition to his work as a composer and teacher, Taira also served as the chairman of the Japan Federation of Composers from 1995 to 2001.

Taira passed away in 2005 at the age of 67, but his legacy endures through his music and the many composers he influenced and inspired.

Read more about Yoshihisa Taira on Wikipedia »

Hibari Misora

Hibari Misora (May 29, 1937 Isogo-ku, Yokohama-June 24, 1989 Tokyo) a.k.a. Misora, Kazue Kato, Hibari, Kazue Katō, Misora Hibari or Katō Kazue was a Japanese singer and actor.

Her albums: 特選集～ふる里は遠い空～, 特選集～川の流れのように～, Original Best 50, Makkana Taiyo, , , and . Genres: Jazz, Enka and Kayōkyoku.

Read more about Hibari Misora on Wikipedia »

Izumi Yukimura

Izumi Yukimura (March 20, 1937 Meguro-) also known as Tomoko Asahina or 雪村いづみ is a Japanese singer and actor.

Genres related to her: Jazz, J-pop, Rock and roll and Pop music.

Read more about Izumi Yukimura on Wikipedia »

Yū Aku

Yū Aku (February 7, 1937 Awaji Island-August 1, 2007 Minato) a.k.a. You Aku or 阿久悠 was a Japanese poet and lyricist.

Genres he performed include Novelty song, Folk music, Enka, Kayōkyoku, Rock music, J-pop and Pop music.