Song Introduction (Funauta)

Song Title: Funauta (Title meaning：Boat Song or Barcarolle )
Artist: Aki Yashiro
Lyricist: Yu Aku
Composer: Keisuke Hama
Label: Teichiku
Overview:

This refers to a single released by Aki Yashiro on May 25, 1979, which shares its name with a double album released on the same day. It won several awards that year, including the Gold Award at the 21st Japan Record Awards and the Broadcast Music Award at the 10th Japan Music Awards. However, the initial sales performance was poor. The song gradually gained popularity and became a major hit after Yashiro performed it as the closing act at that year’s NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen (Red and White Song Contest).

Source: “Funauta” – Wikipedia
Source: Aki Yashiro – Wikipedia

About the Song

Aki Yashiro’s “Funauta” (Boat Song) is widely recognized as one of her signature works. The lyrics depict a male protagonist reminiscing about a past lover with sorrow while drinking, deeply rooted in Japan’s izakaya (pub) culture and the emotions of its people.

The song begins with the phrase, “Osake wa nurume no kan ga ii” (Sake is best served warm). This reflects the Japanese drinking custom of warming sake to an optimal temperature, a practice considered beneficial for the body. The line “Sakana wa abutta ika de ii” (Dried squid lightly grilled is fine as a snack) evokes the imagery of a man enjoying a simple, comforting drink at an izakaya, with grilled dried squid (surume) as his side dish. Throughout the lyrics, the song emphasizes the simplicity and nostalgia of old Japan, evoking a sense of familiarity and warmth for listeners.

In the line “Shimijimi nomeba shimijimi to omoi de dake ga yukisugiru” (When drinking deeply, only memories pass by), the song describes how the protagonist’s memories of the past resurface through drinking. The scene paints a picture of him slowly drinking while recalling sorrowful memories, evoking feelings of loneliness and nostalgia.

The line “Namida ga porori to koboretara utaidasu no sa Funauta o” (When tears fall, I begin to sing the boat song) suggests that the protagonist likely works as a fisherman. He starts to sing a boat song that goes, “Oki no kamome ni fukazake sasete yo, itoshi no ano ko to yo, asane suru, danchone” (Let the seagulls out at sea drink deeply with me, dreaming of sleeping in with my beloved). This boat song incorporates elements of the Danchone-bushi, a traditional folk melody rooted in Japanese folk music.

In this way, “Funauta” is a masterpiece that captures the nostalgia of old Japan while delving into profound themes like life’s memories, loneliness, and reflection. It resonates deeply with listeners, evoking both familiarity and a sense of longing.

お酒はぬるの　燗（かん）が言い
osake wa nurumeno kan ga ii
肴（さかな）はあぶった　イカでいい
sakana wa abutta ika de ii
女は無口な　ひとがいい
onnna wa mukuchi na hito ga ii
灯りはぼんやり　灯（とも）りゃいい
akari wa bonnyari tomorya ii

しみじみ飲めば　しみじみと
shimijimi nomeba shimijimi to
思い出だけが　行き過ぎる
omoide dakega yukisugiru
涙がポロリと　こぼれたら
namidaga pororito koboreta ra
歌い出すのさ　舟歌を
utaidasunosa funauta wo

沖のカモメに深酒させてよ
okino kamome ni fukazake saseteyo
いとしのあの娘（こ）とヨ　朝寝する　ダンチョネ
itoshi no anoko toyo asane suru danchone

（Citation: Yatsushiro Asaki, “Funauta”）

Translation (Informal):
I like my sake lukewarm.
I like grilled squid as a snack.
I like a woman who doesn’t talk much.
The light should be dimly lit.

drink slowly and you will be soaked in it
Only memories go by
If a tear spills over
I’ll sing a boating song

Let the seagulls drink deeply in the sea
I’ll sleep in the morning with the girl I love

Song Video

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Artist Introduction (Aki Yashiro)

Artist: Aki Yashiro (Real Name: Akiko Hashimoto)
Date of Birth: August 29, 1950 (Died on December 30, 2023, at the age of 73)
Place of Birth: Kongou Village, Yatsushiro District, Kumamoto Prefecture (now Yatsushiro City)
Active Years: 1971 – 2023
Official Website: Aki Yashiro Official Homepage
Official Website: Aki Yashiro – UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN

Artist Trails

Aki Yashiro was a Japanese enka singer, actress, talent, and painter, originally from Yatsushiro City, Kumamoto Prefecture. She grew up listening to her father sing narrative ballads (rokkyoku), which inspired her interest in music from a young age. At the age of 11, she heard Julie London’s records and became captivated by her husky voice, which led her to aim to become a club singer.

At 15, she moved to Tokyo and worked as a bus guide, but struggled with public speaking and quit after three months. She then worked as a singer at a local cabaret in her hometown but was disowned by her father and moved to Tokyo. After moving to Tokyo, she attended a music academy while earning tuition by working at a coffee shop. She also began singing at clubs in Ginza. In 1971, she debuted with the song Ai wa Shinde mo (愛は死んでも) under the Teichiku label. She became widely known after winning the grand championship on the audition program Zen Nihon Kayou Senshuken (全日本歌謡選手権).

In 1973, her song Namida Koi (なみだ恋) sold 1.2 million copies, becoming a massive hit. She followed this success with more hit songs such as Fune Uta (舟唄) and Ame no Bojou (雨の慕情). Ame no Bojou won the Japan Record Award in 1980, and she came to be known as the “Queen of Enka.” In 1982, she moved to Century Records and continued to release many hit songs.

In her later years, she also ventured into jazz and blues, expanding her musical style. In 2012, she released a jazz album titled Yoru no Album (夜のアルバム), marking her international debut. She also performed in Paris, France, where her concert was a great success, gaining her fans worldwide.

Beyond her music career, Aki Yashiro was actively involved in volunteer work, including performances at women’s prisons and support for disaster-stricken areas, among various social contributions.

On December 30, 2023, she tragically passed away at the age of 73 due to rapidly progressing interstitial pneumonia.

Her achievements continue to be celebrated and admired, and on February 7, 2024, she was posthumously awarded the Kumamoto Prefectural Honorary Citizen Award and the Yatsushiro City Honorary Citizen Certificate, further cementing her legacy and inspiring many people.