Song Introduction (Kassai)

Song Title: Kassai (Title Meaning: Applause)
Artist: Naomi Chiaki
Lyricist: Ō Yoshida
Composer: Taishi Nakamura
Arranger: Hiroshi Takada
Label: Nippon Columbia
Overview:

Released on September 10, 1972, as her 13th single, this song won the 14th Japan Record Award in the same year.

Article Sources:
Naomi Chiaki – Wikipedia
Kassai (Naomi Chiaki’s Song) – Wikipedia

About the Song

The lyrics of this song begin with a telegram that the protagonist, a female singer, receives while performing on stage.
The message is the obituary of her former lover, whom she had been with during her struggling days.

Three years prior, she had left him at the station, despite his attempts to stop her, and boarded a train, choosing the path of a singer.

Dressed in mourning clothes, she stood in a daze in front of an old town church, forgetting even to pray.
Later, as she waited in the dark station lounge for her return train, she heard her own song playing.

And then, as usual, the curtain opened today, and she sang a love song again.

This song portrays an incredibly sorrowful and poignant story, and her heartbreaking voice moves listeners to tears.

She retired from her career as a singer after the death of her beloved husband.
This song is a masterpiece that seems to reflect her life itself.

Song Video

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Artist Introduction (Naomi Chiaki)

Artist: Naomi Chiaki
Real Name: Mieko Segawa
Birthday: September 17, 1947
Place of Birth: Tokyo, Japan
Official Websites:
Nippon Columbia
TEICHIKU RECORDS

Artist Introduction (Naomi Chiaki)

Naomi Chiaki is a former Japanese singer and actress, known for her unique voice and expressive singing, which allowed her to perform a wide range of musical genres.
In particular, her 1972 single “Kassai” was a major hit and won the 14th Japan Record Award.

Her signature songs, such as “Kassai”, “Gekijou”, and “Yakan Hikou”, were known for their dramatic lyrics and storytelling, earning her music the label “dramatic kayō” (dramatic ballads).

Chiaki had a close relationship with music from an early age.
By the age of 4, she had already begun performing, singing jazz at U.S. military camps. She made her debut in 1969 with the song “Ame ni Nureta Bojou” (Love Soaked in the Rain), and continued to release numerous hit songs thereafter.

In the 1970s, she gained popularity as a sultry idol and appeared on variety shows, captivating audiences with both her humor and performances.

After marrying actor Eiji Go in 1978, Chiaki gradually distanced herself from the spotlight, prioritizing her life with her husband.
Though she reduced her singing activities, she continued to release deep and profound songs like “Rouge” and “Yoru e Isogu Hito”.

In the 1980s, she resumed her career more actively, but following her husband’s death in 1992, Chiaki completely retired from public life.
Since then, she has rarely appeared in public, effectively living in retirement.

Despite her absence from the public eye, Naomi Chiaki’s voice continues to be loved, with her CDs and videos still being released.
While there is a strong desire for her to return as a singer, she has reportedly not responded to such requests.

Her unique expressiveness and presence remain etched in the hearts of many to this day.