Song Introduction (Tasogare no Bigin)

Song Title: Tasogare no Bigin (Title Meaning: Begin of Dusk)
Artist: Naomi Chiaki (Original by Hiroshi Mizuhara)
Lyricist: Rokusuke Ei
Composer: Hachidai Nakamura
Arranger: Takayuki Hattori
Label: Teichiku Records
Overview:

Released in October 1959 as Hiroshi Mizuhara’s single (with “Kuroi Ochiba” / “Begin of Dusk”).
In June 1991, Naomi Chiaki covered the song, including it in her cover album Standard Number, and released it as a single in July of the same year.
The song was featured in several commercials, including Keisei Electric Railway’s Skyliner in 1991, Nestlé Japan’s Nescafé President in 1999, and Toyota Motor Corporation’s ReBORN DRIVE FOR TOHOKU in 2011, leading to its success.
Since then, many artists have covered the song, making it a Japanese standard number.

Article Citation Sources:
・Naomi Chiaki – Wikipedia
・Kuroi Ochiba / Twilight Begin – Wikipedia

Song Video

This song was released in 1959, written by Rokusuke Ei and composed by Hachidai Nakamura, two figures who played a leading role in the Japanese music scene of the time.

In 1991, Naomi Chiaki released a cover of the song. Its beautiful melody, lyrics, and romantic yet nostalgic atmosphere led it to become a masterpiece of the Showa era, covered by many artists ever since.

The lyrics vividly depict the bittersweet and beautiful moments of love between a man and a woman who meet in a twilight city after the rain.

“In the twilight city, drenched by the rain,
It was the first night I met you.”

“In the twilight city, just the two of us,
Our first kiss under the trees’ shadow.”

The scene of the couple in the twilight city comes to life, and the calm, quiet melody perfectly matches the atmosphere of dusk. It is a timeless song that evokes gentle emotions at twilight and a sense of nostalgia for days gone by.

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 Trails

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.