Hako Yamasaki (山崎ハコ, Yamasaki Hako, born May 18, 1957),[1] (birth name Hatsuko Yamasaki (山崎 初子)) is a Japanese folk singer-songwriter, actress and writer. In 1975, she made debut singing debut.[2] In 1991, she made acting debut as theatre actress.
Hako Yamasaki 山崎ハコ | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | 山崎 初子 |
| Born | May 18, 1957 Ōita, Japan |
| Genres | Folk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, actress, writer |
| Years active | 1975- |
| Labels | Pony Canyon (1975-1984) Universal Music Japan (1985-1992) Victor Entertainment (1994-1995) Zetima (1997) Tokuma Japan (2002-2006) Nippon Columbia (2008) Teichiku Records (2011-) |
| Website | https://web.archive.org/web/20211107124114/http://www.hako.esy.es |
Biography edit
In 1974, when she attended to high school, she was the Grand Prix Winner for a school musical contest "Join Us Folk Competition".[2] During the contest, music producer Tomoi Hoshino decided to scout her in agency Imadoki and made her debut in 1975 with an album "Tobimasu" released under Pony Canyon records.[3] During her debut times, she received nickname "a rival to Miyuki Nakajima", who similarly wrote dark lyrics about love. She had moderate success with the career, having albums sold more than 50k copies.[2]
With the upcoming new decade 1980s, the declines on sales and unpopularity of folk genre were increasing. In 1985, she transferred to Universal Music Japan. After the release of live album in 1986, she went for temporal music hiatus. Her first cover album released in 1994 has received award for the Best Planning album at the 36th Japan Music Awards. The lifespan of the musical activity during 1990s decade did not last long, until when her agency Imadoki has went to bakrupcy, and as result Yamasaki lost her place to sing and perform.[3][4] In 2002, she came with her major musical comeback with the single "Yasashii Uta" released under Tokuma Japan label.[2] On the same year, she made voice acting debut in the anime television series Chibi Maruko-chan.[5]
In the 2020s decade, her popularity has start to rise online worldwide, having more than millions views of her songs on music platforms such as Spotify and YouTube.[6] In 2023, her albums Tobimasu and Tsunawatari were released under WRMTFWW records, marking its first release oversea for the first time since her debut.[7]
Personal life edit
After the bankruptcy of the musical agency Imadoki in 1998, she was left on the verge of homelessness for a some period, working part-time as a dishwasher to make for a living.[4][8] In 2001, she married to guitarist Hiromi Yasuda.[4] Their marriage lasted until 2020, when Yasuda passed away due to the colorectal cancer.[9][10]
Discography edit
Albums edit
Studio albums edit
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | ||
| Tobimasu (飛・び・ま・す) |
|
36 |
| Tsunawatari (綱渡り) |
|
46 |
| Aiiro no Uta (藍色の詩) |
|
10 |
| Nagareyoi no Uta (流れ酔い唄) |
|
14 |
| Ningen Magai (人間まがい) |
|
- |
| Aruite (歩いて) |
|
- |
| Akane (茜) |
|
- |
| Gensou Ryokou (幻想旅行) |
|
- |
| Gensou Ryokou II (幻想旅行 II) |
|
- |
| Glass no Keshiki (硝子の景色) |
|
- |
| Kaze no Iro (風の色) |
|
- |
| Darjeeling (ダージリン) |
|
- |
| Tessen no Hana (てっせんの花) |
|
- |
| Hikaru Yume (光る夢) |
|
- |
| Toki wa Nagarete (時は流れて) |
|
- |
| Nawatobi (なわとび) |
|
- |
| Sasuga |
|
- |
| Nihon Utashuu: Tooi Machi Tooi Sora (日本詩集 〜遠い町 遠い空〜) |
|
- |
| Memphis Made (メンフィスまで) |
|
- |
| Watashi ga Umareta Hi (私が生まれた日) |
|
- |
| Yuishin (唯心) |
|
- |
| En: Enishi (縁 -えにし) |
|
- |
| Utakko (歌っ子) |
|
- |
| Watashi no Uta (私のうた) |
|
- |
| Yokohama kara Aku Yuu Mihappyou Sakuhinshuu (横浜から 阿久悠未発表作品集) |
|
- |
EPS edit
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | ||
| Tobimasu...17sai (飛びます…17歳) |
|
- |
Cover albums edit
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | ||
| Ohako (十八番) |
|
- |
Self-cover albums edit
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | ||
| Hako no Ohako (ハコのお箱) |
|
- |
| Mihappyou (未・発・表) |
|
- |
Live albums edit
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | ||
| Yamasaki Hako First Live (山崎ハコ ファーストライブ) |
|
- |
| Yamasaki Hako Live II Uta Arite (山崎ハコ ライブII 歌在りて) |
|
- |
| Watashi no Shiawase (私の幸せ) |
|
- |
| Yamasaki Hako Live Set (山崎ハコライブセット) |
|
- |
Compilation albums edit
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| JPN Oricon | ||
| Kiseki (軌跡) |
|
- |
| Best of Yamasaki Hako (ベスト オブ 山崎ハコ) |
|
- |
| Best Selection (ベストセレクション) |
|
- |
| The Best of Yamasaki Hako (ザ・ベスト・オブ・山崎ハコ) |
|
- |
| Super Best (スーパーベスト) |
|
- |
| Yamasaki Hako Best (山崎ハコ ベスト) |
|
- |
| Best |
|
- |
| For your Good Days |
|
- |
| Yamasaki Hako Best Album (山崎ハコ ベストアルバム) |
|
- |
| Yamasaki Hako Best Collection Dear My Songs (山崎ハコ ベストコレクション Dear My Songs) |
|
- |
| Anthology Yamasaki Hako Best (Anthology 山崎ハコ BEST) |
|
- |
| Yamasaki Hako Golden Best (山崎ハコ ゴールデン☆ベスト) |
|
- |
| Utaitaino (歌いたいの) |
|
- |
| Yamasaki Hako Best Collection History 1975-1984 (山崎ハコ best collection history 1975-1984) |
|
- |
| Hako Desu 1975-2014 (ハ・コ・で・す 1975-2014) |
|
- |
Singles edit
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Label | Formats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPN Physical | ||||
| 1978 | "Nagareyoi Uta" （流れ酔い唄） |
97 | Canyon | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming |
| 1979 | "Jigoku Kokoro dake Aishite" （地獄「心だけ愛して」） |
- | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | |
| "Lullaby Yokosuka" （ララバイ横須賀） |
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | |||
| 1980 | "Otoko no Whisky" （男のウ井スキー） |
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | ||
| 1981 | "Orie no Uta" （織江の唄） |
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | ||
| 1982 | "Gensou Ryokou" （幻想旅行） |
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | ||
| 1983 | "Ame ni Utaenai" （雨に唄えない） |
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | ||
| 1984 | "Kaze no Uta" （風の歌） |
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | ||
| "Machi yo" （町よ） |
CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | |||
| 1985 | "Tell a lie" （テル・ア・ライ） |
Universal Music Japan | CD, LP, Cassette, digital download, streaming | |
| 1990 | "Anou" | CD, Cassette, digital download, streaming | ||
| "Kibun wo Käte" （気分を変えて） |
CD, Cassette, digital download, streaming | |||
| 1992 | "Hotaru" （蛍） |
CD, digital download, streaming | ||
| 1994 | "Acacia no Ame ga Yamu Toki" （アカシアの雨がやむとき） |
Victor | CD, digital download, streaming | |
| 1995 | "Watashi ga Umareta Hi" （私が生まれた日） |
CD, digital download, streaming | ||
| 1997 | "Tadoritsuitara Itsumo Ame Furi" （たどりついたらいつも雨ふり） |
Zetima | CD, digital download, streaming | |
| "Wasshoi Nippon" （わっしょいニッポン） |
CD, digital download, streaming | |||
| "Tazunehito: Boukensha" （たずね人 -冒険者-） |
CD, digital download, streaming | |||
| 2002 | "Yasashii Uta" （やさしい歌） |
Tokuma Japan | CD, digital download, streaming | |
| 2004 | "Setsuna no Yume" （刹那の夢） |
CD, digital download, streaming | ||
| 2006 | "Tessen Komoriuta" （てっせん子守唄） |
CD, digital download, streaming | ||
| 2008 | "Beetle" | Nippon Columbia | CD, digital download, streaming | |
| 2011 | "Anata no Koe" （あなたの声） |
Teichiku | CD, digital download, streaming |
Songwriting credits edit
| Title | Year | Artist | Album/Single |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Shiroi Hana" | 1978 | Mirei Kitahara | Sumie no Uta |
| "Nosappu Misaki" | 1981 | Best Album | |
| "Dancing Doll" | 1980 | Miyuki Matsuda | Dancing Doll |
| "Chiisana Mondai" | 1984 | Agnes Chan | Chiisana Mondai |
| "Glass no Pinocchio" | 1990 | Nae Yuuki | Glass no Pinocchio |
| "Fuyu no Tokyo", "Nijiiro no Sekai Chizu" | 1993 | Shun | |
| "Art of Loving" | Minami Saori | Art of Loving | |
| "Daredare no Buki" | 1995 | Nae Yuuki | Alamode |
| "Hanabi" | 2012 | Sayuri Ishikawa | X-Cross |
References edit
- ^ https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/213137/
- ^ a b c d "THE BLUE BALLADS OF HAKO YAMASAKI". sabukaru.online. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ a b "山崎ハコ 情念や怨念を独特な雰囲気で弾き語り". tokyo-sport.co.jp. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ a b c "山崎ハコ、"人間嫌いキャラ"で世間にウソを…脱却のきっかけは亡き夫・安田裕美さん". jprime.jp. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "本編を忘れるほど怖い！アニメのエンディング3選 苦情殺到の曲も？". magmix.jp. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "Hako Yamasaki Tsunawatari". hhv-mag.com. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "山崎ハコ 伝説の初期アルバム2作が海外WRWTFWW RecordsよりLP/CDで公式リリース!". diskunion. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "Hako Yamasaki Tobimasu". hhv-mag.com. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "山崎ハコの夫・安田裕美さん死去 63歳大腸がん 山崎「悲し過ぎて色々な事を考えられません」". chunichi. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ "山崎ハコの夫ギタリスト安田裕美さん死去 大腸がん". nikkan. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
External links edit
- Official website
- Hako Yamasaki on Oricon (in Japanese)