Shizuko Kasagi
Shizuko Kasagi 笠置 シヅ子 | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Shizuko Kamei (亀井 静子) |
Also known as | Shizuko Mikasa |
Born | Ōkawa District, Kagawa, Japan | 25 August 1914
Died | 30 March 1985 Tokyo, Japan | (aged 70)
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Singer, actress |
Years active | 1927–1985 |
Labels | Nippon Columbia |
Shizuko Kasagi (
Early life and career
Shizuko Kasagi was born Shizuko Kamei (亀井 静子) on 25 August 1914 in Ōkawa District, Kagawa.[3][4] Her parents were unmarried, and her father died the following year.[4] At six months old, Kasagi was adopted by a friend of her mother's in Osaka.[1][3] She started learning Nihon-buyō at the age of four.[3] At 13, she joined the Shochiku Gakugeki Club (predecessor of the OSK Nippon Opera Company).[3] She originally took Shizuko Mikasa (三笠 静子) as her stage name, but eventually changed the spelling to 笠置 シズ子.
Kasagi got her big break in April 1938, when she moved to Tokyo to join the Shouchiku Kageki Dan.
When released in January 1948, the upbeat and cheerful track became a hit amongst the Japanese people who were recovering after being defeated in the war.[5] Kasagi appeared in Akira Kurosawa's 1948 film Drunken Angel, performing the song "Jungle Boogie", the lyrics to which were written by the director.[1][3] With further hits such as "Hey Hey Boogie", "Home Run Boogie" and "Kaimono Boogie", Kasagi was dubbed the "Queen of Boogie".[5]
By the early 1950s, her popularity was being eclipsed by that of Hibari Misora, who was at one point dubbed "Baby Kasagi" (ベビー笠置).[1][5] In 1955, Kasagi began concentrating on her acting career.[6] She announced her retirement from singing in 1957.[3][5]
Death
Kasagi died from ovarian cancer on 30 March 1985, aged 70.
Discography
- "Koi no Step" (恋のステップ, 1933)
- "Rappa to Musume (ラッパと娘, 1939)
- "Sentimental Daina" (センチメンタル・ダイナ)
- "Tokyo Boogie-Woogie" (東京ブギウギ, 1948)
- "Jungle Boogie" (ジャングル・ブギー, 1948)
- "Home Run Boogie" (ホームラン・ブギ, 1949)
- "Kaimono Boogie" (買物ブギー, 1950)
Films
- Drunken Angel (1948)
- Hateshinaki Jonetsu (1949)
- Ginza Kankan Musume (1949)
- Endless Desire (1958)
- Sukurappu Shūdan (1968)
- Gendai Yakuza: Shinjuku no Yotamono (1970)
- Zubekō Banchō: Zange no Neuchi mo Nai (1971)
- Kigeki: Onna Ikitemasu (1971)
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "When the 'Queen of Boogie' reigned in Japan". The Japan Times. 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
- ISBN 9780226545271.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "「東京ブギウギ」笠置シヅ子…「女王」への道 服部良一とのコンビで敗戦の落ち込んだ日本に勇気". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
- ^ a b c "四国の偉人<1> 笠置シヅ子 ブギの女王 戦後に輝き". Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). 2022-12-17. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
- ^ Mikiki(in Japanese). 2023-09-12. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
- ISBN 9780231530262.