### A Voice Lingering in the Snowy Inn--Harumi Miyako and Shosuke Ichikawa, Camellia of the Bond that Blossomed in Enka (1964-)

### A Voice Lingering in the Snowy Inn--Harumi Miyako and Shosuke Ichikawa, Camellia of the Bond that Blossomed in Enka (1964-)

In 1964, Harumi Miyako, a young girl from Kyoto, made her debut at the age of 15 with the song "Bai ni nuno koto o". Her clear but penetrating voice immediately caught the attention of the audience, and the song "Anko Tsubaki wa Koi no Hana (Anko Camellia is a Flower of Love)" in the same year catapulted her to star status. Behind her success, however, was her mentor, Shosuke Ichikawa, who continued to hone and support her talent.

Ichikawa was more than just a composer; to Miyako, he was the "father of the song world. He wrote all of her famous songs, such as "Tears on the Liaison Boat" and "Osaka Shigure. He saw through Miyako's vibrato, melancholy, and strength, and continued to give her melodies that suited them.

The song "Kita no Yado Kara" (From the Northern Lodge), released in 1975, is the crystallization of their bond. The lyrics were written by Aku Yu. It describes the loneliness of a woman left alone in a northern country in the bitter winter, thinking of a man who has left her. Miyako's soft yet deep voice breathes life into the story. In 1976, Miyako won the 18th Japan Record Award for this song and became a symbolic diva of the year, performing as the final performer in NHK's Kohaku (red and white) TV drama.

In 1984, Miyako once announced her retirement, but returned in 1989. In 2009, on the seventh anniversary of her death, Miyako released a memorial album entitled "Harumi Miyako: Singing Shosuke Ichikawa. The album contained her gratitude and farewell to her mentor, as well as prayers for their reunion.

The sound of Shosuke Ichikawa still lives in Harumi Miyako's voice. Enka is a song that scoops up the light that is lit in the depths of our tears. She continues to sing today, blooming with dignity like a camellia.