A Green Love Submerged in the Lake: The Tempters, “The Legend of the Emerald,” 1967–1968

The Tempters debuted in 1967 and grew into one of the most popular bands representing the Group Sounds movement by 1968. “The Legend of the Emerald” was their third single, released on June 15, 1968. The lyrics were written by Rei Nakashishi, the music composed by Kunihiko Murai, and the arrangement by Makoto Kawaguchi. This marked a turning point for the group, as it was the first time they brought in a professional outside songwriter to handle the songwriting—a role that had previously been handled by core member Yuji Matsuzaki. Kunihiko Murai fused elegant melodies reminiscent of classical music with a powerful rock sound. According to records, the song drew inspiration from Fauré’s “Pavane,” incorporating a classical sense of harmony. Rei Nakanishi depicted a fantastical story of pursuing a lost lover through evocative imagery such as a lake, green eyes, and emeralds. Overlaid on this is Kenichi Hagiwara’s vocals. His singing—which contained not only sweetness but also a sense of precariousness and rawness—imbued the story, where love and death intertwine, with a unique sense of tension. Amid the many Group Sounds acts that sang cheerfully about youthful romance, “The Legend of the Emerald” created a decadent and melancholic literary world, becoming a representative masterpiece that greatly expanded The Tempters’ musical horizons.