To celebrate the release of chanson singer Kumiko’s best album, “Chansontic Songs” on June 25th, comments have been received from the artists who co-starred on the album, celebrities, and lyricists who provided the songs, and released today. Comments include music critic and lyricist Yukawa Reiko, lyricist Matsumoto Takashi, who is celebrating her 55th anniversary this year, author and essayist Agawa Sawako, and actor Inoue Yoshio, who have met during Kumiko’s career as a singer.
2025 marks the 25th anniversary of his re-debuting as Kumiko with the album “AURA” produced by lyricist Matsumoto Takashi, and is a memorial year that marks his 70th anniversary. The best chanson album “Chansontic Songs – “Meeting” – released in this commemorative year is a best album featuring 13 gems of 13 songs, featuring Kumiko looking back on her 70 years of life, selecting songs from the chansons she encountered during her career as a singer, and featuring five newly recorded songs. Among them, “Life is Beautiful” is the true essence of chanson singer Kumiko. “Life is Beautiful,” translated by lyricist Koga Riki, is a masterpiece by Chanson, and Koga, who survived after being hit by a major air raid in Sasebo when he was a child, based on this experience, he translated Chanson “Life is Beautiful.” Despite this tragic experience of war, the lyrics are written in which the wonderful and beautiful life is created by weaving in love with peace.
Matsumoto Takashi, who wrote the lyrics to Yakushimaru Hiroko’s masterpiece “Wo no Tragedy,” which was released in 1984, said, “Even if it’s sung by someone like Kumiko who knows the insides and the fronts of life, it still gives you a sense of depth, so I’m happy to see the song,” and was pleased that Kumiko, 70, was covering the song sung by Yakushimaru, who was 20 years old at the time. Yukawa Reiko also described “Thank You for Born and Putting In,” composed by Tsunku and written her own lyrics as “a great song, both as a lullaby and a chanson, like a golden gem.”
In addition, the music video for Kumiko’s signature song, “INORI – Prayer,” which was sung when she first appeared in the Kohaku Uta Gassen, and was released today, and was newly recorded for the first time in 15 years in 2025, the 80th anniversary of the war. The video captures the precious recording scene of Kumiko singing along with her desire to peace, worrying about the world where conflict continues, including the progress of Ukraine and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Kumiko will hold a concert at Tokyo Opera City on Tuesday, July 1st to commemorate the release of this Chanson Best Album. This is likely to be a valuable concert in which musical actor Inoue Yoshio, who will perform duets in “Wheels,” included in the album, will appear as a special guest.
Commemorating the release of Kumiko’s “Chansontic Songs: “Meeting” Carries Songs”
A website to publish comments from celebrities who participated in the album
https://columbia.jp/artist-info/kumiko/info/90898.html
“INORI – Prayer” music video:https://youtu.be/9NbYnssDuFI
M4: “INORI ~Pray~”
When I think about it, when I asked Kumiko to sing this song 15 years ago, I once refused, saying, “I have no experience with war, so I don’t have the confidence to sing,” but it’s a big deal to have been passed down for generations, including myself, who don’t know about war! He strongly appealed and accepted the request.
Unfortunately, war never stopped in the world during that time.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. We were able to meet former President Obama through an origami crane in February, and we have promised to walk together towards peace.
I would like to ask Kumiko to continue singing peace with this song, and to bring it to former President Obama, in order to help this song help world peace.
Sasaki Yuji, Vice Chairman, SADAKO LEGACY, a non-profit organization
M6: “I was bad at singing (in my hometown)”
A poem by a soldier was on display at the Yujukan Hall at Yasukuni Shrine, where people who gave their lives to the nation are worshiped as gods. It belonged to Genji Sato, who was shot dead at the age of 32 when he was shot to death at the age of 32 after the war ended on Java, Indonesia, and was then led to prison as a “war criminal.” The content was a poem that resembles a will to my mother and a letter to my mother, and that was, “I was bad at singing.”
My body almost trembles when I read it. At the same time, I, who writes “The Mystery of Nursery Rhymes” and “The Mystery of Shrines,” I thought I had to add a song and sing it.
It is filled with messages that Japanese people living in peace should not forget. The poem is filled with gratitude to parents.
I have been wanting Kumiko, who has expressed the meaning of war and peace through songs, to sing. I am happy that this song will reach many people this time in 1980 years since the end of the war. I think it’s necessary. The other day, I reported this to Genji’s niece and he said, “I’m sure the man would be happy too. Both the man and the man…” Here’s something that should not be weathered. With gratitude.
Composer Goda Michito
M9: “From Woman “The Tragedy of W””
Before Kumiko could sing, she came to me. “I wonder if I’m okay with singing a song that was a hit by a cute girl about 20 years old.” “On the other hand, even if someone like Kumiko, who knows the insides and the fronts of life, still gives you a sense of depth, so I’m also happy to sing.”
Lyricist Matsumoto Takashi
M10 “The Silent Moon”
Kumiko asked me to write the lyrics, and persuaded me with a brave voice, “It’s okay! I can write it!”, even though I had no basis, and this kind of story was born. However, thanks to Kumiko’s advice and the wonderful melody of Onuki, who composed the music, I felt good when we sang together on stage. It’s a pretty good song! He looked smug, but I never thought he would be involved in the recording. It’s dangerous. We apologize to all Kumiko fans. There’s a mix of weird voices.
Author and essayist Agawa Sawako
M11. “Wheels”
This is the commemorative best album released in Kumiko’s anniversary year. I listened to it with my heart. I am amazed at how he has been able to sing songs of more different genres than I had expected, but I am also moved by the fact that every song from any era is a song that Kumiko can express. With Kumiko’s new recording of “INORI”, I experienced the wonders of how words can be conveyed more than ever before, using Kumiko’s approach. Among these gems of the number ones, it is an honor and apologies to have included the “Wheels” that you gave me duets. I’m just continuing to follow Kumiko’s back, but the way she teaches us that living and singing are the same is my hope.
Actor Inoue Yoshio
M12: “Thank you for being born.”
The song “Thank you for being born” is a valuable word written by artist Tsunku when he lost his voice 11 years ago due to laryngeal cancer, and was the title of Kumiko’s song.
It’s a great song, whether it’s a lullaby or a chanson, like a golden gem.
This is the best album that I would definitely like to present as a celebration whenever a new life is born, along with “The Water Is Wide.”
Music Criticism and Lyrics by Yukawa Reiko
[Album Information]
Released on Wednesday, June 25th, 2025
“Chansontic Songs – “Meeting” carried the song”
COCP-42504
¥3,182 + tax / ¥3,500 (tax included)
1. Life is beautiful C’est beau la vie *
2. Crowd La foule (2007 release)
3. Hymne à l’amour (2024 release)
4. INORI ~Prayer~ *
5. One Pencil (2014 release)
6. I was bad at singing (entering my hometown) *
7. Kiss (2000 release)
8. Crying (2017 release)
9. Woman From “The Tragedy of W” *
10. The Silent Moon (Kumiko & Agawa Sawako) *
11. Wheels (Kumiko & Inoue Yoshio) (2010 release)
12. Thank you for being born (2015 release)
13. The Water Is Wide (2014 release)
14. Life is beautiful C’est beau la vie (Instrumental)
15. INORI ~Prayer~ (Instrumental)
16. Woman From “The Tragedy of W” (Instrumental)
17. The Silent Moon (Instrumental)
*2025 New Recording
“Congratulations to the age of 70! The special guest of Kumiko’s concert will be Inoue Yoshio.
[Date and Time]Tuesday, July 1st, 2025 Doors open at 15:15 Show starts at 16:00
[Venue]Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall
[Price]9,500 yen (tax included/All seats reserved)
[OrganizedbySunrisePromotionTokyo
[Contact us]Sunrise Information 0570-00-3337 (Weekdays 12:00-15:00)
Kumiko Concert 2025
“Life is beautiful, chansonistic songs”
Sunday, October 12th Kobe Asahi Hall
Saturday, November 1st, Niterra Japan Special Ceramics Civic Hall Village Hall
Wednesday, November 26th, Sapporo Kanamoto Hall Guests: Takeshima Hiroshi, Dorian Rorobrosida
For more information, please visit the Kumiko official homepage:https://www.puerta-ds.com/kumiko/
