Kazuo Funaki (80) made a spectacular debut on June 5, 1963 with the single “High School Third Year” and took the world by storm.
This year, 2024, marks the 62nd anniversary of his debut, and on December 12th he will finally reach his 80th birthday.
The concert tour, which started with the Omiya Sonic City performance on February 2nd (Friday), will complete all 33 performances with the LINE CUBE SHIBUYA performance on November 6th (Wednesday).
Meanwhile, a best album commemorating Kazuo Funaki’s 80th birthday will be released. This is a two-disc best-of album that follows Kazuo Funaki’s footsteps since his debut in 1963 and celebrates Kazuo Funaki’s 80th birthday with his fans all over the country.
The 2-disc set DISC 1 includes his first single “Koshuu” commemorating his 60th anniversary in the entertainment industry, which reached No. 1 on the Oricon weekly enka/kayo single ranking (as of January 2, 2023), as well as his debut single “High School San”. Contains single songs from the school trilogy of “Nenen”, “Gakuen Hiroba”, and “School Trip”. Also included are live versions of the lyrical trilogy of “Zesshou”, “Yufue”, and “Hatsukoi”.
DISC 2 includes songs written and composed by Funaki under the name Shigeyuki Ueda, such as “Good Bye Song,” “Makase Ukiyo,” and “ROCK’N ROLL Furusato.” Also included are the single versions of “Spring Colors You Again” and “Sono Hito wa Old Theme” composed by Kosetsu Minami.
There are 18 songs on DISC 1 and 18 songs on DISC 2, a total of 35 songs, all celebrating Kazuo Funaki’s 80th birthday.
Columbia Records will hold the Kazuo Funaki Exhibition Tokyo venue from November 16th (Saturday) in conjunction with the Shinbashi Enbujo performance, which will open on November 15th (Friday). We will create excitement for his 80th birthday.
[Producer’s comment]
On December 12th of this year, Kazuo Funaki will turn 80 years old.
Since his debut in “High School Third Year”, he has been active in various fields such as stage, movies, dramas, and plays.
All of these are connected to a number of Funaki’s famous songs that remain in the history of Japanese music.
The 2-disc CD “Special Selection” commemorating the 80th anniversary narrows down such masterpieces to a total of 35 songs,
We thought about selecting songs that would look back on Katsu Funaki’s career through music.
Please enjoy Kazuo Funaki’s many famous songs that continue to fascinate fans even at the age of 80.
(Also includes recent live recordings!)
Columbia Records Producer Masato Takahashi
“80th Birthday Commemoration Kazuo Funaki Special Selection”
Released on December 11, 2024 COCP-42392-3 ¥4,400 including tax
[DISC1]
1. Koshuu (single ver.)
2. Third year high school student
3.School trip
4.School Square
5. Ah, the blood in the chest of youth
6. You were there and I was there
7. Shellfish Song
8. Maidens in bloom
9. Northern town
10. Tokyo is in love
11. Plateau Lady
12. Night of Sorrow
13. Zenigata Heiji (live ver.)
14.Natsuko’s season
15. Sentimental Boy
16. Yoshino Mikibiki Uta ~ Zessho (live ver.)
17.Yufue (live ver.)
18. First love (single ver.)
[DISC2]
1. Blue Trumpet
2. That guy and me
3. Bell of Youth
4. Poem of eternal life (Wakare no Uta)
5. Purple person
6. Boy’s Colored Sky
7.Standing talk
8. Good Bye Song
9. Waltz of the Wind
10.To you with all my heart
11. You, don’t look back
12. Leave it to the floating world
13.Boatman’s song
14. To the bud that will bloom tomorrow
15. Spring will color you again
16.ROCK’N ROLL Furusato (Single ver.)
17. “That person used to be” theme (single ver.)
[Kazuo Funaki Exhibition 2024 79-80]Tokyo venue
Date: Saturday, November 16th, 2024 – Monday, November 18th, 2024, 10:00-18:00 (last admission 17:30 each day)
Venue: Bellesalle Higashi Ginza/Higashi Ginza Conference Room (7 minutes walk from Shinbashi Enbujo) 4 minutes walk from Exit 5 of Higashi Ginza Subway Station / 2 minutes walk from Exit 2 of Tsukiji Station 1-12-6 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Tsukiji Eto Building 1st floor
Price: ¥1,500 (tax included) Comes with a special postcard to commemorate admission
*Please purchase admission tickets at the exhibition venue reception on the day of the event.
No advance sales
Kazuo Funaki official website: https://columbia.jp/artist-info/funaki/
Kazuo Funaki 70-80 ~Youth Together~ Special site:https://columbia.jp/funaki79-80/
Kazuo Funaki distribution site: https://lnk.to/FunakiKazuo
Kazuo Funaki Music Shop:https://shop.columbia.jp/shop/e/efunaki/
