Ryusei (21), a beloved disciple of enka singer Takashi Hosokawa and a rising star known as a “three-sword singer” who is adept at singing, playing the shamisen, and playing the shakuhachi, released his fifth anniversary single “Saraba Sakurajima” (lyrics by Shinichi Ishihara, music by Tetsuya Gen) on June 26th, which is also the anniversary of his debut, through Nippon Columbia. To commemorate this, he held a prayer for the song’s success and dedicated it to Konpira Shrine in Toranomon, Tokyo, on the same day.
This new song is the sixth single, a large-scale, authentic enka piece set on Sakurajima in Kagoshima Prefecture, that sings of a man’s feelings of determination as he looks towards a new life.
In addition, the coupling song “First Step” has been on air since April as the new theme song for BS TV Tokyo’s “THE Meimonkou” and is the first J-POP song for Rysei, sung under the name “Rysei”. It is a light-hearted support song that sings of the strong determination to overcome difficulties together with friends and take the next step.
He visited the shrine on the day the new song was released, first offering prayers for the song’s success at the main shrine, and then performed a singing offering at the Kagura Hall in the shrine grounds.
Aisei said, “I have prayed for a hit several times, but this is the first time I have dedicated a song afterwards, so I feel a different kind of tension than usual. Now that we’ve reached our fifth anniversary, I feel a sense of determination to work even harder as we head into the sixth year.”
With not only the press but also a large number of enthusiastic fans crowding in front of the Kagura Hall, he called out, “Today, I’d like you to enjoy my singing as a ‘three-sword singer’ with the shakuhachi and shamisen,” and while playing the shakuhachi, he sang his Matatabi Enka debut song “Ginjiro Tabigarasu” (released June 26, 2019), his first J-POP song which is the coupling song of his new single “First Step,” his second single “Tsugaru Shamisen Hitoritabi” which he switched to the Tsugaru Shamisen and performed with powerful playing, “Kagoshima Ohara Bushi,” a folk song he started singing at the age of five, accompanied by the dance of the “Kanto Satsuma Minami no Kai,” and finally his new song “Saraba Sakurajima,” for a total of five songs.
Regarding “First Step,” she said, “It was my first time trying pop music, and everything was different, from the vocalization onwards, so it was extremely difficult. The most difficult thing was that I wasn’t allowed to turn my fist. During the recording, I turned my fist in just one place, but (the producer) said it was good because it retained a sense of enka and gave me the OK, so I recommend you listen to that part on the CD. I think this song marks another step forward for us as we celebrate our fifth anniversary, and I’m happy to be able to challenge myself in a new genre.”
Regarding her sixth year’s signature song, “Farewell Sakurajima,” she said, “Until now, I’ve done a lot of songs about the north, but this is the first song set in Kyushu. I have also left my hometown of Iwamizawa City, Hokkaido, to pursue my dreams, and the protagonist of this song also leaves his hometown of Sakurajima in Kagoshima Prefecture, and like the great Saigo (Takamori), this song is about a man who has great ambitions and works hard towards his dreams. With this song, I would like to become a singer who can bring smiles and energy to all kinds of places, just like the success of (two-way) baseball player Shohei Ohtani.”
In response to a reporter’s question, “What does Master Hosokawa say about this song?”, he replied, “He said, ‘I’ve been given a wonderful song that is perfect for me to continue to perfect my singing.'”
◆ Sun News / Published on June 26, 2024
Saisei “Farewell Sakurajima”
Released on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
COCA-18212¥1,500 (tax included)/¥1,364 (tax excluded)
1. Farewell Sakurajima Lyrics: Shinichi Ishihara / Music: Tetsuya Gen / Arrangement: Tatsuya Nango
2. First Step ≪”Ryusei”≫ BS TV Tokyo “THE prestigious school” theme song Lyrics and composition: ZEN, AKUN, Sunny / Arrangement: ZEN, AKUN
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