In 1970, novelist and popular songwriter Rei Nakanishi practically dominated NHK Kohaku Utagassen (literally, Red and White song battle), an annual New Year s Eve television song-and-variety special produced and aired by Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK).
The show featured five of Nakanishi s big hits, including Tegami (The letter), Anata nara Dosuru (What would you do?) and Kyo de Owakare (We part today).
When I first heard his 1975 hit Ishikari Banka (Ishikari elegy), the arcaneness of the lyrics threw me. Nakanishi used unfamiliar words such as gome, tsuppo and yanshu, which translate as black-tailed seagulls, tight-sleeve kimono and fishermen, respectively.
However, once I found out that the theme of this song was the decline of the fisheries industry in Hokkaido, I was deeply impressed by Nakanishi s keen social awareness.