The presence that even the big names take notice of…Shin’ai Umetani “Hibari Misora is my eternal goal” 16 year old “Showa Song” girl’s challenge

Showa-era girl who surprised even Aina Ashida and SANDWICHMAN
After performing on the streets of her hometown, Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo with her family and made her debut as a singer.

My great-grandmother loved Hibari Misora, so I started listening to Showa-era songs when I was about 3 years old, and by the time I was 5, I naturally started humming Showa songs.

Singer Kokoro Umetani, 16, laughs as she talks about her experiences. Umetani, who attracted attention for her role in “The King of Singing – All Japan Singing Championship” (NTV), made her first appearance in “SANDWICHMAN & ASHIDA Aina’s Doctor-chan” (TV Asahi) in 1919. She astonished the cast with her extensive knowledge of Showa-era songs.

When I was eight or nine years old, a relative invited me to visit a nursing home for caregivers. I sang songs by Minako Honda and others on stage at the facility. I felt happy when I saw the grandmothers humming along to songs by Minako Honda and others on stage at the facility, and I wanted to sing again.

While continuing to sing as a consolation activity, Umetani was also performing on the streets in her hometown of Fukuoka. Her appearance caught the eye of a Fukuoka television personality, and she began to perform at music events. Then, when she was 12 years old, a turning point came for her.

One of the people at my current agency asked me, ‘Why don’t you come to Tokyo and do your best? I was not worried about moving to Tokyo. I decided that I had no choice but to go, and my whole family moved there together. When I first moved to Tokyo, I had fewer opportunities to sing because of Corona, and it was mentally difficult. But now I am very happy.”

Umetani, who made her debut as a singer in July 2011, says she is still practicing at karaoke and at home to hone her skills, and on April 17, a new version of her debut song, “Banetsu Seisen Hitori (Youth Edition),” will be released. We asked her about her goals.

She said, “My favorite singer, Hibari Misora, is my eternal goal. At the same time, I am aiming for the Record Award for Best New Artist. I’m really aiming for it!”

Reiwa’s Showa-era singing girl’s challenge has only just begun as she aims to follow in the footsteps of the great songstress.

From the May 3, 2024 issue of FRIDAY