<h3>Showa-era girl who surprised even Aina Ashida and SANDWICHMAN <br>
After performing on the streets of her hometown, Fukuoka, she moved to Tokyo with her family and made her debut as a singer.</h3>
<figure id="attachment_370482" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-370482" style="width: 1848px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="baeabcf4"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/04/44756c54fba3dc00e81976d53406f4ac.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-370482" class="wp-caption-text"> When she appears in the media, she always wears a kimono. In a photo shoot, she showed a composure that one would not expect from a 16-year-old.</figcaption></figure>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> 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.</span></p>
<p> Singer Kokoro Umetani, 16, laughs as she talks about her experiences. Umetani, who attracted attention for her role in &#8220;The King of Singing &#8211; All Japan Singing Championship&#8221; (NTV), made her first appearance in &#8220;SANDWICHMAN &amp; ASHIDA Aina&#8217;s Doctor-chan&#8221; (TV Asahi) in 1919. She astonished the cast with her extensive knowledge of Showa-era songs.</p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> 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.</span></p>
<p> 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.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> One of the people at my current agency asked me, &#8216;Why don&#8217;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.&#8221;</span></p>
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<p> 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, &#8220;Banetsu Seisen Hitori (Youth Edition),&#8221; will be released. We asked her about her goals.</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> She said, &#8220;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&#8217;m really aiming for it!&#8221;</span></p>
<p> Reiwa&#8217;s Showa-era singing girl&#8217;s challenge has only just begun as she aims to follow in the footsteps of the great songstress.</p>
<figure id="attachment_370483" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-370483" style="width: 2500px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="dd97244b"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2024/04/a920470be2b6096e4d3cab2b8a80ce9f.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-370483" class="wp-caption-text"> Shin&#8217;ai Umeya, &#8220;Hibari Misora is my eternal goal.</figcaption></figure>
<p> From the May 3, 2024 issue of FRIDAY</p>


 Yuri Adachi

 I have a longtime goal of singing Hibari Misora," says Kokoro Umetani, a 16-year-old singer. She made her debut as a singer in July 2011, after attracting attention with her performance in "The King of Singing - All Japan Singing Championship. She talked about her feelings toward Showa-era songs and her own dreams.

The presence that even the big names take notice of&#8230;Shin&#8217;ai Umetani &#8220;Hibari Misora is my eternal goal&#8221; 16 year old &#8220;Showa Song&#8221; girl&#8217;s challenge

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

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