<figure id="attachment_408850" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-408850" style="width: 3492px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="d998d4f8"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/cb3c14c3d36c0710034ebc65cc06bb65.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-408850" class="wp-caption-text">Kiyoshi Hikawa emerges from NHK after Kohaku</figcaption></figure>
<h2> I was betrayed in a good way.</h2>
<p> Surrounded by a large number of staff members, singer Kiyoshi Hikawa (47) emerged from NHK with a look of contentment on his face.</p>
<p> Hikawa, who had been on a hiatus since his last appearance on NHK&#8217;s Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2010, performed &#8220;Shirakumo no Shiro&#8221; at last year&#8217;s Kohaku, his first appearance in two years. At midnight on New Year&#8217;s Day after the broadcast, Hikawa, dressed in a black coat, had a great time with the staff until the car arrived to take her home. He got into the car with a satisfied look on his face.</p>
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<p><span class="strongInContent"> Hikawa was seen singing ani-songs and other songs in flamboyant costumes and makeup.&#8217; In the 2010 &#8220;Kohaku&#8221; event, she sang &#8220;Limit Breakthrough X Survivor,&#8221; the opening theme song for the anime &#8220;Dragon Ball Super&#8221; (Fuji Television), also in a flashy gold costume. Many viewers expected that she would appear along the same lines this time, but when the lid was opened, she sang &#8220;Shirakumo no Shiro,&#8221; an enka song released in 2003, in Hakama (traditional Japanese male dress). Fans of Hikawa from the past were betrayed in a good way,&#8221; said a TV magazine writer.</span></p>
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<p> (TV magazine writer) After singing, Hikawa said, &#8220;I will continue to sing as long as I live,</p>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> After singing, Hikawa said, &#8220;I will continue to sing as long as I live, so please give my best to everyone. Thank you very much.</span></p>
<p> She smiled. SNS immediately responded to this appearance. Some said, &#8220;I thought I would be able to see a newer Hikawa, but it&#8217;s a shame,&#8221; but most said, &#8220;He&#8217;s the best at enka. He is too good.&#8221; &#8220;His singing and aura are even better than before he took a break. What did people in the music industry think of his comeback, which some called a &#8220;return to his roots?</p>
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<h2>Enka Singer&#8221; Fully Revived</h2>
<p><span class="strongInContent"> In the past few years, he has been trying various things to change his image as &#8220;enka singer Kiyoshi Hikawa&#8221; as much as possible. He still has a manager from his days at his former agency, Nagara Productions, and he has the backing of the current president of Nippon Columbia, his agency, and other longtime staff members,</span><span class="strongInContent"> I heard that Hikawa&#8217;s two-year absence from the company was based on respect for his wishes, and that he returned to the company after that. I believe that his decision to return to his roots and sing enka from the very beginning is a sign that he is determined to do so. I think it is safe to say that &#8220;enka singer Kiyoshi Hikawa&#8221; is back to his roots.</span></p>
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<p> Last summer, Hikawa held 25th anniversary concerts in Tokyo and Osaka. Many comments on social networking services were received, such as &#8220;Old fans were relieved and felt that they would continue to support him,&#8221; and &#8220;I really like Hikawa singing enka the best. I love Hikawa singing enka the most after all.</p>
<p> On January 7, the online news site &#8220;Netorabo&#8221; conducted a survey titled &#8220;[Women in their 60s and older] Ranking of &#8216;Japanese Vocalists&#8217; Who Will Remain in History! Hikawa came in second place. The reason cited was her overwhelming singing ability as an enka singer as well as her neutral charm.</p>
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<p> From January 31, &#8220;Kiyoshi Hikawa KIYOSHI HIKAWA + KIINA. 25th Anniversary Concert Tour ~KIIZNA~&#8221;, a film version of last year&#8217;s tour, will be screened. The new Hikawa, who has &#8220;returned to his roots,&#8221; will be screened in the film.</p>
<div data-friday-nextpage-lead=" Kiyoshi Hikawa with a large number of staff members"></div>
<figure id="attachment_408863" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-408863" style="width: 2827px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="7bf51e71"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/8144bed8e2e28e338660c49b65332b1f.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-408863" class="wp-caption-text">Kiyoshi Hikawa gets excited with the staff near the exit of the NHK building.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_408864" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-408864" style="width: 2827px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="c75a2f9b"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/9d72bff02b82651e9d4d54f33ed38d5d.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-408864" class="wp-caption-text"> His full expression was impressive.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure id="attachment_408865" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-408865" style="width: 1182px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="34b648bd"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/96979084027a2c462f1aeee7cd92b6e9.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-408865" class="wp-caption-text"> Image posted on January 1 (from his Instagram @kiina_kiyoshi_hikawa)</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_408866" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-408866" style="width: 1162px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="a596cc0f"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2025/01/8906f1489fe5756183b9407b5dd0525d.png" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-408866" class="wp-caption-text"> Kiyoshi Hikawa was voted No. 2 on the list of Japanese vocalists who will go down in history (from his Instagram @kiina_kiyoshi_hikawa).</figcaption></figure>


 Keitaro Nakagawa

 Kiyo Hikawa sang "Shirakumo no Shiro" (Castle of White Clouds), an enka song that could be described as a "return to his roots," and was applauded by the audience. The music industry insider tells us the story of his return to the stage.

Kiyoshi Hikawa &#8220;I want to sing as long as I live&#8221; with a big smile on his face after Kohaku&#8230; Returning to his roots, Kiyoshi Hikawa&#8217;s return to &#8220;enka&#8221; was a great success.

Kiyoshi Hikawa “I want to sing as long as I live” with a big smile on his face after Kohaku… Returning to his roots, Kiyoshi Hikawa’s return to “enka” was a great success.

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