Bin Uehara Explained

Bin Uehara
Birth Name:	Rikiji Matsumoto
Birth Date:	26 August 1908
Birth Place:	Akita Prefecture, Japan
Death Place:	New Guinea
Genre:	Ryūkōka
Occupation:	Singer
Years Active:	1936 - 1943

was a Japanese music (ryūkōka) singer and soldier. He was known for using naniwa-bushi's kobushi vocalism in Japanese popular music. He was killed in action during the eastern New Guinea campaign during the Pacific War.^[1] ^[2]

Life

Uehara was born as Rikiji Matsumoto in Ōdate, Akita Prefecture, Japan.^[2] He graduated from Senshu University, and made his professional debut with the song under the Japanese division of Polydor Records in 1936.^[2] His famous songs included the 1937 song . His vocal style, called kobushi, became popular as the more emphatic form among modern enka singers.^[3]

Uehara became a soldier in 1943, went to New Guinea, and was killed in battle on July 29, 1944.^[4]

Legacy

In 1976, a monument honoring him was established in his home city of Ōdate.^[5]

Discography

: 1937
: 1937
: 1938
: 1938
: 1938
: 1938
: 1938 with Taro Shoji
: 1939
: 1939
: 1941

Notes and References

Web site: http://www.news.janjan.jp/column/0610/0610042198/1.php. ja:名歌手たち、それぞれの終戦. JANJAN. October 5, 2006. April 11, 2009. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080928014036/http://www.news.janjan.jp/column/0610/0610042198/1.php. September 28, 2008.
Encyclopedia: Nihon Jinmei Daijiten (日本人名大辞典) . 上原敏 . July 2, 2012 . 2012 . Shogakukan . Tokyo . Japanese . Uehara Bin . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ . August 25, 2007 .
Web site: Special 2. Japanese popular music (4). Toshiba. November 2006. April 11, 2009. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080619165647/http://elekitel.jp/elekitel/special/2006/13/sp_02_d.htm. June 19, 2008.
Web site: Bin Uehara. Ōdate City. April 11, 2009. ja. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20071030120539/http://www.city.odate.akita.jp/dcity/sitemanager.nsf/doc/uehara?OpenDocument. October 30, 2007.
Web site: http://www.fujitv.co.jp/b_hp/fnsaward/backnumber/back/00-298.html. ja:ジャングルの鎮魂歌～上原敏と戦後～. Fuji Television. September 18, 2000. May 30, 2009. ja.