| Rei Nakanishi | |
| Native Name: | なかにし 礼 |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Birth Date: | 2 September 1938 |
| Birth Place: | Mudanjiang, Manchukuo |
| Death Place: | Tokyo, Japan |
| Occupation: | Novelist and songwriter |
| Nationality: | Japanese |
| Education: | Kudan High School |
| Alma Mater: | Rikkyo University |
| Genres: | --> |
| Subjects: | --> |
| Notable Works: | Kyōdai |
| Spouses: | --> |
| Partners: | --> |
| Awards: | Naoki Prize |
| Website: | home page (Japanese) |
was a Japanese novelist and songwriter. He won the 122nd Naoki Prize.
Nakanishi was born Reizō Nakanishi (Japanese: 中西 禮三) in Mudanjiang, Manchukuo. He graduated from Kudan High School in Tokyo and received a degree in French literature from Rikkyo University. He lived in Zushi, Kanagawa.
He first worked on translations of French chanson songs, but while on honeymoon he made the acquaintance of Yujiro Ishihara and became a Japanese popular song (kayōkyoku) writer. He is one of the main lyricists in the world of post-World War II kayōkyoku. He gave the world an extensive collection of works - songs such as "Kyou de owakare" and "Kita sakaba" which became big hits, but also a large proportion of unusual songs. In 1969, his total sales exceeded 10 million records. He has displayed talent in many fields, including concert and stage production, movie performance, singing, composing, translation, novel and essay writing, and cultural broadcasting (as a personality on "Sei! Yangu!" and as a regular on NHK's "N-kyō").
However, behind his showy life, he suffered from difficulties such as heart disease, divorce, and having to repay his elder brother's extensive debts. From those personal experiences came novels such as Kyōdai and Sakura no densetsu. He was a pacifist and desired reconciliation with China and Korea, and this shows in his writing style and speech.
He gave up lyric writing at the end of the Shōwa era and concentrated on opera production and performance and novel and essay writing. Kyōdai was nominated in 1998 for the 119th Naoki Prize. Nagasaki burabura-setsu won the 122nd Naoki Prize in 2000.[1]
Recently, Nakanishi served as a commentator on the Japanese "wide show" Wide! Scramble! on the Asahi Television Network.
Nakanishi died in Tokyo on 23 December 2020, at the age of 82, after suffering a heart attack.[2]
| Year | Award | Song | Category | Singer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 (Showa 42) | 9th Japan Record Awards | Kiri No Kanatani | Lyricist Award | Jun Mayuzumi | |
| Koi No Fugue | The Peanuts | ||||
| 1968 (Showa 43) | 10th Japan Record Awards | Tenshi No Yuwaku | Japan Record Award | Jun Mayuzumi | |
| Dare Mo Inai | Vocalist Award | Sugawara Yoichi | |||
| Kuchitsuke Ga Kowai | New Artist Award | Kaori Kumi | |||
| Ai No Sazanami | Special Award | Chiyoko Shimakura | |||
| 1969 (Showa 44) | 11th Japan Record Awards | Minatomachi Blues | Best Vocalist | Shinichi Mori | |
| Yoru To Asa No Aida Ni | Best New Artist | Peter | |||
| Ningyō No Ie | Vocalist Award | Mieko Hirota | |||
| 1970 (Showa 45) | 12th Japan Record Awards | Kyou De Owakare | Japan Record Award | Sugawara Yoichi | |
| Tegami | Vocalist Award | Saori Yuki | |||
| Hatoba Onna No Blues | Shinichi Mori | ||||
| Drift No Zundokobushi | General Public Award | The Drifters | |||
| Showa Onna Blues | Lyricist Award | Mina Aoe | |||
| 1971 (Showa 46) | 13th Japan Record Awards | Ame Ga Yandara | Composer Award | Yukiji Asaoka | |
| 1975 (Showa 50) | 17th Japan Record Awards | Kokoro No Kori | Best New Artist | Takashi Hosokawa | |
| 1980 (Showa 55) | 22nd Japan Record Awards | Santa Maria No Inori | Gold Award | Hideki Saijo | |
| Anata Iro No Manon | New Artist Award | Yoshimi Iwasaki | |||
| 1982 (Showa 57) | 24th Japan Record Awards | Kita Sakaba | Japan Record Award | Takashi Hosokawa | |
| Gold Award | |||||
| 1989 (Heisei 1) | 22nd Japan Lyricist Awards | Kaze No Bon Koi Uta | Grand Prix | Sayuri Ishikawa |