Saki Kubota Explained

Sayuri Kume
Background:	solo_singer
Birth Name:	^[1]
Birth Date:	1958 5, df=yes
Birth Place:	Kunitachi, Tokyo
Genre:	New music
Occupation:	Singer-songwriter
Label:	CBS/Sony Michtam Records Funhouse MMP MIDI inc

Sayuri Kume (Japanese: 久米小百合 (Kume Sayuri)),^{[2] [3]} also known as Saki Kubota (Japanese: 久保田早紀 (Kubota Saki)), is a Japanese singer-songwriter^{[4] [5] [6]} whose song Ihojin (1979) (Japanese: 異邦人)^[7] sold more than 1.4 million copies^[8] and reached number 1 in the Japanese singles chart.^{[9] [10]} The song was used in the "Silk Road" television commercial for Sanyo.^{[11] [12] [13]}

Her album Yumegatari (Japanese: 夢がたり) stayed at number 1 in the Oricon chart for seven consecutive weeks from 31 December 1979 to 11 February 1980.^[14] Her album Tenkei (Japanese: 天界) reached number 11 in the Japanese chart in 1980.^[15] Her album Saudade (Japanese: サウダーデ) reached number 54 in the Japanese chart.^[16]

Her single Nijūgoji (1980) (Japanese: 25時) reached number 19 in the Japanese chart.^[17] Her single Kugatsu no iro (Japanese: 九月の色) (1980) reached number 51 in the Japanese chart. Her single Orange Airmail Special (Japanese: オレンジ・エアメール・スペシャル) (1981) reached number 62 in the Japanese chart.^{[18] [19]}

She appeared on The Best Ten^[20] and Yoru no Hit Studio.^[21]

She sang songs in the new music genre (Japanese: ニューミュージック, nyū myūjikku).^[22] She has been described as the standard bearer of that genre.^[23] She plays the piano.^{[20] [24]}

Her farewell concert was on 26 November 1984. A video recording of the concert was released under the title Saki Kubota Farewell Concert (Japanese: 久保田早紀 フェアウェルコンサート) on VHS^[25] and Betamax^[26] in 1985, and on DVD in 2011.^[27] A live album was released on CD.^[28] Her 40th anniversary concert was held in 2021,^{[29] [30]} having been postponed.^{[31] [32] [33] [34]}

In January 2020, a box set was released under the title Saki Kubota Premium to celebrate the 40th anniversary of her debut in 1979.^[2]

Life

She was born on 11 May 1958 in Kunitachi, Tokyo.^[35]

She graduated from the Department of Literature at Kyoritsu Women's Junior College,^{[36] [37]} and the Department of Theology at the Tokyo Baptist Theological Seminary of the Japan Baptist Convention.^{[38] [39] [40]}

In 1985, she married Daisaku Kume (Japanese: 久米大作), son of Akira Kume.^{[41] [38] [42]}

She released four albums of christian music from 1987 to 2017.^[43] In 2007, she became a goodwill ambassador for the Japan Bible Society.^[44]

She appeared on the television programme Takeda Tetsuya no Showa wa kagayaiteita (Japanese: 武田鉄矢の昭和は輝いていた).^[45]

She published the book Kaisōroku: gogo no pēji kara (Japanese: 回想録-午後の頁から…) in 1993.^[46] She published her autobiography, Futari No Iho Jin (Japanese: ふたりの異邦人), in 2019.^[47]

Discography

Singles

The following singles were released by CBS/Sony:

• Ihojin: Shiruku Rōdo No Tēma (Japanese: 異邦人 -シルクロードのテーマ-) (1979)^[48]
• Nijūgoji^[49] (Japanese: 25時) (1980)^[50]
• Kugatsu no iro (Japanese: 九月の色) (1980)^[51]
• Orange Airmail Special (Japanese: オレンジ・エアメール・スペシャル) (1981)^[52] This song was used in a television commercial for the orange drink called Kirin Orange (Japanese: キリンオレンジ).^{[53] [54] [55]}
• Lens Eye (Japanese: レンズ・アイ) (1981)^[56]
• Negai (Japanese: ねがい) (1982).^[57] This song was used in the closing credits, and the song "Chikyu Wa Concert Hall" (Japanese: 地球はコンサート・ホール) on the B side was used in the opening title sequence, of the television programme Shizen Wandafuru (Japanese: 自然ワンダフル).^{[58] [59] [60]}
• Ai No Jidai (Japanese: 愛の時代) (1983)^[61]
• Otomodachi (Japanese: お友達) (1984)^[62]
• Pianissimo De... (Japanese: ピアニッシモで…) (1984)^[63]

The following single was released by Fun House (Japanese: ファンハウス):

• Hyakuman Hon No Bara (Japanese: 百万本のバラ) (1988)^[64]

Studio albums

The following studio albums were released by CBS/Sony:

• Yumegatari (1979)^[65]
• Tenkei (1980)^[66]
• Saudade (1980).^[67] This album includes music influenced by fado.^{[68] [69] [70]}
• Airmail Special (Japanese: エアメール・スペシャル) (1981).^[71] This album includes songs that have, in the 21st century, been described as city pop^[72] and included in compilations of city pop.^{[73] [74]}
• Mishiranu Hito Denaku (Japanese: 見知らぬ人でなく) (1982)^[75]
• Nefertiti (Japanese: ネフェルティティ) (1983)^[76]
• Yoruno Sokowa Yawarakana Maboroshi (Japanese: 夜の底は柔らかな幻) (1984)^[77]

The following studio album was released by Michtam Records (Japanese: ミクタムレコード):

• Tehillim 33 (Japanese: テヒリーム33) (1987).^[78] Reprinted 2004.

The following studio album was released by MMP, a division of Maki Music Production:

• Hajime no hi (Japanese: はじめの日) (1996).^[79] Reissued 2000.^[80]

The following studio album was released by MIDI inc (Japanese:株式会社ミディ):

• Tenshi No Pan Kume Sayuri Sanbika Shu (Japanese: 天使のパン くめさゆり・さんびか集) (2009)^{[81] [82]}

The following studio album was released by Life Creation (Japanese: ライフ・クリエイション):

• 7carats+1 (2017). This album is a collaboration with two other singers.^[22]

Compilation albums

The following compilation albums were released by CBS/Sony:

• Saki Kubota (Japanese: 久保田早紀) (1981)^[83]
• The Best '83: Saki Kubota (Japanese: THE BEST '83 久保田早紀) (1982)^[84]
• Saki Kubota Best Selection (1984)^[85]
• Saki Kubota Best Collection: Kubota Saki Besuto Korekushon (Japanese: Saki Kubota Best Collection: 久保田早紀 ベスト・コレクション) (1985^[86] and 1986)^[87]

The following compilation albums were released Sony Records:

• Saki Kubota Best of Best: Kubota Saki Besuto obu Besuto (Japanese: Saki Kubota Best of Best: 久保田早紀 ベスト・オブ・ベスト). Released 21 November 1992.^[88]
• Saki Kubota Best Collection: Kubota Saki Besuto Korekushon (Japanese: Saki Kubota Best Collection: 久保田早紀 ベスト・コレクション) (1995) This was a The CD Club CD.^[89]

The following compilation album was released by Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc:

• Golden J-Pop/The Best Saki Kubota (Japanese: GOLDEN J-POP/THE BEST 久保田早紀). Released 21 November 1997.^[90] Part of the "Golden J-Pop/The Best" series.^[91]

The following compilation albums were released by Sony Music House:

• Dream Price 1000 Saki Kubota Ihojin (Japanese: DREAM PRICE 1000 久保田早紀 異邦人). Released 11 October 2001.^[92] Part of the "Dream Price" series.^[93]
• Golden Best Saki Kubota (Japanese: GOLDEN☆BEST 久保田早紀). Released 20 November 2002.^[94]

The following compilation albums were released by Sony Music Direct:

• CD & DVD The Best Saki Kubota Singles (Japanese: CD & DVD THE BEST 久保田早紀 シングルズ) (2005)^[95] is a greatest hits album (Wasei-eigo: best album) that includes all the songs from her singles, and the DVD of her farewell concert.^{[96] [97]}
• 999 Best Saki Kubota (Japanese: 999 Best 久保田早紀). Released on 18 October 2006.^{[98] [99]}
• Golden Best Saki Kubota Singles (Japanese: GOLDEN☆BEST 久保田早紀 シングルズ). Released 19 August 2009.^{[100] [99]}

See also

• List of Oricon number-one singles of 1979
• List of Oricon number-one singles of 1980

References

• (1980) 34 文學界 (Bungakukai) 193
• [1980] 10 世界 (Sekai) 86 https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zf5BAQAAIAAJ
• 異邦人 今は教会がステージ (2003) 朝日新聞縮刷版 (Asahi Shimbun shukusatsuban). 8 December 2003.
• 新譜ジャーナル (February 1980) No 139.
• "久保田早紀". 新譜ジャーナル (March 1980) No 140. p 35.
• 新譜ジャーナル (April 1980) No 141. p 7.
• 新譜ジャーナル (July 1981) No 156. p 48.
• 新譜ジャーナル (October 1982)
• シンプジャーナル (December 1984) No 197.
• Takuya Kanno. 現代若者文化考: コミック・イメージソング・深夜放送・etc. Tsukiji Shokan. 1981. p 83.
• ソニー戦略の秘密. 大陸書房 (Tairiku Shobo). 1982. p 86.
• Tetsu Misaki. Jポップの日本語: 歌詞論. 彩流社 (Sairyusha). 2002. p 257.
• Seigo Matsuoka. 男と女の資本主義. Kyuryudo Art Publishing. 2006. pp 366, 367, 372 & 375.
• Kiyomaro Kikuchi. 日本流行歌変遷史: 歌謡曲の誕生からJ・ポップの時代へ. 論創社 (Ronsosha). 2008. p 254.
• Issei Tomizawa. あの素晴しい曲をもう一度. Shinchosha. 2010. pp 110, 114 & 228.
• ３秒聴けば誰でもわかる名曲ベスト１００". TV Tokyo. 8 January 2024.

External links

• SonyMusic

Notes and References

1. https://www.daily.co.jp/opinion-d/nextstage/2019/01/14/0011976969.shtml "「異邦人」から４０年…久保田早紀はなぜ音楽宣教師・久米小百合になったのか"
2. https://www.christiantoday.co.jp/articles/27535/20191226/sayuri-kume-40th-anniversary-saki-kubota-premium.htm "久米小百合さんデビュー４０周年　記念ＢＯＸ「久保田早紀プレミアム」来年１月末発売"
3. https://www.nipponclub.org/event/sayuri-kume-dinnershow/?lang=en Sayuri Kume (known as Saki Kubota) Dinner Show
4. https://www.nikkan-gendai.com/articles/view/geino/255743 "久保田早紀“引退”の契機 久米小百合さんが聖書を開いた訳"
5. https://www.nhk.jp/p/syumidoki/ts/5N8N91PYV7/episode/te/ER94V83N3D/ "歌って味わう!昭和レトロポップス (4)シンガーソングライターの時代"
6. https://webronza.asahi.com/culture/articles/2019032800001.html "大ヒットから40年 二人の「異邦人」の心の旅"
7. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5raK_iAFrn8 Ihojin
8. (1984) 3 実践国語教育大系 277
9. "Japan" in "Hits of the World". Billboard. 22 December 1979. p 71.
10. [Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box]
11. (1995) 73 文藝春秋 (Bungei Shunjū) 400
12. https://nlab.itmedia.co.jp/research/articles/2264760/amp/ "最高だと思う「1980～82年のヒット曲」ランキングTOP21 ! 第1位は「異邦人」"
13. 1979 television commercial for the Sanyo colour television model calledくっきりタテ7.
14. https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/57997/full/ "安室奈美恵の勢い衰えず!ドリカム以来14年8ヶ月ぶりの6週連続首位"
15. Billboard. 12 July 1980. p 51.
16. 1970-1989 Oricon Chart Book LP Edition. オリコンチャートブック〈LP編(昭和45年‐平成1年)〉. Oricon Books. May 1990. ISBN 4871310256. p 128.
17. https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/201307/rank/single/ シングル売上TOP2作品
18. 1968-1997 Oricon Chart Book: 30 years anniversary: All Singles: Listing by Artist.
19. 1968-1987 Oricon Chart Book: 20 years: All Singles: Listing by Artist. Oricon Books.
20. https://www.tbs.co.jp/tbs-ch/special/the_bestten/column/20220311.html "第9回: 徹子さんがお姫様！？"
21. https://musicguide.jp/information/23483/ 23483
22. https://www.christiantoday.co.jp/articles/24818/20171123/music-kume-sayuri-kubota-saki-7carats-release.htm "賛美歌が宝石のように心に届きますように　久米小百合さんニューアルバム「7carats+1」発売"
23. Teppei Akagi. ソニーの 21世紀戦略: 進展するソフト革命の全貌. Japan Management Association. 1990. p 156.
24. https://jisin.jp/entertainment/interview/1616061/ "スターダムへの戸惑いと苦悩……「久保田早紀」は引退、音楽伝道師の道へ"
25. CBS/Sony catalogue number 96ZM3018
26. CBS/Sony catalogue number 96QM3018
27. Ordermade Factory. Catalogue number DYBL24
28. Ordermade Factory. Catalogue number DYCL2645
29. https://www.musicman.co.jp/artist/422301 久保田早紀（現・久米小百合）が37年ぶりに一夜限りの復活、8/28開催「ミュージック・モア otonanoコンサート」の生配信＆アーカイブ配信が決定
30. https://rooftop1976.com/news/2021/08/27123000.php 37年ぶり！ 久保田早紀（現・久米小百合）が一日限りの復活！
31. https://christianpress.jp/kume-sayuri/ 【くめさゆりの DAY BY DAY】第２回　デビュー４０周年コンサートは中止したけれど　久米小百合
32. https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000178456 久保田早紀、36年ぶりに1日限りの復活『ミュージック・モア otonano コンサート』出演
33. https://www.barks.jp/news/?id=1000194548 久保田早紀が1日限りの復活 渡辺真知子、サーカスらが出演するコンサートの生配信が決定
34. https://rooftop1976.com/news/2020/12/27110032.php 「一日限りの復活」久保田早紀（現・久米小百合）、渡辺真知子、サーカスが出演！
35. https://news.1242.com/article/143927 "5月11日は「異邦人」久保田早紀の誕生日"
36. https://agora-web.jp/archives/2021601.html?amp=1 久保田早紀のヒット曲『異邦人』のルーツを中央線沿線に発見した
37. https://www.boston.us.emb-japan.go.jp/ja/CULTURE_EDUCATION/Events/2015kubotasaki.pdf ボストン日本祭り ファンドレイジングパーティー
38. https://www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2020/09181100/?all=1 「異邦人」のヒットから40年　久保田早紀が久米小百合として音楽宣教師になった理由
39. "Ms. Sayuri Kume as Goodwill Ambassador of JBS". JBS News International. Volume 3. October 2007.
40. https://christianpress.jp/bridge0411/ 【BRIDGE】　「異邦人」のヒットの陰で　久米小百合
41. https://www.christiantoday.co.jp/articles/27990/20200423/akira-kume-dies-at-96.htm 俳優・声優の久米明さん死去、義娘に教会音楽家の久米小百合さん
42. https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9GY7AAAAIAAJ 89
43. https://michtam.com/ctlg/?x=entry:entry040114-114805 Tehillim 33
44. https://www.christiantoday.co.jp/articles/1161/20070719/news.htm 久米小百合さんを親善大使に　日本聖書協会
45. https://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/broad_bstvtokyo/program/detail/202408/23312_202408162000.html 武田鉄矢の昭和は輝いていた【“異邦人”の久保田早紀と“雨バラ”の湯原昌幸】
46. Sayuri Kume. 回想録-午後の頁から… ISBN 4795227586. NCM2 Books. 1993.
47. https://www.kirishin.com/2019/03/28/24201/ 自伝『ふたりの異邦人』出版記念　久米小百合さん「今でも気分は異邦人」　2019年4月1日
48. CBS/Sony catalogue number 06SH636
49. This romanized name appears on the back cover of the sleeve of the vinyl record. Also called 25ji.
50. CBS/Sony catalogue number 06SH745
51. CBS/Sony catalogue number 07SH839
52. CBS/Sony catalogue number 07SH971
53. https://nikkan-spa.jp/1685497/2 『異邦人』の“久保田早紀”が語る、大ヒットで苦悩した日々と現在
54. https://www.billboard-japan.com/goods/detail/399530 エアメール・スペシャル
55. 1981 television commercial for Kirin Orange
56. CBS/Sony catalogue number 07SH1033
57. CBS/Sony catalogue number 07SH1161
58. Front cover, and back cover, of the sleeve of the vinyl record
59. Episodes of "Shizen Wandafuru", opening and closing credits
60. https://idol.ne.jp/kubotasaki 久保田早紀(くぼたさき)ディスコグラフィ
61. CBS/Sony catalogue number 07SH1256
62. CBS/Sony catalogue number 07SH1473
63. CBS/Sony catalogue number 07SH1560
64. Catalogue number 07FA-5019
65. CBS/Sony catalogue number 25AH919
66. CBS/Sony catalogue number 27AH1011
67. CBS/Sony catalogue number 27AH1148
68. https://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/SakiKubota/discography/MHCL-30144 サウダーデ【Blu-spec CD2】
69. https://reminder.top/133841821/ 久保田早紀は「異邦人」だけじゃない！異国路線にケジメを付けたアルバム「サウダーデ」
70. (1999) 44 地理 48
71. CBS/Sony catalogue number 28AH1266
72. https://www.110107.com/s/oto/page/sayuri_kume Otonano Portal
73. Light Mellow Neon Nights (2015) GT Music, Sony Music Direct, catalogue number MHCL 2553: 邦楽シティポップコンピ「Light Mellow」最新作2タイトル発売. Natalie. 16 September 2015.
74. City Pop Story: Urban and Ocean (2023) Sony Music Labels catalogue number MHJL 288-9.
75. CBS/Sony catalogue number 28AH1452
76. CBS/Sony catalogue number 28AH1518
77. CBS/Sony catalogue number 28AH1776
78. Catalogue number MCD-10021
79. Catalogue number TDCT-1125
80. MIDI Inc. Catalogue number MDCL-1401
81. Catalogue number MDCL-1495
82. https://www.christiantoday.co.jp/articles/3781/20090703/news.htm 久米小百合さん、１３年ぶりの新アルバム「天使のパン」発売
83. CBS/Sony catalogue number 28AH 1341
84. CBS/Sony catalogue number 25AH 1479
85. CBS/Sony catalogue number 28KH 1616
86. Catalogue number 30DH 216
87. CBS/Sony catalogue number 30DH 417
88. Catalogue number SRCL 2537
89. Catalogue number FCCL 30421
90. Catalogue number SRCL 4132
91. https://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Cata/j-pop/artist/index.html Golden J-Pop/The Best
92. Catalogue number MHCL 8
93. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2001/11/16/national/cd-industry-aims-at-aging-music-buffs/ CD industry aims at aging music buffs
94. Catalogue number MHCL-189~90.
95. GT. Sony Music Direct (Japan) catalogue numbers MHCL-583~4
96. https://www.sonymusic.co.jp/Music/Arch/MH/SakiKubota/MHCL-583/index.html CD & DVD The Best 久保田早紀 シングルズ
97. For a review of this album, see CD & DVD Best Saki Kubota. Yumeki magazine. 24 June 2005.
98. Catalogue number MHCL-899
99. Sony Music Shop
100. Catalogue number MHCL-1572