Hideki Saijo

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Hideki Saijō
西城 秀樹
Background information
Birth nameTatsuo Kimoto (木本 龍雄, Kimoto Tatsuo)
Born(1955-04-13)April 13, 1955
Hiroshima, Japan
DiedMay 16, 2018(2018-05-16) (aged 63)
Yokohama, Japan
Genres
Occupation(s)Vocalist, musician, composer, actor
Years active1972-2018

Hideki Saijō (西城 秀樹, Saijō Hideki, originally Tatsuo Kimoto (木本 龍雄, Kimoto Tatsuo); April 13, 1955 – May 16, 2018) was a Japanese pioneering rock, city pop, Kayoukyoku, J-Pop, R&B, Funk, Lounge vocalist, composer, and musician, as well as an actor.

He debuted at Japanese major pop music scene in March 1972 aged 16 years old, with a song called "A Season of Falling in Love" (恋する季節) from BGM Victor Japan RCA Records, which ranked in Japanese national pop music chart as the 48th at the highest.

With his fourth single, "Let's Challenge with Our Youth" (青春に賭けよう) and fifth single, "A Storm of Passion" (情熱の嵐), both released in 1972–1973, he became one of the most popular singers in Japanese pop music and a Best Ten Chart ranking artist.

In 1973, his 6th single, "Teared Love" (ちぎれた愛) became a rapid and massive mega hit, ranking in number 1 of Japanese national chart, selling half a million records within a few weeks – a record highest sales number. He quickly became one of the most popular singers in Japan from a very early stage of his career, and then a superstar vocalist as well as a popular aidoru (idol).

After his initial success, he continued to rank in the national Top Ten Charts, with singles such as "Chains of Roses" (薔薇の鎖), and "Passionate (Hard) Love" (激しい恋), "Lola" (傷だらけのローラ) in 1974.

Saijō was also known for singing the Japanese version of the Village People's hit song "Y.M.C.A.,"[1] called "Young Man." In the 1970s, he was called shin gosanke (新御三家, "New Big Three") with Goro Noguchi and Hiromi Go. Although the original version was camp, Saijō's version was intended to seriously inspire "young men."

Early Life[edit]

Hideki Saijo was born as Tatsuo Kimoto on 13 April 1955 in Atago-machi, Higashi-ku, Hiroshima City (now Higashi-ku), Hiroshima Prefecture, as the youngest of three siblings to parents Saburō and Toshiko Kimoto. In April 1959, he enrolled in Rissho Kindergarten. As a child, he often sang "Black Petals," a popular song at the time, much to the distaste of his teacher who advised that he sing more childish songs. In April 1962, he entered Onaga Elementary School in Hiroshima City. Influenced by his father, who had played jazz guitar as a hobby, he became familiar with Western music from an early age and began attending Hiroshima Central Jazz School. He initially studied electric guitar, followed by bass guitar, but eventually settled on drums.

In 1965, when he was in fourth class, he formed a rock and roll band called "Beggars" with his older brother. Through Beggars, he began performing as a drummer while still in primary school. In April 1968, he entered Futaba Junior High School in Hiroshima City. He performed on stage at the school's annual festival when his brother was in third year and he was in first year. He was greatly influenced by western musicians such as The Ventures, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Chicago. This deep knowledge and appreciation of Western music later became a distinctive feature that set him apart from other idol singers.

In 1969, while in second year of secondary school, Beggars had a member change and the band was renamed "Gypsy". In April 1971, he entered the commerce department of Sanyō Secondary School. It was then that Kimoto became the lead vocalist of Gypsy. Until then, he had aimed to succeed in the world of rock as a drummer, but after hearing Kiyohiko Ozaki's song "Until We Meet Again", his perception of pop music shifted and he decided to become a singer. With Gypsy, he participated in the first and second Yamaha Light Music Contests and won in the China catagory of the competition. Around this time, he regularly performed at an R&B cafe called "Punch", and while singing there, he was scouted by a manager who had travelled down from Tokyo.

On 3 October 1971, despite fierce opposition from his strict and stubborn father against entering the entertainment industry, he ran away from home via an overnight train from Hiroshima and arrived at Tokyo Station the following morning. From there, he joined the talent agency "Geiei" and transferred to a night secondary school in Tokyo. He began living with his manager in a small triangular room only 5.4m x 2.7m in size and practiced intensely every day. In December, he was recognised by RCA director Robbie Wada, at last making his professional debut definite.

Career[edit]

Saijō's career spanned over three decades. He gained popularity again in the 1990s in the anime Chibi Maruko-chan and by releasing a cover version of the Enrique Iglesias song "Bailamos." He also sang the theme song and became the character (specially created for the Japanese version — Lucky Mucho) in The Emperor's New Groove and also performed "Turn a Turn," the first opening theme song for ∀ Gundam.

In the late 1990s, he also appeared on an episode of the original Japanese cooking show Iron Chef as a guest judge, for the Rice Battle, involving Iron Chef Japanese Masaharu Morimoto and Chinese chef Masayoshi Kimura.

In 2003, around the time that his 85th single was to be released, he suffered a mild stroke while performing overseas in Korea. After rehabilitation, in 2006, he released his 86th single, "Meguriai." Lyrics were set to André Gagnon's "Comme au Premier Jour."

In 2009, he released a downloadable single, "Vegetable Wonderful" which is tied to the NHK program, Time for Vegetables.

Personal life and death[edit]

Saijo married Miki Makihara in 2001, and they had one daughter and two sons.

In June 2003, while promoting his new released song in South Korea, Saijo suffered a stroke which resulted in his speech being partially impaired. After several years of rehabilitation, Saijo was on his way toward full recovery until his cerebral infarction relapsed in 2011, resulting in his right side being paralysed. In spite of his failing health, Saijo courageously continued to perform to please his fans.[2]

Saijo died from acute heart failure in a hospital in Yokohama city on May 16, 2018.[3]

Discography[edit]

  • Koi suru kisetsu (1972)
  • Koi no yakusoku (1972)
  • Chance wa ichido (1972)
  • Seishun ni kakeyo (1972)
  • Jonetsu no arashi (1973)
  • Chigireta ai (1973)
  • Ai no jujika (1973)
  • Bara no kusari (1974)
  • Hageshii koi (1974)
  • Kizudarake no Lola (1974)
  • Kono ai no tokimeki (1975)
  • Koi no boso (1975)
  • Shiroi kyokai (1975)
  • Kimiyo dakarete atsuku nare (1976)
  • Jaguar (1976)
  • Wakaki shishitachi (1976)
  • Last scene (1976)
  • Boomerang street (1977)
  • Sexy rock’n roller (1977)
  • Botan wo hazuse (1977)
  • Boots wo nuide choshoku wo (1978)
  • Anata to ai no tameni (1978)
  • Honoo (1978)
  • Blue sky blue (1978)
  • Haruka naru koibito e (1978)
  • YOUNG MAN (Y.M.C.A.) (1979)
  • Hop step jump (1979)
  • Yuki ga areba (1979)
  • Ai no sono (1980)
  • Oretachi no jidai (1980)
  • Nemurenu yoru (1980)
  • Santa maria no inori (1980)
  • Little girl (1981)
  • Sexy girl (1981)
  • Sentimental girl (1981)
  • Gypsy (1981)
  • Minami jujisei (1982)
  • Seishojo (1982)
  • Hyoryusha tachi (1982)
  • Gyarando (1983)
  • Night game (1983)
  • Do you know (1984)
  • Dakishimete jiruba (1984)
  • Ichimankonen no ai (1985)
  • Ude no nakae (1985)
  • Tsuioku no hitomi (1986)
  • Rain of dream (1986)
  • Yakusoku no tabi (1986)
  • New York girl (1987)
  • Blue sky (1988)
  • Hashire Shojikimono (1991)
  • Rock Your Fire (1991)
  • Sayyea Jan-go (1994)
  • Tasogareyo sobani ite (1995)
  • Round'n'round (1996)
  • Parasite Love (1996)
  • Moment (1997)
  • 2R kara hajimeyo (1998)
  • Saigo no ai (1999)
  • Turn A Turn (opening theme for ∀ Gundam Episodes 2~28) (1999)
  • Bailamos ~ Tonight we dance (1999)
  • Love torture (2000)
  • Toki no kizahashi (2000)
  • Jasmine (2001)
  • Everybody dance (2002)
  • Sodai gomi Ja ne (2003)
  • Meguriai (2006)
  • "Vegetable wonderful" (2009)
  • "Shinkiro" (2015)

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Director Notes
1973 Toshigoro

(としごろ, "Age of Maturity")

"Singer"

(歌手)

Hirokazu Ichimura

(市村泰一)

Saijō's film debut, albeit being a minor role. In the film, he performs "Let's Bet On Youth" (青春に賭けよう), his fourth single
1973 Love Is After School

(恋は放課後)

"Singer"

(歌手)

Jō Hirose

(広瀬襄)

1973 A Single Teardrop

(ひとつぶの涙)

"Singer"

(歌手)

Hirokazu Ichimura

(市村泰一)

1974 The First Star of Happiness

(しあわせの一番星)

  • Hideo Tōjō

(東条英雄)

  • Hideki Saijo

(西城秀樹)

Shigeyuki Yamane

(山根成之)

In this film, Saijō alternates between two roles: cleaning shop clerk Hideo and vocalist Hideki
1974 The Legend of Love & Sincerity

(愛と誠, "Love & Sincerity")

Makoto Taiga

(大賀誠)

Shigeyuki Yamane

(山根成之)

An adaptation of a manga series of the same name and Saijō's first starring role. As it was met with great popularity, plans were made for it to be the start of a lengthy film franchise featuring Saijō as the Makoto character, in a similar vein to the Otoko wa Tsurai yo series. In the end, this did not come to fruition and the rest of the trilogy ended up featuring different actors as Makoto. In 2012, another film based on the franchise, titled "For Love's Sake", was directed by Takashi Miike and features references to Saijō.
1975 Let's Go, Grandma!

(おれの行く道, "The Path I Walk")

Tsuchiya Kōzō

(土屋耕三)

Shigeyuki Yamane

(山根成之)

Awards[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Pearlman, Jeff (June 2008). America's favorite ballpark sing-along is (gasp!) a disco anthem about gay sex. pp. 75–78. Retrieved 16 May 2010. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  2. ^ 西城秀樹が脳梗塞再発　年内の仕事はキャンセル(in Japanese)
  3. ^ 西城秀樹さんが死去　　歌手で俳優 (in Japanese)

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hideki_Saijo&oldid=1223540169"