Yoshio Tabata | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Yoshio Tabata |
Also known as | Bata-Yan |
Born | Mie prefecture, Japan | January 1, 1919
Died | April 25, 2013 Tokyo, Japan | (aged 94)
Genres | Ryūkōka, Enka |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Instrument(s) | Electric guitar |
Years active | 1939–2013 |
Yoshio Tabata (田端義夫, Tabata Yoshio, January 1, 1919 – April 25, 2013) was a Japanese ryūkōka and enka singer, songwriter, and electric guitarist.[1] His debut song "Shima no Funauta" (島の舟唄, literally "Island Ship Song") was released in 1939. Along with enka-shi Haruo Oka's 1939 debut, his debut had a big impact on Japanese popular music because Japanese popular ryūkōka music of that time was mainly sung by classical music singers such as Ichiro Fujiyama and Noriko Awaya.[2] He was born in Matsusaka, Mie prefecture, Japan.