We invited Mr. Issei Tomizawa, who is from Suzaka City and is active as a music critic, and held a lecture.

Tomizawa, who wanted to be a singer, entered the University of Tokyo to move to Tokyo. He then dropped out of college. When he gave up being a singer and aimed to become a lyricist, he encountered Nobuyasu Okabayashi's song and was shocked by the sharpness of the lyrics. And at the age of 20, he posted his first commentary on Okabayashi in a music magazine, which is the reason why he started his career as a music critic. I felt that your music criticism, based on the background of the times and the personalities of the singers, reflected the way of life of yourself and the young people of that time.

At this lecture, we listened to folk songs along with the contents of the lecture on a high-performance audio set installed with the cooperation of the Hirooka Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The records were donated by Mr. Tomizawa and other local enthusiasts. Mr. Tomizawa's commentary deepened the taste of the song even more, and everyone at the venue seemed to be impressed. This was reflected in the question-and-answer session and autograph session held after the lecture.

Also, from the evening of the same day, at the same venue, Hirooka Community Center sponsored the "Record exchange meeting with Mr. Issei Tomizawa". Thanks to the cooperation of the Hirooka Society of Commerce and Industry and citizen volunteers, we listened to songs requested by the participants, accompanied by commentary by Mr. Tomizawa.

Lecture summary

Around the 1960s, contemporary folk music that had both fashionable and beautiful melodies and lyrics appealing for human rights and anti-war (protest songs) landed in the United States. Songs by the Kingston Trio, Peter Paul & Smith, Bob Dylan, and others were supported by young people and were copied and sung. Eventually, he began to compose original songs in Japanese, but in the Kanto region, Mike Maki and Ryoko Moriyama performed highly fashionable “college folk,” while in the Kansai region, Tomoya Takaishi performed The Folk Crusaders. It was divided into "Kansai folk" with a strong message. The latter half of the 1960s was a time of criticism against the social system, such as opposition to the Vietnam War, school disputes, and security struggles. Nobuyasu Okabayashi, who emerged from Kansai Folk, severely criticized the social system with "Sanya Blues" and "Tulip Appliqué", and "Tomoyo" became the theme song for the struggles of angry young people. In this way Okabayashi, the anti-establishment hero, received overwhelming support as the god of folk music. However, when the sense of frustration began to spread among young people due to the automatic extension of the security treaty in 1970, Okabayashi released the album “Orerai Ichinuketa”, and although he had rebelled against society until now, he must bite himself. Shouldn't it be? And turn the spearhead of rebellion from the outside to the inner self. Meanwhile, it was Takuro Yoshida who appeared brilliantly. The song "Ningen Nante" that he sang at the "3rd Nakatsugawa Folk Jamboree" captured the hearts of young people. In contrast to Okabayashi's folk music before 1970, which was filled with a sense of mission that we must sing now, Takuro's folk music is free-spirited, where he sings because he wants to sing. rice field. Okabayashi's song that sang "What we want is..." was "our song" that creates a sense of solidarity, while singing "I have lived until today..." Takuro's songs become "my songs" that reflect on oneself and question one's own way of life, gaining the sympathy of young people. In this way, as the era shifted from "groups" to "individuals," the youth hero Takuro's big hits such as "Let's get married" made folk more widely known to the world, and a golden folk boom arose. rice field.

Mr. Issei Tomizawa, who has been active with the motto of speaking passionately about music. In addition to publishing many books, he speaks enthusiastically on radio programs and on his website. By all means, please try touching Tomizawa-bushi.

Thank you Issei Tomizawa, everyone who participated, and everyone who cooperated.

date and time

Sunday, November 15, 2020 14:00-16:00

place

Shiojiri City North Exchange Center (Enteras) 101.102 meeting room

Teacher

Issei Tomizawa
Born in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture in 1951. music critic.