Chiyoko Shimakura

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Chiyoko Shimakura
Background information
Born	(1938-03-30)30 March 1938
Origin	Tokyo, Japan
Died	8 November 2013(2013-11-08) (aged 75)
Genres	Enka
Occupation(s)	Singer, lyricist
Years active	1954–2013 (her death)
Labels	Columbia Music Entertainment

Chiyoko Shimakura (島倉 千代子, Shimakura Chiyoko) (30 March 1938 – 8 November 2013) was an Enka singer and TV presenter in Japan.^[1] She was considered "the Goddess of Enka".

Chiyoko was born in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, Japan. In 1954, Chiyoko won the 1st prize of the Columbia Music Entertainment singers competition.^[1] In 1955, she made her recording début with the single "Konoyo no Hana".^[1] She was an Enka singer who appeared in NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, starring 35 times, including 30 consecutive years straight.^[1] However, she forgot her song lyrics in 1996. She participated again in the Kōhaku in 2004. ^{[citation needed]}

After a long battle with liver cancer, she died, at age 75, on 8 November 2013.

• Konoyo no Hana (この世の花) (1955) (The Fruit and Bloom in the world) - Chiyoko herself is featured in the movie of the same name.^[1]
• Tōkyō Dayo Okkasan (東京だョお母さん) (1957) (Mummy, here we are in Tōkyō),^[1] which sold more than 1 million copies.^[1]
• Jinsei Iroiro (人生いろいろ) (1987)^[1]
  • Best selling single of hers, selling over 1.3 million copies,^[1] won Japan Record Award for Best Singer^[1] and peaking at No.16 on weekly Oricon chart for 86 weeks.^[2]

Weekly

• Japan: Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon (1999)^[1]

• A Farewell to the Woman Called My Sister (別れの茶摘歌　姉妹篇　お姉さんと呼んだ人 Wakare no chatsumi-uta shimai-hen: Oneesan to yonda hito) (1957)

• Chiyoko Shimakura at IMDb