Katsutaro Kouta
| Katsutaro Kouta | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Katsu Shinno |
| Born |
November 6, 1904 Nigata prefecture, Japan |
| Died | June 21, 1974 (aged 69) |
| Genres | Ryūkōka, Min'yō, Hauta, Kouta, Kiyomoto |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1930–1974 |
| Labels | Victor, Columbia, Teichiku, Toshiba |
Katsutaro Kouta (小唄 勝太郎 Kouta Katsutarō?, November 6, 1904 – June 21, 1974) was a Japanese female geisha and ryūkōka singer. The genre like her songs was called "New-Minyo". The era when she had a high popularity with another popular geisha singer Ichimaru was called the "Katsu-Ichi Era". Note "Shinno" was her family name after married, her real name was "Sato".
Katsutaro was born on 6 November 1904 at Niigata Nuttari-cho, Nakakanbara District,Niigata Prefecture. At her child ages, she worked as a helper at her relative's restaurant, and she became a geisha at 15 years old. She had a fondness with kiyomoto, so around late Taisho period she moved to Tokyo, accepted in Yoshicho geisha district and admitted as Katsutarō. Around 1928 a geisha from the same hanamachi, named Fumikichi(二三吉) had several hits in Victor of Japan. In 1930 Katsutaro recorded some hauta and kouta song with Odeon Record and Parlophone. A year later she signed exclusive contract with Victor. She debuted with the song "Sado Okesa" (佐渡おけさ?) in 1931. In 1932, her B-side song titled "Yanagi no Ame"(Willow Rain) became her first hit. She released song "Shima no Musume" (島の娘 lit. Island Girl?) in 1932. The song became a big hit in 1933, selling 350.000 copies in 3 months, with total 600,000 copies. However, the song also angered members of the Home Ministry because the song described illicit sexual relations.
...
Wikipedia