38歳本田美奈子さん死去、白血病で (Updated)

I woke up this morning to the shocking news that 本田美奈子さん, a Japanese mid 80's pop singer turned musical actress died yesterday (6th) at 4.38 am in the hospital. There is a added touch of melancholic sadness because she is the first Japanese singer that I had seen in flesh. I will always remember that even though I wasn't a big fan, I liked her song 「Temptation」when I first heard it. She soon became famous with bigger hits like 「1986年のマリリン」and 「Sosotte」- my favourite Minako single together with 「Oneway Generation」.

She was in Singapore in 1986 to promote her new album (I think it was the English "Help") and many fans gathered around Stamford Raffles Hotel to catch a glimpse of her. Being fans of Familiar Music Library (who was influential in getting her down from Japan), Leslie and I excitedly waited for her arrival. Leslie even drew a cat (Minako's symbol) on a T-shirt and we all signed on it, waiting for our chance to pass it on to her. When we saw her finally, she was quickly ushered away onto the lift lobby, where Leslie suddenly screamed "美奈子さん", and threw the T-shirt at her. She catched it, said Thanks and entered the lift. That was our closest encounter with any Japanese popstar till then.

The Japanese newspapers reported earlier in January that 美奈子さん was diagnosed with lukaemia and was rushed into hospital. She did make a recovery, release a now final album "Ave Maria" and was apparently rushed back into hospital after a relapse in October. Her one wish was to be back on the musical stage, where she played "Miss Saigon", her most popular performance. I remember watching her on "The Best 10" special a few years back when she was invited again, and was so impressed by her vocal prowess. She has transformed into a soprano and had a much wider range than she was when she was a pop singer.

It was reported that the chemotherapy affected her slight frame and as her hair fell, she spent her time in hospitals designing bandanas for herself. She also indulged in writing letters to friends and fans, and even though she is affected physically and emotionally, crying over her illness, she had a strong will and looked forward to recovering in time for her 20th anniversary celebration by appearing in more events this year. Apparently, 岩崎宏美さん, who is now performing in musicals visited her on the 5th (a day before 美奈子さん died) and she was still able to reply in a loud voice. Alas ...

Her family released a statement saying that "Literal: She looks like she is sleeping gently. You look back and everyone is deeply expressing "Waaa ...", an angel is finally smiling ...". My translation is not so good but I hope you get the gist of it. You can read the full article here.

This once again highlights how temporary and fragile life is ... some of us get opportunities in life to realise how important it is to live life fully, even when struck with a "death sentence" like this. Others are not so lucky and never get another chance. Cherish life and live like everyday is your last ...

Updates:

Inspite of the lack of news coverage of her death in newspapers in Singapore, it is good to know that Japan is shocked and her news is flooding. It was reported that 2700 people paid their last respectsyesterday, including 1200 fans and many celebrities:

秋元康、天海祐希、ＡＮＲＩ、今井清隆、井森美幸、岩崎宏美、大場久美子、小倉智昭、かたせ梨乃、河相我聞、岸田敏志、工藤夕貴、シルビア、涼風真世、高嶋ちさ子、高嶋政伸、立花理佐、寺脇康文、徳光和夫、中村繁之、夏木マリ、西田敏行、野田義治、服部克久、早見優、ヒロミ、松本伊代、松本典子、宮沢和史、村井国夫、ＹＵ―ＫＩ（五十音順、敬称略）

There were some rumors Akina made some comments too but Akina fans have not written down what the newspapers say.

All they have is 南野陽子が泣き崩れ、岩崎宏美が言葉を失った。(which means Hiromi is lost for words and Nanno is sobbing till she is close to collapsing because Minako was her close friend (and rival).

Minako also wrote a song 「笑顔」during March in the hospital but they have not decided on a release date for the CD. Here are the lyrics she wrote:

「笑顔」

子供も、大人も、おじいちゃんも、おばあちゃんも、みんな、みんな　笑っている顔が素敵。怒っている顔よりも、泣いている顔よりも、困っている顔よりも　笑顔が一番！！

(Children, adults, grandfather, grandmothers, everyone, everyone, your laughing face is cute. Comparing expressions of anger, sorrow and troubled faces, the smiling face is number one!!)

きっと笑顔が幸せを呼ぶと、頭では分かっていても、心では、なかなか分からない人が、多いんじゃないのかナ！？　心が開いて、心の目で、周りを見渡してごらん、きっと、小さな幸せの芽が、見つかるよ。そして、そこから少しずつ、笑顔が生まれてくる。笑顔が生まれ始めたら、喜びに変わるのも、もうすぐ。　

(Certainly, when the face is speaking happiness and the mind understands, there are still many people whose heart does not!? Open your heart and its eyes will see, in search of its surroundings, a happy little bud will be found. And, little by little, the smiling face is born from there. When it is born, it turns to joy almost immediately.)

でも人は生きていて、辛い時、悲しい時、涙が止まらず心が開けない時、勿論、沢山あると思う。そんな時は、あせらないでね。自分だけが不幸ではない。もっと、心が暗闇に閉じこめられている人達も、沢山いることを、少しだけ思い出してみて。

(So in life, when being harsh, sad, or when the tears don't stop and the heart does not open, we will of course think of Sawayama. At such times, aren't we a little rash. We are not unlucky. Moreover, hearts are closed in darkness, we should remember a little of Sawayama.)

自分の力で、心を開く人もいれば、誰かの愛で、心を開いてもらう人もいる。気が付かないうちに心が開いている人もいれば、歌や音楽で、心が開く人もいる。それは、人それぞれだと思うの。　

(By your own power or by someone else, your heart will be opened with someone's love. You might perceive that your heart is opened by song and music. As for that, you think that everyone is the same.)

人は心が閉じたり、開いたり、いろいろな経験、そして、沢山心で感じることによって豊かな心を持ち、豊かな笑顔を育てて行けるのではないのかナ！？と私は思います。自分自身、豊かな笑顔が増えたら、きっと周りにいる人達にも、幸せ届ける事が出来るでしょう。　笑顔がいちばん

(Whether your heart is open or closed because of various experiences, when you are unable to keep raising the rich smiling face, feel the richness of Sawayam's heart, which I do. When your rich smiling face increases, it is possible to infect this happiness with the people around you. The smiling face is number one.)

This is my first feeble attempt to translate any songs in Japanese, so I do expect many errors in the progress. To be totally honest, I used some translation services, but what came out of it is usually so fumbled, I have to re-read the Japanese many times to decipher what they really mean. I am sure there are more lyrical and poetic translations available but I hope I caught the gist of the meaning of the song .... to keep smiling ...