‘So respectable’: fans mourn death of Japanese singer Shinji Tanimura, a major influence on Hong Kong’s 1980s Cantopop scene, who died at 74

Shinji Tanimura, who died on October 8, became a hit in China with songs like ‘Subaru’, and he performed at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo’s opening ceremony
The Japanese singer-songwriter was a keen promoter of friendly relations between Japan and China and many of his songs were adapted into Cantonese and Mandarin

K-pop, Mandopop and other Asian pop

KyodoandAshlyn Chak

Published: 5:45pm, 17 Oct 2023

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Japanese singer-songwriter Shinji Tanimura, known for songs such as “Subaru” (“Star”) that made him a hit in China, died in hospital on October 8. He was 74.

The leader of Japanese three-man folk group Alice, which formed in 1971, had undergone surgery for acute enteritis – inflammation of the small intestine – in March, and was receiving treatment for it at the time of his death.

Aside from the songs he sang as part of Alice, Tanimura was known for his 1980 solo hit “Subaru”, which depicted a person who wishes upon a constellation of stars. He performed the song at the Shanghai World Expo’s opening ceremony in 2010.

Tanimura was a keen promoter of friendly relations between Japan and China and held several concerts in the latter. He also taught as a professor at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Tanimura performs during the official farewell event for Japan’s national stadium in Tokyo in 2014. Photo: AFP

Born in 1948 in Osaka, Japan, Tanimura wrote songs for other singers throughout his early career, such as “Iihi Tabidachi” (“Leaving on a Good Day”) for 1970s singer and actress Momoe Yamaguchi. He formed Alice with Takao Horiuchi and Toru Yazawa in 1971.

After Alice went on hiatus in 1981, he began what would become an illustrious solo career, performing over 3,620 solo concerts and writing over 370 songs.

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Tanimura’s music will be familiar to Hong Kong Cantopop fans, as many of his Japanese compositions were adapted by the city’s musicians. Early examples include “Horn” (1980) by Roman Tam Pak-sin in Cantonese, and “Another Kind of Homesickness” (1981) by Fong Fei-fei in Mandarin.

Later works by Tanimura were also adapted, resulting in “Journey” (1984) by Danny Chan Pak-keung, “Gu Shen Zou Wo Lu” (1985) by Anita Mui Yim-fong, “You Shei Gong Ming” (1986) by Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing, and “Yao Yuan De Ta” (1986) by Jacky Cheung Hok-yau.

In 1982, Tanimura was invited by the broadcasting channel TVB as a guest performer at Hong Kong’s first New Talent Singing Awards. This was the same year Cantopop diva Anita Mui won, kick-starting her big break.

In 1981, Alice was invited to perform at a summer pop concert in Beijing that was attended by then-Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who promoted the reform and opening-up of China.

Tanimura expressed his fondness of China, saying he felt so nostalgic about the scenery when he first visited the country that he thought he was “probably Chinese in a previous life”.

In 1984, Tanimura, South Korean singer Cho Yong-pil and Hong Kong singer Alan Tam Wing-lun set up a series of concerts to promote cultural exchange and world peace. The concerts, all titled Pax Musica, were held in Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.

In 1997, Tanimura performed alongside Jacky Cheung at a concert in Japan where they sang the Japanese and Cantonese versions of the same melody, respectively “Roman Tetsudo” and “Yao Yuan De Ta”.

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The news of Tanimura’s death has been trending on Weibo; Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning has expressed her condolences upon hearing of Tanimura’s death; and many others have taken to their blogs and other social media to express their grief and disbelief.

“My god, I’m shocked! 74 years old is not considered old … what a pity,” one person said on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging platform, adding that Tanimura’s songs were “wonderful” and “Subaru” was a favourite.

“Putting aside the conflicts between China and Japan, this man is so respectable,” another Weibo user posted.

Alice was made up of (from left) Takao Horiuchi, Tanimura and Toru Yazawa. Photo: Alice

Alice, which became active again in the 2000s after their long hiatus, had planned for a nationwide tour in Japan this year but postponed it because of Tanimura’s poor health. The group had hit songs such as “Champion” and “Fuyuno Inazuma” (“Thunderbolt in Winter”).

Tanimura had also received from the Japanese government a Medal with Purple Ribbon, an honour bestowed on those who have made academic or artistic contributions to society.