My Showa Kayou 29　　White Petals, the Color of Love　1969

Japanese Title "Shiroi Iroha Koibitono Iro"
A lover from afar, white petals bloom.
First love is the sky, painted pure blue.
Memories linger, bathed in sunset hues.

The Folk Crusaders: A Nostalgic Journey Through Timeless Music

"Kaettekita Yopparai" ("The Return of the Drunkard") was an outrageous hit. With its sheer novelty, people couldn’t help but ask, "What is this? Who’s singing in that voice?"

The Folk Crusaders were a group of three immensely talented individuals, yet only Osamu Kitayama is still with us. A psychiatrist by profession, he is now the president of a private university. Kitayama, with his intellectual background, was the group’s lyricist.

Norihiko Hashida joined the group during their professional debut. He was notably short (a little humorous detail), but when Folk Crusaders disbanded, he released "Kaze" ("Wind")—a song with melodic lines that even the genius Kato Kazuhiko couldn’t replicate. Naturally, Kitayama penned its heartfelt lyrics.

The Folk Crusaders’ time in the spotlight was short-lived. Kitayama and Kato seemed more suited for songwriting than maintaining a band. When "Shiroi Iro wa Koibito no Iro" ("The White Color of Petals Is the Color of a Lover") appeared on TV, the falsetto harmonies were refreshingly unprecedented.

Adding to the unique charm was an unexpected element: a foreigner singing a Japanese folk song. A girl from America—the home of folk music—interpreting Kitayama and Kato's work brought both novelty and pride to Japanese fans.

We eagerly mimicked those harmonies by ear, singing on school stair landings, where the acoustics were perfect, or on our way home. I once effortlessly hit the ending notes of ♪Omoide no iro—♪ (The color of memories), but now I need to be creative, lowering the pitch and adding a slight vibrato to disguise my effort. Even when singing alone, I’ll make that little stylish adjustment—because such songs deserve nothing less.

Kitayama’s lyrics often weave vivid imagery, painting scenes with colors and simple words that linger. This song, for instance, evokes the vision of a woman living in the city, wistfully recalling someone dear to her. (I’ve never lived far from my hometown, but I can picture it so vividly.) With its refreshing melody, the song has the air of a smile cast on a distant memory.

"White petals for a lover,
Clear blue skies for first love,
Crimson sunsets for memories."

These tender, uncomplicated words invite us to imagine our hometowns, crafting a feeling of warmth and nostalgia.

During an era rich with pop hits like "Ningyo no Ie" ("The Doll’s House"), "Minato-machi Blues," and "Koi no Dorei" ("Slave of Love"), folk songs like "Shiroi Buranko," "Kaze," and "Aruhi Totsuzen" made their mark, perhaps influenced by the popularity of Simon & Garfunkel’s "The Sound of Silence."

Group Sounds bands also thrived back then, creating a vibrant, eclectic mix of music. Japan at the time was unparalleled in its variety—songs of every style streamed endlessly.

Of course, as a teenager in the midst of it all, I wasn’t aware of how extraordinary this period was. I simply gathered the songs as they came, basking in their abundance. Truly, it was an era of musical luxury.

Lastly, I’d like to mention another favorite of mine: Betsy & Chris’s "Natsu yo Omae wa" ("Oh Summer, You Are").

🎵"A braided girl kissed on the shore,
The boy runs away across the sand.
His eyes so bright, a heart so pure,
And soon he’s drowning in fleeting love."🎵

Braids (haha)—they were already out of style by then. But for a young girl at that time, the scenario was utterly captivating: a 13-year-old girl and a 19-year-old boy.

As a middle schooler dreaming of love, I remember singing this song almost daily.

I cannot read or write in English.
This text has been translated by ChatGPT.
I haven't edited it, so there may be some strange parts.

【Reference Video】

【Japanese Version of the Article】