Katsutaro Kouta | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Katsu Shinno |
Born |
Nigata prefecture, Japan |
November 6, 1904
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.