# Rei Nakanishi

Rei Nakanishi (なかにし 礼, Nakanishi Rei, 2 September 1938 – 23 December 2020) was a Japanese novelist and songwriter. He won the 122nd Naoki Prize.

## Career

Nakanishi was born Reizō Nakanishi (中西 禮三) in Mudanjiang, Manchukuo. He graduated from Kudan High School in Tokyo and received a degree in French literature from Rikkyo University. He lived in Zushi, Kanagawa.
He first worked on translations of French chanson songs, but while on honeymoon he made the acquaintance of Yujiro Ishihara and became a Japanese popular song (kayōkyoku) writer. He is one of the main lyricists in the world of post-World War II kayōkyoku. He gave the world an extensive collection of works—songs such as "Kyou de owakare" and "Kita sakaba" which became big hits, but also a large proportion of unusual songs. In 1969, his total sales exceeded 10 million records. He has displayed talent in many fields, including concert and stage production, movie performance, singing, composing, translation, novel and essay writing, and cultural broadcasting (as a personality on "Sei! Yangu!" and as a regular on NHK's "N-kyō").
However, behind his showy life, he suffered from difficulties such as heart disease, divorce, and having to repay his elder brother's extensive debts. From those personal experiences came novels such as Kyōdai and Sakura no densetsu. He was a pacifist and desired reconciliation with China and Korea, and this shows in his writing style and speech.
He gave up lyric writing at the end of the Shōwa era and concentrated on opera production and performance and novel and essay writing. Kyōdai was nominated in 1998 for the 119th Naoki Prize. Nagasaki burabura-setsu won the 122nd Naoki Prize in 2000.
Recently, Nakanishi served as a commentator on the Japanese "wide show" Wide! Scramble! on the Asahi Television Network.
Nakanishi died in Tokyo on 23 December 2020, at the age of 82, after suffering a heart attack.

## Awarded Songs

| Year | Award | Song | Category | Singer |
| 1967 (Showa 42) | 9th Japan Record Awards | Kiri No Kanatani | Lyricist Award | Jun Mayuzumi |
| 1967 (Showa 42) | 9th Japan Record Awards | Koi No Fugue | Lyricist Award | The Peanuts |
| 1968 (Showa 43) | 10th Japan Record Awards | Tenshi No Yuwaku | Japan Record Award | Jun Mayuzumi |
| 1968 (Showa 43) | 10th Japan Record Awards | Dare Mo Inai | Vocalist Award | Sugawara Yoichi |
| 1968 (Showa 43) | 10th Japan Record Awards | Kuchitsuke Ga Kowai | New Artist Award | Kaori Kumi |
| 1968 (Showa 43) | 10th Japan Record Awards | Ai No Sazanami | Special Award | Chiyoko Shimakura |
| 1969 (Showa 44) | 11th Japan Record Awards | Minatomachi Blues | Best Vocalist | Shinichi Mori |
| 1969 (Showa 44) | 11th Japan Record Awards | Yoru To Asa No Aida Ni | Best New Artist | Peter |
| 1969 (Showa 44) | 11th Japan Record Awards | Ningyō No Ie | Vocalist Award | Mieko Hirota |
| 1970 (Showa 45) | 12th Japan Record Awards | Kyou De Owakare | Japan Record Award | Sugawara Yoichi |
| 1970 (Showa 45) | 12th Japan Record Awards | Tegami | Vocalist Award | Saori Yuki |
| 1970 (Showa 45) | 12th Japan Record Awards | Hatoba Onna No Blues | Vocalist Award | Shinichi Mori |
| 1970 (Showa 45) | 12th Japan Record Awards | Drift No Zundokobushi | General Public Award | The Drifters |
| 1970 (Showa 45) | 12th Japan Record Awards | Showa Onna Blues | Lyricist Award | Mina Aoe |
| 1971 (Showa 46) | 13th Japan Record Awards | Ame Ga Yandara | Composer Award | Yukiji Asaoka |
| 1975 (Showa 50) | 17th Japan Record Awards | Kokoro No Kori | Best New Artist | Takashi Hosokawa |
| 1980 (Showa 55) | 22nd Japan Record Awards | Santa Maria No Inori | Gold Award | Hideki Saijo |
| 1980 (Showa 55) | 22nd Japan Record Awards | Anata Iro No Manon | New Artist Award | Yoshimi Iwasaki |
| 1982 (Showa 57) | 24th Japan Record Awards | Kita Sakaba | Japan Record Award | Takashi Hosokawa |
| 1982 (Showa 57) | 24th Japan Record Awards | Kita Sakaba | Gold Award | Takashi Hosokawa |
| 1989 (Heisei 1) | 22nd Japan Lyricist Awards | Kaze No Bon Koi Uta | Grand Prix | Sayuri Ishikawa |