Tsugaru Kaikyō Fuyugeshiki
"Tsugaru Kaikyō Fuyugeshiki" (津軽海峡・冬景色 Tsugaru Strait - Winter Scene) is the 15th single and signature song by Japanese singer Sayuri Ishikawa. The song is written by Yu Aku as lyricist and Takashi Miki () as composer and arranger. The song sold over 727,000 units. The single was released on 1 January 1977 by Nippon Columbia. Together with “Amagi-goe”, the song is Ishikawa's most popular from her career. The hit of this song resulted in Ishikawa's first nomination for the Nippon Record Taisho Award (Japan Record Award 日本レコード大賞) in 1977 but she did not win the award . In the same year, she appeared as a contestant to the annual NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen for the first time in her career. As of 2018, Ishikawa has sung Tsugaru Kaikyō Fuyugeshiki ten times at the NHK Kōhaku Uta gassen. Tsugaru Kaikyō Fuyugeshiki originally appeared as the song representing the month of December in Ishikawa's concept album titled "Hana Kuyou –Sanbyaku Rokuju Go Nichi Koi Moyou" and was not intended for single release. Prior to the release of the album, Ishikawa sang the song on stage at her recital in Osaka. This first presentation of the song received critical  acclaim, which led to the song's subsequent release as a single in the following year. There is a monument commemorating the song at the Aomori Port in Aomori Prefecture alongside one of the retired Seikan Renraku-sen () ferry ships Hakkoda-maru (八甲田丸), which is now converted into a . “Tsugaru Kaikyō Fuyugeshiki” is referred to as the Ryojo Sanbu-saku (旅情三部作 Itinerary Song Trilogy) together with “Noto Hanto” (能登半島) and “Danryu” (暖流), the two other songs written by Yu Aku and Takashi Miki and released as singles in the same year 1977. Other versions. Ishikawa has re-recorded Tsugaru Kaikyō  Fuyugeshiki for her remix album "Shuto" (秋冬) released in 1999 by Pony Canyon. This version is used as the concluding track of Ishikawa's 10-disk cover album and box set “Wonderful 20th century songs” and is also included in the 40th anniversary box set released by Teichiku in 2012. Ishikawa has recorded an alternate version of the song by using Ichigo Ichie as accompaniment in 2004. This version is included in an album titled “Teichiku Hour –Ichigo Ichie” released by Teichiku. B-side. The B-side song “No no Hana no Youni” (野の花のように Like a Wildflower) is written by  Yu Aku as lyricist and Takashi Miki as composer and arranger. The sleeve has 4:17 as time of the song. The song was written for Ishikawa's recital at Osaka's Shin Kabuki-za Theatre () 1976. Album inclusion. “Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyu-geshiki” is included in Ishikawa's studio album “Hana Kuyou (Sanbyaku Rokuju Gonichi Koi Moyou)”. The B-side song “No no Hana no Youni” is not included in any of Ishikawa's studio albums but is included in the live recording album of her recital at Shin Kabuki-za. Personnel. Minoru Aono (青野稔) is credited as photographer for the  cover. Columbia Recording Orchestra is credited for both songs. Other uses. The song appeared as the character song for Heiwajima Shizuo in the anime "Durarara!!", sung by Ono Daisuke, on the "DRRR Wrapping!! Character Song Collection" compilation.