Ryoko Moriyama is a Japanese female singer and is known by most Japanese as a national singer.
In 1967, she released a debut single record with“Kono Hiroi Nohara Ippai”, since then she made numerous hit songs such as, but not limited to “Kinjirareta Koi”, “Nada Sousou” and “Satoukibibatake”.
With her transparent voice and singing, in reality and in name, she became the top singer in Japan.
This year, she marks the golden anniversary of her musical career.

• January 18,1948

  Born in Tokyo. First daughter to Hisashi Moriyama, a pioneer of Japanese jazz music.

• 1961 to present

  Studying vocal training of classical music under Masako Sakagami

• 1964

  Hisao Kurosawa (son of Akira Kurosawa, a legendary film director) who is 2 years ahead in high school and a band leader of “The Broadside Four” gave her a record of Joan Baez. She then started singing American folk music.

• December 1964

  Started her musical career officially with 7th “STUDENTS’ FESTIVAL” which was an amateur band concert organized by students.

• 1965 to 1969

  Appeared regularly on “Kyorin Folk Capsule”, a radio program of Radio Kanto (currently Radio Nippon).

• 1966

  Performed with “The Brothers Four” at their Japan tour.

• January 11, 1967

  Joan Baez first visited to Japan. During the concert in Tokyo, Moriyama sang “Plaisir d’amour” and “Kyounohiwa Sayounara” on the stage of Baez. It was televised and made waves across the country.

• January 20, 1967

  First single record “Kono Hiroi Nohara Ippai/Ichibanboshi No Uta” was released from Nihon Phonogram/Philips Records.

• April 1967

  Appeared on “Golden Rose Festival” in Montreux, Switzerland as representation from Japan.

• March 25, 1968

  Her 9th single record “Kinjirareta Koi” was released. It attained first place for single chart of Original Confidence in 8 consecutive weeks.

• From September to October in 1969

  Traveled to the U.S. in order to have recording sessions for the album of “Green Green Grass of Home/Ryoko Moriyama” in Nashville, Tennessee. She was the first Japanese popular singer who made recording sessions overseas. Received an honorary citizen of Nashville from the Director of Nashville Chamber of Commerce.

• December 31, 1969

  Received the Most Popular Artist Award with “Kinjirareta Koi” at 11th Annual Japan Record Awards and made her first appearance on 20th Annual “NHK Kohaku Utagassen”.

• January 1970

  Received Music Award at 7th Annual “Golden Arrow”.
  From February, 1970 to March 1971 Selected as regular MC on “Uta No Saiten” of NHK Television.

• September 1972

  Entered “Brazil International Music Festival” held at Rio De Janeiro as a representative for Japan.

• April 21, 1973

  Received “Golden Canary Award” at the 2nd Annual Tokyo Music Festival’s Domestic Competition. Appeared on the stage of International Competition with the song of “Subarashii Jikan”.

• From April 30 to May 29 in 1973

  Stayed in London, UK about a month for recording the album “Ryoko Moriyama In London”.

• May 21, 1973

  Prior to the release in Japan, single record “BRIGHT SHINES THE LIGHT OF LOVE/DEAR JOHN” came to market in UK from Phonogram UK.

• May 23, 1973

  During the stay in London, she appeared “Worldwide Philips Convention” held at Utrecht, Holland.

• November 16 and 18 in 1973

  Appeared on both elimination round and final round of 4th Annual YAMAHA World Popular Song Contest at Nippon Budokan and “Kanashimi No Asa” was awarded a prize of Best Performance Artist.

• November 1977

  Became the first case in history of NHK Symphony Orchestra that a Japanese popular singer made a joint concert with them.

• August 1980

  In order to make a Christmas album, she visited New York, U.S.A. The recording was with the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York arranged by Gordon Jenkins.

• May 1984 through June 1984

  Debuted in musical of “Fiddler On The Roof” held at Teikoku Gekijyo. Her role was a second daughter named Hodel.

• From September 1985 to December 1985

  First appearance as an actress on TV drama “Kin-yobi No Tsumatachie Part Ⅲ～Koi Ni Ochite～”. It was a huge hit

• April 1986

  Radio program “Heart of Pops” on TBS Radio started. The program was on the air Monday through Friday and continued until 2009.

• July 1992

  Appeared on the stage of Japan Day Concert at Seville Expo in Spain.

• July 12, 1996

  Joint concert with Michel Legrand Orchestra was launched as 30th anniversary special concert “Ryoko Moriyama with Michel Legrand” beginning at Carnegie Hall in New York. 11 shows were held.

• February 7, 1998

  18th Winter Olympic Games in Nagano was held and the theme song of its opening ceremony “Ashita Koso, Kodomotachiga・・・” was sung by her and the performance was televised all over the world.

• February 18, 1999

  Her first essay book “Ma Iika” was published from The Mainichi Newspapers.

• January 13, 2000

  Held Japan-Korea Friendship Concert and Dinner Show at Yonsan Art Center in Seoul, Korea.

• August 25, 2000

  Held concert at Alte Oper Mozart Saal in Frankfurt, Germany

• March 11, 2001

  At Hong Kong Culture Center, she performed for 14th Hong Kong-Japan benefit concert.

• September 8 and 9 in 2001

  Ryoko Moriyama charity concert was held for Japanese language scholarship fund (Aurora Fund) at Japan America Theater in Los Angeles, U.S.A.

• November 2001

  As an editor, “Okasan No Daidokoro～Haha Ni Okuru 104 tsuu No Tegami” was published in commemoration of 4,000 times for radio program “Kodansha, TBS Radio, Heart Of Pops”.

• April 11, 2002

  Received “Award For Excellence” of 10th Sponichi Culture & Art Grand Prize.

• April 26, 2002

  Appeared on Japan-Korea Friendship Concert, a part of 2002 Japan-Korea National Exchange Activities at Kyung Hee University in Korea.

• October 16, 2002

  Performed the Nation Anthem for Kirin Challenge 2002 Soccer Friendly Match “Japan vs Jamaica” at National Stadium in Tokyo.

• December 31, 2002

  At 44th Annual Japan Record Awards, she received Best Singing Award and Golden Award for “Satoukibibatake” along with Best Lyrics Award for “Nada Sousou”. Captured the triple crown.

• September 30, 2003

  With the motif of Moriyama’s song “Satoukibibatake”, a TV drama on TBS “Satoukibibatake” was on the air and Moriyama acted in the drama as herself.
  The drama awarded the 2003 Arts Festival (Japanese Agency for Cultural Affaires) Grand Prize.

• November 11 and 12 of 2003

  Jazz live at Sweet Basil/STB139 in Tokyo on Nov. 11 and Blue Note Osaka in Osaka on Nov. 12. These were her first appearance at clubs in the music of Jazz.

• April 30, 2004 through May 15, 2004

  Went on a U.S. tour at such clubs as Freeborn Hall (May 2), Yoshi’s (May 5), The Jazz Bakery (May 8) and Blue Note New York (May 10 with guest musician, Michael Brecker).

• March 24, 2005

  Performed “Mother Earth” which was the official song of Exposition of Global Harmony in Aichi Pref. at the opening ceremony.

• December 30, 2006

  “Nada Sousou” received Special Award at 48th Annual Japan Record Awards with BEGIN who wrote the music.

• February 9 to 10, 2007

  Embassy of Japan in India held a concert for the Year of India-Japan National Exchange and Moriyama performed “Nada Sousou” in Hindi.

• March 22, 2007

  Received the 57th Minister of Education Award for Fine Arts.

• December 31, 2007

  Received the 49th Mainichi Art Award, category of popular music (sponsored by Mainichi Newspapers) in recognition of her various activities during the 40th anniversary year as a singer.

• November 3, 2008

  Received the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon.

• December 6, 2013

  One-night stand appearance on BS-TBS TV special program “Precious Songs” together with Saori Yuki.

• May 31, 2014

  Performed “Kyounohiwa Sayounara” at the final ceremony in National Stadium.

• September 2015

  Started Monday’s radio personality for the popular program of “Nippon Broadcasting System’s All-Night Nippon MUSIC 10”.

• January 18, 2016

  Held an event “50 years in 5 hours and a half” for the start of 50th Anniversary Year of debut.