Japanese Singer Hideki Saijo Dies at 63
Tokyo, May 17 (Jiji Press)--Japanese singer Hideki Saijo, who grabbed the hearts of young women and many other fans mainly in the 1970s with hit songs including "Kizudarake no Lola" (Scarred Lola), died of acute heart failure at a hospital in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, on Wednesday night. He was 63.
In 1972, Saijo, a native of the western Japan city of Hiroshima, whose real name was Tatsuo Kimoto, made his debut as a professional singer with "Koisuru Kisetsu" (Season for Falling in Love). In 1974, he released Kizudarake no Lola.
With his good looks and eye-catching performances, Saijo dominated the Japanese show business with Hiromi Go and Goro Noguchi, who were together called "shin gosanke," or the new big three among male pop stars.
Saijo sang the Japanese version of U.S. disco group Village People's "Y.M.C.A.," released as "Young Man," which went on sale in 1979 and became a smash hit.
His performance of forming the letters Y, M, C and A with his arms as he sang the song became a boom and was imitated by people of all generations.
(jen.jiji.com より)