User:J2E001/Kazumi Yasui

Kazumi Yasui (January 12, 1939 - March 17, 1994) was a Japanese lyricist, translator, essayist, and singer. Her nickname was ZUZU. Early in her career, she used the pen name Kazumi Minami. (However, others may have shared the name.) She was a Christian who belonged to the United Church of Christ in Japan. (She was baptized in 1993. ) She was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture.

Background
Yasui graduated from Ferris Girls' High School and then the Oil Painting Department of Bunka Gakuin vocational school. From a young age, she studied many things in addition to painting. Although she wanted to become an painter, she became a lyricist after getting a part-time translator job at Shinko Music in Kanda, Tokyo while in school. Her pen name at the time was Kazumi Minami. She became known in the lyrics industry for her ability to translate French and her unique ideas. Along with actress Mariko Kaga and others, she was a regular at the Italian restaurant Chianti in Iikura Katamachi and was greatly influenced by Kawazoe Kajiko, the wife of owner.

In 1965, Yasui won the Best Lyricist Award at the 7th Japan Record Awards for Yukari Ito's "Oshaberi Na Shinju". In later years, she wrote the lyrics for many hit songs by such artists as Yukari Ito, Rumiko Koyanagi, Kenji Sawada, and Hiromi Go and won many awards. In total, she wrote lyrics for about 4,000 songs.

At a time when few Japanese traveled abroad, Yasui traveled to France and other European countries and made friends. She married George Nitta in Rome in 1967, but divorced in 1969. After living in Paris, she returned to Japan in 1971.

In the 1970s, she lived in the "Kawaguchi Apartment" in Kasuga, Bunkyo, Tokyo. The building, which included a swimming pool, was managed by former actor Hiroshi Kawaguchi and was a popular gathering spot for people in the entertainment industry, including Yasui's close friend actress Mariko Kaga, actress Yoko Nogiwa, designer Junko Koshino, musician Hiroshi Kamayatsu, musician Takuro Yoshida, and artist Kuniyoshi Kaneko, as well as the top models of the time. Yasui was well known as a car lover and drove a luxury foreign car. She also had close relationships with novelist Yoko Mori and journalist Eiko Oya.

Yasui dated Haruki Kadokawa, president of the publishing house Kadokawa Shoten, around 1975 according to Toru Kenjo, who was an associate editor there at the time.

In 1977, Yasui married musician Kazuhiko Kato, who was eight years her junior. The ceremony was held at the Honda Memorial Church of the United Church of Christ in Japan in Daikanyamachō, Tokyo, and the reception was held at Maxim de Paris in Ginza. The couple were known for their elegant lifestyle.

Yasui also frequently published essays.

Yasui appeared on the FM Tokyo radio program "(AGF Presents FM) Heartpia" in the 1980s. Later, it was reported that she had cancer and one year to live.

In 1993, Yasui and Kato were baptized at the Toriizaka Church of the United Church of Christ in Japan. After receiving palliative treatment at the request of her husband, Yasui died of lung cancer at the age of 55 on March 17, 1994. Yasui's last written words were "Golden dance shoes scattered about, I'm like a doll". Following Yasui's death, singer Kenji Sawada named his next tour using Yasui's nickname, "ZUZU", in her honor.

In March 2012, a documentary drama about Yasui's cancer battle, "Living well is the best revenge: The final days of Kazuhiko Kato and Kazumi Yasui", was aired on NHK. Yumi Asō and Yoshihiko Hakamada played the roles of Yasui and Kato.

Lyrics

 * Shinya Aizaki
 * Agnes Chan
 * Sougen No Kagayaki (草原の輝き, Splendor in the Grass)(#2)
 * Hoshi No Negai O (星に願いを, When You Wish Upon a Star)(#4)
 * Ai No Mayoiko (愛の迷い子, Lost Kind of Love)(#2)
 * Rie Asakura
 * Miyoko Asada
 * Akai Fuusen (赤い風船)(#1)
 * Shiawaseno Ichiban Hoshi (しあわせの一番星)(#7)
 * Niji No Kakehashi (虹の架け橋)(#12)
 * Jaamatane (じゃあまたね)(#17)
 * Azusa Michiyo
 * Mari Amachi
 * Chiisana Koi (ちいさな恋 A Little Love)(#1)
 * Koi To Umi To T-SHIRT To (恋と海とTシャツと Love and the Sea and a T-Shirt)(#8)
 * Alan Merrill
 * Mari Iijima
 * Ai Oboete Imasu ka (#7)
 * Hidemi Ishikawa
 * Tsukasa Ito
 * Yukari Ito
 * Koi No Shizuku (恋のしずく)(#1)
 * Junichi Inagaki
 * Blue-Jean Pierrot (ブルージン・ピエロ)(#30)
 * Yoshimi Iwasaki
 * Masaki Ueda
 * Hiroshi Uchiyamada and Cool Five
 * Ai No Itazura (愛のいたずら)(#10)
 * Harumi Ohzora
 * Yuki Okazaki, Mayu Kitaki
 * Do You Remember Me? (#18), (#15)
 * Kiyohiko Ozaki
 * Saigo No Kuchizuke (最後のくちづけ) b/w Otoko To Onna Ga Wakureru Toki (男と女が別れる時)(#74)
 * Kiyohiko Ozaki
 * Saigo No Kuchizuke (最後のくちづけ) b/w Otoko To Onna Ga Wakureru Toki (男と女が別れる時)(#74)


 * Yuzo Kayama
 * Candies
 * Abunai Doyōbi (危い土曜日)(#46)
 * Hiromi Go
 * Yoroshiku Aishuu (よろしく哀愁)(#16)
 * Rumiko Koyanagi
 * Watashi No Jyokamachi (わたしの城下町 My Castle Town)(#1)
 * O Matsuri No Yoru (お祭りの夜 Night of the Festival)(#2)
 * Koi ni Yurete (恋にゆれて Swaying in Love)(#4)
 * Juuyoga No Kimi (十五夜の君 You and the Full Moon)(#8)
 * Koi no Yukiwakare (恋の雪別れ)(#15)


 * Hideki Saijo
 * Chigireta Ai (ちぎれた愛)(#1)
 * Hageshi Koi (激しい恋)(#2)
 * Kono Ai No Tokimeki (この愛のときめき)(#3)
 * Koi no Bouzou (恋の暴走)(#3)
 * Shijyou No Ai (至上の愛)(#6)
 * Kenji Sawada
 * Anata Dake De Ii (あなただけでいい)(#5)
 * Anata Heno Ai (Love For You)(あなたへの愛)(#6)
 * Kiken Na Futari (Two in the Face Of Danger)(危険なふたり)(#1)
 * Mune Ippai No Kanashimi (胸いっぱいの悲しみ)(#4)
 * Koi Ha Jamamono (恋は邪魔もの)(#4)
 * Tsuioku (追憶)(#1)
 * Kyohei Shibata
 * Simmons
 * Schoolmates
 * The Three Degrees
 * Nigai Namida (にがい涙)(#15)
 * Mari Sono


 * The Tigers
 * C-C-C (シー・シー・シー)(#1)
 * Now I Forgive You/Love Love Love (君を許す／ラヴ・ラヴ・ラヴ)
 * Mariya Takeuchi
 * Fushigi Na Peach Pie (不思議なピーチパイ)(#3)
 * Hiroko Chiba
 * Saki Takaoka
 * Mizue Takada
 * Ai No Imagination (愛のイマジネーション)(#19)
 * Chika Takami


 * Katsuhiko Nakagawa
 * Tomomi Nishimura
 * Watashi・Dreaming (わたし・ドリーミング)(#3)
 * Neko
 * Noam


 * The Peanuts
 * PYG
 * Mari Henmi
 * Keiken (経験)(#2)
 * Four Leaves
 * Akira Fuse
 * Reona Hirota
 * Daijyoubu My Friend (だいじょうぶマイ・フレンド)(#96)
 * Bread & Butter
 * Jun Hirokawa


 * Yoko Maeno
 * Michiru Maki
 * Chiemi Manabe
 * Saori Minami
 * 5 tracks on Cynthia Street album (#28)
 * Yoshiko Miyazaki
 * Monsieur Kamayatsu
 * Taro Morimoto and Superstar
 * Ryoko Moriyama
 * Kazumi Yasui
 * Kyoko Yoshizawa
 * Takuro Yoshida
 * All lyrics for SAMARKAND BLUE album (#16)
 * The Wild Ones
 * Aozora No Aru Kagiri (青空のある限り)(#72)
 * Bara No Koibito (バラの恋人)(#6)
 * Shiho Wakabayashi
 * Akiko Wada
 * Furui Nikki (古い日記)(#44)


 * Kamitakada Boys Choir
 * Opening theme song for the anime series Space Boy Soran

Lyric translations (including works under the pen name of Kazumi Minami)

 * Donna Donna by Youko Kishi
 * Les Champs Elysees as Oh Champs Elysees by Saori Minami
 * Tombe La Neige as Yuki Ga Furu by Salvador Adamo
 * Summer Holiday by Kimoto Yoshio
 * Hey Paula by Yasuo Tanabe and Michiyo Azusa
 * GI Blues by Danny Iita and Paradise King
 * Surf City by Danny Iita and Paradise King
 * Footsteps as Kanshi Ashioto by Danny Iita and Paradise King
 * Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport as Kanashi Kangaroo by Danny Iita and Paradise King
 * My Home Town as Koi no Home Town by Danny Iita and Paradise King
 * Like I Do (Nancy Sinatra song) as Lemon No Kiss by The Peanuts
 * Dedicated to the One I Love as Namida No Love Letter by Chayako Saitou
 * La Plus Belle Pour Aller Danser as Idol Wo Sagasu by Mie Nakao
 * Mais Dans La Lumiere as Miserareta Yoru by Kenji Sawada
 * Lili Marleen as Kanashi Michi by Nana Kinomi
 * Hey, Je T'aime by Hideki Saijo

Albums
ZUZU


 * Released on September 1, 1970. All lyrics by Kazumi Yasui. Songs composed by Kenji Sawada, Mamoru Manu, and others.

Sadness Closest to the Sky (Poetry reading album)


 * Released in 1971. Words by Kazumi Yasui. Music composed and arranged by Katsuhisa Hattori. Performed by New Chamber Music Association.