Misora Hibari (1937–1989) – ikona kultury powojennej Japonii

This chapter is dedicated to the life and art of Misora Hibari, or Katō Kazuo, one of the most recognizable stars of post-war Japan, called the queen of the Japanese music world (kayōkai no ōjo). Adored by her audience, she sold a total of 80 million albums and stared in 166 films and series. Her life and artistic activity, strongly rooted into the landscape of Japan of the Shōwa era (1926–1989), constitutes an example of the icon of culture. Throughout the post-war period she influenced the Japanese by creating their sensitivity and musical tastes and providing them with entertainment and inspiration. In her artistic development we can distinguish three main stages dis- cussed here, namely a wonderful childhood, a crazy teenager and a mature artist, each overlapping with particular periods of socio-economic changes in post-war Japan.