Michiya Mihashi
Michiya Mihashi | |
|---|---|
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Michiya Mihashi 三橋 美智也 |
| Born | Michiya Kitazawa 北沢 美智也 November 10, 1930 |
| Died | January 8, 1996 (aged 65) |
| Genres | Min'yō, Enka |
| Occupation | Singer |
| Years active | 1954–1996 |
| Label | King Records |
Michiya Mihashi (三橋美智也 Mihashi Michiya, November 10, 1930 – January 8, 1996), born Michiya Kitazawa (北沢 美智也 Kitazawa Michiya) in Kamiiso, Hokkaidō, was an enka singer in postwar Japan. Along with Hachiro Kasuga and Hideo Murata, he was regarded as one of the most notable singers to have established the genre enka.
Mihashi was among the leading Enka singers in his time and was known for his high-pitched and elastic singing voice. He recorded around 2,500 songs. By 1983, he sold more than 100 million records.
Takashi Hosokawa was his pupil.