Watarasebashi

"Watarasebashi"
Single by Chisato Moritaka
from the album Lucky 7
Released January 25, 1993 (1993-01-25)
Format
Genre
Length 3:47
Label Warner Music Japan
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Hideo Saitō
Chisato Moritaka singles chronology
"Watashi ga Obasan ni Natte mo"
(1992)		 "Watarasebashi" / "Writer Shibō"
(1993)		 "Watashi no Natsu"
(1993)
Audio sample
  • file
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"Watarasebashi" (渡良瀬橋（わたらせばし）, lit. "Watarase Bridge") is a song recorded by Japanese singer Chisato Moritaka, from her eighth studio album Lucky 7. It was released by Warner Music Japan as a double A-side single, alongside "Writer Shibō", on January 25, 1993. The song served as theme song to the TX variety show Ii Tabi: Yume Kibun. In 2009, Moritaka released a newly recorded version of the song as a double A-side single with "Ame". The original version was remastered and reissued in UHQCD format in 2017 as part of the "Complete Edition", which includes the remastered CD single, a 7-inch vinyl and a Blu-ray featuring the song's music video and making-of.[1]

Background

The song was written by Chisato Moritaka and composed, arranged and produced by Hideo Saitō. Moritaka is also credited as a musician on the song for playing the drums, piano and recorder. "Watarasebashi" is composed in the key of C major and set to a tempo of 77 beats per minute.[2] Moritaka's vocals span from B3 to C5. Lyrically, the song tells the story of a woman reminiscing on a past love at the sight of a sunset. When writing the song, Moritaka scanned maps of Japan in search of bridges or rivers with a "beautiful" sounding name and found the Watarase River.[3] When she learned of the existence of the Watarase Bridge in Ashikaga, Tochigi, a city she had once visited while touring,[4] she decided to base the lyrics on the area.

In 2007, a stele was erected in Ashikaga in honor of Moritaka's contributions to the city.[5] Since being mentioned in the song, the Yagumo Shrine (八雲神社) has become a popular sightseeing spot.[6] When the shrine burned down in a fire in December 2012, Moritaka raised funds to support its reconstruction,[7] which was completed in late 2017.[6]

The music video for "Watarasebashi" pays homage to The Beatles's "Let It Be" and features Moritaka performing the song on piano, playing the drums as well as performing the recorder solo.

Cover versions

In 1993, Enka singer Sanae Jōnouchi included a cover of the song as B-side to her single "Yowasete yo Kon'ya Dake", which was written and composed by Moritaka. The same year Gen Takayama recorded a cover of the song for his first album in eleven years, Kokoro Kōrasete. In 1999, Chaka covered the song for her album I Found Love. In 2003, Maomi Yuki covered the song for her EP Real My Heart. In 2005, Maki Goto recorded her version of the song for her third studio album, 3rd Station. In 2007, Kyogo Kawaguchi recorded a cover of the song for his cover album Kimi o Suki Datta Ano Koro. In 2010, ManaKana recorded a cover of the song for their third cover album, Futari Uta 3. In 2013, the Japanese music duo Kasarinchu covered the song, in collaboration with Shin Kōno, for the album Sū-chan Mai-chan Sawako-san. In 2015, Minami Kizuki recorded a cover of the song for her first cover album, Sakuranagashi.

Chart performance

"Watarasebashi" debuted at number 9 on the Oricon Singles Chart with 72,000 units sold in the first week.[8] It fell out of the top twenty two weeks later,[9] but came back the next week at number 20 before dropping off again.[10] The single charted in the top 100 for fifteen weeks, selling a reported total of 310,000 copies during its run.[11] "Watarasebashi" ranked at number 96 on the year-end chart.[11]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Chisato Moritaka; all music composed by Hideo Saitō.

1993 CD single
No.TitleArranger(s)Length
1."Watarasebashi" (渡良瀬橋, "Watarase Bridge")
  • Hideo Saitō
3:47
2."Writer Shibō" (ライター志望, Raitā Shibō, "Writer Aspirations")
  • Saitō
3:55
Total length:7:42

Charts

Chart (1993) Peak
position
Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon)[12] 9
Japan Monthly Singles (Oricon)[13] 16
Japan Yearly Singles (Oricon)[14] 96

Certification

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
Japan (RIAJ)[15] Gold 310,000[11]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Aya Matsuura version

"Watarasebashi"
Single by Aya Matsuura
from the album Matsuura Aya Best 1
Released October 20, 2004 (2004-10-20)
Format
Genre
Length 3:47
Label Zetima
Aya Matsuura singles chronology
"Your Song (Seishun Sensei)"
(2004)		 "Watarasebashi"
(2004)		 "Zutto Suki de Ii desu ka"
(2005)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help

"Watarasebashi" was recorded by Hello! Project soloist and one-time Moritaka labelmate Aya Matsuura. It was released as a single by Zetima on October 20, 2004.

Chart performance

Matsuura's version of "Watarasebashi" debuted at number 6 on the Oricon Singles Chart with 29,000 units sold,[16] peaking higher than the original Moritaka version.[17] Her version charted on the Oricon Singles Chart for six weeks, selling a reported total of 48,000 copies during its run.[11]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Arranger(s)Length
1."Watarasebashi" (渡良瀬橋, "Watarase Bridge")
  • Chisato Moritaka
  • Hideo Saitō
4:17
2."I Love You no Tsuzuki" (I LOVE YOUの続き, "The Continuation to I Love You")
  • Shōichirō Hirata
5:01
3."Watarasebashi" (Instrumental)
  • Saitō
  • Makaino
4:14
Total length:13:32

Charts

Chart (2004) Peak
position
Japan Weekly Singles (Oricon)[18] 6
Japan Monthly Singles (Oricon)[11] 22

Sales

Region CertificationCertified units/Sales
Japan (RIAJ) N/A 48,000[11]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

References

  1. ↑ "森高千里の代表曲「渡良瀬橋」完全版にBlu-ray、アナログも". Natalie. August 28, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  2. ↑ "楽譜: 渡良瀬橋 / 森高 千里 : ピアノ（ソロ） / 初級". Print Gakufu. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  3. ↑ "ドラマーとしても凄かった森高千里 一流アーティストも絶賛！". Excite. February 6, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  4. ↑ "森高千里『渡良瀬橋』　その誕生秘話と公衆電話撤去回避の経緯". News Post Seven. March 31, 2015. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  5. ↑ "森高千里　『渡良瀬橋』MVの高画質映像を発掘公開". News Post Seven. July 14, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  6. 1 2 "「渡良瀬橋」あの神社が復活へ　森高さんも募金呼びかけ". Asahi Shimbun. December 7, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  7. ↑ "足利・八雲神社：「渡良瀬橋」に登場　新社殿が落成式". Mainichi Shimbun. December 9, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  8. ↑ "オリコン 1993.2.8". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  9. ↑ "オリコン 1993.2.22". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  10. ↑ "オリコン 1993.3.1". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "オリコンランキング情報サービス「you大樹」" [Oricon Ranking Information Service 'You Taiju']. Oricon. Retrieved March 30, 2018. (Subscription required (help)).
  12. ↑ "渡良瀬橋 森高千里". Oricon. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  13. ↑ "オリコン(oricon)「1993年02月」の月間シングルCDランキング". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  14. ↑ "オリコン 2004年TOP100". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  15. ↑ ゴールドディスク認定 [Gold Disc Certifications] (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. February 1993. Retrieved March 30, 2018. Select 1993年2月 on the drop-down menu
  16. ↑ "オリコン 2004.11.1". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  17. ↑ "森高を超えた!松浦亜弥が6位に!". Oricon. October 26, 2004. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
  18. ↑ "渡良瀬橋 松浦亜弥". Oricon. Retrieved March 30, 2018.
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