Masao Koga

Masao Koga
Background information
Born	November 18, 1904
Origin	ÅŒkawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Died	July 25, 1978 (aged 73)
Genres	Ryūkōka, Enka
Occupation(s)	Composer
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1931–1978

Masao Koga (古賀 政男 Koga Masao, November 18, 1904 – July 25, 1978) was a Japanese composer and guitarist known for creating melodies, and a pioneer of Japanese popular music. He was regarded as a notable figure for establishing the genre enka, though Koga considered that he was a ryūkōka composer.^[1] He wrote numerous songs for Ichiro Fujiyama and Hibari Misora, and his work has been featured in various films, including Come See the Paradise, and Memoirs of a Geisha. He was the head of the "Japanese Society of Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers" from 1964 to 1978. A museum was built in Shibuya to honor his achievements, and visitors to the Koga Masao Museum of Music (古賀政男音楽博物館 Koga Masao Ongaku Hakubutsukan) are able to view exhibits, and memorabilia featuring his work.^[2]

References

1. 第６部・演歌巡礼＜７＞古賀政男　日本的歌唱を熟知し作曲 (in Japanese). Nishinippon Shimbun. 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2009-03-09.
2. "Koga Memorial Museum". American Airlines. Retrieved 2010-01-09.