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Mieko Hirota

1947 – 2020

Japanese singer

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About Mieko Hirota

Lived 1947 – 2020 (aged 73). Mieko Hirota was a Japanese singer.

was a Japanese singer. Her nickname was .

Hirota was born in Ikejiri, Setagaya, Tokyo. She grew up listening to pop and jazz in places like Tachikawa, which was frequented by occupation troops. She made her debut in 1961 at age 14. In 1965, she became the first Japanese singer to sing the song "Sunny" on an album and the first to appear at the Newport Jazz Festival.

Hirota appeared on the NHK New Year's Eve Kōhaku Uta Gassen eight times. Her first performance was in 1962, when she sang the Connie Francis tune "Vacation". NHK tapped her for the next four years in succession, and again in 1969, 1970, and 1971. She sang the theme song, "Leo no Uta", for the animated television series Kimba the White Lion.

Hirota's commercial career included endorsements for Nescafé, Nippon Oil, Daikin Industries, Fujiya, Renown, and Sapporo Beer.

Hirota collapsed at her home in Chiba Prefecture on July 20, 2020, and was taken to a nearby hospital. She died from heart failure on July 21, 2020, at the age of 73. She posthumously became one of eight recipients of the Special Lifetime Achievement Award at the 62nd Japan Record Awards.

Kōhaku Uta Gassen appearances

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Komazawa Gakuen Girls High School
Also known as
Mico, Miko, Hirota Mieko

People in Mieko Hirota's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Mieko Hirota's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Mieko Hirota?

Japanese singer (1947-2020)

When was Mieko Hirota born?

Mieko Hirota was born on 5 February 1947 in Setagaya.

When did Mieko Hirota die?

Mieko Hirota died on 21 July 2020 in Chiba Prefecture.

What was Mieko Hirota's occupation?

Mieko Hirota was a singer.

What nationality was Mieko Hirota?

Mieko Hirota was Japanese.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Mieko Hirota

· Wikidata: Q3543602

· DBpedia: Mieko Hirota

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Mieko Hirota. https://biography.guide/mieko-hirota/

MLA: "Mieko Hirota." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/mieko-hirota/.

Chicago: "Mieko Hirota." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/mieko-hirota/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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