Hibari Misora's 'Kawa no Nagare no Yoni' Wins 2026 JASRAC Silver Award

Hibari Misora's 'Kawa no Nagare no Yoni' Wins JASRAC Award

'Kawa no Nagare no Yoni' (released January 11, 1989) has won the 2026 JASRAC Silver Award (2nd place) based on distribution performance in fiscal year 2025. Winning for the first time 36 years after its release is an unprecedented achievement in Japanese music history.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of Hibari Misora's entertainment career, and May is her birth month.

The award ceremony was held on May 20, 2026, at Keyaki Hall in Shibuya, Tokyo. JASRAC Chairman Shinichi Ishihara presented the award shield to Kazuya Kato, President of Skylark Music Publishing Co., Ltd.

Singer Kiyoshi Hikawa appeared at the ceremony and performed a cover version of the song. Hikawa remarked, "Every word is persuasive; I've always felt as though Ms. Misora was encouraging me," and captivated the audience with his dynamic voice.

The award was driven by widespread usage in charity concerts across Japan in 2025, as well as the song's use in a Suntory Nama Beer CM, covered by Kiyosaku (MONGOL800).

President Kato of Skylark Music Publishing expressed his gratitude, stating, "Since we began managing the song in 2019, I have felt firsthand that it is loved across borders and generations. I believe my mother (Hibari Misora) superimposed her own life onto this song."