Masao Koga

Masao Koga
Born	November 18, 1904(1904-11-18)
Origin	Ōkawa, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Died	July 25, 1978(1978-07-25) (aged 73)
Genres	Ryūkōka, Enka
Occupations	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. ^ (Japanese) "第６部・演歌巡礼＜７＞古賀政男　日本的歌唱を熟知し作曲". Nishinippon Shimbun. 2006-12-19. http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/culture/kayou/20061219/20061219_001.shtml. Retrieved 2009-03-09. 
2. ^ "Koga Memorial Museum". American Airlines. http://americanairlines.wcities.com/en/record/,99990/80/record.html?event_name=&display=1. Retrieved 2010-01-09. ^{[dead link]}

Persondata
Name	Koga, Masao
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1904-11-18
Place of birth
Date of death	1978-07-25
Place of death