is song recorded by Japanese enka singer Hibari Misora, released on January 11, 1989. It was the last single that Misora released as she died soon after its release in June 1989. It was composed by Akira Mitake, with lyrics by Yasushi Akimoto.
Regarded as one of the most influential songs in Japan, "Kawa no Nagare no Yō ni" was voted the greatest Japanese song of all time during a national poll in 1997 by NHK, with more than 10 million votes.
Reception The single charted at 8th place for more than a year and sold 225,000 copies in Japan. It is often the song of choice for artists performing live tributes to Misora.
Covers It is also covered by various singers, including Teresa Teng, The Three Tenors, Masami Okuihttps://fwshop.thebase.in/items/81394195 and Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán.
Legacy "Kawa no Nagare no Yō ni" inspired the Kawa model used in occupational therapy. In 2023, the Korea Federation of Copyright Societies inducted the song into the Korea World Music Culture Hall of Fame.
In May 2026, 36 years after the initial release of the song, Kawa no Nagare no Yō ni was awarded the Silver Award for the second-highest earned royalties during the musical year 2025 at the JASRAC Awards. According to Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun, the song garnered new success after being used in a Suntory advertisement.
Charts Weekly charts Chart (1989) Peakposition Japan Singles (Oricon)8
Year-end charts Chart (1989) Position Japan Singles (Oricon)35
Chart (1990) Position Japan Singles (Oricon)78
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