Kouzou Murashita (村下孝蔵)

Kouzou Murashita (村下孝蔵) was a Japanese singer-songwriter born on February 28, 1953, in Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan. Active from 1980, he performed on voice and guitar. In the 1980s, he became known for gentle melodies, clear vocal phrasing, and emotionally direct lyrics, and he built a lasting audience in Japanese pop and ballad music. His work is associated with folk pop, new music, and singer-songwriter traditions, and his songs often paired a reflective tone and melodic sensibility with acoustic warmth and polished pop arrangements. Among the tracks most closely linked to his name are "Hatsukoi (初恋)", "Odoriko", and "Romance Car". "Hatsukoi (初恋)" was used as the ending theme of "Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!". Released through Sony Music, Murashita died of a brain hemorrhage in 1999. His official website is http://www.murashita-kozo.com/. In 2025, a commemorative collection marking his 45th debut anniversary was announced, alongside new full-version music videos for "Hatsukoi" and "Odoriko".