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Singer Kitajima performs 4,500 shows in 46 yrs

TOKYO, Japan - Saburo Kitajima, a popular singer of "enka," often considered a form of Japanese blues, waves to the audience at the Meijiza theater in Tokyo on Sept. 23, 2014, after performing his 4,500th show as leader of a theatrical company since September 1968.

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Singer Kitajima performs 4,500 stages in 46 yrs

TOKYO, Japan - Saburo Kitajima, a popular singer of "enka," often considered a form of Japanese blues, bows to the audience at the Meijiza theater in Tokyo on Sept. 23, 2014, after finishing his 4,500th show as leader of a theatrical company since September 1968.

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Singer Kitajima to retire from stage play as troupe head

TOKYO, Japan - Veteran "enka" Japanese ballad singer Saburo Kitajima poses at a press conference at a hotel in Tokyo on April 21, 2014, making a pitch for what will be his final series of stage performances as the leader of his theatrical company ending next January.

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Shinjuku Koma theater closes after 52 years

TOKYO, Japan - Pop singers perform for the last time at Shinjuku Koma Stadium theater in Tokyo on Dec. 31, which closed after a 52-year history. Upper center is Saburo Kitajima.

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5th favorite Kitasan Black captures this year's Kikka-sho

Saburo Kitajima (C), a well-known Japanese "enka" singer, flanked by trainer Hisashi Shimizu (L) and jockey Hiroshi Kitamura, celebrates after his horse Kitasan Black (at back) wins the Kikka-sho, the last race of the Japanese Triple Crown, at Kyoto Racecourse in Kyoto on Oct. 25, 2015. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japanese ballad singer Kitajima calls it quits on stage

Veteran Japanese "enka" ballad singer Saburo Kitajima performs at the Hakataza theater in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Jan. 29, 2015, during his final theater show. Kitajima has led 4,578 stage shows across Japan since 1968. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japanese ballad singer Kitajima performs last theater show

Veteran Japanese "enka" ballad singer Saburo Kitajima sings on a float at the Hakataza theater in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Jan. 29, 2015, during his final theater appearance. Kitajima has presided over 4,578 stage shows across Japan since 1968. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Japanese ballad singer Kitajima retires from theater show

Veteran Japanese "enka" ballad singer Saburo Kitajima waves goodbye to the audience at the Hakataza theater in Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, on Jan. 29, 2015, during his final theater show. Kitajima has acted as a stage leader for 4,578 shows across Japan since 1968. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Memorial hall for composer Funamura opens at ceremony in Nikko

Japanese popular music composer Toru Funamura (R) and veteran "enka" ballad singer Saburo Kitajima attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 27, 2015, to open a memorial hall honoring Funamura on the premises of Michi no Eki (roadside station) in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Funamura celebrates 60th anniversary of career as composer

TOKYO, Japan - Toru Funamura (C), considered a king composer of Japanese ''enka'' songs, participates in a ceremonial sake-barrel cracking flanked by four top Japanese singers -- (from L to R) Ichiro Toba, Saburo Kitajima, Akira Kobayashi and Hiroshi Itsuki. (Kyodo)

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Shinjuku Koma theater closes after 52 years

TOKYO, Japan - Pop singers perform for the last time at Shinjuku Koma Stadium theater in Tokyo on Dec. 31, which closed after a 52-year history. Upper center is Saburo Kitajima. (Kyodo)

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Singer Kitajima performs 4,500 stages in 46 yrs

TOKYO, Japan - Saburo Kitajima, a popular singer of "enka," often considered a form of Japanese blues, bows to the audience at the Meijiza theater in Tokyo on Sept. 23, 2014, after finishing his 4,500th show as leader of a theatrical company since September 1968. (Kyodo)

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Kitasan Black retirement ceremony

Jockey Yutaka Take (2nd from L) and owner Saburo Kitajima (3rd from L) with Kitasan Black during a retirement ceremony for the racehorse at Kyoto Racecourse in Kyoto on Jan. 7, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Kitasan Black retirement ceremony

Owner and singer Saburo Kitajima (L) pats his retired racehorse Kitasan Black during a retirement ceremony at Kyoto Racecourse in Kyoto on Jan. 7, 2018. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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Toru Funamura, composer of popular Japanese songs, dies at 84

File photo taken in April 2015 shows Japanese singer Saburo Kitajima (L) and Toru Funamura, a celebrated composer of popular Japanese songs, at the opening ceremony for the Toru Funamura Commemorative Museum in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. Funamura, who composed over 5,000 songs, including hits such as "Yagiri no Watashi" (Ferry at Yagiri), died Feb. 16, 2017, aged 84, his office said. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo