Ko Hideo (real name: Yoshida Hideo, October 9, 1918 - May 4, 2009) was a Japanese singer and actor from Karafuto (now Sakhalin). He was a pioneer among Japanese chanson singers and a leading figure in popularizing chanson music. He was also active in France. He was known as a singer and actor who exuded a unique mood.

He was born on October 9, 1918 in Tomaricho, Karafuto, as the youngest of eight siblings. Soon after birth, he was legally adopted by his maternal aunt's husband. The surname "Ko" in his stage name Ko Young-nam is his maiden name (his family name), and he is Japanese. Since his debut, he has received a number of inquiries as to whether he is "not Japanese." Although the surname "Ko" is often thought to be a continental name, it is not a surname that does not exist in Japan, and there was once a film director with the same name in Korea. Both his family and adoptive family were among the founders of Oji Paper, which operated a paper mill.

At the age of 11, he was sent to Tokyo alone from Karafuto to study, and stayed with his cousin in Shitaya. Because Yoshida's family was well known in Asakusa, he was able to freely go to see movies and plays. He himself said, "I was raised as a 'natural child of Karafuto,' and I suddenly found myself living in the underbelly of the entertainment world, where relationships between people are complicated. It's no wonder I became a strange man (laughs)."

In 1951, he went to Paris, France to study. he studied at the Sorbonne for one year. After returning to Japan, he continued to learn French from Ichikura Mutsue. She returned to Japan in 1952 and held a recital. he was the first Japanese person to perform pieces he had brought back from France, such as "Hymne d'amour," "Romance," and "Soul of the Poet." It was at this time that Junichi Nakahara suggested he be called "the first Japanese chanson singer."

In 1953, he made his record debut with "Autumn Leaves/Romance" from King Records. That same year, she was asked by composer Yoshinao Nakata to record "In a Snowy Town." he then recorded a series of chansons, including "Poet's Soul," "C'est si bon," and "Padam Padam." At the same time, he also made many stage appearances at the Nippon Theater (Nichigeki) and other venues. He was treated as a top star at the Nichigeki Theater and performed there almost every year until it closed in 1981.

In 1958, he returned to Paris again, returning to Japan the following year. In 1961, he returned to Paris a third time and signed an eight-year long-term contract with a major production company. As a result, he spent "10 months a year in France and two months in Japan" until 1969, and was active in both Japan and France. He also had a regular radio program in Paris. He also formed friendships with Joseph Cosma and Damia, and appeared at many large theaters, often as the headliner.

Throughout his life, he was plagued by illnesses such as tuberculosis, angina, and myocardial infarction, and in his later years, he had difficulty walking due to old age, and was not in good health. However, he performed on stage with a dazzling style that showed no sign of his condition, and even in his later years, he thrilled audiences with his nonchalant talk, which seemed to turn his old age to his advantage. Naga Rokusuke commented that "it was as if his songs were supporting his life." Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.