Masao Koga | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | 古賀正夫 |
Born | Taguchi, Mizuma District, Fukuoka Prefecture, Empire of Japan | November 18, 1904
Died | July 25, 1978 Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan | (aged 73)
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Years active | 1931–1978 |
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Masao Koga (古賀政男, Koga Masao, November 18, 1904 – July 25, 1978) was a Japanese composer, mandolinist, and guitarist of the Shōwa era who was dubbed "Japan's Irving Berlin" by Universal Press Syndicate.[1] His melancholy style, based upon Nakayama Shimpei's yonanuki scale, was popularly known in Japan as "Koga melody" (古賀メロディー, Koga merodī). He was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Fourth Class) and the People's Honor Award for his contributions to Japanese music.[2]