You might not know who Kumiko Osugi is, but you sure have heard her sing before. Osugi, 61, is the voice behind the original version of Doraemon No Uta (Song Of Doraemon), which is used as an opening theme song for Doraemon, the massively popular anime series.
Kumiko Osugi.
Generation after generation of Thai youngsters grow up on Doraemon, the lovable robotic cat who time travels to help Nobita Nobi, an awkward pre-teen. Doraemon packs a pocketful of tools, toys and inventions from the future, often used to help Nobita and his friends as well as teach them life lessons.
Considered as a Japanese cultural icon, Doraemon's influence is far reaching, playing a big part in the 1980s in pushing Japanese pop culture worldwide.
In Thailand alone, the robo-feline is possibly better known than Disney princesses as today's kids still enjoy the anime series every weekend while its manga books are never out of print.
Osugi was in Bangkok recently, and she learned first hand how devoted Thai fans are when she performed at the Thai-Japan Anime and Music Festival 2013.
But in 1979, Osugi couldn't have predicted Doraemon's long lasting impact when she was first approached to record its theme song.
"Before I did the Doraemon theme song, I debuted with Attack No. 1 [a popular anime series]. I didn't know what Doraemon was. There was a producer who was recently promoted who said he wanted to build Doraemon, and he wanted me to sing the theme song. When I first heard of the idea of Doraemon, I said, 'What is this?'. The producer then explained that he was a robotic cat who came from the future to help this boy, and he also said that it would certainly be famous. I didn't think much about that, but Doraemon really became big in Japan and then worldwide.
Judging from the quality of her crystal voice, many have thought that the singer of Song Of Doraemon was a child, bouncing up and down with excitement. Osugi said it's not unusual for many to be surprised to learn that it was a grown woman who gave life to the famous song.
"I didn't manipulate my voice in any way for this song. It was my natural voice which sounds like a kid. Thanks heaven for granting me this gift. I am also lucky that my voice hasn't changed at all after more 30 years in the business," she said.
There was also an attempt to turn Doraemon into an anime series in 1973, but that short-lived version didn't pan out well.
"Initially, it wasn't successful. Maybe people couldn't quite understand all the futuristic inventions at first. Then time passed, and people began to get what Doraemon was all about. In the end, people came to accept such endless possibilities created by Doraemon," said Osugi.
As a full-time anime singer, Osugi began singing lessons at the age of eight. She joined a singing group when she entered Grade 7, which was also when she started competing in singing contests. With Attack No.1 as her debut song, she launched her life-long career in anisong (anime much), recognised in Japan as its own musical genre with widespread popularity and a solid fanbase. Osugi is also revered as the "Queen of Anime Song" and one of the "Four Devas of Anisong". Her other works include Aim For The Ace!, Araiguma Rascal, Flanders No Inu, and Oz No Mahotsukai.
"Maybe in Thailand the anime industry is not as big as in Japan so you can't have such a career as mine. In Japan, there are so many animes, so it is a natural process to have this career. Before, there weren't many anime singers, but now there are many," said Osugi.
"It's a great job. I believe that anime songs are important to kids, and they can help them develop too. Good anime singers must build suitable characters to the anime they're singing about. You also have to stay young, lively and positive, and I think this job helps keep me young."
Osugi is full aware of how meaningful Doraemon is to kids and adults alike. Still on air and still relevant, Doraemon will keep the public companion for many years to come, no matter how times have changed. It has proved that it can stand the test of time with the original manga released in 1969.
"I think the reason that Doraemon can still relate to kids today is because of the characters as well as its classic storyline. It's hard to get bored of it. I think every kid wants to have Doraemon as a friend as he has all kinds of exciting toys, and he's also a great friend who never leaves. I think the popularity will never wane," she said. The anime singer's life is also interwoven with Doraemon on a personal level.
"Right after I recorded Song Of Doraemon, I got married, and I gave birth to my daughter. So she grew up with Doraemon, and she loved the series so much. Her friends knew that I sang the original version, and she was very proud of me. There was a period when I was consumed with work, and my daughter requested that I should quit my job to stay home with her, so I told her that if I quit, I wouldn't be able to sing the Doraemon song anymore, and she then told me that I should never quit my job!"
Despite the various "supposed" endings of Doraemon spreading all over the internet, Osugi insists that Doraemon has no ending, and no one knows how it will end. As for her career as an anime singer?
"Every time I want to quit, there will always be new, exciting anisong on offer. So, I can't quit just yet," said Osugi.
