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Kuko / Yukigesho
Studio album by Teresa Teng
Released	October 21, 1974
Genre	Pop
Length	45:17
Language	Japanese
Label	Polydor
Producer	Kimisho Inomata Kyohei Tsutsumi Koichi Morita Masaaki Hirao Hideyuki Fujiwara Shunichi Tokura Akiko Kosaka
Teresa Teng chronology
Kuko / Yukigesho (1974) Yoru no Jokyaku / Onna no Ikigai (1975)
Singles from Kuko / Yukigesho
"Konyakashira Ashitakashira" Released: March 1, 1974 "Airport" Released: July 1, 1974 "Yukigesho" Released: October 21, 1974

Kuko / Yukigesho (Japanese: 空港 / 雪化粧; English: Airport / Snow Covered) is the first Japanese studio album recorded by Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng, released via Polydor Records on October 21, 1974. The album was supported with the release of three singles: "Konya Kashira Ashita Kashira", "Airport", and "Yukigesho".

The album Kuko / Yukigesho was commercially successful in Japan, with the single "Airport" selling over 750,000 copies throughout Asia. A Mandarin version of the album was released as Love Songs of the Island: Goodbye My Love on September 10, 1975.

Background

After recording various albums in Taiwan and Hong Kong in the 1960s and 1970s as a teenager, Teng, along with her record company, began to express interest towards expanding into the lucrative Japanese market. A Japanese executive was convinced that Teng would succeed in Japan as a "Taiwanese Hibari Misora"—an enka singer whom Teng had idolized since childhood. Teresa's father initially rejected the idea since she had already found adequate success in the Taiwanese and Hong Kong markets, but his opinion eventually changed and Teng subsequently began recording songs for her Japanese debut record.

Singles

Teng made her Japanese debut on March 1, 1974, with the release of her first single "Konya Kashira Ashita Kashira" (No Matter Tonight or Tomorrow). The release contained a track titled "Ame ni Nureta Hana" as its B-side. The single underperformed on the charts in Japan upon its release, however, selling only around 30,000 copies in the country. Some pointed out that the single's underwhelming performance was attributed to Teng's Japanese pronunciation; in response, she made efforts to improve her pronunciation as well as her singing style.

Teng would soon find greater success with the release of the album's second single "Airport" on July 1, 1974, coupled with the B-side track "Hagureta Koboto". The single reached number 29 on the weekly Oricon Singles Chart and saw significantly higher levels of sales compared to her previous effort, where it sold over 750,000 copies throughout Asia. Its success led Teng to win various awards in Japan, including at the annual Japan Record Awards.

The third single "Yukigesho", was released in conjunction with the album on October 21 and contained the B-side track "Tokukara Ai wo Komete". It performed modestly on the charts and reached number 41 on the Oricon Singles Chart. Additionally, the song "Goodbye My Love" (a cover of Ann Lewis's song of the same name) was re-recorded in Mandarin and released as a single for the album Love Songs of Island: Goodbye My Love on September 10, 1975.

Accolades

Track listing

References

1. Gordon, David B. (2012). "Prodigy of Taiwan, Diva of Asia: Teresa Teng". Association for Asian Studies. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
2. ^ "十億個掌聲 鄧麗君文化傳奇 – 台灣光華雜誌" (in Traditional Chinese). Ministry of Foreign Affairs Taiwan (ROC). March 2013. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
3. Cheng, Chen-Ching (2016). Negotiating Deng Lijun: Collective Memories of Popular Music in Asia During the Cold War Period. University of Edinburgh. pp. 54–56, 204–218, A39–A44.
4. "攻進日本 鄧麗君兩階段升等 – 蕃新聞" (in Traditional Chinese). Yam News. January 29, 2013. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023. she released her second single "Airport", with total sales exceeding 700,000 copies
5. "テレサ・テンのシングル売上TOP8作品" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
6. "组图：美人如花一代歌后邓丽君(5) 伊人风采 新浪网" [Photos: Teresa Teng, the beautiful and beautiful singer of the generation (5)]. Sina Entertainment (in Chinese). May 17, 2007. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
7. "Teresa Teng's Awards in Japan". Asahi Net (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2007.
8. "『第７回新宿音楽祭（昭和49年（1974年）10月17日開催）の結果』" [Results of the 7th Shinjuku Music Festival (held on October 17, 1974)]. Ameblo (in Japanese). June 12, 2022. Retrieved January 29, 2024.

• 1974 debut albums
• Teresa Teng albums
• 1970s Japanese-language albums