Japanese singer Shinji Tanimura's impassioned voice crossed borders

TOKYO -- Japanese singer-songwriter Shinji Tanimura transcended the folk genre with a discography of hits that remain national favorites decades after their release.

With his folk group Alice, he leapt beyond the narrow perception of folk music while offering something different from the standard rock and Japanese pop music of the time. His solo song "Subaru," known as “Star” in China, crossed national boundaries, finding fans in countries like China and Thailand.