My Take
I get a real kick out of Dick Mine, because just the name tells you he was a man who fell hard for the West and wore it like a tailored suit. Born in Tokushima back in 1908, he came up through Rikkyo and threw himself into jazz when most of Japan had barely heard the word, then turned around and sang dreamy ballads like "Yogiri no Blues" and acted on top of it. To me he's the blueprint for the dapper, slightly raffish Showa-era crooner, all smoke, neon, and that low, knowing voice you imagine drifting out of a late-night bar. He passed in 1991, but I love that someone this charming and stylish helped make early Japanese pop feel worldly. Honestly, a cooler stage name has rarely existed.
Overview
Dick Mine (1908–1991) was a Japanese singer, jazz musician, and actor born in Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture. A graduate of Rikkyo University, he became one of the most prominent entertainers of the Showa era, performing Western-influenced jazz alongside popular Japanese songs. He is best known for recordings such as "Dina" and "Yoigiri no Blues," and was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Fourth Class, for his contributions to Japanese entertainment.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Dick Mine
- Name (Japanese)
- ディック・ミネ
- Reading
- でぃっく・みね
- Born
- October 10, 1908 – June 10, 1991
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Monkey (申)
- Origin
- Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Active years
- Unknown
- Occupation
- Singer / Jazz Musician / Actor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Rikkyo University
- Debut
- Unknown
Awards & achievements
- Order of the Rising Sun, Fourth Class (Kun-yonto Kyokujitsu Shojusho) — year unknown
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Representative Work | Dina | — | Unknown |
| Representative Work | Yoigiri no Blues | — | Unknown |
6. Links
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.