Kenkichi Muraki, born on 30 August 1932 in Kazuno, Japan, was a traditional enka singer whose career began while he worked for Mitsubishi Metal Mining. In 1967 he was transferred to the Naoji Refinery in Kagawa, where he met fellow worker Sadagaki Tatsuo, who would become his lyricist and composer. Kenkichi Muraki’s first commercial single, released in 1972 under the stage name Makishima and titled "Hiji-kata to sei ryōshi ichi dai", failed to gain traction, but that same year he self‑produced 500 copies of "Oyaji No Umi". The song caught the attention of cable radio stations in 1977, and in 1979 the record label Toshiba EMI (now Universal Music) re‑issued "Oyaji No Umi", marking Kenkichi Muraki’s nationwide debut at the age of 47. The single sold over 1.4 million copies, earned him the All Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards Best Newcomer prize, and earned a special prize at the 21st Japan Record Awards in 1979; Sadagaki Tatsuo also received the Japan Poetry Award that year. Following the release, Kenkichi Muraki left Mitsubishi to focus on music full time. He continued performing and teaching folk music until an unexplained illness left him unable to sing higher notes; Kenkichi Muraki halted his career in the late 2000s. Kenkichi Muraki died on 19 June 2021 from aspiration pneumonia at the age of 88.