Career
She is a popular contestant on the annual Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai Kōhaku Uta Gassen broadcast, having appeared 36 times since 1977. Ishikawa made her name performing the classic "Tsugarukaikyo-Fuyugeshiki". She has released over 100 albums (including compilation albums) and 115 singles, the latest single being "Anya no Shinju Date (暗夜の心中立て)" released on April 2, 2014.
Her first single was "Kakurenbo" (かくれんぼ) released in 1973.
“I loved singing,” she recalls. She finished her schooling but didn’t go to university, entering show business instead.
Her biggest hit, Tsugaru Straits – Winter Scene (津軽海峡・冬景色, tsugarukaikyo-fuyugeshiki), was released in 1977. Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle Mariners), a major league player, chose Sayuri Ishikawa"s "Amagi-goe (天城越え, walk across Amagi)" as an AT-British American Tobacco MUSIC of 2008 with "Ishin Denshin" and "Royal Chocolate Flush" of Misia.
She re-recorded this song with Marty Friedman for Ichiro.
In 2015, Ishikawa recorded "Chanto Iwanakya Aisanai", the ending theme for the new Lupin III anime. Ishikawa"s first Kōhaku Uta Gassen appearance was in 1977, five years after her debut and following the hit of her signature song "Tsugaru Kaikyo Fuyu-geshiki".