He was consistently promoted as part of the Shin-Gosanke (新御三家, "New Big Three") idol trio alongside two other soloists who debuted around the same time: Goro Noguchi and Hiromi Go.

He was greatly influenced by western musicians such as The Ventures, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Chicago.

Until then, he had aimed to succeed in the world of rock as a drummer, but after hearing Kiyohiko Ozaki's song "Until We Meet Again", his perception of pop music shifted and he decided to become a singer.

On 3 October 1971, despite facing opposition from his father against entering the entertainment industry, he ran away from home via an overnight train from Hiroshima and arrived at Tokyo Station the following morning.

While it was not a major hit, peaking at only number 42 on the Oricon chart, national interest in Saijō's career gradually increased from this work onwards.

The following day, Saijō held a concert titled "Hideki on Stage" at Osaka Mainichi Hall to commemorate the first anniversary of his debut.

The release of his fifth single, "Storm of Passion", on 25 May sent his career to new heights as it propelled him to the top ten of the Oricon chart for the first time, peaking at number six and selling an estimated 246,000 copies.

The most significant milestone of Saijō's early career wouldn't be until 24 September, however, when his sixth single, "Fractured Love", topped the Oricon chart, with him becoming the first male idol who debuted in the 1970s to achieve this feat.

Although it was presumed that he would perform at NHK's annual music special Kōhaku Uta Gassen for the first time that year, he had not been selected to appear.

Although it only peaked at #2 on the Oricon chart, it maintained that ranking for four consecutive weeks and is still considered one of Saijō's signature songs today.

"The Legend of Love & Sincerity", starring Saijō as teenage delinquent Makoto Taiga, was released in cinemas on 8 June.

As it was met with great popularity, plans were made for it to be the start of a lengthy film franchise featuring Saijō as Makoto, in a similar vein to the Otoko wa Tsurai yo series.

In the end, this did not come to fruition due to Saijō's busy schedule, with the rest of the trilogy featuring different actors as Makoto instead.

Saijō finally made his debut appearance at NHK's 25th Kohaku Uta Gassen that night with the very same song, facing Momoe Yamaguchi as his opponent.

His twelfth Japanese single, "This Love’s Thrill", was released on 25 February and did reasonably well, exceeding Tears and Friendship in sales and chart ranking.

1976 saw the start of a series of collaborations between Saijō, composer (and occasional arranger) Takashi Miki, and lyricist Yū Aku, beginning with his sixteenth single "Let's Embrace and Become Passionate", released on 25 February.

From 5 to 28 July, he starred in the musical "The North Wall of My Youth", written by Yu Aku, composed by Takashi Miki, directed by Asari Keita for Shiki Theatre Company.

On 9 February, Saijō's twenty-third single, "Take off Your Boots and Have Breakfast", ranked at first place on TBS' popular song programme "The Best Ten" (Za Besutoten).

The song marked the first single since 1975's "White Chapel" not provided to Saijō by Aku and Miki, instead featuring Katsuo Ohno as composer.

This duo of Aku and Ohno, best known for working with Kenji Sawada, were later nicknamed "The Golden Combination" (Gōruden Konbi) for their joint expertise and versatility as songwriters.

Saijō's choreography for the song, which involved holding out a lighter, backfired when three children imitated him on 4 March, consequently burning six buildings in Yao City, Osaka.

In June 2003, while promoting his new released song in South Korea, Saijō suffered a stroke which resulted in his speech being partially impaired.

(Koisuru Kisetsu) (Koi no Yakusoku) (Chansu wa Ichido) (Seishun ni Kakeyō) (Jōnetsu no Arashi) (Chigireta Ai) (Ai no Jūjika) (Bara no Kusari) (Hageshī Koi) (Kizudarake no Rōra) (Namida to Yūjō) (Kono Ai no Tokimeki) (Koi no Bōsō) (Shijō no Ai) (Shiroi Chaperu) (Kimi Yo Dakarete Atsukunare) (Jagā) (Wakaki Shishitachi) (Rasuto Shīn) (Būmeran Sutorīto) (Sekushī Rokkunrōrā) (Botan wo Hazuse) (Būtsu wo Nuide Chōshoku wo) (Anata to Ai no tame ni) (Honō) (Burū Sukai Burū) (Harukanaru Koibito e) Henri Belolo Ryūji Amagai (Hoppu Suteppu Janpu) Jun Satō (Yūki ga Areba) (Kanashiki Yūjō) (Ai no Sono) Keisuke Yamakawa (Oretachi no Jidai) (Endoresu Samā) (Santa Maria no Inori) (Nemurenu Yoru) (Ritoru Gāru) (Sekushī Gāru) (Senchimentaru Gāru) (Jipushī) (Minami Jūjisei) (Sei・Shōjo) (Hyōryūshatachi) (Gyarandu) (Naito Gēmu) Iori Yamamoto (Kanashimi no Still) (Senaka kara I Love You) (Dakishimete Jiruba -Careless Whisper-) Andrew Ridgeley Yumi Morita Andrew Ridgeley (Ichiman Kōnen no Ai) (Misutī・Burū) (Ude no naka e -In Search of Love-) Minako Yoshida Howie Rice (Ude no naka e -In Search of Love-) (12 inch single version) (Tsuioku no Hitomi 〜LOLA〜) (Rain of Dream Yume no Tsumi) (Yakusoku no Tabi 〜Kikō〜) George Duke Yasushi Akimoto George Duke (Kokoro de Kiita Barādo) (Natsu no Yūwaku) (ONE 〜Aisuru Hito no tame ni〜) (Sanjūsan-sai) (Ribāsaido de Aimashou) Fulvio Zafret David Sion (Hashire Shōjikimono) (Moichido) (Būmeran Sutorēto) Kaori Nakahara Yoshio Tatano (Ikutsu mo no Hoshi ga Nagare) (Tasogare yo, Soba ni Ite) (Ai ga Tomaranai 〜Turn It into Love〜) Matt Aitken Pete Waterman (Kokoro no Tobira) (Parasaito・Ravu) (Tsūraundo kara Hajimeyō) (Saigo no Ai) (Tān A Tān) (Toki no Kizahashi) (Sodai gomi ja nē) (Meguri Ai) (Bejitaburu Wandafuru) (Wairudona Jūnana-sai) Cassette Tape Cassette Tape (Seishun ni Kakeyō) Cassette Tape Cassette Tape (Ekisaitingu Hideki - Chigireta Ai / Jōnetsu no Arashi) Cassette Tape Cassette Tape (Kizudarake no Rōra) Cassette Tape Cassette Tape (Ekisaitingu Hideki Vol.

7月24日 (Haha to Ko no Kizuna) (Suki ni Natta Onnanoko) (Tsuisuto Gāru) (Sono ai wa) (Dorai Matīni) (Umibe no Maboroshi) (Īkagen) * A composition provided by Saijo to Cantopop singer Andy Lau.

(Toshigoro) (市村泰一) (Koi wa Hōkago) (広瀬襄) (Hitotsubu no Namida) (市村泰一) (Shiawase no Ichiban Hoshi) (山根成之) (Ai to Makoto) (Ore no Iku Michi) (Sugata Sanshirō) 1973 1974 1975 Passionate 1977 1978 Breakfast 1979 1981 1982 1983 1984 (Jerashī) (Pashifikku) 1985 (Riaru Taimu) (Otoko ga Onna wo Aisuru Toki) 1986 (Ai no Tsubasa) (Yume no Sasayaki) (Uragirimono no tabi) and Have Breakfast 1985 Embrace * This asterisk indicates that on one occasion, this song was performed alongside another song on Night Hit (i.e.: SUN and The Traitor's Journey were performed on the same episode).