![]() You can hear enka songs in karaoke places, bars, and stores across Japan. Modern enka resurged after World War II, making it part of Japan’s Showa-era pop music. Historians still debate the exact meaning of the term “enka,” but the word itself comes from the characters 演 (“en”), meaning “performance,” and 歌 (“ka”), meaning “song.” The genre differs from other Japanese musical styles due to its relatively young age and lack of overt religious significance. Thus, enka is often a retrospective on Japan’s history and culture during its Meiji flourish. Japanese idealism and romanticism come into play as enka songs reference the music and style of other traditional genres. In recent years, however, synthesizers and pitch-shifted guitars have added Western flavor to the musical art.Įnka draws on traditional Japanese imagery, with the singer typically clad in a kimono. Traditional Japanese instruments like the shakuhachi or shamisen often accompany the vocals. Some artists play and sing simultaneously. Vocals are the primary element of enka, and many performers are solo singers with or without musical accompaniment. It typically involves bitter themes like love and loss or loneliness. ![]() Enka music is a Japanese genre that originated in the Meiji period.
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