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== History == === 19th century–1920s: ''Sōshi'' enka and violin enka === [[Image:Azenbo Soeda.jpg|thumb|right|[[Soeda Azenbō]], enka-shi in the [[Meiji Period]]]] The political songs called ''enka'' in the Meiji period (1868–1912) are also called {{Nihongo|''Sōshi Enka''|壮士演歌}} to distinguish it from modern ''enka''. Street singers were called {{Nihongo|enka-shi|演歌師}}. The first ''enka'' song is said to be {{Nihongo|"The Dynamite Stanzas"|ダイナマイト節}}.{{why|date=November 2010}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.um.u-tokyo.ac.jp/publish_db/1999news/04/406/0406.html|script-title=ja:明治の声の文化|publisher=[[University of Tokyo]]|access-date=2009-02-19|language=ja|archive-date=2007-02-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220042500/http://www.um.u-tokyo.ac.jp/publish_db/1999news/04/406/0406.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The songs during this time include [[Otojiro Kawakami]]'s "Oppekepe".{{why|date=December 2010}}<ref>Lesley Downer. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=gmFVoqgEndoC&pg=PA53 Madame Sadayakko: The Geisha Who Bewitched the West] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206172432/https://books.google.com/books?id=gmFVoqgEndoC&pg=PA53 |date=2021-12-06 }}''. ''[[Google Books]]''. via Gotham. 2004. P-53. {{ISBN|978-1-59240-050-8}}</ref> In the [[Taishō period]] (1912–26), ''enka-shi'' began to incorporate the [[violin]], thus their songs were called ''violin enka.'' An ''enka-shi'' of the period was {{Nihongo|Toshio Sakurai|桜井敏雄}}, who in turn taught [[Haruo Oka]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rosenet.ne.jp/~matsuo-e/prize_4.html |script-title=ja:第4回松尾芸能賞受賞者一覧 |publisher=Matsuo Entertainment Development Foundation |access-date=2009-02-23 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416035739/http://www.rosenet.ne.jp/~matsuo-e/prize_4.html |archive-date=2009-04-16 }}</ref> In present-day Japan, Road Traffic Law regulates the appearance of street performers. However, Japanese performers such as {{Nihongo|Utaji Fukuoka|福岡詩二}} have still sung ''enka'' from the Taishō period.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/3265500/ |script-title=ja:日本の伝統・大道芸は妙技だ。街に復活せよ! =東京・浅草(下) |publisher=livedoor |date=2007-08-11 |access-date=2009-02-21 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112204630/http://news.livedoor.com/article/detail/3265500/ |archive-date=2007-11-12 }}</ref> When the [[Great Hanshin earthquake|1995 earthquake]] struck, Soul Flower Mononoke Summit, a musical project of the rock band [[Soul Flower Union]], played ''sōshi enka'' to help buoy the spirits of disaster victims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fm20060929a1.html|title=Street spirits plug in and out|publisher=The Japan Times|date=2006-09-29|access-date=2009-02-08|archive-date=2016-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412123717/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2006/09/29/culture/street-spirits-plug-in-and-out/|url-status=live}}</ref> === 1920s–1940s: Era of ''ryūkōka'' === {{Main|Ryūkōka}} In the early [[Shōwa period]] in the late 1920s, record companies produced ''[[ryūkōka]]'' in place of ''enka-shi''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news.janjan.jp/column/0603/0603220226/1.php |script-title=ja:昭和流行歌の幕開け《波浮の港》 |author=Kiyomaro Kikuchi |publisher=[[JANJAN]] |date=2006-03-23 |access-date=2009-01-16 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110184316/http://www.news.janjan.jp/column/0603/0603220226/1.php |archive-date=2007-11-10 }}</ref> ''Enka-shi'' began to use [[guitar]] and were dubbed {{Nihongo|''nagashi''|流し}}.<ref name=keio /> [[Haruo Oka]] debuted with the 1939 song {{Nihongo|"Kokkyō no Haru"|国境の春|lit. "Spring at the Border"}} on the Japanese record label [[King Records (Japan)|King Records]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.janjan.jp/column/0608/0608300310/1.php|script-title=ja:異色歌手の登場:岡晴夫と田端義夫|publisher=[[JANJAN]]|author=Kikuchi, Kiyomaro|date=2006-08-31|access-date=2009-05-16|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928233426/http://www.news.janjan.jp/column/0608/0608300310/1.php|archive-date=2008-09-28|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the term ''enka'' became uncommon in the postwar years.<ref name=keio /> === Late 1940s–1954: The arrival of new singers === {{See also|Japanese jazz}} As [[jazz]] became popular in early postwar Japan, Japanese singer [[Hibari Misora]] released her debut song "Kappa [[boogie-woogie]]" on [[Nippon Columbia]] in 1949 at the age of only 12. She went on to sing jazz songs throughout the 1950s and 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009OLPF6|title=Jazz & Standard Complete Collection 1955-66|website=Amazon |access-date=2009-02-09|archive-date=2022-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227202257/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009OLPF6|url-status=live}}</ref> She later did many ''enka'' songs in the 60s and 70s. In 1948, [[Hachiro Kasuga]] won King Records' first talent contest. He joined the record label the next year where [[Haruo Oka]] was his senior. His debut single {{Nihongo|"Akai Lamp no Shū Ressha"|赤いランプの終列車|lit. "Last Train with Red Lamp"}} was released in 1952. The [[kabuki]]-style song {{Nihongo|"Otomi-san"|お富さん|lit. "Miss Otomi"}} was originally made for Oka, but was sung by Kasuga, and in 1954, "Otomi-san" became a very popular hit in Japan.<ref name="kabuki">{{cite web|url=http://www.news.janjan.jp/column/0702/0702130008/1.php|script-title=ja:歌舞伎ソング・《お富さん》のブーム|publisher=[[JANJAN]]|date=2007-02-15|access-date=2009-02-09|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100504210600/http://www.news.janjan.jp/column/0702/0702130008/1.php|archive-date=2010-05-04}}</ref> Kasuga took part in the [[NHK]] ''[[Kōhaku Uta Gassen]]'' for the first time with "Otomi-san" that year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.town.aizubange.fukushima.jp/Members/syoukoukankou/contents/guide/kankou/kasugalife.html|title=Hachiro Kasuga Profile|publisher=[[Aizubange, Fukushima]]|access-date=2009-02-12|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917235305/http://www.town.aizubange.fukushima.jp/Members/syoukoukankou/contents/guide/kankou/kasugalife.html|archive-date=2012-09-17}}</ref> The song's composer, Masanobu Tokuchi, was born on [[Okinawa Island]] and grew up in [[Amami Ōshima|Amami]] and became an important figure for introducing the [[Ryukyu Islands]]' music into the Japanese mainstream.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.breast.co.jp/soulflower/library/disc/detail/sf-070.html|title=Deracine Ching-dong|publisher=[[Soul Flower Union]] Official Website|access-date=2009-05-06|language=ja|archive-date=2021-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513020557/https://www.breast.co.jp/soulflower/library/disc/detail/sf-070.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> === 1955–1959: Early history of modern ''enka'' === Although "Otomi-san" was popular, [[Hachiro Kasuga|Kasuga]] himself was not completely satisfied with it and recorded the song {{Nihongo|"Wakare no Ippon-sugi"|別れの一本杉|lit. "Farewell One Cedar"}} by [[Toru Funamura]].<ref name="ntv" /> The song was released in 1955 and was later regarded as a true ''enka'' song.{{why|month=November 2010|date=November 2010}}<ref name="funamura">{{cite web|url=http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200305/gt2003051808.html|script-title=ja:船村徹さん、演歌を愛し歌い続けて50年|publisher=Sanspo|date=2003-05-18|access-date=2009-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030622011048/http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200305/gt2003051808.html|archive-date=2003-06-22|language=ja}}</ref> The song, ironically, was also influenced by [[tango music]]'s rhythm because Funamura felt that tango seemed similar to ''enka'' in its local color.<ref name="funamura" /> "Wakare no Ippon-sugi" was later covered by singers as diverse as [[Michiya Mihashi]], [[Hideo Murata]], [[Keiko Fuji]], [[Hibari Misora]], [[Saburō Kitajima]], [[Takashi Hosokawa]], and [[Hiroshi Itsuki]].{{when|date=December 2010}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail.asp?sku=1228316|script-title=ja:別れの一本杉は枯れず|publisher=HMV Japan|access-date=2009-03-02|language=ja|archive-date=2012-02-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212224715/http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail.asp?sku=1228316|url-status=live}}</ref> Kasuga was later called the first ''enka'' singer.{{why|month=November 2010|date=November 2010}}<ref name="ntv" /> Michiya Mihashi, who originally sang Japanese folk music (''[[min'yō]]'') and learned ''[[tsugaru-jamisen]]'', released his debut single "Sake no Nigasa yo" as a recording singer in 1954.<ref name="goo">{{cite web|url=http://music.goo.ne.jp/artist/ARTLISD1147250/index.html|title=Michiya Mihashi|publisher=goo|access-date=2009-02-09|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710155112/http://music.goo.ne.jp/artist/ARTLISD1147250/index.html|archive-date=2009-07-10}}</ref> Mihashi's "Onna Sendō Uta" was a hit in 1955.<ref name="goo" /> Funamura's friend Kimio Takano, the lyricist of "Wakare no Ippon-sugi", died in 1956 at the age of 26.<ref name="funamura" /> Hibari Misora's music turned to ''enka'' when she was no longer regarded as a [[teen idol]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2001-07-22|title=When we had heroes|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20010722a1.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507130958/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20010722a1.html|archive-date=2010-05-07|access-date=2009-10-16|publisher=The Japan Times}}</ref> Around the postwar period, ''[[rōkyoku]]'' (or ''naniwa-bushi''), famous during the war, declined in popularity mainly because their speaking lengths were considered too long. ''Enka'', on the other hand, which became popular around that time, was said to be a shortened version of ''rōkyoku'' because several ''enka'' singers such as Hideo Murata and [[Haruo Minami]] were originally ''rōkyoku'' singers and ''enka'' has many themes in common with the genre.<ref name="nishinippon">{{cite web|url=http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/culture/kayou/20061220/20061220_001.shtml|script-title=ja:第6部・演歌巡礼<8>初代桃中軒雲右衛門 受け継がれゆく浪花節|publisher=Nishinippon Shimbun|date=2006-12-20|access-date=2009-02-02|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207014456/http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/culture/kayou/20061220/20061220_001.shtml|archive-date=2009-02-07}}</ref> One notable ''rōkyoku'' singer who had an influence on ''enka'' was [[Kumoemon Tochuken]], whose student's pupil was Murata.<ref name="nishinippon" /> Minami debuted on [[Teichiku Records]] in 1957 and Murata on Nippon Columbia in 1958. Murata covered the song {{Nihongo|"Jinsei Gekijō"|人生劇場|lit. "Drama of Life"}}, composed by [[Masao Koga]].<ref name="koga" /> Haruo Minami was known for wearing a [[kimono]], which was at the time considered an unusual style for a male singer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/jinji/2001/seikyo010415.html|script-title=ja:訃報・三波春夫さん|publisher=[[Nikkan Sports]]|date=2001-04-15|access-date=2009-10-21|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213130701/http://www.nikkansports.com/jinji/2001/seikyo010415.html|archive-date=2009-12-13}}</ref> === 1960s–1970s: Commercial success === [[Image:Murata Hideo museum.jpg|thumb|left|The memorial museum of singer [[Hideo Murata]]]] In the early 1960s, [[rockabilly]] influenced by [[Elvis Presley]] began to gain popularity. [[Kyu Sakamoto]], who came from Japanese rockabilly, joined Japanese popular music.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elekitel.jp/elekitel/special/2006/13/sp_02_d.htm |title=Special 2. Japanese popular music (4) |publisher=[[Toshiba]] |date=November 2006 |access-date=2009-05-15 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619165647/http://elekitel.jp/elekitel/special/2006/13/sp_02_d.htm |archive-date=2008-06-19 }}</ref> However, many Japanese music critics complained about rockabilly, and [[Hideo Murata]]'s 1961 "pure Japanese style"-like song "Ōsho", composed by Toru Funamura, became a million-selling single in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.columbia-songs.co.jp/feature/02/funamura.html |title=Toru Funamura |publisher=[[Columbia Music Entertainment]] |access-date=2009-05-05 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121094347/http://www.columbia-songs.co.jp/feature/02/funamura.html |archive-date=2008-01-21 }}</ref> When Kyu Sakamoto took part in the [[Kōhaku Uta Gassen]] for the first time with the song "Ue o Muite Arukō" (aka "[[Sukiyaki (song)|Sukiyaki]]") in 1961, Hideo Murata also made his debut with the song "Ōsho" at the same show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/news2/entert2/2001kouhaku/history-12.html|title=12th Kōhaku Uta Gassen|publisher=[[Nikkan Sports]]|access-date=2009-05-15|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115052950/http://www.nikkansports.com/news2/entert2/2001kouhaku/history-12.html|archive-date=2010-01-15}}</ref> Young ''enka'' singer [[Yukio Hashi]] appeared in 1960, [[Saburō Kitajima]] in 1962 and [[Harumi Miyako]] in 1964. [[Sachiko Kobayashi]] debuted with the 1964 single {{Nihongo|"Usotsuki Kamome"|ウソツキ鴎|lit. "Liar Seagull"}} at the age of only 10. The most well-known and beloved performer of ''enka'' is [[Hibari Misora]] (1937–1989), known as the "Queen of ''Enka''" and "Queen of Shōwa" for the period in which she lived and was celebrated. Misora's song "Yawara", composed by Masao Koga, won the grand prix award at the 1965 [[Japan Record Award]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jacompa.or.jp/rekishi/d1965.htm |title=7th Japan Record Awards |publisher=[[Japan Composer's Association]] |access-date=2009-02-12 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100506061145/http://www.jacompa.or.jp/rekishi/d1965.htm |archive-date=2010-05-06 }}</ref> Masaru Matsuyama also made his debut in 1965, but was not able to achieve commercial success and changed his stage name to [[Hiroshi Itsuki]] in 1971. [[Mina Aoe]] appeared with the single {{Nihongo|"Kōkotsu no Blues"|恍惚のブルース|lit. "Ecstasy Blues"}} in 1966, pioneering the "''enka''-[[blues]]" genre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nikkansports.com/jinji/2000/seikyo000704.html |script-title=ja:訃報・青江三奈さん |publisher=Nikkan Sports |date=2000-07-04 |access-date=2009-09-14 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606005736/http://www.nikkansports.com/jinji/2000/seikyo000704.html |archive-date=2008-06-06 }}</ref> [[Shinichi Mori]] debuted with the 1966 single {{Nihongo|"Onna no Tameiki"|女のためいき|lit. "Woman's Sigh"}}. His 1969 song {{Nihongo|"Minatomachi Blues"|港町ブルース|lit. "Port Town Blues"}} topped the Japanese [[Oricon]] single charts for five weeks and sold over one million copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.umeshunkyo.or.jp/204/263/data.html|title=Minatomachi Blues|publisher=Japan Dredging Reclamation Engineering Association|date=September 2008|access-date=2009-10-02|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430012727/http://www.umeshunkyo.or.jp/204/263/data.html|archive-date=2010-04-30|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Keiko Fuji]] came out with the 1969 single {{Nihongo|"Shinjuku no Onna"|新宿の女|lit. "Woman in Shinjuku"}} at the age of 18. The term ''enka'' which had not been used in the postwar era, was revived by her performance.<ref name=keio /> [[Keiko Fuji]]'s 1970 song "[[Keiko no Yume wa Yoru Hiraku]]" won the mass popularity award of the [[12th Japan Record Awards]] and the grand prix award of the first [[Japan Music Awards]]. That year, she also took part in the 21st ''[[Kōhaku Uta Gassen]]'' with the song. Her 1970 album {{Nihongo|''Shinjuku no Onna/'Enka no Hoshi' Fuji Keiko no Subete''|新宿の女/"演歌の星" 藤圭子のすべて|Woman in Shinjuku/'Star of Enka' All of Keiko Fuji}} established a record-breaking consecutive number-one record to top the [[Oricon]] charts for 20 "consecutive" weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/komimi/TKY200709190117.html|script-title=ja:オリコンのアルバム1位が千作品に 最多はユーミン|publisher=Asahi Shimbun|date=2007-09-19|access-date=2009-01-27|language=ja|archive-date=2017-05-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526005315/http://www.asahi.com/komimi/TKY200709190117.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It is a record that still stands. The best-selling ''enka'' after the Oricon charts began in 1968 is [[Shiro Miya]] and Pinkara Trio's 1972 "[[Onna no Michi]]." The song topped the Japanese Oricon single charts for 16 consecutive weeks and sold over 3.25 million copies, to become the second best-selling single in Japan behind "[[Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun]]." [[Hiroshi Itsuki]]'s song "Yozora" won the grand prix award at the [[15th Japan Record Awards]] in 1973. [[Shinichi Mori]] released the single "Erimo Misaki" in 1974. Although the song was composed by non-''enka'' musician [[Takuro Yoshida]], "Erimo Misaki" won the grand prix at the [[16th Japan Record Awards]] that year. [[Harumi Miyako]]'s song "[[Kita no Yadokara|Kita no Yado kara]]" also won the grand prix at the [[18th Japan Record Awards]] in 1976. New ''enka'' singers, who debuted in the '70s, include [[Sayuri Ishikawa]] and [[Takashi Hosokawa]] who were both [[Michiya Mihashi]]'s pupils.<ref name="goo" /> Masao Koga died in 1978, after a career of composing about 5,000 songs.<ref name="koga" /> Toru Funamura became self-employed in 1978, beginning live performances and returning to the original position for his old friend Kimio Takano.<ref name="funamura" /> Keiko Fuji announced her retirement in 1979 and went to the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tsutaya.co.jp/item/artist/view_a_A006096.html|title=Keiko Fuji|publisher=Tsutaya|access-date=2009-05-06|language=ja|archive-date=2022-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227202303/https://tsutaya.tsite.jp/artist/PPS000000YLU|url-status=live}}</ref> === 1980s–1990s: Losing definition and decline === [[Image:Stele Yagiri no watashi Takashi Hosokawa.jpg|thumb|left|The 1984 monument of Naomi Chiaki's song covered by Takashi Hosokawa "Yagiri no Watashi" at [[Matsudo, Chiba|Matsudo City]]]] [[Takashi Hosokawa]]'s song "Kita Sakaba" won the grand prix at the [[24th Japan Record Awards]] in 1982. He covered [[Naomi Chiaki]]'s originally song "Yagiri no Watashi" next year. It was also won the grand prix at the [[25th Japan Record Awards|following Japan Record Awards]]. The total sales of [[Michiya Mihashi]]'s work surpassed 100 million records in 1983, making him the first artist to achieve that in Japan.<ref name="goo" /> On June 11, 1986, [[Sanae Jōnouchi]], a member of [[Japanese idol|idol]] group [[Onyanko Club]], released the ''enka'' single "Ajisai Bashi", written by [[Yasushi Akimoto]]. The single debuted at No. 1 on the Oricon weekly single charts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/4743/|script-title=ja:12年ぶりの記録を打ち立てた女性…|publisher=Oricon|date=2005-04-12|access-date=2010-04-29|language=ja|archive-date=2008-05-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518144732/http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/ranking/4743/|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Ikuzo Yoshi]]'s 1986 single "Yukiguni" became the Oricon's 300th number-one single in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/070221_01.html|script-title=ja:ランキング特集『オリコン首位獲得シングル1000曲(1968~2007)』|publisher=Oricon|date=2007-02-21|access-date=2009-05-04|language=ja|archive-date=2007-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223040157/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/070221_01.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Other new ''enka'' singers around that time included [[Fuyumi Sakamoto]] and [[Ayako Fuji]]. [[Hibari Misora]], at the age of 50, released the single "Midaregami" on December 10, 1987. "Midaregami" reached the No. 9 position on the Oricon weekly charts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/32022/2/|title=Midaregami|publisher=Oricon|access-date=2009-05-16|language=ja|archive-date=2010-05-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515213900/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/32022/2/|url-status=live}}</ref> Yasushi Akimoto wrote the lyrics of her 1989 single "[[Kawa no Nagare no Yō ni]]". However, she died in 1989 and the ''enka'' range expanded into the genre ''[[kayōkyoku]]'' while the genre ''kayōkyoku'' was vanishing.<ref name="maekawa" /> [[Hachiro Kasuga]] died in 1991. As ''enka''<nowiki/>'s traditional themes were no longer appreciated among younger Japanese and Western-style [[J-pop]] music became more popular, ''enka'' sales declined. However, the genre still had many adherents. Besides TV programs, ''enka'' could be heard in many restaurants, drinking establishments, [[karaoke]] bars and cafes. On the other hand, "bright" ''enka'' singer [[Yoshimi Tendo]], who was ignored when the "dark" ''enka'' songs like Keiko Fuji's song "Keiko no Yume wa Yoru Hiraku" were popular, took part in the ''[[Kōhaku Uta Gassen]]'' for the first time in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/ns/entertainment/interview/2004/sun041226.html|title=Yoshimi Tendo|publisher=Nikkan Sports|date=2004-12-26|access-date=2009-05-21|language=ja|archive-date=2005-03-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050306153009/http://www.nikkansports.com/ns/entertainment/interview/2004/sun041226.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Other new ''enka'' singers such as Toshimi Tagawa and Fuyumi Sakamoto were also appearing on TV ''enka'' programs which kept ''enka'' alive. Taiwanese diva [[Teresa Teng]] was also singing in Japanese and covering ''enka'' songs from the 70s until she died in 1995 at the age of 42. === 2000s: Musical hybridity === ''Enka''<nowiki/>'s popularity among younger Japanese, however, increased in the first decade of the 21st century. [[Kiyoshi Hikawa]] debuted on [[Nippon Columbia]] in 2000 with the single "Hakone Hachiri no Hanjirō", which became a smash hit. The early solo releases of then-[[Morning Musume]] member [[Yuko Nakazawa]] were also ''enka''. In contrast, [[Nana Mizuki]], who learned ''enka'' as a child, became a voice actress and also appeared as a singer on [[King Records (Japan)|King Records]] in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|date=2008-12-10|title=|script-title=ja:才色兼備の声優シンガーはオリコン2位!アニメ界を牽引する水樹奈々を直撃!|url=http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/column/20081203/1021527/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210232911/http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/column/20081203/1021527/|archive-date=2008-12-10|access-date=2009-02-16|publisher=[[Nikkei Business Publications]]|language=ja}}</ref> On August 25, 2004, [[Johnny & Associates]]' group [[Kanjani Eight]] debuted with the Kansai-limited release of "Naniwa Iroha Bushi" under the [[Teichiku Records]]. The song was based on "[[Kawachi ondo]]" and featured [[rapping|rap]]. The song was a hit and reached No. 8 on the Oricon weekly singles chart on the strength of Kansai sales alone. Then, on September 22, 2004, "Naniwa Iroha Bushi" was released nationwide and re-debuted on the Oricon weekly singles charts at the No. 1 spot, becoming the first ''enka'' single to reach the No. 1 in seventeen years since [[Yujiro Ishihara]]'s 1987 single "Kita no Tabibito" according to Oricon. Hikawa also released the single "Hatsukoi Ressha" on February 9, 2005, which debuted at the No. 1 position on the Oricon charts, Hikawa's first number-one single on the Oricon weekly charts. Older female singer [[Junko Akimoto]] also debuted on King Records, releasing her first single "Madison-gun no Koi" on July 21, 2005. However,{{?|month=November 2010}} her musical style was '70s ''kayōkyoku'' style.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/special/20080807/1017494/?ST=yahoo_headlines&P=2|script-title=ja:運命的な出会いから生まれたデビュー曲|publisher=[[Nikkei Business Publications]]|date=2008-08-11|access-date=2009-05-05|language=ja|archive-date=2011-07-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720201428/http://trendy.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/special/20080807/1017494/?ST=yahoo_headlines&P=2|url-status=live}}</ref> Veteran ''enka'' singer [[Hiroshi Itsuki]], at 58, released the single "Takasebune" on April 19, 2006, becoming his first Top 10 single in 22 years since 1984's "Nagaragawa Enka." It debuted at the number-nine position on the Oricon charts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/music/news/20060511et01.htm|script-title=ja:五木ひろしの新曲「高瀬舟」 オリコン初登場9位|publisher=Yomiuri Shimbun|date=2006-05-11|access-date=2009-05-04|language=ja|archive-date=2006-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060806025123/http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/music/news/20060511et01.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Hikawa's song "Ikken" won the grand prix at the [[48th Japan Record Awards]] on December 30, 2006. Kanjani Eight was transferred to the pop/rock record label Imperial Records, the sub-label of [[Teichiku Records]] in 2007. In the same year, 80s superstar [[Akina Nakamori]] paid her respect to ''enka'' music by releasing an album—full of light ''enka'' songs. Junko Akimoto released the single "Ai no Mama de…" on January 23, 2008, reaching the top of the Oricon weekly single charts in January 2009, making her, at the age of 61, the oldest solo singer to top the charts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-25/bleach-9th-major-5th-singles-debut-at-no.2-no.10|title=Bleach's, Major's Opening Singles Debut at #2, #10|publisher=[[Anime News Network]]|date=2009-01-25|access-date=2009-05-06|archive-date=2009-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525055504/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-25/bleach-9th-major-5th-singles-debut-at-no.2-no.10|url-status=live}}</ref> That same year, Hikawa released two consecutive number-one singles — "Ryōkyoku Ichidai" and "Tokimeki no Rumba" — on the Oricon weekly charts. [[Fuyumi Sakamoto]]'s 2009 song "Asia no Kaizoku", composed by [[Ayumi Nakamura (singer)|Ayumi Nakamura]], was an ''enka'' song featuring [[rock music]].<ref name="asianokaizoku">{{cite web|url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/entertainment/music/news/20090122et01.htm|script-title=ja:坂本冬美、中村あゆみが作詞・作曲の新曲「アジアの海賊」発売|publisher=[[Yomiuri Shimbun]]|date=2009-01-22|access-date=2010-01-07|language=ja}}</ref> Sakamoto said, "If Ayumi sings the song, it's a rock song. If I sing the song, however, it's an ''enka'' song."<ref name="asianokaizoku" /><ref group=fn>Original text: "この曲もあゆみさんが歌ったらロックなのに、私が歌ったら、演歌になる"</ref> === 2010s === On January 1, 2010, 73-year-old [[Saburō Kitajima]] released the single {{Nihongo|"Fūfu Isshō"|夫婦一生|lit. "Couple in a Lifetime"}}, emerging at No. 10 on the Oricon weekly charts, making him the first solo artist to reach the Top 10 in his 70s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/72343/full/|title=北島三郎「73歳3か月」で最年長TOP10入り、19年ぶりに歴代記録抜く|publisher=Oricon|date=2010-01-12|access-date=2010-01-12|language=ja|archive-date=2010-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115154338/http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/72343/full|url-status=live}}</ref> After [[Fuyumi Sakamoto]] appeared on [[Masahiro Nakai]]'s TV program ''Nakai Masahiro no Kinyōbi no Sumatachi e'' on March 19, 2010, her double A-side single "Mata Kimi ni Koi Shiteru/Asia no Kaizoku" reached the Top 10 for the first time, ranked at No. 9 on the Oricon charts. The single became her first Top 10 single in 21 years since "Otoko no Jōwa", which had ranked in the Top 10 on the Oricon charts in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/74558/full/|title=『金スマ』効果! 坂本冬美のシングルが49週目で21年ぶりTOP10入り|publisher=Oricon|date=2010-03-23|access-date=2010-03-23|language=ja|archive-date=2010-04-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100409000929/http://www.oricon.co.jp/news/rankmusic/74558/full|url-status=live}}</ref>
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