The president of Enka

[imomus]

Amidst all the buzz about a black American's chance to become the next US President, let's consider an even more remarkable achievement: a black American is currently poised to revitalise Enka, the genre of trad balladry post-war Japan liked to get drunk and sentimental listening to. The man in question is 26 year-old Jerome White Junior, raised in Pittsburgh. In Japan they just call him Jero.



Jero's grandfather was a black American soldier stationed in Japan who married a Japanese woman. A few years later, back in Pittsburgh, her Enka record collection began to fascinate her six year-old grandson. He signed up for a Japanese language course at school and, after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, headed to Japan, where Victor Records took a risk and signed him.

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The risk paid off: Jero is now huge, with a fanbase demographic that takes in octogenarian nostalgarians and young girls alike. His energetic synchronised dance routines and brash hip hop outfits may make a bizarre corollary for the warbling ballads he sings, but -- as they aren't saying about Obama and Hillary -- maybe it's the best of both worlds, a marriage made, if not in heaven, then at least in spring, when the blossom falls, bro, yo.

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Having messed somewhat with hybrid Enka on my last album, I must say I love the soaring sentimentality of this musical form. It's not far from the swooping croon Bowie achieved in his cover of "Wild is the Wind". Who says this gorgeous rush of regret and vibrato can only be for Japanese people? Thanks to its new black president, Enka is destined for all humanity.

Comments

[desant012.livejournal.com]

I love those really sad ballads you hear blasting on fuzzy, tin-can transistor radio in "convenienece marts" (I'm not sure what the international name for that is) run by people from Central and South Asia. I've spent my entire life tracking down that stuff and I just can't find it ... maybe I'll ask about it one day.

incessant searching

[(Anonymous)]

tell me about it... i was in a black cab going to laguardia some years ago when the driver (of either central or south american nationality) popped in a cassette tape as we slowed down in traffic. from the speakers poured the most amazing song i'd ever heard: the polka-like rhythm of latino country music mixed with a knocking bassline and some sharp guitar riffs. over all of this a female singer did a sort of call and response in spanish but with dulcet tones instead of the usual hip-hop and reggaeton gravel. still kicking myself for not asking the guy who that group was, and try as i might i just can't find it anywhere.

Re: incessant searching

[count-vronsky.livejournal.com]

Could it have been some Cumbia (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuH9JRetATA)? The stuff from the 1950's and 60's is amazing.