Enka

Enka is a popular Japanese music genre often likened to blues for its melancholic touch and sentimental ballads. Characterized by its melodramatic themes, enka songs typically explore loss, love, loneliness, and the ephemeral nature of life, often with a nostalgic longing for the past. The music employs a traditional Japanese scale mixed with Western harmonies and often features the distinctive sound of the shamisen, a Japanese three-stringed lute. Enka singers, like Ryoko Moriyama and Sayuri Ishikawa, are known for their deep, emotive voices and the ability to convey profound emotion through a style of singing that incorporates vibrato and controlled melodrama. Performance-wise, enka artists often don traditional Japanese attire, adding to the genre's cultural and nostalgic appeal.

Latest Enka Release
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Mine or Yours
Single - Released May 2, 2025
Top Artists Spotify Logo
Hikaru Utada
Sheena Ringo
Teresa Teng
Yumi Matsutoya
Anzen Chitai
Jody Chiang
Top Playlists
The Sound of Trot 26 Enka artists
The Sound of Okinawan Folk 24 Enka artists
The Sound of Ryūkōka 24 Enka artists
The Sound of Classic Anime 11 Enka artists
The Sound of Shamisen 6 Enka artists
The Sound of Koto 5 Enka artists

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  1. May 2, 2025
  2. May 1
  3. April 29
  4. April 23
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  26. January 1
  27. December 26, 2024
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  31. December 18
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  39. November 28
  40. November 27