演歌(えんか)

えんか
noun
enka (Japanese ballad)
musicculture
1. enka; Japanese ballad
A genre of sentimental Japanese popular music characterized by distinctive vocal techniques and emotional themes of love, loss, and nostalgia.
祖父(そふ)は演歌(えんか)が好(す)きだ。
My grandfather likes enka.
カラオケで演歌(えんか)を歌(うた)った。
I sang enka at karaoke.
演歌(えんか)歌手(かしゅ)の公演(こうえん)に行(い)った。
I went to an enka singer's concert.
演歌(えんか)は日本(にほん)の伝統的(でんとうてき)な歌謡曲(かようきょく)のジャンルだ。
Enka is a genre of traditional Japanese popular music.
年末(ねんまつ)の紅白歌合戦(こうはくうたがっせん)では、毎年(まいとし)演歌(えんか)が何曲(なんきょく)も歌(うた)われる。
At the year-end Kohaku singing contest, several enka songs are performed every year.

Usage

The genre is known for 小節(こぶし) (vibrato-like vocal ornamentation), emotionally expressive singing, and melancholic melodies. Typical themes are love, parting, drink, the harbor, and longing for one's hometown.

Common collocations

Cultural note

演歌(えんか) is particularly popular among older generations in Japan. Famous singers include 北島(きたじま)三郎(さぶろう), 美空(みそら)ひばり, and 氷川(ひかわ)きよし.

Related Words

Compare: 民謡(みんよう) (folk song)
Compare: 歌謡曲(かようきょく) (popular song)
Related: 愛(あい) (love)
Related: 別(わか)れ (parting)
Related: 故郷(ふるさと) (hometown)
Related: 酒(さけ) (alcohol/drinking)
Related: 人生(じんせい) (life)
core
Added 2026.1.19 8:09 · Revised 2026.10.11 16:05
07000/07082_enka