Enka

The term enka refers to two different styles of Japanese music. The first is a traditional type of music from both the Meiji period

The term enka refers to two different styles of Japanese music. The first is a traditional type of music from both the Meiji period (1868–1912) and the Taisho period (1912-1926). The second is a genre of melodramatic Japanese popular songs, which has been likened to American country music in terms of themes and audience. The term now usually refers to the latter.

The term enka (演歌 - from enzetsu public speech and ka song) originated in Meiji Japan. It began as a form of political dissent - speeches set to music to make them spread more easily - but quickly changed form. It was the first style to synthesize the Japanese pentatonic scale with Western harmonies.