Hachiro Kasuga
Encyclopedia
, born as Minoru Watabe, was a Japanese enka
singer. He has been dubbed "the first enka singer".
Having seen the stage of Ichiro Fujiyama
, he attempted to become a popular singer. After he graduated from the Toyo Music School
, he joined the Japanese army in 1944, but returned from Taiwan
to Japan in 1945. He joined the Shinjuku Moulin Rouge in 1947 and then the King Records in 1949.
In 1952, Kasuga made his debut with song , which at first got into the news in Nagoya. His popularity soon became widespread. His 1954 song became more successful throughout Japan. This single sold 500,000 copies in a half year, and eventually sold more than one million copies.
In 1955, he also released single which he musically sought. The song was composed by Toru Funamura. His music, which was later called enka
, had much effect on subsequent popular music of Japan.
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
singer. He has been dubbed "the first enka singer".
Having seen the stage of Ichiro Fujiyama
Ichiro Fujiyama
, born as , was a popular Japanese singer and composer, known for his contribution to Japanese popular music called ryūkōka by his Western classical music skills. He was born in Chūō, Tokyo, and graduated from the Tokyo Music School. Although he was regarded as a tenor singer in Japanese popular...
, he attempted to become a popular singer. After he graduated from the Toyo Music School
Tokyo College of Music
was founded as in Kanda, Tokyo in 1907. It is the oldest private music school in Japan.- History :The founder , Yonejirō Suzuki, introduced European classical music into the Empire of Japan....
, he joined the Japanese army in 1944, but returned from Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
to Japan in 1945. He joined the Shinjuku Moulin Rouge in 1947 and then the King Records in 1949.
In 1952, Kasuga made his debut with song , which at first got into the news in Nagoya. His popularity soon became widespread. His 1954 song became more successful throughout Japan. This single sold 500,000 copies in a half year, and eventually sold more than one million copies.
In 1955, he also released single which he musically sought. The song was composed by Toru Funamura. His music, which was later called enka
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
, had much effect on subsequent popular music of Japan.