is a Japanese ryūkōka

Ryukoka

- 1914–1927: Origin :In 1914, Sumako Matsui's song "Katyusha's song", composed by Shinpei Nakayama, was used as a theme of the rendition Resurrection in Japan. The record of the song sold 20,000 copies...

and 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...

singer, songwriter and electric guitarist. He is one of this country's superstars. His debut song was released in 1939. Although his music was amateurish, he became very popular. Along with enka-shi Haruo Oka

Haruo Oka

born as Tatsuo Sasaki was a Japanese popular music singer.He studied music as enka-shi or a street musician. At that time, he was encouraged by Taro Shoji in Ginza. He signed with King Records in 1938. He debuted with song "Kokkyō no Haru" in 1939. He married with Kiyoko Okuda in 1940...

's 1939 debut, his debut had a big impact on Japanese popular music because Japanese popular ryūkōka

Ryukoka

- 1914–1927: Origin :In 1914, Sumako Matsui's song "Katyusha's song", composed by Shinpei Nakayama, was used as a theme of the rendition Resurrection in Japan. The record of the song sold 20,000 copies...

music of that time was mainly sung by classical music singers such as 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...

 and Noriko Awaya

Noriko Awaya

was a Japanese female Soprano chanson and popular music singer. She has been dubbed the "Queen of Blues" in Japan.- Life and career :...

.

Hitoshi Komuro stated that Yoshio Tabata and Wataru Takada are the two best Japanese singers.

Discography

: 1939 : 1941 : 1962 : 1975 : 1994 : 1998 (Tribute song to Taro Shoji

Taro Shoji

was a Japanese popular music singer.Shoji was born in Akita, Akita Prefecture. He graduated from the Waseda University. He at first entered the South Manchuria Railway. He made his debut as a recording singer in 1933. He attempted to become a Western classical singer, but finally became a popular...

born in 1898) : 2001