#enka

Minnesota no Tamago Uri - Teruko Akatsuki

1951

Sweet, quirky, and unmistakably retro

US Vogue August 1, 1953

Mary Jane Russell wears a complete evening ensemble consisting of: a slightly calf-length chiffon dance dress in Enka rayon; a Cheney velvet coat in DuPont rayon. A Filcol costume and Kramer sequins. Germaine Monteil's Superglow lipstick: "Frou Frou."

Mary Jane Russell porte un ensemble de soirée complet composé: d'une robe de danse en mousseline, légèrement plus longue que le mollet, en rayonne Enka ; un manteau en velours Cheney, en rayonne DuPont. Costume Filcol et paillettes Kramer. Le rouge à lèvres Superglow de Germaine Monteil : « Frou Frou ».

Nao Nagasawa singing Enka Song in Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger (Ep 2)

Anyone know the song title? I'm addicted to such "old" songs recently. There's something nostalgic and relaxing about them.

Similar to the ones I heard in No.1 Sentai Gozyuger (Ep 35) & No.1 Sentai Gozyuger (Ep 5)

I was trying to learn more about Nene’s canon taste in music, which she describes as “enka songs about cursing your ex-lover.” Most fans seem to think she’d either enjoy pop or goth music and, while she could certainly enjoy more than one genre, I wanted to figure out what songs she would realistically be listening to. Here is what I learned (Nene enjoyers, get your pens out)

Enka is a Japanese music genre that dates back to the 1950s. It somewhat existed before that in violin music and later with guitar, but the 50s was when the style really came into its own. It maintains elements from traditional Japanese music and is often used in karaoke. The themes are similar to American blues music, lots of talk about heartache and the struggles of life. Alcohol, love, death, and the weather are frequent subjects of enka songs. It declined a bit around the 90s due to younger audiences not being able to relate to the lyrics but it had a revival in the early 2000s (which is the period I suspect Nene would enjoy, as that is the music she would’ve likely heard growing up). Music artists tend to get creative with this genre, there are many enka songs that involve rap as well as elements of tango and jazz

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to find many sources that gave lyrics translations for the songs recommendations I found, due to the genre not being popular in America (I hate us😒) but I did find an article that had a goldmine of song recs!! “Japan’s Top 50 Bestselling Enka Songs” by Daniel Morales, if anyone wants to check it out

I was trying to find some songs to add to my Aoinene playlist but sadly I didn’t have a lot of luck. If there happen to be any enka music fans reading this who also like Aoinene I would love your recommendations. Here’s what I did find though (all of these are from the list cited above):

“Tearful Love” by Yashiro Aki. Yes, I did mostly pick this one because of the name but it is an angsty love song, very much Nene levels of dramatics

“Crimson Karma” by Segawa Eiko. A star-crossed lovers song, Aoinene certified levels of angst

“But It Would Be Nice If You Came Near” by Toshi Itō and Happy and Blue. The singer in the song blames themself for their bad luck in love, more Nene vibes

“Solo Journey to Michinoku” by Yamamoto Jōji. A song about a person wishing they could’ve died with their deceased lover. Could be Aoinene in the Ghost Hotel au or during the Severance arc. Orrrrr by the end of the manga if Nene doesn’t survive