Fuyumi-chan

I have followed this Enka singer's career for many years. Sakamoto Fuyumi began performing professionally as a teenager in 1986. Her debut song, Abare Daiko ("Wild Drum") was a big hit. She sings it at just about every concert to this day and even gives a brief performance on the Taiko drums. What I like about her is that she has both spunk and charm. If you've ever watched one of her performances, you'll understand what I'm talking about. She often teases the audience in a very girl-like fashion. Also, many Enka singers will stand in a fixed position during the entire song. Fuyumi, on the other hand, is constantly moving around the stage in a very dance-like fashion, using her hands to help convey the meaning of the songs. With most performers, this can be forced and quite annoying. But with Fuyumi, it's not.

Enka music is very much an acquired taste. Some have described it as the Japanese version of country music. Many of the songs deal with lost love. I've also heard the term "Japanese torch songs." That's a pretty good description too. Enka has been on the decline in recent years. But there are still many good Enka singers and Fuyumi is one of them.