Editing Enka (section)

=== 1955–1959: Early history of modern ''enka'' ===
Although "Otomi-san" was popular, [[Hachiro Kasuga|Kasuga]] himself was not completely satisfied with it and recorded the song {{Nihongo|"Wakare no Ippon-sugi"|別れの一本杉|lit. "Farewell One Cedar"}} by [[Toru Funamura]].<ref name="ntv" /> The song was released in 1955 and was later regarded as a true ''enka'' song.{{why|month=November 2010|date=November 2010}}<ref name="funamura">{{cite web|url=http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200305/gt2003051808.html|script-title=ja:船村徹さん、演歌を愛し歌い続けて５０年|publisher=Sanspo|date=2003-05-18|access-date=2009-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030622011048/http://www.sanspo.com/geino/top/gt200305/gt2003051808.html|archive-date=2003-06-22|language=ja}}</ref> The song, ironically, was also influenced by [[tango music]]'s rhythm because Funamura felt that tango seemed similar to ''enka'' in its local color.<ref name="funamura" /> "Wakare no Ippon-sugi" was later covered by singers as diverse as [[Michiya Mihashi]], [[Hideo Murata]], [[Keiko Fuji]], [[Hibari Misora]], [[Saburō Kitajima]], [[Takashi Hosokawa]], and [[Hiroshi Itsuki]].{{when|date=December 2010}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail.asp?sku=1228316|script-title=ja:別れの一本杉は枯れず|publisher=HMV Japan|access-date=2009-03-02|language=ja|archive-date=2012-02-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212224715/http://www.hmv.co.jp/product/detail.asp?sku=1228316|url-status=live}}</ref> Kasuga was later called the first ''enka'' singer.{{why|month=November 2010|date=November 2010}}<ref name="ntv" />

Michiya Mihashi, who originally sang Japanese folk music (''[[min'yō]]'') and learned ''[[tsugaru-jamisen]]'', released his debut single "Sake no Nigasa yo" as a recording singer in 1954.<ref name="goo">{{cite web|url=http://music.goo.ne.jp/artist/ARTLISD1147250/index.html|title=Michiya Mihashi|publisher=goo|access-date=2009-02-09|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710155112/http://music.goo.ne.jp/artist/ARTLISD1147250/index.html|archive-date=2009-07-10}}</ref> Mihashi's "Onna Sendō Uta" was a hit in 1955.<ref name="goo" /> Funamura's friend Kimio Takano, the lyricist of "Wakare no Ippon-sugi", died in 1956 at the age of 26.<ref name="funamura" /> Hibari Misora's music turned to ''enka'' when she was no longer regarded as a [[teen idol]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2001-07-22|title=When we had heroes|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20010722a1.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507130958/http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20010722a1.html|archive-date=2010-05-07|access-date=2009-10-16|publisher=The Japan Times}}</ref>

Around the postwar period, ''[[rōkyoku]]'' (or ''naniwa-bushi''), famous during the war, declined in popularity mainly because their speaking lengths were considered too long. ''Enka'', on the other hand, which became popular around that time, was said to be a shortened version of ''rōkyoku'' because several ''enka'' singers such as Hideo Murata and [[Haruo Minami]] were originally ''rōkyoku'' singers and ''enka'' has many themes in common with the genre.<ref name="nishinippon">{{cite web|url=http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/culture/kayou/20061220/20061220_001.shtml|script-title=ja:第６部・演歌巡礼＜８＞初代桃中軒雲右衛門 受け継がれゆく浪花節|publisher=Nishinippon Shimbun|date=2006-12-20|access-date=2009-02-02|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207014456/http://www.nishinippon.co.jp/nnp/culture/kayou/20061220/20061220_001.shtml|archive-date=2009-02-07}}</ref> One notable ''rōkyoku'' singer who had an influence on ''enka'' was [[Kumoemon Tochuken]], whose student's pupil was Murata.<ref name="nishinippon" /> Minami debuted on [[Teichiku Records]] in 1957 and Murata on Nippon Columbia in 1958. Murata covered the song {{Nihongo|"Jinsei Gekijō"|人生劇場|lit. "Drama of Life"}}, composed by [[Masao Koga]].<ref name="koga" /> Haruo Minami was known for wearing a [[kimono]], which was at the time considered an unusual style for a male singer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nikkansports.com/jinji/2001/seikyo010415.html|script-title=ja:訃報・三波春夫さん|publisher=[[Nikkan Sports]]|date=2001-04-15|access-date=2009-10-21|language=ja|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213130701/http://www.nikkansports.com/jinji/2001/seikyo010415.html|archive-date=2009-12-13}}</ref>