Jero, the Afro-american enka singer?

[kikiandlala]

Just checked out BT, and there was mention of Jero

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jero

here's some clips of the guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkMOtFXi1MA&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEmeVeQe56U&NR=1
http://youtube.com/watch?v=RqtgJ5TJi8M

Anyone in Japan, know what the reaction to him is like?
I like what I hear, he's smooth and got conviction. He's
also got a lot of balls to go in and enter the biz through
enka.

[yellowdawg]

I just saw a video about this, and it's awesome.

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2008/03/10/lah.japan.hip.hopper.cnn?iref=videosearch

[Kuroyama]

I havent spotted his CD yet, but he was appearing on all the major networks not long ago... then went silent. Ive won money singing enka in contests before. I can tell you firsthand that yeah, it freaks Japanese people out. Theyll walk into the bar and its all nonchalance...until they connect the face with the voice.

The shocked reaction isnt really a negative thing. Its just honest surprise.
Ive seen fewer than 20 foreigners singing enka ever. That includes TV spots, and whatever.

Now that I live in the Tokyo area, I hope to go up against him someday. I think I could take him on presentation. But his Grandmother was Japanese!! She played that stuff for him every day as a child. He already knows far more songs than Ill ever learn. So...in a shootout, Id be toast.

[kikiandlala]

So Jero just disappeared from TV? Hmm, any idea if he's gearing up for doing live performances or was he an especially quick flavour of the day?

[Kuroyama]

His "disappearance" IMO had more to do with a certain episode in Okinawa. His manager (Or TV stations) likely realized that that wasnt the time to promote a Black face in Japan. If it was his mgr, then I guess and hes just waiting things out. If it was a decision made by TV stations... then I dont expect hell be back anytime soon unless his CD sells REALLLLLLY well based on what exposure he had.

If thats the case, I dont expect hell be back. I think that as a hip hop artist he might claim himself a really niche market. But, I dont forsee Japans youth rushing out to buy enka CDs.

You might see more Black kids with Japanese heritage moving into JPop... but ENKA? I just dont see it. Not unless they put on a suit and do it up old school enka.

[SamuraiJack]

His "disappearance" IMO had more to do with a certain episode in Okinawa. His manager (Or TV stations) likely realized that that wasnt the time to promote a Black face in Japan. If it was his mgr, then I guess and hes just waiting things out. If it was a decision made by TV stations... then I dont expect hell be back anytime soon unless his CD sells REALLLLLLY well based on what exposure he had.

If thats the case, I dont expect hell be back. I think that as a hip hop artist he might claim himself a really niche market. But, I dont forsee Japans youth rushing out to buy enka CDs.

You might see more Black kids with Japanese heritage moving into JPop... but ENKA? I just dont see it. Not unless they put on a suit and do it up old school enka.

I think it has more to do with Enka, than seeing a black face. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't African American singers do well in Japan?

[Kuroyama]

SJ

A few years ago, Idve agreed with you. but since moving here Ive found out that there are young enka singers who do well here. Or I should say young JAPANESE enka singers. I dont mean that in a begrudging way. To be honest, a Black enka star is much like a Japanese country western star, or a Japanese NASCAR driver.

Its not to say there arent any or there could never be any. Its to say that if there WERE any, they would be aware of how much it took to get to that point and how much easier it mightve been with blond hair and blue eyes.

Some people equate singing enka with part of "being Japanese". Not literally, but in the same sense people might refer to Toshinobu Kubota as "Black".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshinobu_Kubota

[little mixed girl]

he got to like #4 on the oricon charts for his single.
he does make tv appearances, but it's not a whole bunch.
and i'm not really a big enka fan, so i'm not hunting down his tv appearances.

he is a good singer, and his single sounds pretty good.

his japanese is also pretty good, and it should only get better the longer he's here.
one thing i'm really glad of is that he doesn't do that retarded pitchy voice that a lot of foreign western men use when speaking japanese.

i hope he does well.

[Kuroyama]

The longer hes here...

LMG I thought you were in the States!
Zat what I get for thinking?

[kikiandlala]

Well looks like his handlers have put him back in syndication. Jero's going to be the face of Kirin Fire Cafe Zero canned coffee.

Jero's gaining momentum over there, and even the Washington Post took notice
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/27/AR2008052703079.html?hpid=artslot

(congratulations to the guy, but shit did the Washington Post have to be so
backhanded in its compliments and they also pulled the standard "Oh them
Japanese are the wacky..." crap again.)

[Kuroyama]

Yeh Ive seen his mug all over the train stations and inside the trains. His face has even overtaken the very popular Tommy Lee Jones with his hound dog features.

The Washington Post article... well it was written by Blaine Hayden... doesnt sound like a very colorful name to me. I cant be too surprised if its not hugely complimentary.

I WAS confused by the articles statement that Jero is adamant that the hip hop angle is his, and not the record companies... because just a couple of days ago I read the exact opposite *no, I dont have my source...*