Songs of tragic love, driven by strong emotions, are at the heart of enka, often called "the Japanese blues." Enka songs take up romantic, nostalgic, and melancholy themes. The roots of enka lie in the protest songs of Japan's "freedom and popular rights movement" of the late 19th century. Later, these protest songs evolved into a type of popular music that has captivated Japanese listeners for generations. Enka's sentimental ballads about our everyday struggles and weaknesses really strike a chord. Enka has developed while preserving a traditional Japanese musical scale and unique vibrato singing style that are quite different from most Western music. And because enka ballads are easier to sing than pop or rock songs, enka is an especially popular karaoke choice among middle-aged and elderly singers. On this edition of BEGIN Japanology, our theme is enka. We explore the distinctly Japanese sensibility and sentimentality that give the Japanese blues its enduring appeal.

This month, we present a special talk-show series called Japanophiles, featuring lively interviews with foreigners living in Japan. Making skillful use of small spaces, Japanese architecture unites beauty and functionality. And American architect Azby Brown is at the vanguard of sharing Japanese people's distinctive design philosophies with the world. Brown's studies are not limited to simply architecture. They also delve into the lifestyle of Japan's Edo period, 200 or 300 years ago. Azby Brown was born in 1956 in New Orleans, and he went on to study architecture at Yale University. He came to Japan for the first time in 1983 and ultimately spent 3 years observing the restoration of a 1,300-year-old temple. In 2010, Brown started a research project devoted to sharing Japanese culture with Africa. He is planning to use recycled materials to make traditional Japanese ovens that will be useful in many African villages. Today, we look into the special appeal of Japanese architecture, and what it has to offer the future of lifestyle design, through the eyes of Azby Brown.