Kaori Mizumori

Dubbed the "Queen of Local Songs," Kaori Mizumori is one of the most prominent exponents of modern enka, a style of traditional music that emerged in postwar Japan in the mid-1950s. Her work is comprised mainly of sentimental ballads that feature numerous references to Japanese landscapes and culture. Born Yukiko Ōde on August 31, 1973, in Tokyo, she made her official debut in 1995 with the single "Oshiroi Hana," which reached Number 46 on the Weekly Oricon Chart. Ever since the release of "Kushiro Marsh" in 2004, all of her singles have cracked the Top 10 of the Oricon charts and songs like "Kumano Kodo" (2006), "Lonely Satsuma Road" (2007), and "Matsushima Travelogue" (2010) have all become extremely popular among Japanese audiences. She is also known for making frequent performances at the annual NHK Red and White Song Festival, an event she has been invited to for 20 consecutive years. In addition to her music work, Kaori Mizumori has also been appointed as cultural ambassador for several Japanese prefectures. In 2022, her singles "Kujukuri Beach," "Boso Peninsula Leave It to the Wind," and "Cape Inubo" all peaked at Number 8 on the local charts, extending her winning streak even further.