Mood Kayo artists in midcentury Japan mixed the traditional sounds of Enka with elements of jazz and Latin music. Emerging in the ‘50s, the melancholy singing style found itself backed by guitar melodies and beats inspired by in-vogue tunes from all over the world. Artists like Mika Hino and Yutaka Yamakawa held Enka's emotional core, but blended in new rhythms and instrumentation to create something fresh.