Jero
Encyclopedia
Jerome Charles White, Jr. (born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, on September 4, 1981), better known by his stage name , is an enka
singer of African-American and Japan
ese descent. He is the first black
enka
singer in Japanese music history.
school of foreign languages. Jero majored in information science
at University of Pittsburgh
and graduated in 2003, and moved to Japan in the same year. Two months after arriving in Japan, he entered the NHK Nodo Jiman
competition broadcast on TV.
Jero first began pursuing his dream to become an Enka artist because of the influence of his Japanese grandmother Takiko, who had met his grandfather, an African-American serviceman, at a dance during World War II. They married, had a daughter, Harumi - now a department store sales clerk - and eventually moved to his grandfather's hometown, Pittsburgh. His parents divorced when he was young, and he was reared amid a strong sense of Japanese culture.
His grandmother, originally from Yokohama
, Japan, first introduced Jero to Enka and it was under her guidance that he grew to love the genre as a child. Jero, who majored in information technology at the University of Pittsburgh, did not initially imagine himself in a career as an Enka singer. Rather, after he permanently moved to Japan, his main forms of employment were as an English teacher and as a computer engineer. He only began to actively work towards become an Enka singer because he had promised his grandmother that one day he would someday perform at the annual Kohaku Uta Gassen
song show. As a result, he actively participated in numerous singing contests while he continued to work as a computer engineer and eventually achieved real success after only two months since he had arrived in Japan. Sadly, his grandmother never was able to see her grandson achieve Enka fame, for she died in 2005, three years before he became famous.
His first single, , was released in Japan on February 20, 2008. It entered the Oricon
charts at number 4. Umi Yuki, references the Sea of Japan, but Jero has admitted that the only ocean he has ever really seen was in California.
From May 21, 2008, Jero appeared in a Japanese TV commercial
for Kirin
"Fire" coffee, the first time he had appeared in a TV commercial. In October 2008, he was interviewed on CNN International
's TalkAsia
.
He won Best New Artist Award in 50th Japan Record Awards
on December 30, 2008.
Jero was selected to appear on the 59th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen
, NHK
New Year's Eve musical spectacular, on December 31, 2008. In his participation, he fulfilled a pledge he made to his dying grandmother to appear on the yearly competition. Jero appeared wearing a black and white shirt bearing the image of his grandmother. He also appeared on the following year
's show.
Jero made his first major U.S. appearance on March 28, 2009 during the opening ceremony of the National Cherry Blossom Festival
in Washington, D.C.
Jero's first official U.S. appearance was a live concert to over 500 fans at the University of Pittsburgh
, his alma mater, on August 27, 2008.
Jero completed his first official US concert tour by singing to a sold-out house at the Palace of Fine Arts
in San Francisco on March 28, 2010, and at the Aratani Japan America Theatre in Los Angeles
on March 31, 2010. In addition, he also appeared in the 30th Anniversary Gala Celebration of the Japanese American
Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles on March 30, 2010.
culture have been popular among a segment of young Japanese since the mid-1990s, so many are hoping that he will be able to spark interest in enka in the younger generation. He held a concert on February 20, 2008 in Shibuya
, a popular hangout for young people.
Enka, a product of the late 1940s, is often viewed today by the music industry as commercially obsolete. Indeed, there is hope for Enka yet as Jero’s fanbase is not limited to older women who grew up with the genre but also a new and emerging younger fanbase who before would never have been thought of as potential fans for the genre.
Jero’s devotion to the memory of his grandmother and his image as a well educated individual has helped him to win over the hearts of older fans, while younger fans are drawn to him and his music because of the way he has revitalized the genre by blending it with a dash of hip hop.
From the start, Jero always wanted to keep his hip hop attire, but his record company was a bit hesitant at first. Most Enka singers wear a kimono in their performances, which Jero felt was inappropriate for him. After pleading with his management company, he was allowed to maintain the hip hop image and to great success as it is one of the many factors that contribute to his great popularity.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, on September 4, 1981), better known by his stage name , is an enka
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
singer of African-American and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese descent. He is the first black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
enka
Enka
is a popular Japanese music genre considered to resemble traditional Japanese music stylistically. Modern enka, however, is a relatively recent musical form which arose in the context of such postwar expressions of modern Japanese nonmaterial nationalism as nihonjinron, while adopting a more...
singer in Japanese music history.
Biography
Jero began singing Enka actively at the age of six and continued to study the Japanese language all throughout high school and university. He also studied Japanese for some time at the Kansai Gaidai UniversityKansai Gaidai University
, almost always abbreviated Kansai Gaidai , is located in Hirakata, Osaka, Japan. It is a private university focusing on foreign language studies. Kansai is the proper name of the large region where it is located, which includes the cities of Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. Gaidai is a contraction of...
school of foreign languages. Jero majored in information science
Information science
-Introduction:Information science is an interdisciplinary science primarily concerned with the analysis, collection, classification, manipulation, storage, retrieval and dissemination of information...
at University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
and graduated in 2003, and moved to Japan in the same year. Two months after arriving in Japan, he entered the NHK Nodo Jiman
NHK Nodo Jiman
NHK Nodo Jiman is one of the longest running TV programs broadcast on Japanese NHK TV and NHK radio.- History :Nodo Jiman features amateur singers who live in the locality where the competition is held....
competition broadcast on TV.
Jero first began pursuing his dream to become an Enka artist because of the influence of his Japanese grandmother Takiko, who had met his grandfather, an African-American serviceman, at a dance during World War II. They married, had a daughter, Harumi - now a department store sales clerk - and eventually moved to his grandfather's hometown, Pittsburgh. His parents divorced when he was young, and he was reared amid a strong sense of Japanese culture.
His grandmother, originally from Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
, Japan, first introduced Jero to Enka and it was under her guidance that he grew to love the genre as a child. Jero, who majored in information technology at the University of Pittsburgh, did not initially imagine himself in a career as an Enka singer. Rather, after he permanently moved to Japan, his main forms of employment were as an English teacher and as a computer engineer. He only began to actively work towards become an Enka singer because he had promised his grandmother that one day he would someday perform at the annual Kohaku Uta Gassen
Kohaku Uta Gassen
, more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual music show on New Year's Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both television and radio, nationally and internationally by NHK's networks and some overseas broadcasters which bought the program...
song show. As a result, he actively participated in numerous singing contests while he continued to work as a computer engineer and eventually achieved real success after only two months since he had arrived in Japan. Sadly, his grandmother never was able to see her grandson achieve Enka fame, for she died in 2005, three years before he became famous.
His first single, , was released in Japan on February 20, 2008. It entered the Oricon
Oricon
, established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc...
charts at number 4. Umi Yuki, references the Sea of Japan, but Jero has admitted that the only ocean he has ever really seen was in California.
From May 21, 2008, Jero appeared in a Japanese TV commercial
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
for Kirin
Kirin Brewery Company
is a Japanese company. It is a member of the Mitsubishi keiretsu.-Overview:Kirin sells two of the most popular beers in Japan, Kirin Lager--the country's oldest beer brand--and Ichiban Shibori. In the happoshu category, Kirin Tanrei is the top seller. Kirin handles domestic distribution for...
"Fire" coffee, the first time he had appeared in a TV commercial. In October 2008, he was interviewed on CNN International
CNN International
CNN International is an international English language television network that carries news, current affairs, politics, opinions, and business programming worldwide. CNN is one of the world's largest news organizations. It is owned by Time Warner, and is affiliated with CNN, which is mainly...
's TalkAsia
TalkAsia
TalkAsia is a CNN International interview show hosted by rotating anchors of CNN. It has been until recently interviews various people who, in some way, affect Asian issues...
.
He won Best New Artist Award in 50th Japan Record Awards
50th Japan Record Awards
The 50th Annual Japan Record Awards took place at the New National Theatre in Shibuya, Tokyo, on December 30, 2008, starting at 6:30PM JST. The primary ceremonies were televised in Japan on TBS.- Awards winners :* Japan Record Award: - Ti Amo...
on December 30, 2008.
Jero was selected to appear on the 59th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen
59th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen
The , referred to from hereon as "Kōhaku", was aired on December 31, 2008 from NHK Hall in Japan.- Hosts :*Red team host: Yukie Nakama*White team host: Masahiro Nakai*Mediators: Kazuya Matsumoto and Fumie Ono...
, NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
New Year's Eve musical spectacular, on December 31, 2008. In his participation, he fulfilled a pledge he made to his dying grandmother to appear on the yearly competition. Jero appeared wearing a black and white shirt bearing the image of his grandmother. He also appeared on the following year
60th NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen
The , referred to from hereon as "Kōhaku", was aired on December 31, 2009 from NHK Hall in Japan.-Performers:The singers, announced on November 23, 2009, are ordered below according to the gojūon....
's show.
Jero made his first major U.S. appearance on March 28, 2009 during the opening ceremony of the National Cherry Blossom Festival
National Cherry Blossom Festival
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a spring celebration in Washington, D.C., commemorating the March 27, 1912, gift of Japanese cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Jero's first official U.S. appearance was a live concert to over 500 fans at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, his alma mater, on August 27, 2008.
Jero completed his first official US concert tour by singing to a sold-out house at the Palace of Fine Arts
Palace of Fine Arts
The Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District of San Francisco, California, is a monumental structure originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in order to exhibit works of art presented there. One of only a few surviving structures from the Exposition, it is the only one still...
in San Francisco on March 28, 2010, and at the Aratani Japan America Theatre in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on March 31, 2010. In addition, he also appeared in the 30th Anniversary Gala Celebration of the Japanese American
Japanese American
are American people of Japanese heritage. Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities, but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group at roughly 1,204,205, including those of mixed-race or mixed-ethnicity...
Cultural and Community Center in Los Angeles on March 30, 2010.
Appeal
African-AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
culture have been popular among a segment of young Japanese since the mid-1990s, so many are hoping that he will be able to spark interest in enka in the younger generation. He held a concert on February 20, 2008 in Shibuya
Shibuya, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 2008, it has an estimated population of 208,371 and a population density of 13,540 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km²....
, a popular hangout for young people.
Enka, a product of the late 1940s, is often viewed today by the music industry as commercially obsolete. Indeed, there is hope for Enka yet as Jero’s fanbase is not limited to older women who grew up with the genre but also a new and emerging younger fanbase who before would never have been thought of as potential fans for the genre.
Jero’s devotion to the memory of his grandmother and his image as a well educated individual has helped him to win over the hearts of older fans, while younger fans are drawn to him and his music because of the way he has revitalized the genre by blending it with a dash of hip hop.
From the start, Jero always wanted to keep his hip hop attire, but his record company was a bit hesitant at first. Most Enka singers wear a kimono in their performances, which Jero felt was inappropriate for him. After pleading with his management company, he was allowed to maintain the hip hop image and to great success as it is one of the many factors that contribute to his great popularity.
Singles
- "Umiyuki" (海雪) (2008.02.20)
- "Eisa" (えいさ) (2009.01.28)
- "Yancha michi" (やんちゃ道) (2009.04.15)
- "Tsumeato" (爪跡) (2009.08.19)
- "Usonaki" (嘘泣き) (2010.06.16)
- Usonaki [嘘泣き]
- Otokonaki [男泣き]
- Shiki no uta [四季の歌]
- "Tada...Namida" (ただ…涙) (2011.06.22)
- Tada...Namida [ただ…涙]
- Kaenjyu [火焔樹]
Digital Songs
- "Mezamashi yume ondo" (めざまし夢音頭) (2008.08.13)
- "Shiren" (試練) (2008.12.03)
- "Wakeari ressha" (訳あり列車) (2011.03.30)
Albums
- Covers (カバーズ) (2008.06.25)
- Hisame [氷雨]
- Kimi koishi [君恋し]
- Yozura [夜空]
- Mizukigami [水鏡]
- Honmoku meruhen [本牧メルヘン]
- Pusanko e kaere [釜山港へ帰れ]
- Saraba koibito [さらば恋人]
- Covers (カバーズ) Special Edition (CD + DVD) (2008.06.25)
- Yakusoku (約束) (2009.02.25)
- Eisa [えいさ]
- Tokyo hyouryuu [東京漂流]
- Aruzenchin touhikou [アルゼンチン逃避行]
- Shiren [試練]
- Hare butai [晴れ舞台]
- Kyoko to takashi [キョーコとタカシ]
- Rurou no machi [流浪の街]
- Osaka jewel [大阪ジュエル]
- Nanohana hatake de tsukamae te [菜の花畑でつかまえて]
- Umiyuki [海雪]
- Covers 2 (カバーズ 2) (2009.09.23)
- Matteiru onna [待っている女]
- Shishuuki [思秋期]
- Aijin [愛人]
- Orizuru [折鶴]
- Rashoumon [羅生門]
- Tasogare [黄昏]
- Yukiguni [雪國]
- Hajimeteno machide [初めての街で]
- Covers 3 - Roots of Jero (カバーズ 3) (2010.06.16)
- Echigojishi no uta [越後獅子の唄]
- Tsugaru heiya [津軽平野]
- Amerika bashi [アメリカ橋]
- Chigiri [契り]
- Yozakura oshichi [夜桜お七]
- Tsugaru koionna [津軽恋女]
- J
- Best and Rare (ベスト＆レア) (2011.03.30)
- Umiyuki [海雪]
- Hisame [氷雨]
- Hare butai [晴れ舞台]
- Yurakuchode arimasho [有楽町で逢いましょう]
- Tsuemato [爪跡]
- Shiki no uta [四季の歌]
- Shiren [試練]
- Usonaki [嘘泣き]
- Rurou no machi [流浪の街]
- Hajimeteno machide [初めての街で]
- Eisa [えいさ]
- Mezamashi yume ondo [めざまし夢音頭]
- Yancha michi [やんちゃ道]
- Wakeari ressha [訳あり列車]
- Taitoru mitei [タイトル未定]
- Covers 4 (カバーズ 4) (2011.06.22)
- Soshite Kobe [そして神戸]
- Mado [窓]
- Tasogaremai・rabu [たそがれマイ・ラブ]
- Nora [ノラ]
- Soemoncho blues [宗右衛門町ブルース]
- Itoshiki hibi [愛しき日々]
- Katteni shiyagare [勝手にしやがれ]
- Sakurazaka [桜坂]
Commercial tie-ins
- Hisame for Kirin Fire Cafe Zero (2008)
- Shiren for Fushigi no Dungeon Furai no Shiren DS2-Sabaku no Majō (2008)
- Hare Butai for Minna no Uta (2008)
- Rurō no Machi for Donju (2009)
- Yancha Michi for Crayon Shin-chan: Otakebe! Kasukabe Yasei Ōkoku (2009)
- Kyoko to Takashi for Hokkaidō Railway CompanyHokkaido Railway CompanyThe is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group , and thus often known as . It operates intercity rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a smart card ticketing system, from autumn 2008....
(2009) - Shiki no uta for Toyo SuisanToyo Suisan, or just , is a Japanese company specializing in ramen noodles. Toyo Suisan is headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. It owns the brand Maruchan and operates two companies in the United States: Maruchan, Inc. in Irvine, California and Maruchan Virginia, Inc. in Richmond, Virginia.It was established in...
(2010)