It’s a part of who I am…you know, a lot of people think, you know, it’s a big gimmick or something, that…you know, you know…the people who are taking care of me, you know, want to do. But it’s a part of who I am…it’s—I don’t want to, you know, go on stage and be someone else because I am an American—I was born and raised here in the U.S. so, you know, I feel more American than I do Japanese. But, you know, this part of my life, being an enka singer, and singing enka music is something that, you know, I always keep close to me. And whenever I go on stage, I want to, you know, embrace enka and keep my identity. And, you know, this is how I dress on a regular basis—when I go outside, you know, when I’m out with my family, this is how I dress everyday.
Contributed by: Interview by Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum. Courtesy of Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
Interviewee Bio
Jero (Jerome Charles White, Jr.) was born on September 4, 1981, in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. His African American grandfather met his Japanese grandmother as a U.S. serviceman during World War II. They married and had a daughter, Harumi, and eventually moved to his grandfather’s hometown of Pittsburgh. Jero’s parents divorced when he was young so he was raised with a strong sense of Japanese culture. He was introduced to enka by his grandmother and started to sing enka under her encouragment. After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in 2003, he moved to Japan and worked as an English teacher and as a computer engineer, but started to pursue singing professionally after promising his grandmother that one day he would perform at the Kohaku Uta Gassen, the New Year’s Eve musical special that she enjoyed.
Jero’s mix of traditional enka with a youthful, hip hop style has revitalized a singing style that has been slowly dying out by attracting people from all age groups. He won over many hearts after hearing about his promise to his grandmother and was a highlight of the night when he did appear on the Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2008. He won the Best New Artist award in the Japan Record Awards that year. He has gained popularity among Nikkei and performed for sold-out audiences in the U.S. in 2010.