All for one, one for all!
You'll never walk alone!
The Force will be with you...always.
Yes, there is nothing like the above phrases to let you know that whatever trouble you may face, you will always have comrades to have your back.
Well, apparently, there has been an Opposition rebuttal in Japan. Back in January this year, an enka song came out titled "Aah, Hitori Tabi" (Ahh, The Journey Alone) and it's about taking that path and facing all those obstacles that might come in the way...all by your lonesome because ultimately it is really all up to you. This must sound like manna from heaven to all those lone wolves out there.
Ironically, the song is tackled by a trio (not one lone wolf) and it's a family affair, to boot. We've got the brothers Ichiro Toba（鳥羽一郎）and Yutaka Yamakawa（山川豊）plus Toba's son, enka singer Tetsuji Kimura（木村徹二）, behind the mikes solemnly singing about the solo path. Furthermore, "Aah, Hitori Tabi" was produced, written and composed by Kimura's older brother, enka singer and songwriter Ryuzo Kimura（木村竜蔵）just to add to the family contributions.
Of course, Toba and Yamakawa are famous for often getting together to perform the classic enka, Toba's own "Kyodai Bune"（兄弟船）, about sharing the challenges of catching that fish on a boat. Interestingly enough, Kimura's lyrics also include the fact that women as well as men also face that resolute journey on their own.
Since "Aah, Hitori Tabi" can be considered to be one of those shibui enka, karaoke singers will probably have to make sure that their most stoic faces are on display. Because after all, that is the ippiki ohkami way.
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