Akari Mochizuki is a Japanese enka and min’yō vocalist and is widely introduced as the only professional enka singer in the UK. Originally from Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, she began singing enka at a very young age (profiles note from age three). Based in the UK, she studied drama in Cambridge and contemporary/modern music in London, and has been active as a professional singer since 2009 (also previously performing under the name Alika Mochida).
Her shows spotlight enka’s storytelling power while making it accessible to international audiences. Akari has performed at a wide range of cultural stages including events at the British Museum, WOMAD, Hyper Japan, and Japan Matsuri, and has also appeared on BBC Radio 3’s “The Verb.” She frequently collaborates with Tsugaru shamisen (including projects with Hibiki Ichikawa), presenting Japanese traditional music in a modern live context. Known for bilingual presentation and an audience-friendly approach, she is praised for performances that resonate even with listeners who don’t understand Japanese—from first-time Japan-culture discoverers to dedicated fans.
More from Akari Mochizuki: https://www.instagram.com/mochimochiakari/, https://www.facebook.com/akari.mochizuki.148 and http://www.akarisinger.com/