Final nail in the coffin for nakashi

"In Japan, enka music has recently become pretty popular, with NHK and other TV stations airing programs about enka music," Hsiao Ying (小應), whose band, the Clippers (夾子樂隊) are one of the only bands to incorporate the minor tones and simplicity of nakashi into its brand of politico-new wave music. "And because of this, young Japanese are all of a sudden interested in a style of music that there grandparents used to listen to."

According to Ying, there is little chance of Taiwan's fashion-conscience Generation X-ers taking a sudden interest in the music that their grandparents grew up with. "Japan's kids are much more open to different forms of music. They don't snub their noses in the air and dismiss something simply because it's unfashionable or old like they do in Taiwan," he said. "It's a pity. Nakashi is a crucial part of Taiwan's musical history, and one that should not be forgotten, ignored or replaced by other forms of music simply because they're more fashionable."