Japanese music early to mid 1970s

[love-music]

I remember some years ago, in the mid 70s an uncle of mine playing a couple of LPs he had imported from Japan.
It is hard to define the type of music, not really Jpop but not Enka either. If there was a meeting of the two it would be nearer the mark.
The particular music was performed by female artist(s), in Japanese, with orchestral backing sounding more traditional than modern.
The most memorable point was the traditional Japanese overtones, possibly but remotely due to the language but more the essence of the theme which was unmistakeably Japanese.
I recall making a note of the performer, but alas never got round to ordering it myself.
Unfortunately the notes have long been mislaid and my uncle has long since departed; equally mournfully has his record collection of several tens of thousands of LPs.
He was a music buff, a hi-fi nut and a scallywag at times too.
Any suggestions as to artists or type of music I should be looking out for?

[Bucky]

Jeez, what are we mind readers?

Here were some popular artists from the era:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ri2WBBBBwc Iwasaki Hiromi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AROA92Xq-k Yamaguchi Momoe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3k7JD9MERI Sakurada Junko
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnVDdvPPde0 Ota Hiromi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH8U_M2ST-I&playnext=1&list=PL5AEC5437F2F2BC90 Ishida Aiyumi

Or here, go through the artists who were on Kohaku from that era yourself:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dhaku_Uta_Gassen