アンコール

• Reading: アンコール
• Romaji: ankooru
• Kanji breakdown: From French 'encore' (again). Katakana loanword.
• Pronunciation: /aɴ.koː.ɾu/

Meaning

Encore; calling the artist back on stage for additional songs after the main set ends.

アンコール in Japanese concert culture is a highly ritualized affair. After the main set, the lights go up and fans chant 'アンコール！' in unison, clapping rhythmically. Unlike Western concerts where encores are expected, Japanese fans treat the chanting as a genuine show of devotion. Some concerts have double or even triple encores. The term also refers to the encore segment itself.

Examples

1. アンコールで3曲もやってくれて、ファンサービスすごかったね。 They played three songs during the encore — the fan service was incredible.
2. みんなでアンコールのコール揃えたら、すぐ出てきてくれた。 When we all synced up the encore chant, they came back out right away.
3. ダブルアンコールまであったライブ初めてで感動した。 It was my first time at a show with a double encore and I was genuinely moved.

Usage Guide

Context: concerts, fan communities, social media

Tone: excited, unified

Do Say

• アンコールで新曲初披露してくれて最高だった！ (They debuted a new song during the encore — it was amazing!)
• アンコールのコール練習しておこうね。 (Let's practice the encore chants beforehand.)

Don't Say

• アンコール中にすぐ帰るのはマナー違反 (Leaving during the encore is considered rude — wait until it's fully over)

Common Mistakes

• Thinking the concert is over when the main set ends — in Japan, the encore is almost always expected and planned

Origin & History

From French 'encore' (again), borrowed into Japanese via English. Has been used in Japanese concert culture since the mid-20th century, with the ritualized chanting becoming a defining feature of Japanese live shows.

Cultural Context

Era: Mid-20th century adoption, now standard concert ritual

Generation: All ages who attend concerts

Social background: Universal

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Japanese encore culture is notably more structured than in Western countries, with coordinated chanting patterns.