Rikuo Kadowaki (born March 10, 1945 in Miyagi Prefecture) is a Japanese enka and min'yo singer. After graduating from high school, Kadowaki began working for a bus company, and while working as a driver, he devoted himself to min'yo (Japanese folk songs). 1980, he won a min'yo contest, which was a turning point in his career. 1982 marked his debut with "Celebration Boat," a commemorative song produced for a radio program. The song received little publicity at first, but its popularity exploded through local cable broadcasts and karaoke, and over the course of two and a half years it spread nationwide, becoming an unprecedented blockbuster hit that sold over a million copies. On February 25, 2004, he released the single "Yu no sato mojo (Love for Yu no sato)," which was composed by Hideo Mizumori. This emotionally rich song was composed by Hideo Mizumori, and his sincere voice shines through. He continues to deliver songs that accompany people at milestones in their lives, including "Celebration Boat," which has become a standard wedding song.