Easy-to-sing enka: A roundup of recommended enka songs for karaoke
Enka, a genre that represents Japanese music.
Its singing method uses a technique called kobushi, which is highly distinctive, and its unique sound—built on pentatonic scales and triads—has been loved for many years.
That said, because enka relies on kobushi, many people may feel it’s difficult to sing.
For those people, we’ve selected songs that minimize the use of kobushi and don’t require a wide vocal range.
We also cover the technical aspects in detail, so if you want to sing enka well, this is a must-read!
- Enka songs that are easy for men to sing: a roundup of tracks to try at karaoke
- [Enka/Kayōkyoku] Challenge! A collection of songs that make it easy to put in kobushi (melismatic embellishments)
- Enka that gets the crowd going at karaoke | Fire up the room with easy-to-sing classics!
- Classic enka songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended popular tracks
- [Enka] Songs That Are Easy to Sing Even for the Tone-Deaf [Male Singer Edition]
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Masterpieces for Karaoke — Male Singers Edition
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Classics for Karaoke — Women Singers Edition
- [Enka] Songs that are easy to sing even for those who are tone-deaf [Female singers edition]
- [2025] Easy Enka Songs Recommended for Karaoke – Men’s Edition
- Popular songs that are easy to sing at karaoke. Recommended classics and hit songs.
- [For Women] A roundup of enka songs that can score high in karaoke
- [Even if you're not confident] Easy-to-sing songs for karaoke
- [2025] Easy Enka Songs for Karaoke: Recommended Picks from Female Singers
Easy-to-sing enka: Recommended enka for karaoke (21–30)
night skyHiroshi Itsuki
Hiroshi Itsuki is a giant in the enka world.
Even with his deliberately constricted singing style, the solid depth of his voice is truly overwhelming.
Among his songs, the one I especially recommend is Yozora (Night Sky).
While it has a somewhat wide vocal range, it features relatively few kobushi (ornamental turns) for an enka piece, making it very approachable for those who struggle with them.
If the high notes are too difficult, try lowering the key and give it a shot.
Freeze my heartIwao Takayama
When people think of enka, many imagine a gritty style featuring strong vocal ornamentation known as kobushi.
Of course, that kind of song makes up a large part of enka, but “Kokoro Koorasete” is different.
This track blends elements of enka with a genre known as New Adult Music.
Since it doesn’t use kobushi, even those who find traditional enka vocal phrasing difficult should find it easy to sing.
As long as you match the key and pitch, anyone can handle it—the tempo is nice and slow—so give it a try.
Easy-to-sing enka: A roundup of recommended enka for karaoke (31–40)
abandonedYoko Nagayama
One of Yoko Nagayama’s signature songs and an absolute karaoke favorite! Released in 1995, “Suterarete” cemented her status as an enka singer after she transitioned from idol singer to enka in 1993.
Her “demo ne” pose also became a hot topic at the time.
While it’s an enka number, it carries a slightly kayōkyoku-like flavor.
Although techniques like subtle kobushi (grace notes) and vibrato appear throughout, the overall difficulty isn’t that high, and there are no extreme high notes, making it relatively easy to sing.
It’s a great choice even for beginners singing Nagayama’s songs for the first time!
snow camelliaSachiko Kobayashi
Yukitsubaki is one of Sachiko Kobayashi’s signature songs and holds great significance in her career as it was her first single after becoming independent from her agency.
The lyrics were written by the master Tetsurō Hoshino—his first single with her since “Mō Ichido Dake”—at Kobayashi’s own request, and she delivers a stirring performance of a grand, classic enka.
It’s also extremely popular for karaoke, so many enka fans are likely to belt it out at karaoke.
As mentioned, it’s a quintessential enka number, so techniques like kobushi (melodic turns) and vibrato appear, but the overall range is average, with no standout high notes or extended long tones.
Therefore, anyone who has a grasp of enka fundamentals should be able to sing it without difficulty.
Blues of a woman like thisAkio Kayama
Akio Kayama, the enka singer known for classics like “Hisame,” may not be a virtuoso showman, but his faithful-to-the-score singing and dandy vocal tone have won him many fans.
Among his songs, the one I especially recommend is “Konna Onna no Blues.” While it’s categorized as enka, it leans strongly toward kayōkyoku (Japanese pop of the Showa era) throughout, so there are no difficult kobushi (ornamental vocal turns).
The range is narrow too, so give it a try and sing along.
A beautiful day for lifeMiyuki Kawanaka
From her debut, Miyuki Kawanaka has been known for her distinctive, rich voice, and lately that voice has gained even more power and presence.
As a result, she’s been releasing more forceful songs as her career progresses.
One recommendation is Jinsei Biyori, released in 2024.
It features a powerful delivery with effective shouts.
While executing the shouts can be challenging, the song has few long sustained notes and doesn’t use rapid melismatic ornamentation (kobushi), so for those familiar with enka, it should be relatively easy to sing.
Green Que Sera SeraMidori Oka
It’s a fun, upbeat Reiwa-era rhythm kayō masterpiece that makes any Japanese person want to clap along and start dancing! “Midori no Que Sera Sera” is a song released by Midori Oka in 2021, and as the title suggests, you can sing it comfortably with a carefree “que sera sera—whatever will be, will be” feeling.
The instantly catchy chorus sticks after one listen, and if everyone in your karaoke group sings it together, it’ll definitely liven up the room.
The signature enka vocal flourishes—like heavy kobushi and wide vibrato—are kept modest, and the more natural delivery makes it approachable even for those who feel unsure about singing traditional enka.
First and foremost, have fun and sing along to the cheerful rhythm!