Easy-to-sing enka: A roundup of recommended enka songs for karaoke

Osaka sparrowMiyuki Nagai & Miyuki Nagai

Osaka Sparrow - Miyuki Nagai & Miyuki Nagai

Miyuki Nagai’s classic “Osaka Suzume,” released in 1997, is one of her signature works and won the New Artist Award in the enka category at the 34th Japan Record Awards.

While faithfully inheriting traditional enka techniques, the song is arranged to be very easy to sing.

Notably, it features very few kobushi (melismatic ornamentations).

The number of notes is also quite limited, and the tempo is slow, making it a piece in which it’s easy to maintain precise pitch control.

Night in AtamiShinichiro Hakozaki

Shinichiro Hakozaki, “Night in Atami” (2)

Shinichiro Hakozaki is a singer who gained popularity for his music centered on enka and kayōkyoku and his sultry vocals.

While he’s an artist with strong kayōkyoku elements, his songs prominently feature robust kobushi (ornamental vocal turns), a style that could be called neo-enka.

Among his tracks, the one I especially recommend is Atami no Yoru.

It’s a work steeped in melancholy and allure, and although it leans heavily into enka, the kobushi it uses are relatively easy to sing.

If you spin the kobushi with a hiccup-like flip in your voice, it will sound authentic—so give it a try.

Ikebukuro at NightMina Aoe

Mina Aoe – Ikebukuro no Yoru (Night in Ikebukuro)

Mina Aoe, the great female singer who forged the concept of “blues” within enka.

Among the female vocalists of her time, she stood out with her overwhelmingly sultry, husky voice, and she produced many masterpieces infused with sensuality and melancholy.

Of all her songs, the one I especially recommend is Ikebukuro no Yoru (Night in Ikebukuro).

In this piece, you can glimpse blues elements within enka, and it carries an immense, hidden pathos.

The kobushi (ornamental vibrato) itself is not very difficult, and the melodic rises and falls are gentle, so it’s a song where you can likely aim for a high score.

Kinokawa RiverAkari Yamanishi

Akari Yamamoto “Kino River” Official Music Video

A song overflowing with love for one’s hometown, delivered by Akari Yamanishi, an enka singer from Wakayama, resonates deeply with the heart.

Its charm lies in the carefully woven gratitude to her mother and reverence for nature.

The lyrics skillfully capture the delicate ebb and flow of emotions—strength and kindness characteristic of a Kishu woman—drifting like the Kinokawa River, and they are sure to seep into the listener’s soul.

Released in October 2023, this track is a significant work in Yamanishi’s solo career.

When your heart is weary, when you want to remember someone dear, or when you long to return home—this is the gem of a song you should listen to.

Freeze my heartIwao Takayama

Goro Takayama – Freeze My Heart

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.

O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsFuyumi Sakamoto

Fuyumi Sakamoto – Yozakura O-Shichi

This is singer Fuyumi Sakamoto’s 12th single—a track that showcases her vocal prowess not only in her work as an enka singer but also in songs spanning various genres.

Premiered as an original song for the music segment of the variety show “Comedy: Oedo de Gozaru,” it features an unusually up-tempo style for enka and has even been dubbed “progressive enka.” With its dizzyingly shifting arrangement and 16-beat melody, it’s a challenging piece by enka standards, though those accustomed to singing J-pop may find it easier to handle.

It’s one of Sakamoto’s signature songs, exquisitely fusing Japan’s traditional musical heritage with a contemporary ensemble.