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[2025] Easy-to-Sing Enka — From Timeless Classics to Recent Hits [Male Singers Edition]
If you’ve recently become interested in enka and want to try singing it at karaoke, or if you’re looking for enka songs beyond your usual repertoire, this article is for you! Articles like this often end up highlighting classic hits from the Showa era through the early Heisei period, but we also want you to discover great enka songs by the younger generation who debuted from the 2010s into the 2020s.
This time, we’ve put together a lineup of “easy-to-sing enka” ranging from timeless classics to recent hits and popular tracks—featuring male singers only! We’ve also published an article featuring female singers only, so be sure to check that out as well.
[2025] Easy-to-Sing Enka: From Timeless Classics to Recent Hits [Male Singers Edition] (1–10)
Weak sake of a woman I fell forNaoki Sanada
Naoki Sanada, who continues to produce classic enka songs steeped in melancholy.
This work, which showcases his husky voice and emotionally rich singing, is included on the newly packaged “Shingari Edition,” released in October 2020.
Composed by enka maestro Ikuzo Yoshi, the song features memorable lyrics that portray the aching feelings of a woman in love.
Sanada’s powerful yet delicate vocals vividly express the loneliness of a woman drinking alone on a rainy night.
The melody is easy to remember and sing, but the key is to be mindful of Sanada’s distinctive timbre and expressiveness when performing it.
It’s a recommended track for when you want to feel the poignancy of love and the bittersweetness of life.
Oh, sake!Ikuzo Yoshi
This is one of Ikuzo Yoshi’s signature songs, singing of life’s sorrows through the lens of alcohol.
With deeply emotional lyrics and a wistful melody that resonates, it was released in September 1988 and remains one of his most popular tracks, even among hits like “Ore-ra Tokyo sa Igu da” and “Yukiguni.” It won numerous awards, including the All-Japan Cable Broadcast Grand Prize.
The pitch is generally low and the vocal range narrow, so it’s relatively easy to sing; in karaoke, it’s best to be mindful of Yoshi’s distinctive phrasing and dynamics.
It’s a perfect song for reflective moments, like having a drink after work or after parting with someone important.
I long for youLeon Shinhama
This song brings a fresh breeze to enka.
Its melancholic, heartrending lyrics resonate deeply, and the melody—refreshing yet passionate—leaves a strong impression.
Released as a digital single in May 2020, it was also used as the ending theme for TBS’s “Hiruobi!”.
With Mr.
Niihama’s powerful vocals and a blend of enka and pop, the track feels approachable for younger listeners as well.
The pitch is relatively low overall, and the range isn’t particularly demanding; since it leans toward pop, it’s a great recommendation for enka beginners or anyone looking to try a new style of enka.
Twilight SilhouetteYūki Matsuzaka
Among the songs released in May 2024, there’s an enka number imbued with the nostalgic scent of Showa-era kayōkyoku, its poignant scenery tugging at the heart.
This piece, which reflects Yuki Matsuzaka’s new artistic challenge, gently portrays the budding of love against a dreamlike twilight backdrop.
Matsuzaka’s rich, resonant vocals ride a mellow melody and truly strike a chord.
Orchestral-style arrangements add depth, captivating listeners from start to finish.
It’s easy to sing at karaoke and a great pick for newcomers to enka.
When you want to reflect on love or life, give it a hum.
Mount IwakiHiroshi Miyama
Set against the majestic Mount Iwaki, a famed peak in Aomori Prefecture, this song powerfully portrays a man’s inner emotions.
Hiroshi Miyama’s warm “vitamin voice” addresses Mount Iwaki as it paints a picture of life’s journey and personal growth.
Released in February 2015, it reached No.
13 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart, stayed on the charts for 75 weeks, and achieved Gold certification in September of the same year after surpassing 100,000 copies sold.
With lyrics written from a male perspective and Miyama’s expansive vocals, it’s a masterpiece that captured many hearts.
Listeners familiar with enka should be able to fully express the song’s grand worldview.
It’s especially recommended when you want to sing with feelings for your family or someone important to you.
Northern SpringMasao Sen
A celebrated song that vividly portrays the northern country’s spring, its lyrics resonate with a universal nostalgia for one’s hometown.
It carefully depicts the changing seasons—white birch trees, magnolia blossoms, and the thawing of snow—skillfully expressing the feelings of city dwellers toward their native places.
Released in April 1977, this piece has long been cherished as one of Masao Sen’s signature songs and earned three consecutive appearances on the Kouhaku Uta Gassen.
Even for those not accustomed to singing enka, its melody is easy to remember and sing.
It’s a recommended track for people living away from home or for moments when you want to feel the arrival of spring.
Soya Main LineKeisuke Yamauchi
A song set in the northern lands that gives voice to the pain and regret of heartbreak.
Keisuke Yamauchi’s clear vocals, paired with the scenes of the cold season, sink deep into the listener.
Included on a single released in May 2016, it has become a classic that continues to captivate enka fans.
The lyrics, which send thoughts to a past lover along the Soya Main Line, strike straight at the heart.
It’s also a popular karaoke choice and relatively approachable for those accustomed to singing enka.
Recommended for anyone who’s experienced heartbreak or wants to sing while picturing Hokkaido’s majestic nature.