[2025] Easy-to-Sing Enka — From Timeless Classics to Recent Hits [Male Singers Edition]

Scorpio womanKenichi Mikawa

Kenichi Mikawa “Woman of Scorpio (New Recording)” (Official Audio)

It’s one of Kenichi Mikawa’s signature songs, portraying a passionate tale of love and revenge.

The track brims with appeal thanks to its unique world infused with the traits of the Scorpio sign and Mikawa’s distinctive vocal style.

Released in December 1972, it sold about 97,000 copies on the Oricon charts.

He performed it a total of seven times on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and from 2006 to 2009 it was presented each year with a different arrangement.

Some lyrics were also revised along the way, reflecting Mikawa’s deep personal attachment to the song.

It’s recommended both for beginners to enka and for anyone who wants to express passionate love.

Try singing it with full emotion while keeping Mikawa’s unique delivery in mind.

youMasao Sen

you

Known as a signature song from the mid-career period, “Anta.” Unusually for a song by Masao Sen, it is a piece sung from a female perspective, expressing the feelings of a woman who still longs for the man she parted ways with.

Throughout, the vocals remain quietly reflective, and surprisingly, there are few instances of kobushi (ornamental turns), and the ones that do appear are not difficult.

This makes it very easy for beginners to sing.

The vocal range is also quite narrow, so if you adjust to a suitable key, anyone—regardless of gender—should be able to sing it smoothly.

old man teacherMasao Sen

old man teacher

Masao Sen has left behind many great songs, but among them, Oyaji Sensei is especially known for its outstanding storytelling.

The spoken lines at the beginning draw you into the piece, and from there the world of the song unfolds all at once.

The depiction of sharing drinks with one’s former teacher is particularly memorable, and the whole piece is set to a warm, unhurried melody.

There’s hardly any kobushi (ornamental vibrato), so even those who find enka vocal stylings challenging can sing it comfortably.

Consider adding it to your repertoire.

Beside the TearsMasao Sen

Beside the Tears

Masao Sen is known for his wide-ranging repertoire, but among his works, “Namida no Tonari” is especially beloved by many fans as a real outlier.

While it’s categorized as enka and the vocal lines are sung very much in an enka style, the song as a whole incorporates a Hawaiian music flavor.

As a result, it settles into a very relaxed tempo, with relatively few instances of kobushi (ornamental vocal inflections), which is a distinctive feature.

Consider adding it to your repertoire.

Song of YouthMasao Sen

Song of Youth

Known as a masterpiece from his later years, “Song of Youth.” Released as the coupling track when the new version of the classic “Yaima” came out, it’s arranged to match the single’s overall mood, resulting in a very relaxed and warm tone.

It does feature kobushi ornamentation, but since it’s the type characteristic of Masao Sen—where he completely stops the voice briefly to shape the phrase—the difficulty is minimal.

It’s very easy to sing even for beginners to enka, so consider adding it to your repertoire.

Fragments of Men and WomenKiyoshi Maekawa

Kiyoshi Maekawa “Fragments of a Man and a Woman” (Lyric Video)

A standout hit from the early Heisei era with a strong Showa kayō vibe, this song showcases lyricist Toyohisa Araki’s flair—having the title read as “kakera” instead of “hahen.” ‘Otoko to Onna no Kakera’ was released in 1991 as a single by Kiyoshi Maekawa and is one of his signature songs, beloved in karaoke.

As mentioned, it leans more toward classic Showa pop than straight enka.

While techniques like kobushi appear, the overall difficulty is relatively modest, making it approachable even for beginners to enka.

Don’t be shy—channel Maekawa himself and try expressing your own take on this “cool, grown-up song”!

Rose music boxKiyoshi Maekawa

Rose music box

One of Kiyoshi Maekawa’s signature solo songs, also performed at the 1997 NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen, is “Bara no Orugōru” (The Rose Music Box).

With its moody guitar phrases, an instantly catchy chorus, and Maekawa’s irresistibly masculine delivery that poignantly conveys a woman’s heartache, it’s the kind of classic that makes you want to sing it at karaoke.

The production straddles enka and mood kayō, and the overall melody line is easy to sing, so even beginners who struggle with straight enka should find it approachable.

That said, clearly projecting the low notes and adding vibrato like Maekawa does is surprisingly difficult, making this a great practice piece for those who aren’t confident with their lower register.