Classic enka songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended popular tracks
Enka, the genre of music that helped energize Japan up through around the 1980s.
Countless masterpieces were born in this field of enka.
This time, we’re featuring the crème de la crème—timeless enka hits that defined their eras and are perfect for singing at karaoke.
From well-known classics to hidden gems known only to aficionados, we’ve selected songs across a wide range of years and styles, so be sure to find the one that suits you.
We’re introducing quite a number of tracks, making this a great pick for anyone who wants to reminisce alongside enka.
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Enka classics you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended popular songs (21–30)
unconditional loveShinichi Mori
Marking the major milestone of the 60th anniversary of his singing career, this is a monumental work written and composed by Shinichi Mori himself.
Hailed as “Reiwa enka,” the piece truly represents the culmination of his career.
With straightforward lyrics and dynamic vocals, it beautifully conveys his deep gratitude to the fans who have supported him for many years.
Released in July 2025 as his 131st single, it fully showcases his signature “Mori-bushi” style.
It’s a masterpiece not only for longtime fans, but also for anyone standing at a turning point in life.
I long for Southern HokkaidoYudai Koyama
How about an inspiring number that stirs a burning longing for your hometown? It’s the debut single by Yudai Koyama, known as the “Magic Voice,” released in April 2024.
The song powerfully celebrates the landscapes of his hometown—such as Noboribetsu and Esashi—and the bonds with family.
Close your eyes and you can picture the Sea of Japan and snowy scenes that awaken a deep nostalgia in listeners.
Sing it at karaoke with friends who share that love for home, and it’s sure to resonate deeply in everyone’s hearts.
Enka Classics You’ll Want to Sing at Karaoke: Recommended Popular Songs (31–40)
Crimson ButterflyKeisuke Yamauchi
This is a song that portrays a fleeting yet burning love, like a butterfly dancing lightly in the air.
It is a track by enka singer Keisuke Yamauchi, known for hits such as “Furenko,” released as a single in February 2024.
The song expresses the inner conflict that comes from love and the resolve to risk everything and leap into the arms of the beloved, drawing listeners into its dramatic world.
If you fully embody the song’s protagonist as you sing, it’s sure to move those who listen!
Naniwa SpiritFuyumi Sakamoto
Its powerful sound, reminiscent of the debut single “Abare Daiko,” blends beautifully with her lustrous vocals.
Released in March 2025, this work is the first song in which Ms.
Sakamoto, who hails from Kansai, sings with Osaka as its theme.
Created by an all-star team, it reunites Yo Yashiro after 20 years and Chiaki Oka after 9 years.
It vividly portrays, with deep emotion, the importance of facing forward and moving on precisely when you hit a wall.
It truly feels like a song that stays close to the hearts of those striving to overcome difficult times in life.
Tipsy Breeze TavernYuito Nakamura
If you’re looking to liven up the mood with a sparkling, refreshing enka number, how about this one? It’s the debut single by Yuito Nakamura, who made waves as an active high school enka singer, released in June 2025.
This work is a bright, pop-influenced tune—an uplifting song for life that soothes the fatigue of the day.
The lyrics paint a heartwarming scene of a friendly, human touch-filled bar that will warm listeners’ hearts.
Sing it at karaoke with your coworkers and it’s sure to resonate.
You could even throw in some call-and-response and turn it into a big sing-along.
Longing for RainAki Yashiro
Aki Yashiro has a slightly husky, high-toned, lustrous voice that is wonderful, and just listening to her songs draws you into the world of Aki Yashiro.
“Ame no Bojo” is a song I want to sing when I feel like laying bare the feelings of a woman that I hold inside.
Released in 1980, the song swept numerous awards, including the 22nd Japan Record Award.
America BridgeYutaka Yamakawa
This is a single released by Yutaka Yamakawa in 1998.
The song depicts the real-life scenery of Ebisu Minami Bridge and tells the story of former lovers who reunite and part ways with a bittersweet farewell.
Ebisu Minami Bridge is commonly known as the “America Bridge,” and the song was used as the theme for MBS-produced, TBS-affiliated daytime drama 30 ‘From the Scene of Life’ (Series 5).
With this song, he appeared on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen for two consecutive years, in 1998 and 1999.