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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.

Playlist

Classic enka songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended popular tracks
show_chartTitlePlaylistOne point
1eastI’m falling in love with you againFuyumi SakamotoFuyumi’s moving classic song “Falling in Love with You Again”
2north_eastAnd… a fateful encounterHiroshi ItsukiA sad reality where even those who love each other part ways, and a reunion
3south_eastDotonbori SentimentYoshimi TendoYoshimi Tendo’s famous song that sings of Osaka’s warm-hearted spirit
4eastNostalgic JonkaraTakashi HosokawaA folk-style masterpiece by Takashi Hosokawa that reflects on his hometown
5eastpinwheelIkuzo YoshiA heart-touching ballad by Yoshikazu Ikuzō makes its debut
6eastKiyoshi’s Zundoko SongKiyoshi HikawaKiyoshi Hikawa's 'Kiyoshi no Zundoko-bushi'
7eastKokoro KaleidoscopeKeisuke YamauchiA heartfelt song depicting Keisuke Yamauchi’s life, expressing hope and vitality.
8eastcherry shellHiroshi ItsukiHiroshi Itsuki’s 50th-anniversary single ranked No. 1
9eastLand of Abundant Rice (Mizuho no Kuni)Akari YamanishiA heartwarming enka that paints scenes of rice
10eastHeart SakeAyako FujiA hit as one of Aya Fuki's signature songs
11eastBoat SongAki YashiroAki Yashiro’s classic hit, an award-winning masterpiece that has received numerous prizes.
12eastWoman’s DepartureNobue MatsubaraNobue Matsubara, a landmark debut song, a moving piece
13eastCrossing Amagi PassSayuri IshikawaSayuri Ishikawa’s “Amagi-goe” is a song of passionate confession.
14eastNorth TavernTakashi HosokawaA winter night, a fateful encounter, and burning passion
15eastDrunk and reelingYin Shun KeiRepresentative songs by Ginshuku Katsura, recipient of numerous awards.
16eastA solitary journey to MichinokuJoji YamamotoJoji Yamamoto’s classic: the emotions of parting and travel
17eastO-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsFuyumi SakamotoFuyumi Sakamoto’s “Yozakura Oshichi” is original.
18eastReturning RiverNatsuko GodaiA classic by Natsuko Godai depicting a heartbreaking farewell in a dangerous love
19eastJindo MonogatariYoshimi TendoYoshimi Tendo’s hit song themed around the parting of the sea
20eastYugiri PortKonomi MoriA bittersweet love song set in a foggy port town
21eastCasablanca GoodbyeIchiro TobaIchiro Toba's 'Casablanca Goodbye' is an easy-to-sing masterpiece.
22eastYou don’t have to go back.Aya ShimazuA song in the Kumamoto dialect, expressing feelings through the local vernacular
23eastWajima Morning MarketKaori MizumoriKaori Mizumori’s popular song depicting the Wajima Morning Market
24eastHarbor Town No. 13Hibari MisoraA sailor song depicting the port towns of Hibari Misora
25eastI’m going to Tokyo.Ikuzo YoshiSummarized in 20 characters: An enka singer who creates highly original songs
26eastFestival MamboHibari MisoraHibari Misora’s classic hit—an easy-to-sing, crowd-pleasing song
27eastOur town was green indeed.Masao SenMasao Sen’s gentle, memorable melody…
28eastScorpio womanKenichi MikawaKenichi Mikawa's signature song 'Man's Pure Heart'
29eastunconditional loveShinichi MoriShinichi Mori’s crowning achievement: a Reiwa-era enka of gratitude and milestones
30eastI long for Southern HokkaidoYudai KoyamaA moving work that sings of deep love and bonds for one's hometown
31eastCrimson ButterflyKeisuke YamauchiA love story that burns fleetingly like a butterfly.
32eastNaniwa SpiritFuyumi SakamotoA song that conveys a positive outlook on life with a powerful singing voice
33eastTipsy Breeze TavernYuito NakamuraA life-affirming anthem by an active high school enka singer
34eastLonging for RainAki YashiroAki’s captivating voice and the classic song “Ame no Bojo” (Yearning in the Rain)
35eastAmerica BridgeYutaka YamakawaSinging a bittersweet love story of the Ebisu Minami Bridge
36eastRainbow BayonKiyoshi HikawaKiyoshi Hikawa, classic masterpieces of Showa-era kayōkyoku
37eastFunamizaka (Funami Slope)Sora TaijuA bittersweet love song set in a northern port town
38eastCome back.Kazuko MatsumuraA pep song to encourage a colleague who was demoted
39eastSake InnKaori KouzaiKaori Kouzai 25th anniversary commemorative single is a big hit
40eastMidnight ShowerYin Shun KeiA sophisticated song sung by the husky-voiced Gin Shū
41eastOsaka RhapsodyChisato and Mari UmiharaA bright song from Osaka, the big hit by the Uminara sisters
42eastfull moonNatsuko GodaiA song that opens up a new frontier for Natsuko Godai
43eastThe Camellia Sasanqua InnEisaku OkawaEisaku Okawa’s classic hit portrays the love of the sasanqua (camellia).
44eastI won’t let you go tonight.Rumiko Koyanagi & Yukio HashiYukio Hashi’s lively duet song is captivating.
45eastA Doll’s HouseMieko HirotaMieko Hirota’s classic hit, a heartrending love song
46eastLove SongKiyoshi MaekawaA love song of gentle melodies and the resonance of the saxophone
47eastHomesickness on a JourneyMidori Nishizaki
Homesickness on a JourneyMidori Nishizaki
A wistful love song, Midori Nishizaki’s classic
48eastPassionate MamboHiroko HattoriHattori Hiroko’s Latin-style songs are popular.
49eastThe northern city, HakodateDaisuke KitagawaA bittersweet romance in a port town, set in Hakodate
50eastKawachi Otoko-bushiMitsuko NakamuraKawachi Ondo-style enka, popular at Bon Odori festivals
51eastA Man’s Love StoryFuyumi SakamotoFuyumi Sakamoto's first song to enter the weekly top ten
52eastwintering swallowMasako Mori"Ettou Tsubame" is a masterpiece composed by Hiroshi En."
53eastOsaka sparrowMiyuki NagaiMiyuki Nagai’s debut song from Osaka became a hit.
54eastComradeIchiro TobaA classic enka masterpiece that passionately sings of men's bonds and life.
55eastperchSachiko KobayashiThe bittersweet lingering attachment and love of a woman who has been left
56eastcornflowerNatsuko GodaiNatsuko Godai’s heartrending heartbreak song, Purple Flower
57eastMount TsurugiTakeshi KitayamaTakeshi Kitayama, the moving song he performed on NHK’s Kōhaku
58eastfestivalSaburō KitajimaSaburo Kitajima’s famous song “Matsuri” is uplifting.
59eastgrandchildItsuro OizumiThe famous song by Itsurō Ōizumi that sings of love for his grandchild
60eastA Flower of This WorldChiyoko ShimakuraA classic about youth and first love: Chiyoko Shimakura’s debut song
61eastTwo-person sakeMiyuki KawanakaMiyuki Kawanaka scored a hit with her signature song “Hashire! Kayōkyoku.”
62eastThe Northern LandSaburō KitajimaAn acclaimed classic by Saburo Kitajima singing about his hometown wins the grand prize.
63eastKyoto NostalgiaMaiko TakigawaKyoto Bojo is a song that triggers a man's protective instincts.
64eastthorn treeSachiko KobayashiSachiko Kobayashi, a 50th-anniversary song written by Masashi Sada
65eastAizen Katsura Once MoreAya ShimazuAya Shimazu moves hearts with a deeply moving enka performance
66easta pittanceYin Shun KeiAn enka song by Ginshi Katsura that embraces parting in a positive way.
67eastLove Song of Kaze no BonSayuri Ishikawa
Love Song of Kaze no BonSayuri Ishikawa
A famous song by Sayuri Ishikawa that portrays a traditional festival of Toyama
68eastgokuraku tonboHiroko HattoriHiroko Hattori’s 35th debut anniversary—an inspiring new song has arrived!
69eastfault; mistake; error; sin (context-dependent)Akira HiyamaAkira Hiyama’s gritty enka-rock new single
70eastZakurazakaOkhotsk TaroA new song by a singer who fuses enka and rock
71eastLate-Blooming HEROYuasa MichiruA powerful anthem cheering on those who chase their dreams, resonating in the heart
72eastThe one I still love even after we’ve broken upLos Indios & SylviaA hit urban enka duet song
73eastFlowers of TsugaruYuri HaradaYuri Harada’s smash hit, first appearance on Kōhaku
74eastSuch is a woman’s soliloquyMasuiyama DaishiroA masterpiece by Taishiro Masuiyama, capturing a woman's heartrending feelings.
75eastCaptain SlowpokeHiroshi OeA song that portrays Hiroshi Oe’s dreams and determination for success.
76eastWharf of TransienceKeisuke YamauchiKeisuke Yamauchi achieves his first Top 5 entry with a single.
77eastKoitou (Koitome) CoastHiromi YamaguchiKoitoui Coast in Hokkaido, a bittersweet love story
78eastAnemone flaccida (nirinsō; literally “two-flowered anemone”)Miyuki KawanakaMiyuki Kawanaka’s classic song about marital love
79eastMy shopShin GoroShingorō’s classic song about a tavern in Saitama
80eastThe Last DrinkTohji KimuraTeiji Kimura’s farewell song, a classic that touches the heart
81eastcompanion on the road; fellow traveler; taking someone along (often unwillingly)Mieko MakimuraThe bond conveyed by a loving ‘Michizure’
82eastBlue Night in SapporoShinichiro HakozakiThe famous song by enka singer Shinichiro Hakozaki, a voice that resonates in the heart
83eastLife is like a Naniwa-bushi (a melodramatic ballad).Takashi HosokawaEnka is the best for relieving stress!
84eastThe person I fell in love withHarumi MiyakoHarumi Miyako’s classic songs are revived with fresh energy by the younger generation.
85eastStill in YokohamaMiyuki KadomatsuA bittersweet love song set in Yokohama, attuned to the scenery of the port town
86eastOtaru no hito yoMasayoshi Tsuruoka and Tokyo RomanticaOtaru’s snowy scenery, a heartbreaking classic about lost love
87eastfreezing rainAkio Kayama“Hiyosame” is a hugely popular enka song from the 1980s.
88eastDrunken SongIkuzo YoshiThe signature song of Ikuzo Yoshi, a bittersweet feeling toward his father
89eastLet me get drunk—just for tonight.Sanae JōnouchiSanae Jōnouchi’s hit song wins the Cable Music Award
90eastAngels of the CityTakao Horiuchi & ChaeuniTakao Horiuchi, who moved from folk singing to achieve success in enka
91eastA One-Yen Coin VagabondKaori MizumoriThe enka song “Ichien-dama no Tabigarasu” became a hit.
92eastLike the flow of a riverHibari MisoraHealed by Hibari Misora's 'Like the Flow of the River'
93eastMy daughter,Gannosuke AshiyaA classic song that sings of a father's love before his daughter's wedding
94eastLament of ResentmentKeiko FujiSolve Love Troubles with Keiko Fuji’s “Grudge Ballad”
95eastFrom the northern innHarumi MiyakoHarumi Miyako’s signature songs, songs that won the Japan Record Award
96eastabandonedYoko NagayamaYoko Nagayama’s signature song won the Wired Music Award and led to a Kouhaku (NHK New Year’s Eve) appearance.
97eastYagiri no Watashi (Yagiri Ferry)Naomi ChiakiYagiri no Watashi: Originally a B-side song that changed its fate
98eastcompanion on the road; fellow traveler; taking someone along (often unwillingly)Hiroshi MiyamaMiyama’s masterpiece that depicts the bonds of life
99eastPremonition of PartingMiyuki YamamotoMiyuki Yamamoto sings “Presentiment of Parting” with deep emotion.
100eastWill you marry me?Kenji NiinumaA signature song by Kenji Niinuma that sings about rural views on marriage.
101eastMadam of the Pleasure QuarterTatsue KanedaMotherly Love in the Entertainment Quarter, a Masterpiece by Tatsue Kaneda
102eastCape ErimoShinichi MoriCape Erimo, a refreshing and gentle classic song
103eastdevotionYutaka Akiba & Alon KnightsAkiba Yutaka’s enka is captivating and perfect for making up.
104eastUnstaffed stationMisaki IwasaEnka debut single becomes a hot topic