Enka’s recent hit songs in 2025: Must-watch popular kayō tracks

Husband-and-wife sugorokuMachiko Kitano

Machiko Kitano “Husband and Wife Sugoroku” Music Video

This is a heartwarming enka song that likens a married couple’s journey through life to a sugoroku board game.

Sung with rich expressiveness by Machiko Kitano, the piece portrays the joys and trials of life with deep emotion.

Within its unhurried tempo lies a moving resolve to keep walking forward while building a life of love together.

Released in February 2025 by King Records, the song was composed by Hiroshi Tokuhisa with lyrics by Takashi Manjo.

It’s a perfect choice for celebrating a wedding anniversary or for peaceful moments spent together as a couple.

The resonant vocals and warm lyrics will surely deepen the bond with someone dear.

Naniwa SpiritFuyumi Sakamoto

Naniwadamashii

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.

your catchphraseMiyuki Kawanaka

Miyuki Kawanaka “Your Catchphrase” Music Video

A song woven by Miyuki Kawanaka’s gentle voice that tenderly conveys feelings toward a mother and touches the heart.

Its worldview—where a mother’s favorite sayings become a pillar of support in life—evokes a nostalgic, heartwarming mood.

Released in February 2025, this work is a gemlike ballad crafted by lyricist Suzuko Sawada and composer Masato Sugimoto.

When you want to quietly reflect on memories with your mother and gratitude for family, this piece will offer a melody that resonates within.

Embraced by Kawanaka’s characteristically warm expressiveness and a calm, gentle tone, it is a song that makes many listeners want to express their thanks to someone dear.

Tsugaru Shamisen StorySaisei

Ryusei / Tsugaru Shamisen Story

This is a warm-hearted song themed around the shamisen rooted in the land of Tsugaru.

Written and composed by Ikuzo Yoshi, it was released in February 2025.

It’s an enka number that gently weaves together the protagonist’s feelings toward their parents and pride in the shamisen, having chosen a path away from their hometown.

A modern, rock-like arrangement and effective use of electric guitar shine throughout.

Ayasei’s emotionally rich vocals, singing of gratitude to father and mother and a longing for home, and the shamisen’s evocative tones that resonate like memories, sink deep into the heart.

The scenic descriptions are superb, such as the scene of looking up at the stars on a blizzardy night while thinking of home.

It’s a song that offers comfort to those living apart from their families and hometown.

Flowers of MichinokuRyuko Mizuta

Ryuko Mizuta “Flowers of Michinoku” Music Video

An emotionally rich song interweaving the beautiful landscapes and scenes of Tohoku.

Ryuko Mizuta’s powerful yet delicate vocals portray the poignant inner feelings of a woman who continues to think of the one she loves.

Released in February 2025 as her 39th single, it was crafted by an illustrious team: lyrics by Reiji Mizuki, composition by Keisuke Hama, and arrangement by Megumi Wakakusa.

Layered with Mizuta’s lustrous singing, the result is a deeply expressive piece.

Brimming with a sense of travel and longing, this work is a must-listen for anyone who resonates with love for someone far away or who is interested in the climate and culture of the Tohoku region.

It also weaves in real place names such as the peaks of Mount Zao and Nakanose Bridge, offering an even deeper flavor for those who know these locales.

Iyasa(ka), YassaiSayuri Ishikawa

Sayuri Ishikawa “Yasaka (Iyasaka) Yassai” Music Video

This enka number, themed on Noto’s traditional Abare Festival, delivers a bold, powerful impression.

With lyrics by Shohei Mozu and composition by Keisuke Hama, it’s an ambitious work set to be released in March 2025 as a song by Sayuri Ishikawa.

The layered chants create a vibrant sense of motion, while the intricate arrangement enhances the song’s appeal.

It’s a track brimming with immediacy, as if you can feel the festival’s heat and hear people’s breathing.

Carrying the spirit of a festival with a 350-year history into the present, it sings grandly of prayers for health and bountiful harvests.

It’s a song you’ll want to hear when you need a lift or when you’d like to sing along with someone special.

Calm or stormKanta Ichijo

[New Song] “Calm or Storm” LIVE version.

As the third installment in a series themed around the ocean, this work powerfully depicts fishermen who keep moving forward with unwavering resolve, whether the seas are calm or raging.

The lyrics by Takashi Banjo and the melody woven by Kenji Miyashita blend beautifully, while Kanta Ichijo’s clear, expansive vocals resonate deeply.

Brimming with speed and dynamism, this piece is sure to accompany those standing at a crossroads in life, offering courage to take a new step forward.