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

pinwheelIkuzo Yoshi

[Full MV] IKUZO YOSHI “Kazeguruma” [Official]

Ikuzo Yoshi’s new single was released in July 2024.

This song, which portrays the lives of people living in the city, is marked by a gently emotive, ballad-style vocal performance.

The lyrics liken days spent with a loved one to a windmill, resonating deeply with listeners.

This work holds an important place in Yoshi’s long musical career and can be seen as a culmination of his wide-ranging achievements, from folk songs to enka.

Quietly depicting the depth of life and the complexity of love, it’s a perfect choice for a calm night spent with someone special.

I'll give you everything.Leon Shinhama

Leon Niihama "I'll Give You Everything" Music Video (Full Ver.) [Official]

This piece can truly be called a new-era enka, with the potential to be loved across generations.

Released in February 2024 by Leon Niihama, it was created by a star-studded team: lyrics and composition by George Tokoro and production by Noritake Kinashi.

It presents a new genre—an energetic, sexy “return-of-the-star-style kayō rock”—delivering a track that resonates not only with traditional enka fans but also with younger listeners.

The lyrics, which sing of devoted love for a cherished person, are sure to strike a deep chord with listeners.

With its potential to ignite live performances, this song seems perfect for enjoying together with fans at concert venues.

Packed with Niihama’s bold new challenge, it’s a track you’ll definitely want to check out.

acting like a handsome guyIkuzo Yoshi

Ikuzo Yoshi “Pretending to Be a Handsome Guy” [Official] | Full Chorus MV

Ikuzo Yoshi is known for his versatile musicality that extends beyond enka to include even rap.

“Nimaime Kidori” is a single released in September 2025, and a long-awaited work that reunites him with his close ally, composer Makoto Sugimoto, for the first time in 13 years since 2012’s “Sono Mukashi.” It vividly portrays the raw, inescapably human clumsiness and bittersweet sorrow lurking behind a man who puts on airs and tries to look cool.

A masterpiece that conveys the astringency of life, its seasoned vocals resonate deeply in the heart.

Journey of lingering attachmentNEW!Sho Godai

Godaisho “Journey of Lingering Affection” MUSIC VIDEO

Sho Godai is an enka singer from Fukui Prefecture.

After winning NHK’s Nodo Jiman, he made his debut in 2019 with the single “Mikazuki Lullaby,” showcasing formidable talent.

His greatest appeal lies in his expressive range—seamlessly shifting between spoken narration and singing—that calls to mind his revered idol, Hiroshi Itsuki.

His fourth release, Miren no Tabiji, arrived in September 2025.

This work is a classic travel-themed enka that portrays a lingering-hearted journey, wandering the northern provinces in pursuit of an unforgettable silhouette.

The melancholic scenes stretching from Kanazawa to Hakodate intertwine with Godai’s vibrato-rich vocals, leaving a deep impression on the listener.

If you enjoy enka with a strong sense of storytelling, be sure to check it out.

Reminiscence ~Though I depart, my heart remains~Yuki Isozawa

Yuki Isokawa “Reminiscence ~Though I Depart, My Heart Remains~” MUSIC VIDEO

This song was created out of the profound inspiration drawn from the Super Kabuki production Yamato Takeru.

Yukii Isogawa’s 15th single, Reminiscence ~Though I Depart, My Heart Remains~, was released in September 2025.

It is a sweeping tale centered on the selfless love of Oto Tachibana-hime from Japanese mythology.

With resonant, weighty strings and sacred bell tones, it dramatically portrays the prayer of a woman who offers her life for the one she loves.

You’ll be irresistibly drawn into a world that could be called “mythic enka.” If you love grand ballads, be sure to check it out.

Michinoku Silver Mountain, Tears of SnowHiromi Yamaguchi

Hiromi Yamaguchi “Michinoku Ginzan Namida Yuki” Music Video

Hiromi Yamaguchi, known for her authentic, classic enka style inherited from her mentor Saburo Kitajima.

Her charm lies in a powerful, emotionally rich voice that you wouldn’t expect from her petite 147 cm frame.

The song she released in September 2025 is a quintessential heartbreak enka set in Ginzan Onsen, Yamagata.

It poignantly conveys the sorrow of a woman who ends an impermissible love, interwoven with scenes of rising steam and gently falling snow.

Why not immerse yourself in this travel-tinged piece and savor its tender melancholy?

Snow FlowerAyako Fuji

Ayako Fuji “Snow Flower” Music Video

Fujii Ayako’s songs are beloved by many fans as emotionally rich enka.

This work is marked by a poignant yet beautiful melody that evokes the winters of Japan’s northern regions, depicting a woman who, wrapped in silk and crimson amid the biting cold, seeks to ease the sorrow and loneliness of love.

Released in July 2024, the song features lyrics written by Ayako herself under the name “Ono Aya,” with composition by Ikuzo Yoshi—making it a notable collaboration.

Created by two artists hailing from Tohoku who have once again joined forces, it is positioned as a new form of “Michinoku enka.” A heartwarming piece that offers comfort to those feeling the ache and solitude of love.