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

Life, radiantMomoko Osawa

Life, radiant

This is a heartfelt song delivered by Momoko Osawa.

Also active as a disaster-prevention specialist, she sincerely engages with the theme of “life,” conveying its preciousness and radiance through her emotive vocals.

Listening to it, you feel a warm courage welling up, as if you can overcome any hardship.

Released as a single in July 2025, the arrangement is by Masakane Tsuta, who teamed up with her on the previous work, “Ichigo.” If you listen to it when your heart feels tired or when you want to reaffirm your bonds with someone important, it will surely lift your spirits.

Osaka RainTadashi Mikado

Tadashi Mikado “Osaka Ujo” Music Video (Short Ver.)

Set in Osaka, this work gives voice to a woman whose heart is soaked by a farewell in the rain.

The richly expressive vocals will captivate not only fans of Tadaji Mikado but new listeners as well.

Interweaving the imagery of rain and Osaka with finesse, it vividly portrays the woman’s aching emotions.

Released in September 2024, this song can be called the culmination of Mikado’s career.

The coupling track includes a classic from the Showa era, making it unmissable for enka fans.

Highly recommended for those who want to savor a soulful voice while feeling the charm of Osaka.

Listen on a rainy day, and you might be drawn into an even deeper, more sentimental mood.

When a man thinks of his motherYusuke Hashiri

Yusuke Hashiri / When a Man Thinks of His Mother

A folk-style enka song by Yusuke Hashiri, expressing his feelings for his mother, is drawing attention.

The piece, which won the Grand Prix at the Song Contest jointly organized by the Japan Composers’ Association and the Japan Lyricists’ Association, features lyrics by Katsumi Sato, composition by Sumiki Nishio, and arrangement by Shigenobu Ishikura.

It was released as a single in September 2024.

Hashiri’s gentle vocals, which convey gratitude and nostalgia for his mother over a tender melody, are sure to resonate with many listeners.

It’s a recommended track for those who want to feel the bond between parent and child and the love of family, as well as for anyone looking for a Mother’s Day gift.

Tipsy Breeze TavernYuito Nakamura

Yuito Nakamura “Tipsy Breeze Tavern” MV [Official]

There are nights when your heart feels a little weary from the daily hustle and bustle.

This is something that will gently be by your side on those days.

It’s the debut work of Yuito Nakamura, released in June 2025.

Listening to it, you can feel the warmth of a bar where people huddle close and talk, and a quiet energy for tomorrow starts to well up.

The pop, refreshing sound also gives you a sensation of lightness.

Highly recommended if you want to end your day wrapped in a gentle mood.

Let me hear your parting words.Kazue Yamamoto

Let me hear your parting words.

Released in July 2025, this work centers on the end of an office romance—something anyone could experience.

The lyrics, which yearn to put a stop to an ambiguous relationship, are heartbreaking even just to read.

The melancholy sound, featuring a triple meter, further highlights the protagonist’s aching emotions.

It’s an emotionally rich number you’ll want to listen to on nights when past loves come to mind.

The winds of the Kirishima mountain range weepHitomi Nishikawa

Hitomi Nishikawa “Kirishima Mountain Range: The Wind Cries” MV [Official]

Hitomi Nishikawa is a singer whose soul-stirring voice, nurtured by the spirit of Kumamoto, is her greatest allure.

Released in August 2025, this work is a quintessential example of her signature, classic jōnen enka style.

Set against the Kirishima mountain range in Kyushu, it tells of a burning love for someone she cannot meet.

The protagonist’s journey across the peaks, from Karakunidake to Takachiho, vividly mirrors emotions blazing beyond control.

With Chiaki Oka’s rich melody fused seamlessly with Nishikawa’s resonant “unari-bushi” vocal technique, the result is a deeply compelling track.

Woman's SlopeYuko Oka

Yuko Oka “Onna no Sakamichi” Music Video

An ambitious work commemorating the 45th anniversary of her debut was released in September 2024.

Yuko Oka’s new song is an “onna-uta,” a woman’s song that layers the feelings of a woman who lives for love with Japan’s four seasons.

It’s the first collaboration between Toyohisa Araki and Chiaki Oka, and its emotionally rich melody and lyrics leave a strong impression.

Against seasonal backdrops—spring’s night cherry blossoms and autumn’s passing showers—the song portrays a woman who lives steadfastly through life’s uphill paths.

The coupling track Onna no Aozora is also included, making this a release that showcases Yuko Oka’s musical breadth.

This work is recommended not only for longtime enka fans but also for those newly interested in the genre.

It’s a piece that lets you feel the beauty of Japan’s seasons and the joys and sorrows of life.