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

You can just cry.Souichi Futami

Soichi Futami “You Can Cry” MUSIC VIDEO

Souichi Futami’s song is a poignant love ballad that sings of deep feelings for a beloved person from whom one has been separated.

It features a sweeping melody and dynamic arrangement, with Futami’s clear, translucent vocals brilliantly conveying the song’s emotions.

Released in August 2024, the composition was handled by singer-songwriter Takao Horiuchi.

Futami won the Grand Prix at the Nippon Crown newcomer audition in 2017, marking his debut.

This work resonates with listeners who have experienced the pain of parting or loss.

Its heartfelt lyrics and refreshing vocals make it a captivating track.

Demon Fires of AsoHaruna Horiuchi

Haruna Horiuchi “Aso's Demon Fire” Music Video

A passionate yet heartrending song that overlays a flickering flame with a love burning out.

The vocalist is the accomplished Haruna Horiuchi, who won the grand prize at the 2019 Kumamoto Prefectural Folk Song Championship.

“Aso no Onibi” is her debut single, produced by Takeshi Kitayama and released in July 2025.

Based on the traditional demon-fire festival of her hometown Kumamoto, it portrays the strength and fragility of a woman who bids farewell to a past love and chooses a new path.

The resolve to cut off lingering attachments by lopping off her long hair, and the still-surging passion that collides with it—these images truly shake the heart.

It offers courage to everyone striving to overcome the sorrow of heartbreak and carve out a future by their own strength.

diamond dustAyumi Ozora

diamond dust

This is a song by Ayumi Oozora that fuses the lyrical sensibility of enka with an irresistibly body-swaying rock sound.

The lyrics, written by her mentor Shinobu Yuki, sing of a strong resolve: even while carrying the pain of a lost love, the protagonist faces forward, like flowers poised to bloom in the spring to come.

Oozora’s emotive vocals dramatize both the aching sorrow and the hope for renewal.

It’s sure to give a powerful push to anyone who wants to overcome sadness and take a new step forward.

Red full moonKonomi Mori

Konomi Mori “Red Full Moon” Music Video

An ambitious work by Konomi Mori that welcomed hitmaker Makoto Sugimoto as composer, breaking through her previous image and opening up a new frontier.

This single was released in July 2025.

Right after its release in July, it created a major buzz, even reaching No.

1 on the cable Enka/Kayōkyoku chart.

The fusion of a dramatic, Showa-tinged emotional melody with a sophisticated sound is truly striking! The lyrics, which portray the purity and poignancy of a protagonist who resolves to live for love despite knowing it’s a forbidden romance, are also deeply gripping.

It’s perfect for a night when you want to immerse yourself in a mature love story—take your time and listen.

A Woman's Love LanternNoriko Nemoto

A Woman's Love Lantern

In a town where rain falls like tears, the lyrics vividly conjure the devoted protagonist waiting single-mindedly for their loved one, tightening the heart with every line.

Released as a single in July 2025 to mark Noriko Nemoto’s 10-year career milestone, the song is enriched by her gentle, velvety vocals, which deepen a world where hope glows within sorrow.

Anyone struggling with steadfast love will surely be moved.

Making MemoriesAyako Fuji

Making Memories

Prompted by her producer’s suggestion to “sing your own song,” this is a track for which Ayako Fuji herself handled both lyrics and composition.

It was released in July 2025 as part of the double A-side single “Omoide-zukuri / Chiisana Kane no Ne ~La Campanella~.” Like flipping through the pages of a diary, the song traces memories, singing of bonds with family and friends as well as love for a partner.

With a melody that evokes the nostalgia of Showa-era kayōkyoku and folk music, and lyrics that chart the journey of a life, it’s the kind of song that will bring a loved one’s face to mind and surely make your heart swell.

Before the end of summerTakeshi Kitayama

Takeshi Kitayama “Before Summer Ends” Music Video

Takeshi Kitayama’s first new single since going independent, “Before Summer Comes to an End,” released on January 17, 2024, shines with a special glow as a song marking a fresh start.

TUBE’s Tohru Maeda and Michiya Haruhata contributed the lyrics and composition, weaving compelling words about passionate male friendship and a forward-looking outlook on life.

The masculine resolve to press on and the supple life of a flower by the roadside both give us courage to face harsh realities.

There’s a sense that a new story begins where an ending seems to be announced, like the close of summer.

The depth of bonds and the acceptance of fate resonate deeply.

Along with Kitayama’s burning passion, it feels like a future classic that hints at another summer story.