Enka Singers Most Popular at Karaoke [2025]

Osaka sparrowMiyuki Nagai78rank/position

Osaka Sparrow Miyuki Nagai × Miyuki Nagai

This debut song, written by lyricist Taka Takashi for his beloved protégé Miyuki Nagai from Osaka, was released in 1992.

It won the Excellent Broadcast Music Newcomer Award at the 23rd Japan Kayō Awards, and the Best New Artist Award in the Kayō/Enka category at the 34th Japan Record Awards.

Its performance, with lyrics declaring that Tokyo is nothing to boast about, resonated with people from Kansai and made it a hit.

Osaka sparrowMiyuki Nagai & Miyuki Nagai79rank/position

Osaka Sparrow - Miyuki Nagai & Miyuki Nagai

Miyuki Nagai’s classic “Osaka Suzume,” released in 1997, is one of her signature works and won the New Artist Award in the enka category at the 34th Japan Record Awards.

While faithfully inheriting traditional enka techniques, the song is arranged to be very easy to sing.

Notably, it features very few kobushi (melismatic ornamentations).

The number of notes is also quite limited, and the tempo is slow, making it a piece in which it’s easy to maintain precise pitch control.

Sake, Tears, Men, and WomenEigo Kawashima80rank/position

EXILE ATSUSHI – Sake, Tears, Men and Women (EXILE ATSUSHI SPECIAL SOLO LIVE in HAWAII)

This is a socially conscious masterpiece that portrays the subtle miscommunications between men and women and the nuances of emotional expression with deep insight.

It warmly observes how men open up through drinking and women through tears, each revealing their inner feelings.

Born from impressions Eigo Kawashima had at age 18 during a family memorial gathering, the song was included on the November 1975 album “Jinrui” (Humanity) and released as a single in June 1976.

Also known as the jingle for the sake brand Kizakura, it became a major hit, reaching No.

9 on the Oricon weekly chart.

It is a gem I recommend to anyone who wants to face their heart honestly when confronted with life’s sorrow and poignancy.

Osaka RhapsodyChisato and Mari Umihara81rank/position

Osaka Rhapsody

Osaka Rhapsody is a duet song sung by two women, featuring a beautiful accordion melody in the intro and an upbeat, bright, and lively feel.

It’s a song that lifts the mood and gets everyone excited, making it perfect for karaoke at year-end parties and the like.

Released in 1975, Osaka Rhapsody became a big hit when performed by the comedy duo Senri and Mari Unabara.

companion on the road; fellow traveler; taking someone along (often unwillingly)Mieko Makimura82rank/position

Mieko Makimura – Michizure

If you have someone you want to marry, the best song to sing in place of a proposal is “Michizure.” As the title suggests, its lyrics express the wish to walk through life together.

The actor Tetsuya Watari originally sang it, but when Mieko Makimura asked him for permission to sing the song, it was released as her record.

Overflowing with chivalry, Watari decided it wouldn’t be good for Makimura if there were two versions of the same song, so he took his own “Michizure” out of print.

TATSUYAAimi Tanaka83rank/position

Aimi Tanaka 'TATSUYA' [57th Japan Lyricist Awards]

Aimi Tanaka is an enka singer known as the beloved disciple of Takashi Hosokawa.

She possesses a remarkably deep voice for someone in her early twenties, and on top of that, her expressive power is extraordinary.

She is undoubtedly expected to play a leading role in the future enka scene, yet she has also released many songs that are easy to sing.

Among them, the one you can especially expect to get the crowd going is “TATSUYA.” While the lyrics are sad, depicting a widow, the melody is powerful and still brings out a feminine quality, so you can expect it to be quite exciting.

It leans more toward kayōkyoku in style, and the absence of difficult pitch movements—such as the dramatic ups and downs often associated with kobushi—makes it notably easy to sing.

EbisuNaoki Sanada84rank/position

[MV] Naoki Sanada / Ebisu (full ver.)

Produced by Ikuzo Yoshi, this song tells a love story set in the Ebisu district.

Naoki Sanada, known for his captivating husky voice, delivers an emotionally rich performance.

The lyrics skillfully depict the progression of romance while weaving in the transition from autumn to winter and then to spring, leaving a strong impression.

Released in January 2020, it reached No.

1 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Enka/Kayō ranking.

With its urban atmosphere and warm lyrics, it’s an easy song to enjoy at karaoke.

Even if you’re not confident in your singing ability, belting out the chorus with power should be more than enough to get the crowd going.