Enka Singers Most Popular at Karaoke [2025]

atonementTeresa Teng15rank/position

atonement

The Showa-era classic “Tsugunai” is a poignant enka masterpiece that sings of tragic love.

Teresa Teng’s clear, translucent voice gently conveys the end of a forbidden romance and her atonement to the one she loves.

The chorus phrase “ai wo tsugunau” (to atone for love) is especially memorable and leaves a deep impression on listeners.

Released in January 1984, the song was also used in a YKKap commercial and became a major hit.

It has a strong kayōkyoku flavor, making it easy to sing and recommended even for those who aren’t yet comfortable with full-on traditional enka.

companion on the road; fellow traveler; taking someone along (often unwillingly)Hiroshi Miyama16rank/position

companion on the road; fellow traveler; taking someone along (often unwillingly)

A song by Hiroshi Miyama that portrays the bond between a man and a woman walking together through life’s ups and downs.

It expresses a fate that drifts like floating weeds in a gentle ballad.

Miyama’s powerful yet warm voice resonates deeply with listeners.

Originally released in 1978 as a song by Mieko Makimura, Miyama’s cover is included on the album “Utaitsugu! Nihon no Ryūkōka Part 5,” released in June 2024.

It’s a perfect track for times when you feel lost in life or want to feel the bond with someone important.

married coupleMitsuko Nakamura17rank/position

Mitsuko Nakamura “Fuufu” Music Video

Mitsuko Nakamura’s famous song “Fūfu” portrays the love between a married couple.

Its lyrics depict the pure love of partners who have been together for many years, and the piece is characterized by a heartwarming melodic line that matches this theme.

The kobushi ornamentation that appears in the song incorporates a slight Kawachi-ondo flavor, so it uses the hiccup-like technique of flipping the voice.

It’s similar to the style of kobushi used by Sachiko Kobayashi.

Although this piece employs that technique, there are very few instances of kobushi involving pitch changes of more than two notes, so the overall level of difficulty can be considered low.

IzakayaHiroshi Itsuki, Nana Kinomi18rank/position

Izakaya — Kinomi Nana / Hiroshi Itsuki

The duet song Izakaya by Hiroshi Itsuki and Nana Kinomi was released on October 25, 1982.

The song depicts a one-night encounter between a man and a woman who happen to sit next to each other at an izakaya.

They neither ask each other’s names nor share personal stories, yet it portrays a stylish scene of the two spending time together at the izakaya until the next morning.

Even after all these years since its release, it remains a highly popular duet choice for karaoke, so be sure to try singing it as a male-female pair.

Our town was green indeed.Masao Sen19rank/position

Our town was green indeed.

Masao Sen’s classic “Waga Machi wa Midori Nariki” is notable for its gentle melody.

While it is nominally classified as enka, the vocal line strongly reflects the essence of Showa-era kayōkyoku, and the characteristic enka vocal melisma (kobushi) is scarcely present.

The few instances of kobushi are mostly limited to a single scale step up or down, so even those not adept at enka-style phrasing should be able to sing it without difficulty.

If you enjoy songs with a nostalgic, old-fashioned mood, consider adding this one to your repertoire.

The Camellia Sasanqua InnEisaku Okawa20rank/position

Sazanka Inn EISAKU OKAWA 1982

Eisaku Okawa’s signature song, whose passionate vocals move listeners to the core.

The lyrics depict a heartrending love story with the theme of an affair, beautifully harmonized with an emotive melody.

Released in August 1982, it became a massive hit with total sales of 1.

8 million copies.

At the 1983 Japan Record Awards, it won the Long-Seller Award, and in the same year he made his first appearance on NHK’s Kohaku Uta Gassen.

Even those new to enka are likely familiar with this song, though it does require a certain level of vocal technique.

It’s recommended to start by carefully listening to Okawa’s delivery and studying elements like breathing timing.

With a fiery heartAkira Kobayashi21rank/position

With a Fiery Heart ☆ Akira Kobayashi

A work notable for its distinctive sound featuring strings, “Atsuki Kokoro ni.” This piece includes few of Akira Kobayashi’s trademark upward-climbing long tones.

Since most of the long tones occur while the melody descends, even those who struggle with upward vibrato can sing it without issue.

It’s a kayōkyoku with a strong pop flavor, and advanced vocal techniques like kobushi do not appear at all.

However, the rhythm at the beginning of the chorus is somewhat irregular, so you’ll need to practice that part thoroughly.