New Enka Single Release [October 2025]

Journey of lingering attachmentGodai Shou

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.

And then, the Twilight Cinemaasamichiyuki

Asami Chiyuki “The Twilight Cinema Thereafter” Music Video

Chiyuki Asami, affectionately known as the songstress of Inokashira Park.

“Sorekara no Tasogare Cinema” is positioned as a sequel to “Tasogare Cinema,” which was included on the 2005 album “Asami no Uta II” and later released as a single in 2010.

It delicately portrays the feelings of a protagonist who, as time has passed since memories at the movie theater, has come to know the margins and losses of life.

It’s a work filled with depth that resonates precisely because we’ve grown older.

When you feel like looking back on the film called life, this is a song to listen to quietly.

moored boatMifune Kazuko

Kazuko Mifune “Moinaibune (Mooring Boat)” MV [Official]

Sixty years after her 1965 debut, a single symbolizing that journey was released in October 2025.

This work, which overlays the feelings of two lovers who cannot be together onto a boat, is a classic enka that captures the subtleties of a heartrending romance.

The emotive lyrics by Chiyo Yoshimi, the wistful melody by Chiaki Oka, and the arrangement by Tatsuo Matsui—fusing tradition with a contemporary sonic balance—are in splendid harmony.

Moreover, Kazuko Mifune’s richly expressive vocals vividly convey the rising passion from the conversational A-melody to the soaring chorus.

A track to savor slowly.

Woman in a Late Autumn DrizzleNakayama Rumi

Rumi Nakayama “Woman Sayo-Shigure” Music Video

This is a song by Rumi Nakayama, a female enka singer from Osaka.

The third release since her move to Teichiku Records, it’s a bona fide enka piece that portrays a woman’s feelings as she sheds tears over an unattainable love.

The lyrics are by Koyomi Asa and the music by Hiroshi Tokuhisa, a powerhouse duo.

Like a gentle, lingering drizzle, the bittersweet emotions seep into your heart.

Nakayama’s deeply expressive vocals embody the futility of love, and listening will make you empathize with the pain of that romance.

Mother is a cradle.Hōjō Kiyomi

Mother is a cradle.

Kiyomi Hojo, an enka singer from Tsukuba City in Ibaraki Prefecture, has transferred from King Records to Nippon Crown.

In October 2025, she released her first single in her new home, “Mother Is a Cradle.” This work weaves together gratitude to her mother and memories from childhood: the days she walked home hand in hand singing, the warmth of being held close through rain and wind, and the words of thanks she can finally express now.

Many listeners will likely find themselves overlaying the song onto their own lives.