Easy-to-sing enka: A roundup of recommended enka songs for karaoke
Enka, a genre that represents Japanese music.
Its singing method uses a technique called kobushi, which is highly distinctive, and its unique sound—built on pentatonic scales and triads—has been loved for many years.
That said, because enka relies on kobushi, many people may feel it’s difficult to sing.
For those people, we’ve selected songs that minimize the use of kobushi and don’t require a wide vocal range.
We also cover the technical aspects in detail, so if you want to sing enka well, this is a must-read!
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Easy-to-sing enka: Recommended enka for karaoke (21–30)
Casablanca GoodbyeToba Ichirō
Enka singer Ichiro Toba, popular for his wide-ranging musicality from male-voiced to female-voiced songs, has left many masterpieces.
Among them, Casablanca Goodbye is especially recommended as an easy song to sing.
While there are a few spots that feature kobushi (traditional enka vocal ornaments), overall the piece has a flavor closer to kayōkyoku (Japanese popular song).
It employs a very light mixed voice, but the high phrases aren’t very long, and it doesn’t demand much power overall, so the overall difficulty is on the lower side.
Its mood-rich melody is sure to get the crowd going!
Green Que Sera SeraOka Midori
It’s a fun, upbeat Reiwa-era rhythm kayō masterpiece that makes any Japanese person want to clap along and start dancing! “Midori no Que Sera Sera” is a song released by Midori Oka in 2021, and as the title suggests, you can sing it comfortably with a carefree “que sera sera—whatever will be, will be” feeling.
The instantly catchy chorus sticks after one listen, and if everyone in your karaoke group sings it together, it’ll definitely liven up the room.
The signature enka vocal flourishes—like heavy kobushi and wide vibrato—are kept modest, and the more natural delivery makes it approachable even for those who feel unsure about singing traditional enka.
First and foremost, have fun and sing along to the cheerful rhythm!
Easy-to-sing enka: A roundup of recommended enka for karaoke (31–40)
Heart RainŌe Yutaka
Kokoro Ame, a masterpiece by Hiroshi Oe, is notable for his piercingly emotive singing voice.
While Oe is often associated with a powerful, dynamic singing style, he is actually skilled at female-voiced songs as well.
Among his female-voiced repertoire, this piece is particularly easy to sing.
The melody is pure enka, but the vocal line, somewhat unexpectedly, leans strongly toward kayōkyoku (Japanese popular song), and it doesn’t demand any complex rises and falls in pitch.
There aren’t many instances of kobushi (melismatic ornamentation), but dynamic contrast is crucial, so be mindful of that.
Woman of FateŌe Yutaka
Among Hiroshi Oe’s songs, the one I especially recommend to women is Sadame no Onna.
Although this piece falls into the so-called “onna-uta” (women’s song) category, it leans more toward kayōkyoku than straight enka, so you won’t find the delicate, ornamented vibrato runs—driven by dramatic dynamics—that are typical of many onna-uta.
In fact, there’s only one clear instance of kobushi (traditional enka ornamentation) in the chorus, making it a fairly easy song to sing.
The range is somewhat wide, so I recommend carefully determining the most suitable key before performing.
snow camelliaKobayashi Sachiko
Yukitsubaki is one of Sachiko Kobayashi’s signature songs and holds great significance in her career as it was her first single after becoming independent from her agency.
The lyrics were written by the master Tetsurō Hoshino—his first single with her since “Mō Ichido Dake”—at Kobayashi’s own request, and she delivers a stirring performance of a grand, classic enka.
It’s also extremely popular for karaoke, so many enka fans are likely to belt it out at karaoke.
As mentioned, it’s a quintessential enka number, so techniques like kobushi (melodic turns) and vibrato appear, but the overall range is average, with no standout high notes or extended long tones.
Therefore, anyone who has a grasp of enka fundamentals should be able to sing it without difficulty.
A beautiful day for lifekawanaka miyuki
From her debut, Miyuki Kawanaka has been known for her distinctive, rich voice, and lately that voice has gained even more power and presence.
As a result, she’s been releasing more forceful songs as her career progresses.
One recommendation is Jinsei Biyori, released in 2024.
It features a powerful delivery with effective shouts.
While executing the shouts can be challenging, the song has few long sustained notes and doesn’t use rapid melismatic ornamentation (kobushi), so for those familiar with enka, it should be relatively easy to sing.
Lesser cuckooMurakami Sachiko
Sachiko Murakami is an enka singer whose breathy vocals evoke Aki Yashiro, leaving a strong impression.
Rather than sheer power, she excels in melancholy and sensuality, and she also possesses high vocal ability.
She produced several classic songs in the 1980s, so many of you may be familiar with her.
Among her works, the one I especially recommend is Hototogisu.
While it’s not a song with few kobushi (ornamental vocal turns), because the kobushi are used in sections where the volume is pulled back, it’s actually easier to sing than it sounds.