A collection of enka songs with “Blues” in the title: masterpieces that sing of sorrow
When you look through enka song titles, many of you may have noticed there are a lot of tracks called “___ Blues.”
Blues is a music genre born in America, where singers pour a range of emotions into songs built on a particular rhythm and chord progression.
In Japan’s enka scene, many songs began to be composed with the blues in mind, and a particularly large number of melancholy tunes were released.
In this article, we’ll introduce classic enka songs whose titles include the word “Blues.”
Listen to them while picturing the scenes and emotions woven into each track.
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Collection of enka songs with “Blues” in the title: Classic laments (11–20)
Motomachi BluesSen Masao
Speaking of the Showa era, it’s also memorable as the heyday of blues.
Unlike overseas blues, the Japanese take on blues was about whether it carried a bluesy feel within an enka style, and by that definition, this work is a spot-on blues kayō song.
It preserves the essence of enka while combining the grit of blues with the singability of pop kayō, and the vocal lines are kept very simple throughout.
It’s approachable even for beginners, so consider adding it to your repertoire.
A Melancholy Road on the Shimokita PeninsulaMatsubara Nobue
A masterful performance by Nobue Matsubara, who gives voice to a soul-stirring poem passed down in the land of Mutsu.
Interweaving imagery of the harsh northern sea winds, lighthouses, and Kandachime horses, it beautifully conveys both aching longing and steadfast resolve.
Released in January 2025, this gem of an enka song was crafted by lyricist Shinichi Ishihara and composer Tetsuya Gen.
It’s a piece that resonates deeply with those who have faced partings in life or wish to confront their own feelings.
Celebrating her 45th debut anniversary, Nobue Matsubara’s voice delivers profound emotion alongside the spirit of the Shimokita Peninsula.
A woman’s heartYashiro Aki
Aki Yashiro is an enka singer, but her background includes jazz and blues.
The boundary between enka and blues can be hard to draw.
That’s because most people who aspire to be singers tend to like Western jazz and blues when they’re young.
However, as they pursue a singing career in Japan, it’s only natural that they change course and gradually shift to enka.
If you’re going to sing karaoke, you should be aware of that background too.
Yanagase BluesMikawa Ken’ichi
This is a blues piece by Kenichi Mikawa, an artist who embodies both masculinity and femininity, whose distinctive, idiosyncratic vocals create an addictive charm.
The key progression makes it easy to sing at karaoke, making it a relatively approachable work even for beginners.