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Lovely enka

[2026] Also great for celebrations! Enka songs for special occasions

This may be sudden, but what kind of image do you have of the genre known as enka?

Heartbreak and the sorrows of life—perhaps it doesn’t exactly evoke a bright, cheerful image… If that’s what you were thinking, surprise: there are actually classic enka songs that are perfectly upbeat and ideal for celebrations!

In this article, we’ve put together a selection of “celebratory enka” you can use for weddings, longevity celebrations, farewell parties, New Year’s gatherings, and more.

Please enjoy these celebratory songs—sung by enka vocalists whose performances, at times warm and at times powerful, come from a deep understanding of life’s bittersweetness.

[2026] For Celebrations Too! Enka Celebration Songs (11–20)

Spring has come.Tendō Yoshimi

Like a herald of spring’s arrival, a heartwarming singing voice rings out.

Released in 2001, this song by Yoshimi Tendo features a bright, light melody and lyrics full of hope.

It celebrates the joy of overcoming winter’s chill and welcoming new encounters and happiness.

Included on the album “Kyoen!! Enka Zenkokushu,” the piece showcases Tendo’s powerful yet gentle vocals.

It’s perfect for occasions that celebrate new beginnings in love and life.

An ideal song for springtime celebrations such as weddings, graduation ceremonies, and company entrance ceremonies.

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Celebratory ShowerMatsumae Hiroko

Released in 1990, this song is a moving work that gently portrays family love.

Hiroko Matsumae’s richly expressive vocals seem to resonate deeply with listeners.

The complex feelings of parents sending their daughter off to marry are brilliantly captured through skillful imagery—such as likening them to the sharp bite of wasabi on sea bream sashimi.

Imbued with the bonds between parent and child and the joy of a new beginning, it’s perfect for weddings and longevity celebrations.

With its warm vocals and heartfelt lyrics, it beautifully enhances gatherings of family and relatives.

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Celebratory Grandchild SongChiba Genta

Chiba Genta “Celebratory Grandchild Song” MUSIC VIDEO
Celebratory Grandchild SongChiba Genta

A gentle, heartwarming love of family that seeps into the soul! Released in June 2025, marking the 49th year since Chiba’s debut, this work celebrates the birth of a grandchild—a theme that softly envelops listeners and reminds them of the precious bonds of family.

With a seasoned voice that only a veteran can command, it powerfully sings of life’s great joys and warmth.

The lyrical world crafted by his late close friend Yukio Chiba blends beautifully with the music.

A perfect classic for family celebrations!

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Iyasa(ka), YassaiIshikawa Sayuri

Sayuri Ishikawa “Yasaka (Iyasaka) Yassai” Music Video
Iyasa(ka), YassaiIshikawa Sayuri

This enka number, themed on Noto’s traditional Abare Festival, delivers a bold, powerful impression.

With lyrics by Shohei Mozu and composition by Keisuke Hama, it’s an ambitious work set to be released in March 2025 as a song by Sayuri Ishikawa.

The layered chants create a vibrant sense of motion, while the intricate arrangement enhances the song’s appeal.

It’s a track brimming with immediacy, as if you can feel the festival’s heat and hear people’s breathing.

Carrying the spirit of a festival with a 350-year history into the present, it sings grandly of prayers for health and bountiful harvests.

It’s a song you’ll want to hear when you need a lift or when you’d like to sing along with someone special.

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ComradeToba Ichirō

This is a work that passionately sings of bonds between men.

Released in February 2025, it features the distinctive vocal ornamentation unique to enka throughout.

Toba’s singing powerfully conveys the feelings of men who have weathered life’s rough seas, which is particularly striking.

You can sense both a humble acceptance of one’s place and a proud appreciation of ties with friends.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to in moments when you want to savor life together with your comrades.

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In conclusion

As I mentioned at the beginning, if you didn’t have a very positive image of the enka genre, you might have been surprised by the songs chosen this time.

If you’ve found a favorite, by all means enjoy singing and dancing to celebratory enka with everyone—at weddings and other happy occasions, of course, and even at events like farewell parties.