Diva of Enka: A roundup of female singers leading the enka world
When you hear “diva of the enka world,” which singer comes to mind? If you’re an enka fan reading this article, you’re probably thinking, “I can’t pick just one!” This article will introduce, all at once, the women who are leading Japan’s enka scene.
We’ve selected popular female enka singers from across different generations.
Be sure to listen to their songs, and if one catches your interest, check out more of her music too.
- A roundup of female enka singers in their 70s: voices that evoke nostalgia
- A roundup of 40-something female enka singers with captivating voices
- A roundup of captivating enka female singers in their 50s [2026]
- [2026] A roundup of female enka singers in their 60s: Artists who support Japanese enka
- [Enka] A special feature on female singers in their 30s: Kayō singers whose music goes beyond enka
- Popular Enka Singers Ranking [2026]
- Women’s Enka: A collection of classic enka songs expressing women’s emotions
- [Enka] A special feature on female singers in their 80s. Singers who were active from the early to mid-Showa era.
- 【2026】Difficult Enka Songs to Sing — Women Singers Edition
- Classic enka songs you’ll want to sing at karaoke: recommended popular tracks
- A roundup of leading female enka singers representing the Showa era
- A roundup of female enka singers in their 20s: The young divas of the enka world
- Debut song of an enka singer
Diva of Enka: A roundup of leading female enka singers (1–10)
I’ve fallen for you.Ishihara Junko
Junko Ishihara’s classic “Horemashita.” Released in 1988, this piece marked her memorable debut and is still beloved by many fans today.
While it inherits elements of enka, the song as a whole features an easy-to-sing vocal line reminiscent of kayōkyoku.
In particular, the kobushi (ornamental vocal turns) are very easy—there are no difficult kobushi in this piece at all.
They’re limited to, at most, a one-step pitch change, so anyone with experience singing enka should be able to perform it with ease.
Woman of the Land of FireSakamoto Fuyumi
Fuyumi Sakamoto made a sudden breakthrough with her 1987 debut single “Abare Daiko,” quickly joining the ranks of popular enka singers.
She went on to release numerous hits and beloved songs with nationwide appeal, and it’s still fresh in our memories that at the 75th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen in 2024, she performed “Noto wa Irankaine” via a live relay from Wajima City in Ishikawa Prefecture.
One of her signature songs, “Hi no Kuni no Onna,” released in 1991, is a popular track that received high acclaim, including winning the 33rd Japan Record Award.
The chorus, powered by emotive kobushi ornamentation that channels a woman’s burning passion, is a part you’ll especially want to nail with style if you sing it at karaoke.
That said, the overall difficulty is high: the melody spans a wide range and jumps intensely between pitches, so you won’t bring out the best of the song unless you handle both the low and high notes with confidence.
Also be mindful of the diction in the lyrics, and don’t forget to consciously express the protagonist’s emotions.
Inn of the White HeronJōnouchi Sanae
It’s a quintessential enka number that sings of a love both aching and passionately ablaze.
Sanae Jōnouchi—who made an idol debut in the 1980s as a member of Onyanko Club yet uniquely launched a solo career early on as an enka singer—released this Reiwa-era enka masterpiece in 2019.
Backed by her long career, Jōnouchi’s performance combines a serene, velvety tone with a powerful will and commanding presence—truly outstanding.
In classic enka fashion, the song has a wide vocal range, balancing lower and higher notes; to sing the melody as Jōnouchi does is, frankly, no easy feat.
That said, it doesn’t feature particularly tricky rhythms or phrasing, so those accustomed to singing enka should find it well within reach.
For the high notes at the end of the chorus that use a long tone and falsetto, be sure to manage your breathing before and after so you can deliver them smoothly.
Diva of Enka. A roundup of leading female singers in the enka world (11–20)
NocturneIchikawa Yukino
Yukino Ichikawa is a popular singer who can be considered one of the defining figures of the enka scene since the late 1990s.
Before taking a hiatus due to illness, she released the single “Nocturne” in March 2024.
It’s a medium-tempo ballad featuring a grand sound and plenty of kayōkyoku flavor.
It might seem easy to sing at first glance, but it’s actually quite demanding: from the intro and the very first entrance, both rhythm and pitch are hard to grasp.
Rather than singing it in a flat, matter-of-fact way, be sure to fit the lyrics properly to the melody’s pitches while avoiding a mechanical delivery, and sing with emotion.
Woman of ShinjukuFuji Keiko
Some people may only know Keiko Fuji as the mother of Hikaru Utada, but Fuji, with her powerful, gravelly voice that belied her teenage years and her innate vocal talent, was truly worthy of being called a genius singer.
If you listen to her debut single “Shinjuku no Onna,” released when she was just 18, you’ll understand how extraordinary she was.
It’s a classic that achieved commercial success and catapulted her to stardom, and it fully showcases the appeal of her husky voice—lush yet tinged with melancholy.
While it’s an enka song, it also carries a kayōkyoku flavor, so those who aren’t fond of traditional enka might find it easier to sing.
That said, actually mastering it is another matter entirely; it’s extremely difficult to capture Fuji’s phrasing, which spans a wide vocal range.
Not only the high notes and vibrato, but also clearly articulated low melodies are challenging—keep that in mind as you practice.
Jonkara Onna-bushiNagayama Yōko
This 2003 release is a fresh, classic enka song that weaves in vivid scenes of Tsugaru, enriched by the sound of the Tsugaru shamisen.
Yoko Nagayama’s performance—singing while playing the shamisen herself—left a strong impression on many fans, and the track is considered one of her signature songs.
Though it’s enka, it also carries a kayōkyoku-style flavor.
The unique melody, which harmonizes beautifully with lyrics that include the Tsugaru dialect and the tone of the shamisen, is surprisingly difficult to sing once you try it.
Successfully marrying enka with shamisen, the piece drew attention with a performance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and it’s a song I highly recommend to anyone interested in shamisen playing.
Jongara Onna-bushiNagayama Yōko
Featuring the boldly spotlighted sound of the Tsugaru shamisen, “Jonkara Onna-bushi” is a quintessential Japanese masterpiece in which elements of traditional music blend superbly with enka, pop, and rock.
Originally debuting as an idol singer, Yoko Nagayama later established herself as an enka artist while continuing to perform a wide range of styles, including pop and kayokyoku—this song is a perfect example of her versatility.
It was a massive hit, with Nagayama herself standing and playing the Tsugaru shamisen as she sings—an incredibly cool sight.
Vocally, however, it’s by no means an easy song: it demands a broad range and poses many technical challenges.
Although it follows the classic enka style, the uptempo beat with pop- and rock-like flavors, as mentioned, may feel particularly difficult for those used to more relaxed enka.
Conversely, if you’re not accustomed to enka vocalization, try approaching it as if you were singing rock, without initially over-focusing on enka-style emotional inflection.
Explore your own take on “Jonkara Onna-bushi” and sing it with full groove and energy!