An enka themed around heartbreak: a collection of masterpieces whose lyrics seep with lingering regrets

Enka, a genre that has been deeply loved in the Japanese music scene for many years.

Countless songs have been performed by numerous enka singers and cherished by many listeners.

In fact, there are many enka songs that portray heartbreak, and among them are numerous masterpieces that many of you likely know.

In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of classic enka songs themed around heartbreak all at once.

Set to richly emotional melodies and vocals, the lyrics convey lingering attachment and poignant sorrow.

Please lend an ear to these timeless songs that will touch your heart.

Playlist

An enka themed around heartbreak: a collection of masterpieces whose lyrics seep with lingering regrets
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Alone in Nagoya at the end of a loveMizumori Kaori		A cheerful local song with a heartbreak theme
2	White Thread Love SongAoi Kawori		A new enka song to sever lingering feelings after a broken heart
3	Autumn Without Youchoukokuu		A heartfelt song about the pain of losing a loved one
4	Thirteen monthsAoyama Shin		A melancholic kayō blues that portrays lingering feelings after a broken heart
5	Sunlight filtering through the trees — komorebitsukasa gaku		A ballad that quietly portrays feelings for a lost love
6	A lone, wandering womanShima Etsuko		A woman’s song of loneliness and farewell, rich with emotion
7	Winter TalesWakahara Ryo		On a winter night, I, intoxicated, think of the person I cannot forget.
8	Secret Love AnthologyShiono Kaori		Kaori Shiono’s moving work in her 15th year
9	Monochrome TimeOno-dera Yosuke		A singer from Yamagata, songs filled with loneliness and melancholy
10	Michinoku Nagare-utaKihara Takeshi		An enka set in a northern land: Take-shi Kihara’s song of the heart
11	HearthstoneKawahara Shin’ichi		Shinichi Kawahara Sings of Love in Hearthstone
12	Farewell MelancholyTakigawa Maiko		Expressing the moment of parting with poignant lyrics and a sense of speed
13	hesitationNagatsuki Akari		A moving ballad that portrays a farewell at the airport
14	Elegy of the PierKanō Tatsuya		Tatsuya Kano releases his first “otokouta” single in 7 years
15	Crying… NagasakiKadokawa Hiroshi		Hiroshi Kadokawa captivates with emotionally rich enka.
16	Journey of lingering attachmentGodai Shou		Godaishō’s Sentimental Enka “The Journey of Regret”
17	The Hydrangea PersonKitayama Takeshi		Takeshi Kitayama's poignant enka song “Ajisai no Hito” (The Hydrangea Person)
18	Michinoku Silver Mountain, Tears of Snowyamaguchi hiromi		Hiromi Yamaguchi, a heartbreak enka at Ginzan Onsen
19	The Northern CliffsYamauchi Keisuke		A song of a woman’s wistful heart carried on the sea breeze
20	Serenade to YouKano Hiroshi		A bittersweet love, a beautiful melody of reunion
21	Adoro of FarewellNishiyama Hitomi		A masterpiece that weaves a farewell story that resonates with the heart
22	Tokyo Rainy BlueMiki Yukari		Yukari Miki: A Heart-Wrenching Tale of Farewell
23	Moon of lingering coldKitada Emi		An emotional, passionate enka song by a female farmer-singer
24	Where are you…?Teramoto Keisuke		A poignant, classic-style kayōkyoku for the 15th debut anniversary
25	Let me hear your parting words.Yamamoto Kazue		A song that portrays the bittersweet end of an office romance
26	Sendai Woman — Chapter Twotachibana shigeru		A story of a man’s heartbreak and lingering attachment as he journeys through Sendai
27	Melancholy PierNomura Mina		Singing of a port town’s scenery and a woman’s heartrending feelings.
28	drinking aloneGodai Natsuko		An enka masterpiece that expresses Natsuko Godai’s strength and loneliness
29	Rainy Night WineFuji Ayako		An enka song expressing a woman’s aching feelings as she thinks of the lover who left on a rainy night
30	abandonedNagayama Yōko		Yoko Nagayama’s enka masterpiece, a classic that portrays the pain of heartbreak
31	The Northernmost RouteKouzai Kaori		Vowing to make a comeback on a northbound sea voyage after overcoming heartbreak
32	an empty shelltakumi ryō		A song that passionately sings about the heartbreak of lost love
33	Demon Fires of AsoHoriuchi Haruna		A song depicting passionate love and determination
34	Unreachable feelingsKouzai Kaori		Depicting a single-minded figure devoted to an ex-partner
35	Elegy… All AloneSatomi☆Shinobu		Shinobu Satomi: a moving work that portrays heartrending emotions
36	I don’t need to see you.Date Yuta		Yuta Date’s poignant enka ballad
37	A person of… memory/trace (omokage)en satsuki		Sing about the poignant feelings of a love that has passed
38	flower of lingering attachmentHanasaki Yukimi		A poignant song that resonates with the heart, singing of a love that cannot be erased
39	The End of LoveAikawa Masaki		A singer from Kumamoto sings about the end of love.
40	Sayonara, you.Reiju		A moving work that blends Showa-era kayōkyoku and contemporary music
41	Kegon FallsAoi Kawori		A moving enka song inspired by Kegon Falls
42	White Seaasukamisako		Asuka Misako’s Japan Sea Heartbreak Song
43	Turn me onayano Aya		A poignant song that portrays the loneliness and lingering attachment after a breakup
44	Thread of Fateitō hiroaki		A moving song depicting a fateful encounter and reunion
45	Serenade of the Night Foghayabusa		A mood kayō ballad depicting a bittersweet love in a port town
46	Homesick Love Songfujimachiko		An enka song of poignant feelings after losing love
47	hourglassmatsuzaki kōsuke		An enka song that pierces the heart, depicting the pain of heartbreak.
48	Fragments of LoveHan Jina		An inspiring new song by a South Korea–born enka singer
49	last trainKitahara Mirei		A ballad by Mirei Kitahara that resonates with the heart
50	Moon UruruKitayama Takeshi		A moving song that portrays the subtleties of the heart in the moonlight
51	The end of a romanceŌtsuki Miyako		A story of wavering love and a heartrending farewell
52	Betrayed by loveŌki Atsushi		A heartbreak song that resonates with the heart, a voice that wraps emotions
53	Love Letter BookmarkYamaguchi Noriko		A moving song that gently portrays a heartrending love
54	Backstreet TavernShima Koji		A wistful breakup song, emotions that resonate in the heart
55	silver hairpinAsahna Miho		Miho Asaka’s enka about a heartrending love story
56	Tears of Dead LeavesMatsubara Miho		An emotional ballad depicting the sorrow of a broken heart
57	Flowers of MichinokuMizuta Ryūko		Mizuta Ryoko’s new song expressing Tohoku’s scenery and the feelings of love
58	Your snow falls.Kawashima Kenji		A winter city, the sorrow and tenderness of a broken heart
59	Crimson TearsTsubuki Miyu		A heart-touching song by Miyu Tsubuki that sings of the pain of heartbreak
60	Woman’s ElegyShimizu Setsuko		An emotive song that sings of the pain of heartbreak
61	Port of Love and TearsKumagai Hiromi		A melancholy enka about heartbreak in a port town at night.
62	monologueAkimoto Junko		Junko Akimoto’s new song that sings of regret and lingering attachment
63	Nishijin Women’s ObiAoi Kawori		A moving work by Aoi Kawasato that depicts the spirit of Nishijin weaving.
64	Adorn it with white flowersasamichiyuki		A bittersweet heartbreak song: Asami Chiyuki's new single
65	Genkai ElegyNakayama Rumi		Rumi Nakayama’s Soul-Stirring Enka Masterpieces
66	You can just cry.Futami Souichi		A shining song from the pain of heartbreak to hope
67	Cello at DawnChika Arika		The pain of heartbreak, a heart song resonated by the cello
68	Crimson PrideOkada Shinobu		An autumn heartbreak song: Shinobu Okada’s new single
69	Love Song of the WaterfallKumi Iwamoto		The allure of enka: a fusion of nature and love
70	Northern Love SongKawano Natsumi		An enka song that sings of bittersweet feelings for a former lover in a port town
71	Hazy MoonMochizuki Ruka		A bittersweet breakup song themed around a hazy moon
72	The Last DrinkKimura Tetsuji		A timeless masterpiece that resonates with the heart, singing of the bittersweet pain of parting
73	The Harbor of Lingering AffectionMori Shinichi		Shinichi Mori’s classic song about a bittersweet love in a port town
74	Love is a mirageIzumi Gorō		Goro Izumi’s heartbreak enka, a step toward a new beginning
75	A woman alone in the rainTaki Sayuri		Sayuri Taki’s heartbreak enka: a bittersweet comeback single
76	Sad EncounterTagawa Toshi-mi		A poignant adult romance, a scene of reunion
77	autumn rainDanseki Noritaka		A bittersweet breakup song colored by the long rains of autumn
78	Terminal InnMaki Kotomi		A poignant enka ballad about lost love, sung on a northern seashore.
79	sparrowerina		Erina’s moving song that portrays a wistful woman’s heart
80	Rainy Harbor StationHanasaki Yukimi		A wistful port town, a heartrending enka of lost love, resonating with the sound of rain
81	All I can do is love.Kazuki Mami		Mami Kazuki’s debut song that portrays a heartrending love.
82	Alone on the Kuji RiverYajima Akiyo		A poignant enka love song set on the Kuji River
83	Fool’s TavernSatono Suzune		The pain of a broken heart—Satono Suzume’s enka heals the soul.
84	Boathouse Inn of SetoNonaka Saori		Saori Nonaka’s classic song about heartbreak in the Seto Inland Sea
85	Wet with the foghornChō Hoyūki		A wistful ballad portraying heartbreak in a port town
86	drizzling rainKouzai Kaori		A heartfelt song that gently sings about the pain of heartbreak
87	Flames of LovePaku Junyon		An adult love song about reclaiming a lost romance
88	Melancholy NightMatsu Kaori		A song about the city nightscape and a wistful love
89	red darkroomKei Junko		Kei Junko Chanson Heartbreak Song
90	Terminal Station of LoveYashiro Aki		Aki Yashiro’s heartrending love song, a timeless masterpiece that resonates with the heart
91	The days I loved are…Jua Kayoko		A bittersweet melody played by a Spanish guitar…
92	Woman’s PathMiya Shirō to Pinkara Torio		A classic song that portrays the strength of a woman overcoming the pain of heartbreak
93	Tsugaru Love WomanNiinuma Kenji		Singing of a bittersweet love amid the harsh winter of Tsugaru
94	Being a woman is hard.Aoyama Shin		A heartbreak song by Arata Aoyama that portrays a heartrending love.
95	Osaka RainMikado Tadaji		A wistful woman against the backdrop of rain-soaked streets in Osaka...
96	Because I’m a loner girl.Kayama Akio		A heartrending, lingering melody in my ears and the helplessness of love…
97	Frozen Moonkawayumi		A song set in the northern straits that portrays a heartrending love.
98	Cape Far from HappinessSeguchi Yuki		A poignant song that delicately captures the sorrow of heartbreak and resonates deeply with the listener.
99	Longing for RainYashiro Aki		Rain is very easily associated with the image of heartbreak...
100	Don’t leave mehana-goromo		The pain of heartbreak, the bittersweet feelings poured into enka