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	Thirteen monthsAoyama Shin		A melancholic kayō blues that portrays lingering feelings after a broken heart
2	Winter TalesWakahara Ryo		On a winter night, I, intoxicated, think of the person I cannot forget.
3	A lone, wandering womanShima Etsuko		A woman’s song of loneliness and farewell, rich with emotion
4	Sunlight filtering through the trees — komorebitsukasa gaku		A ballad that quietly portrays feelings for a lost love
5	Monochrome TimeOno-dera Yosuke		A singer from Yamagata, songs filled with loneliness and melancholy
6	Michinoku Nagare-utaKihara Takeshi		An enka set in a northern land: Take-shi Kihara’s song of the heart
7	Secret Love AnthologyShiono Kaori		Kaori Shiono’s moving work in her 15th year
8	HearthstoneKawahara Shin’ichi		Shinichi Kawahara Sings of Love in Hearthstone
9	Farewell MelancholyTakigawa Maiko		Expressing the moment of parting with poignant lyrics and a sense of speed
10	Elegy of the PierKanō Tatsuya		Tatsuya Kano releases his first “otokouta” single in 7 years
11	Crying… NagasakiKadokawa Hiroshi		Hiroshi Kadokawa captivates with emotionally rich enka.
12	Journey of lingering attachmentGodai Shou		Godaishō’s Sentimental Enka “The Journey of Regret”
13	hesitationNagatsuki Akari		A moving ballad that portrays a farewell at the airport
14	The Hydrangea PersonKitayama Takeshi		Takeshi Kitayama's poignant enka song “Ajisai no Hito” (The Hydrangea Person)
15	Michinoku Silver Mountain, Tears of Snowyamaguchi hiromi		Hiromi Yamaguchi, a heartbreak enka at Ginzan Onsen
16	Adoro of FarewellNishiyama Hitomi		A masterpiece that weaves a farewell story that resonates with the heart
17	Tokyo Rainy BlueMiki Yukari		Yukari Miki: A Heart-Wrenching Tale of Farewell
18	Moon of lingering coldKitada Emi		An emotional, passionate enka song by a female farmer-singer
19	Where are you…?Teramoto Keisuke		A poignant, classic-style kayōkyoku for the 15th debut anniversary
20	Let me hear your parting words.Yamamoto Kazue		A song that portrays the bittersweet end of an office romance
21	Sendai Woman — Chapter Twotachibana shigeru		A story of a man’s heartbreak and lingering attachment as he journeys through Sendai
22	drinking aloneGodai Natsuko		An enka masterpiece that expresses Natsuko Godai’s strength and loneliness
23	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
24	abandonedNagayama Yōko		Yoko Nagayama’s enka masterpiece, a classic that portrays the pain of heartbreak
25	bad personMori Shinichi		A Showa-era enka love song composed by Shinichi Mori
26	The Northernmost RouteKouzai Kaori		Vowing to make a comeback on a northbound sea voyage after overcoming heartbreak
27	The Northern CliffsYamauchi Keisuke		A song of a woman’s wistful heart carried on the sea breeze
28	Serenade to YouKano Hiroshi		A bittersweet love, a beautiful melody of reunion
29	an empty shelltakumi ryō		A song that passionately sings about the heartbreak of lost love
30	Demon Fires of AsoHoriuchi Haruna		A song depicting passionate love and determination
31	Unreachable feelingsKouzai Kaori		Depicting a single-minded figure devoted to an ex-partner
32	Silent SlopeKouzai Kaori		Kaori Kozai’s Japan Record Award-winning song
33	Melancholy PierNomura Mina		Singing of a port town’s scenery and a woman’s heartrending feelings.
34	I don’t need to see you.Date Yuta		Yuta Date’s poignant enka ballad
35	A person of… memory/trace (omokage)en satsuki		Sing about the poignant feelings of a love that has passed
36	flower of lingering attachmentHanasaki Yukimi		A poignant song that resonates with the heart, singing of a love that cannot be erased
37	The End of LoveAikawa Masaki		A singer from Kumamoto sings about the end of love.
38	Sayonara, you.Reiju		A moving work that blends Showa-era kayōkyoku and contemporary music
39	Kegon FallsAoi Kawori		A moving enka song inspired by Kegon Falls
40	Port of Love and TearsKumagai Hiromi		A melancholy enka about heartbreak in a port town at night.
41	Homesick Love Songfujimachiko		An enka song of poignant feelings after losing love
42	Fragments of LoveHan Jina		An inspiring new song by a South Korea–born enka singer
43	Backstreet TavernShima Koji		A wistful breakup song, emotions that resonate in the heart
44	Woman’s ElegyShimizu Setsuko		An emotive song that sings of the pain of heartbreak
45	The end of a romanceŌtsuki Miyako		A story of wavering love and a heartrending farewell
46	Flames of LovePaku Junyon		An adult love song about reclaiming a lost romance
47	Turn me onayano Aya		A poignant song that portrays the loneliness and lingering attachment after a breakup
48	hourglassmatsuzaki kōsuke		An enka song that pierces the heart, depicting the pain of heartbreak.
49	Tears of Dead LeavesMatsubara Miho		An emotional ballad depicting the sorrow of a broken heart
50	Flowers of MichinokuMizuta Ryūko		Mizuta Ryoko’s new song expressing Tohoku’s scenery and the feelings of love
51	Melancholy NightMatsu Kaori		A song about the city nightscape and a wistful love
52	White Seaasukamisako		Asuka Misako’s Japan Sea Heartbreak Song
53	Thread of Fateitō hiroaki		A moving song depicting a fateful encounter and reunion
54	Serenade of the Night Foghayabusa		A mood kayō ballad depicting a bittersweet love in a port town
55	last trainKitahara Mirei		A ballad by Mirei Kitahara that resonates with the heart
56	Moon UruruKitayama Takeshi		A moving song that portrays the subtleties of the heart in the moonlight
57	Betrayed by loveŌki Atsushi		A heartbreak song that resonates with the heart, a voice that wraps emotions
58	Love Letter BookmarkYamaguchi Noriko		A moving song that gently portrays a heartrending love
59	silver hairpinAsahna Miho		Miho Asaka’s enka about a heartrending love story
60	Your snow falls.Kawashima Kenji		A winter city, the sorrow and tenderness of a broken heart
61	Crimson TearsTsubuki Miyu		A heart-touching song by Miyu Tsubuki that sings of the pain of heartbreak
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	Elegy… All AloneSatomi☆Shinobu		Shinobu Satomi: a moving work that portrays heartrending emotions
65	Adorn it with white flowersasamichiyuki		A bittersweet heartbreak song: Asami Chiyuki's new single
66	Genkai ElegyNakayama Rumi		Rumi Nakayama’s Soul-Stirring Enka Masterpieces
67	You can just cry.Futami Souichi		A shining song from the pain of heartbreak to hope
68	Cello at DawnChika Arika		The pain of heartbreak, a heart song resonated by the cello
69	Crimson PrideOkada Shinobu		An autumn heartbreak song: Shinobu Okada’s new single
70	Love Song of the WaterfallKumi Iwamoto		The allure of enka: a fusion of nature and love
71	Northern Love SongKawano Natsumi		An enka song that sings of bittersweet feelings for a former lover in a port town
72	Hazy MoonMochizuki Ruka		A bittersweet breakup song themed around a hazy moon
73	The Last DrinkKimura Tetsuji		A timeless masterpiece that resonates with the heart, singing of the bittersweet pain of parting
74	The Harbor of Lingering AffectionMori Shinichi		Shinichi Mori’s classic song about a bittersweet love in a port town
75	Love is a mirageIzumi Gorō		Goro Izumi’s heartbreak enka, a step toward a new beginning
76	A woman alone in the rainTaki Sayuri		Sayuri Taki’s heartbreak enka: a bittersweet comeback single
77	Sad EncounterTagawa Toshi-mi		A poignant adult romance, a scene of reunion
78	autumn rainDanseki Noritaka		A bittersweet breakup song colored by the long rains of autumn
79	Terminal InnMaki Kotomi		A poignant enka ballad about lost love, sung on a northern seashore.
80	sparrowerina		Erina’s moving song that portrays a wistful woman’s heart
81	Rainy Harbor StationHanasaki Yukimi		A wistful port town, a heartrending enka of lost love, resonating with the sound of rain
82	All I can do is love.Kazuki Mami		Mami Kazuki’s debut song that portrays a heartrending love.
83	Alone on the Kuji RiverYajima Akiyo		A poignant enka love song set on the Kuji River
84	Fool’s TavernSatono Suzune		The pain of a broken heart—Satono Suzume’s enka heals the soul.
85	Boathouse Inn of SetoNonaka Saori		Saori Nonaka’s classic song about heartbreak in the Seto Inland Sea
86	Wet with the foghornChō Hoyūki		A wistful ballad portraying heartbreak in a port town
87	drizzling rainKouzai Kaori		A heartfelt song that gently sings about the pain of heartbreak
88	red darkroomKei Junko		A chanson singer whose wistfulness and passion intertwine...
89	Terminal Station of LoveYashiro Aki		Aki Yashiro’s heartrending love song, a timeless masterpiece that resonates with the heart
90	For that dayKitahara Mirei		While carrying the pain of heartbreak, yet holding on to hope for the future…
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