A classic enka masterpiece about one's hometown. A wonderful song that evokes thoughts of home.
Among the themes often sung in enka, there are quite a lot of songs about one’s hometown.
Some songs dwell on the family and friends left behind, while others convey a resolve like, “I can’t go back until I’ve made it!”—each carrying different emotions.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of classic enka songs written with thoughts of home.
If any of them resonates with your own experiences, it may become a truly special song for you.
Be sure to read the lyrics and listen closely.
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A classic enka masterpiece about one’s hometown. A wonderful song that evokes memories of home (91–100).
Woman of TakayamaŌe Yutaka
A gem of a song by Hiroshi Oe that invites you into the richly emotional world of enka.
Released in February 2024, this piece is set in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, beautifully portraying festival scenes and a heartrending love.
The stunning landscapes of the Hida region and a fleeting romance with a woman met on a journey unfold throughout the song.
Feelings swaying in the night breeze and the deep emotions beneath the lights of festival stalls strike a chord.
Perfect for commemorating Oe’s 15th anniversary, it’s a masterpiece where Japanese tradition and contemporary sensibility blend seamlessly.
With vocals that resonate in the heart and lyrics brimming with emotion, listeners will sense a love that anyone can relate to.
Back-Alley Man’s SakeKihara Takeshi
This is a gently moving song that portrays a man entrusting the melancholy of life to his drink in a narrow back-alley hideaway.
Takeshi Kihara’s warm vocals carefully weave the bittersweet emotions of a man drinking alone.
Released in October 2024, the piece features lyrics interlacing heartbreak, regret, and hope for the future.
It speaks of the struggle of letting go of someone precious and lingering feelings for a former lover, resonating deeply with listeners.
It’s a track best enjoyed with a quiet drink at night—recommended for anyone reflecting on life.
Aizu Namida BridgeTsubuki Miyu
Miyu Tsubuki’s new song paints a farewell scene set in Aizu.
It tells of parting from a traveler with distant eyes, the back of someone who leaves after asking to be waited for, and the wish of the woman left behind to see him just once more.
The poignant lyrics—of willows softly weeping and the fate of dreams set afloat on a bamboo-leaf boat—resonate deeply.
Released in January 2024, this work marks Tsubuki’s return to a song set in Aizu after some time.
Her vocals, powerful yet tinged with melancholy, further enrich the song’s world.
It’s a piece that gently accompanies those who have left their hometown or endured a farewell with someone dear.
Cape Tappi of the WindFukumoto Masaru
A heartfelt tour de force by Masaru Fukumoto that weaves together fierce winds and aching emotion.
The lyrics, which beautifully overlay the landscapes of Tohoku with the human heart, resonate deeply with listeners.
Released in January 2024, the track is marked by the striking timbre of the Tsugaru shamisen.
Set in Cape Tappi, it portrays lost hope and a heart beginning to move again—truly the essence of Tohoku enka that stirs the soul.
It’s a song I especially want those who have left their hometowns or who stand at a crossroads in life to hear.
Fukumoto’s voice is sure to stay close to your heart.
Shonai Shigure SakeFukuda Kouhei
A new single from Kohei Fukuda that portrays a man’s pride and his feelings for his hometown.
The title track sings of a man’s melancholy as he yearns for the distant place he came from, yet vows never to return.
Fukuda’s powerful vocals bring the world of the poignant lyrics vividly to life.
Released on January 1, 2024, this song is considered a “make-or-break” track that holds special meaning for him.
It’s a piece that fully showcases his strengths: praising hometown pride and the beauty of nature.
A must-listen for those living away from their hometowns or standing at a crossroads in life.
Tsugaru Strait – Winter SceneIshikawa Sayuri
The well-known classic that represents enka, “Tsugaru Strait – Winter Scenery.” It’s also the song with which Sayuri Ishikawa transitioned from an idol singer to a full-fledged enka artist.
It’s an epic ballad about people who boarded a night train departing from Ueno Station, crossed the Tsugaru Strait in Aomori Prefecture, and made their way to Hokkaido.
In 2016, Sayuri Ishikawa appeared as a coffee shop master in the Suntory BOSS commercial “Hokkaido Shinkansen,” which featured Tommy Lee Jones, and her a cappella performance of the song became a hot topic.
It’s a masterpiece that stirs feelings of homesickness, so give it a listen while thinking of your hometown!
Alone in the North CountryYoshi Ikuzo
Ikuzo Yoshi, who always shows his humor on variety shows and as an MC, delivers this song earnestly and passionately, and it strangely hits me right in the heart—it’s a masterpiece.
From “Ora Tokyo sa Igu da” to this track, his range as a singer is unbelievably wide.