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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- An enka themed around heartbreak: a collection of masterpieces whose lyrics seep with lingering regrets
- Women’s Enka: A collection of classic enka songs expressing women’s emotions
- An enka song about the Sea of Japan. A collection of famous songs themed around the great ocean.
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- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Masterpieces for Karaoke — Male Singers Edition
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A classic enka masterpiece about one’s hometown. A wonderful song that evokes memories of home (41–50)
Yagoshi CapeMatsumae Hiroko
There are nights when feelings for your hometown well up inside you.
For moments like those, this is just the thing.
It’s a work by Hiroko Matsumae, released in June 2025 to commemorate the 55th anniversary of her singing career.
Using the capes of Hokkaido—her roots—as a motif, she sings with rich emotion about deep love for her hometown and the journey of life.
Her mature voice is utterly captivating.
Perfect for when you want to quietly bask in nostalgia.
Hometown Spring and AutumnSuga Akio
This is a song by singer Akio Suga from Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture.
It’s a heartwarming enka piece filled with gratitude to his grandfather and deep love for his hometown, released by Nippon Columbia in May 2025.
With lyrics by Aoi Kitazume and music by Seita Minamino, it vividly expresses feelings for home as the seasons change.
Suga’s clear, soaring vocals convey his feelings for his grandfather straight to the listener.
It’s a track you’ll want to hear when living away from your hometown or when you wish to renew your sense of gratitude to someone dear.
Woman of the Kiso RoadHarada Yuuri
Set against the beautiful Kiso Road, this masterpiece of enka artfully portrays a woman’s poignant longing and lingering love.
Its wistful melody is interwoven with traditional Japanese imagery, while Yuri Harada’s powerful yet delicate vocals resonate deeply.
Released in September 1985, the song sold 180,000 copies and ultimately became a million-seller, helping to establish Harada’s status as an enka singer.
It’s a must-listen for those who have experienced farewells in life, who feel a deep connection to their hometown, or who are moved by Japan’s beautiful landscapes.
Yanagase once moreAndō Katsuyuki
This is a kayōkyoku (Japanese popular song) dedicated to Yanagase in Gifu.
Released by Katsuyuki Ando in January 2025, its gently paced lyrics weave together Yanagase’s past and present, along with hopes for its future.
Ando’s sincere vocals resonate with both the ears and the heart.
It’s a song that will touch people not only in Gifu Prefecture but across Japan.
Give it a listen when you want to renew your feelings for your hometown—it’s sure to sink in.
Tanegashima Kamone OndoTendō Yoshimi
This is a beloved hit by Yoshimi Tendo that lovingly portrays Tanegashima, a remote island of Kagoshima Prefecture.
Set to a traditional ondo rhythm, it introduces the island’s many charms one after another: the deep blue of the Osumi Strait, the lush green land that hosts a rocket launch site, and Cape Kadokura, known for the arrival of firearms in Japan.
The song is included on the albums “Yoshimi Tendo Single Collection 1985–1991” and “Yoshimi Tendo Concert Selection,” released in June 2024, delighting many fans.
It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to feel the allure of Kagoshima or who loves local-themed songs.
I remembered my hometown.Niinuma Kenji
A deep affection for one’s hometown seeps into the heart.
Sung by Kenji Niinuma, a native of Ofunato City in Iwate Prefecture, this gentle piece wraps the scenery of his hometown and family memories in a warm embrace.
Released as a single by Nippon Columbia in April 2025, it features a warmly crafted sound that blends nostalgia with modern arrangements.
His expansive, expressive vocals softly stir the listener’s memories.
If you live away from your hometown or carry thoughts of your family close to your heart, please give it a listen.
Biwako ShigureMifune Kazuko
This song paints the majestic scenery of Lake Biwa and the bittersweet farewell to someone who is gone.
Released in March 2025, it features Kazuko Mifune’s increasingly mature vocals, which capture the lakeside’s stillness and emotion in full.
The lyrics distill the sorrow born from loving the other person, tightening the chest with pain.
The more you listen, the deeper it sinks in—a local tragic love song.
Ah, Mogami RiverMaekawa kyōdai
The Maekawa Brothers are known for songs themed around the nature and culture of Yamagata Prefecture.
This work is a warm track that sings of love for the Mogami River and their hometown.
Its melody evokes nostalgia and warmth, and the lyrics, filled with feelings for their homeland, touch the heart.
You can feel both the beauty of the Mogami River and their gratitude to the parents who raised them.
Released as a single in November 2024, it’s a work brimming with hometown pride—very characteristic of the Maekawa Brothers, who often release songs centered on local places and Japan’s natural scenery.
It’s a recommended song for those living away from home or anyone feeling nostalgic for their hometown.
homesicknessHarada Yuuri
A moving song that delves into the longing for one’s hometown.
Featured on the album “Harukanaru Michi” (The Distant Road), released in December 2024.
Yuri Harada’s powerful vocals vividly depict the bittersweet feelings toward home.
With rich expressiveness and deep vocal strength on full display, this track seeps into the listener’s heart.
When you find yourself missing your hometown or feeling the ache of wanting to return but being unable to, please give it a listen.
Mito Kaidō (Mito Highway/Road)Narasaki Masaaki
As the title suggests, this is a hometown-loving piece themed around the Mito Kaido, the old highway stretching from Ibaraki Prefecture to Tokyo.
The song is by Masaaki Narazaki, a singer from Ibaraki who also serves as a Mito ambassador, and it was released in May 2024.
The lively melody pairs beautifully with lyrics that evoke a sense of travel, bringing the scenery of the highway vividly to mind.
And Narazaki’s warm, rich vocals are truly wonderful.
It’s a song that lifts your spirits—one I’d highly recommend for karaoke with friends!
