Enka songs that are easy for men to sing: a roundup of tracks to try at karaoke
You might be surprised by how many people want to try singing enka at karaoke.
Of course, there are those who love enka, but even among those who don’t, some people think, “I want to sing enka well and liven up the mood,” or “I often go to karaoke with older people, so I’d like to add some enka to my repertoire.”
In this article, we’ll introduce easy-to-sing songs for men who want to sing enka at karaoke.
Songs with a not-too-wide vocal range and simple melodies are considered easier to sing.
That said, what suits you can vary, so try singing a variety of songs first to see what works for you!
Easy-to-sing enka recommended for men: A roundup of songs to try at karaoke (1–10)
Dream PlayUmezawa Fumio
At first, Mr.
Tomio Umezawa said he didn’t want to sing, but thanks to this song’s massive hit, he also succeeded as a singer.
It’s a classic that depicts the push-and-pull of romance from a sultry male perspective, and it made Umezawa nationally famous as the “Tamasaburō of the downtown.” The song itself runs a quick 3 minutes and 40 seconds, so it might be just right for karaoke.
With an overall range of A2 to D4, it feels calm and singable without straining.
Sing it in a relaxed state.
Like myself…Toukyou Rikisha
How about a powerful, heart-stirring enka ballad? It’s a song by Tokyo Rikisha, a group of active rickshaw pullers from Asakusa, set to be released as a single in February 2025.
It’s also been a hot topic because Joji Yamamoto, a legend in the enka world, wrote the lyrics based on his own experiences.
While looking back on the past, the song portrays a burning resolve to live true to oneself, and just listening to it makes your heart swell.
Belt it out at karaoke and it might even deepen the bonds with your friends.
Showa-era manToba Ichirō
Enka singer Ichiro Toba, who has long sung of the spirit of “men of the sea.” As its title suggests, “Showa no Otoko” is a classic enka number that portrays the way of life of a man who ran straight through the Showa era.
The protagonist, clumsy yet unwavering in his convictions and walking through life with sincerity, is brought to life by Toba’s powerful yet warm vocals.
Toba himself has said he poured his strong feelings for his father, who survived the Showa era, into the song—and you can feel that intensity resonating in his voice.
Perfect for those who want to hear a song about a man with an unshakable backbone, or when you want to touch the heart of good old Japan.
It was rainy again in Nagasaki today.Uchiyamada Hiroshi to Cool Five
This was the debut single of Hiroshi Uchiyamada and the Cool Five, who debuted in 1969, and it’s the group’s biggest hit.
The lead vocal is by Kiyoshi Maekawa, who later self-covered the song as well.
To score high, instead of trying to sing the entire song straight through, it’s effective to practice so you can sing one full verse perfectly without mistakes.
I often introduce this practice method in various places, and especially for enka and kayōkyoku, there are relatively few songs whose melodies change drastically between the first and second verses, so it’s wise to thoroughly learn the melody first.
Also, since the opening lyric starts on a vowel and enters from a low note, if you sing that part with just a slight catch in the throat, you’ll be able to hit the pitch more clearly.
Give it a try!
Blues of SorrowYoshi Ikuzo
Ikuzo Yoshi’s classic “Ai no Blues” is memorable for its passionate vocal delivery.
Although it falls into the so-called ‘onnagata’ (woman’s song) category, Yoshi’s husky voice brilliantly conveys a woman’s sorrow.
One reason this piece is easy to sing is its frequent repetition.
From the A section to the B section, the same vocal lines are often repeated, and because these repeated parts don’t include kobushi (ornamental vocal turns), the overall difficulty naturally decreases.
There is a slightly higher passage toward the end, but the overall vocal range remains narrow, so it’s undoubtedly an easy song to sing.
Scorpio womanMikawa Ken’ichi
This is a song that became a huge hit for being sung by a man in a feminine style.
It’s often sung at karaoke, and since much of it is more like spoken narration, keeping the pitch isn’t difficult.
It’s been crafted as a karaoke song that even a tone-deaf man in his 40s can make sound convincing.
youSen Masao
Known as a signature song from the mid-career period, “Anta.” Unusually for a song by Masao Sen, it is a piece sung from a female perspective, expressing the feelings of a woman who still longs for the man she parted ways with.
Throughout, the vocals remain quietly reflective, and surprisingly, there are few instances of kobushi (ornamental turns), and the ones that do appear are not difficult.
This makes it very easy for beginners to sing.
The vocal range is also quite narrow, so if you adjust to a suitable key, anyone—regardless of gender—should be able to sing it smoothly.