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!
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- [Men] Enka Songs That Can Score High in Karaoke
- Even karaoke beginners can relax! Easy-to-sing songs for men
- [Enka] A feature on male singers in their 60s: enka vocalists whose rugged charm shines
- Easy-to-sing enka: A roundup of recommended enka songs for karaoke
- [2026] Representative Famous Enka Songs: A Compilation of Classic Favorites [Beginner-Friendly]
- [Japan’s Best Vocalist] Fukuda Kohei’s Easy-to-Sing Karaoke Songs
- A collection of iconic, cool Showa-era kayōkyoku classics sung by male vocalists
- Queen of Enka: A roundup of Aki Yashiro’s easy-to-sing songs
- [2026] Recommended for those who find high notes difficult! Enka by male singers that you can sing in a low register
- [For Beginners] Recommended Enka Masterpieces for Karaoke — Male Singers Edition
Easy-to-sing enka recommended for men: A roundup of songs to try at karaoke (1–10)
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.
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.
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!
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.
Casablanca GoodbyeToba Ichirō
Enka singer Ichiro Toba, popular for his wide-ranging musicality from male-voiced to female-voiced songs, has left many masterpieces.
Among them, Casablanca Goodbye is especially recommended as an easy song to sing.
While there are a few spots that feature kobushi (traditional enka vocal ornaments), overall the piece has a flavor closer to kayōkyoku (Japanese popular song).
It employs a very light mixed voice, but the high phrases aren’t very long, and it doesn’t demand much power overall, so the overall difficulty is on the lower side.
Its mood-rich melody is sure to get the crowd going!
I’m going to Tokyo.Yoshi Ikuzo
Enka singer Ichi Ikuzō, known for his wide-ranging musicality from comic songs to songs in a female voice and heart-wrenching ballads.
Unusual for an enka singer, he also has the side of a singer-songwriter, and his original songs, for which he writes both lyrics and music, are full of creativity and have remained beloved across generations.
Speaking of Ikuzō Yoshii’s masterpieces, it has to be “Ora Tokyo sa Iguda,” doesn’t it? While it has elements typical of enka, it features many spoken-style parts, so the overall difficulty is on the lower side.
As a comic song, it really gets the crowd going, so be sure to add it to your repertoire.
festivalKitajima Saburō
Saburo Kitajima is a great enka singer who has left behind many masterpieces.
His distinctive, undulating kobushi and vibrato are especially striking.
Among his songs, the one I particularly recommend is Matsuri.
While the piece is memorable for its low register, it surprisingly spans a range from mid1 A to high C.
However, because the pitch changes within the kobushi are contained within two notes, it is classified as a work with a lower level of difficulty in terms of overall technique.
If you adjust it to your suitable key, it’s not un-singable, so be sure to identify your own vocal range carefully.
AfterglowYamauchi Keisuke
It’s a moody masterpiece of kayōkyoku built on a 6/8 rhythm, with an impactful drum sound in the intro and an impressive slap bass line.
For Keisuke Yamauchi, it’s also a song commemorating his 20th debut anniversary, and it fully showcases the charm of his distinctive voice—powerful, sensual, and uniquely his.
He does use the characteristic kobushi of an enka singer, of course, but since the song leans more toward kayōkyoku, the kobushi itself is restrained, making it a great choice even for those not used to straight-up enka.
The A melody section is also good practice for singing low notes carefully, so try performing it while being mindful of the contrast with the soaring chorus!
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.
In every age…Sen Masao
Masao Sen’s classic “Itsunoyo mo…” is known for its orthodox enka-style melody.
The song carries the message that some things remain unchanged even as times change, and perhaps to match that theme, it’s composed with a very straightforward, low-quirk melody.
While it’s full of enka elements, most of the kobushi (melodic turns) and shakuri (scoops) are modest and approachable, making it a song that even beginners or those not yet accustomed to singing enka can handle comfortably.